May 2026Da Nang: First Trip With Extended Family
We had initially considered China for our annual family holiday, but ruled it out given the anticipated crowds over the Labour Day period — a stretch that extends well beyond the long weekend. Vietnam it was.
It was mostly a resort stay, sprinkled with a few optional activities. Our family of three was new to Da Nang and genuinely unsure of what to expect. Our schedule wasn't packed, and that was intentional — enough to explore and get a sense of the city, but unhurried enough to simply spend time with family.
Our little one's uncle and aunty joined us for this one, which made it feel like a different kind of trip altogether.
This trip also felt different because he was different. He could pull himself up and cruise along furniture, crawl over to investigate whatever caught his eye, stand for longer than we expected. He was also cruising — walking while holding on to furniture, walls, anything within reach, exploring each new room on his own terms, always with us nearby. Every hotel room became a new circuit to navigate. He had babbles that meant specific things, and his own versions of words that we'd learned to decode.
Route: Singapore → Da Nang | Singapore Airlines
Departure: 2:00 PM · 2h Flight
Time Difference: –1 hour
Arrival Airport: Da Nang International Airport
Travel Type: Short-haul Trip with Extended Family · 6 Adults + 1 Baby
Baby: 1 Year, 3 Months
“Our little one wasn’t just along for the ride anymore. He was experiencing it, in his own way, and letting us know.”
Travelling There
Getting To The Airport
We took a regular taxi after trying to book a six-seater to fit everyone. The heavy rain didn't help. So, we split across two cabs in the end.
Our little one missed his morning nap, as we'd left around the time he'd usually be settling down. Thankfully, he took it in his stride.
At The Airport
We grabbed a bite for ourselves and fed our little one lunch before boarding. We also prepared his milk before getting on the plane — a small but deliberate choice to avoid the chaos of making formula mid-flight on a short-haul.
In-Flight Experience (2h)
He fell asleep almost instantly once we were in the air — the missed morning nap caught up with him before we'd even taken off. We had a bassinet seat reserved, but decided against using it. For a two-hour flight with expected turbulence, we didn't want to risk waking him with a transfer. He slept for an hour and a half on my lap, then spent the rest of the flight happily occupied with a new sensory toy we'd saved specifically for this moment. New things buy the most time — we've learned to keep something in reserve.
Arriving In Da Nang
Da Nang welcomed us with a clean, modern airport. Baby-friendly facilities were immediately apparent: a stroller loan service near arrivals, and a well-equipped diaper changing room conveniently placed just after disembarkation. Our little one was at the tail end of a diarrhea episode and had done a poop just before we landed, so finding that changing room nearby was a genuine relief.
We hired a private driver for the longer drives between hotels and for day trips. The same driver sent us to our first hotel for the night, a brief stop to settle in before the trip properly began the next morning.
Novotel Da Nang Premier Han River
Location: Da Nang City Centre
Stay Duration: 1 Night
Travelling Party: 6 Adults + 1 Baby
Vibe: In the heart of the city — an energetic, easing-in kind of night
A one-night stay, more pit stop than destination. The room was compact but well laid out — milk station by the kettle, diaper changing on the lounge chair beside the cot. We co-slept after the second night feed as our little one was waking intermittently and just needed some settling.
The balcony view over the city and river was a lovely welcome. We hadn't expected it to feel so alive.
After checking in, we used Grab to book a cab to dinner. Our little one on our laps, no fuss. Afterwards, we booked a foot massage nearby at Nguon Spa. We'd imagined foot massages meant sitting upright in chairs. They did not. We were on beds, baby in tow.
Core Memory
I held our little one for the entire hour. He wasn't fussing and even managed a milk feed mid-massage. The ladies were making faces at him, keeping him entertained. At one point, my massage therapist gently took him from me so I could pause to make his milk. She even quietly propped him up with pillows and towels to keep him comfortable as he bottle fed. It was completely unexpected, and one of those small moments that stays with you. Travelling with a baby puts you in situations you'd never have imagined, and sometimes those turn out to be the warmest ones.
Banyan Tree Lang Co
Location: Lang Co, Central Vietnam
Stay Duration: 1 Night
Room Type: 3-Bedroom Oceanview Pool Villa
Travelling Party: 6 Adults + 1 Baby
Vibe: Exclusive, Elevated, Unhurried
After breakfast the next morning, Banyan Tree sent a van to collect us for the hour-and-ten-minute drive up. We'd requested a car seat in advance — our little one slept through most of the journey.
Four hotels in six days wasn't the original plan. We'd hoped for two nights at Banyan Tree, but a private event on the second night made it impractical — rates tripled, and we weren't willing to pay that. The hotel arranged a seamless transfer to their sister property, Angsana, just next door. It worked out, but the movement added up.
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Feeding & Cleaning
The villa had a small kitchenette — fridge for storing our little one's medication (we always travel with a basic kit), a microwave for warming pre-packed food, a kettle, and a filtered water dispenser. The kitchen sink handled all washing and sterilising. The dining table became our milk station — spacious, underused by the rest of the family since we weren't doing in-room dining, and perfectly positioned.
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Bathing & Changing
The bathtub was long and wide — easily fit two adults and a baby. We bathed him together, which at this age is both practical and genuinely enjoyable for him.
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Sleeping & Space
A baby cot was provided but unfortunately gave way — structurally unsound. Our little one co-slept with us. Disappointing for a property at this level, but we made it work as we always do.
The villa layout made it easy for everyone to take turns — grandparents and his uncle and aunty could watch our little one while we packed or took a moment to ourselves. That kind of help is harder to come by in a standard hotel room. It's one of the quiet arguments for villa-style accommodation when travelling with extended family.
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Beyond The Room
A private pool — great for impromptu dips with grandparents and little one's uncle and aunty, without the usual packing and unpacking that a shared resort pool requires.
Basic activities such as SUP, kayaking, and mini soccer are complimentary. Others are chargeable. Banyan Tree and Angsana share their recreational facilities and are well connected by buggy.
The villa layout made it easy for everyone to take turns — grandparents and his uncle and aunty could watch our little one while we packed or took a moment to ourselves. That kind of help is harder to come by in a standard hotel room. It's one of the quiet arguments for villa-style accommodation when travelling with extended family.
One unexpected highlight: the sun rises early in Da Nang — around 5am. We'd woken to make milk and were met with the most unexpected reward: a sunrise view from the villa that stopped us completely. Nobody planned for it. Nobody could have. Those are often the best kind.
Core Memory
Every buggy ride. The moment our little one realised we were moving, his legs would start kicking, his hands would bang the handlebar, and out would come this small but mighty "woaaahhh!" — every single time, as if it were the first. We stopped trying not to laugh.
Good To Know
There aren't many hooks or hanging points throughout the villa — not ideal for drying swimwear or wet towels without cluttering surfaces or creating slippery floors.
Within the resort, there's one diaper changing table located in the toilet outside the breakfast hall. We used it several time on the trip.
Angsana Lang Co
Location: Lang Co, Central Vietnam
Stay Duration: 1 Night
Room Type: Junior King Pool Suite with Sea View & Balcony
Travelling Party: 2 Adults + 1 Baby
Vibe: Family-friendly, quieter
A brief stop, but a comfortable one. Milk station set up near the cot, cleaning done at one of the two bathroom sinks — the second kept clear for our own use. The cot was provided but the original bedding was too soft (comforter sheets, no proper mattress), so we requested a second layer for firmer support.
The private pool went unused this time — we spent our pool time instead on the resort's 300-metre lazy river, which our little one loved. Worth noting: there are no diaper changing tables anywhere on the Angsana compound, and no mixed-gender family changing rooms. For a resort with this many families, it was a surprising omission. We made do at the ladies' sink counter with grandma's help.
All activities here are chargeable. We spent most of our day out instead.
Around Da Nang & Beyond
Imperial City, Hue
A half-day trip worth doing for the cultural richness. Many steps throughout, limited slopes, and partial shelter in parts. We brought both the stroller and the carrier — switching between the two as the terrain demanded. The heat was somewhat bearable with our mobile fan. We fed our little one lunch at a small cafe within the compound, which made for a natural midpoint rest.
We booked our tickets on the day via Klook, having held off until we were sure we were going. The process was straightforward — payment done online, QR code scanned on arrival, and nothing else needed. No queuing at a ticket counter, no cash required. Worth knowing for anyone else who prefers to confirm plans closer to the day.
Markets
Han Market was a pleasant surprise — cooler inside than expected, with good airflow throughout. Our little one napped through the visit, which made for an easy, unhurried wander.
Lotte Mart was practical and air-conditioned, with a diaper changing room — a small but welcome detail. These market runs were the most comfortable outings of the trip for a baby in tow.
Hoi An Ancient Town
Hoi An was beautiful and chaotic in equal measure. The roads and alleyways are highly uneven. From cracked brick tiles to unexpected drops, the stroller required constant navigation.
We also had an impromptu diaper change on the side of one of the shopping streets when the situation demanded it.
By late afternoon, the heat had built up without any real breeze, and the crowds had thickened. Our little one missed his afternoon nap and made his feelings known. We ended up rushing through the final stretch, which wasn't quite the experience we'd imagined. Earlier in the day, and shorter, would be our advice to ourselves on hindsight.
Hyatt Regency Da Nang Resort and Spa
Location: Da Nang
Stay Duration: 2 Nights
Room Type: King Ocean View
Travelling Party: 2 Adults + 1 Baby
Vibe: Laid-back, well-located, most settled of the trip
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Feeding & Changing
The L-shaped sofa and lounge area worked naturally as both milk station and changing spot. Everything within reach, nothing in the way.
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Bathing & Cleaning
We bathed our little one in the bathtub, though the steep curved basin design is worth noting. A rubber mat is essential to prevent slipping. Two sinks in the bathroom meant we could designate one entirely to bottles, sterilising, and drying, leaving the other for our own use. A simple but effective setup.
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Sleeping & Space
The cot was positioned next to the glass toilet door on arrival — not ideal for a mobile little one. We shifted it next to the sofa instead. A quick fix, but worth flagging to the hotel at check-in so it's placed more safely from the start.
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Beyond The Room
Mini golf with the grandparents was a highlight . Chargeable but very reasonable, and genuinely fun even at entry level. We took turns watching our little one while the others played.
Good To Know
There are no lifts in the hotel room blocks so we carried the stroller up and down each time. We were on the second floor, which was manageable. Any higher would have been a real workout. The grounds from lobby to pool and beach also involve several flights of steps with no lift access; we found it easier to use the carrier for exploring.
Traffic Da Nang's traffic is a world of its own. Scooters weave constantly, honking is ambient noise, and crossing the road requires a particular kind of calm confidence. You simply walk at a steady pace and trust that traffic will flow around you. It does, mostly.
One afternoon, a few minutes from our hotel, a scooter ran a red light and clipped our private hire car. We were shaken but unhurt — our little one included. Our driver handled it calmly, managed to flag down the other party, and arranged a second car to take us back to the hotel while he dealt with the incident. It was over in about fifteen minutes, but it stayed with us.
Road conditions in Vietnam are genuinely different from home. Car seats and functioning seatbelts are not always guaranteed in private hire vehicles. Travel insurance that covers road incidents is not a nice-to-have here. It's worth ensuring you have it before you go.
Good To Know
Food We made advanced reservations for the more popular places, such as 4P's Pizza and Zozo Seafood. Most turned out to be highlights. Some others were a little over-rated.
Baby-Friendliness
Diaper changing facilities were generally rare across the city
Roads can be uneven so take extra care when using a stroller
The Journey Home
Immigration clearance at Da Nang took over twenty minutes so it is worth building in extra buffer time if you have a connecting flight or a little one who doesn't do waiting well. Unlike Japan, there is no priority queues for babies and the elderly.
Our baby food scissors were confiscated at security, despite having cleared Singapore's outbound checks without issue. The bottle of hot water and everything else passed through without question. Worth noting: scissors of any kind, even baby ones, may not make it through on the return. Leave them at home or pack them in checked luggage.
The flight back was a different experience from the one out. Livelier, and slightly more fun. We hadn't secured a bassinet seat this time, which meant the tray table screens were within arm's reach. Our little one discovered the screen almost immediately and spent a good stretch of the flight pressing everything he could find, thoroughly delighted with himself.
There happened to be an empty seat between us, so he had a little perch of his own for parts of the flight. The toddler in the row in front noticed him early on, and the two of them spent stretches of the flight in their own conversation: babbles back and forth, small hands reaching through the gap between the seats, a brief moment of held hands. One of those in-between moments that you don't plan for and can't quite describe afterwards.
Feeding him lunch mid-flight proved harder than usual with all the excitement, so we let the pumpkin cereal go and fed him a hard-boiled egg we'd brought from the hotel breakfast instead. Simple, portable, accepted without complaint. The airline's pouch food got one mouth of consideration and was firmly declined.
He finally settled into his afternoon nap towards the end of the flight, and only woke up when we were closer to home.
Reflections
Vietnamese people are, as a general rule, extraordinarily warm towards babies. Service staff would squat down to say hello unprompted. At one spa where I waited with our little one while the others went in, the owner was completely unfazed — playing peek-a-boo, making sure I was comfortable, treating our little one like a small and welcome guest rather than a complication.
Four hotels in six days was, in retrospect, too much movement for a trip with a baby. The packing, unpacking, and repacking added a layer of effort that compounds quickly when you're managing feeds, nap schedules, and a little one who needs continuity. If you're planning a similar trip, we'd suggest anchoring at two hotels maximum — longer stays, less transition.
Our little one slept for one and a half hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon the day after we returned. He must have been thoroughly exhausted — we suspect a combination of the heat and disrupted sleep through the trip. It was a noticeable difference from our Japan trips, where the cooler climate seemed to agree with him more. Worth factoring in if you're travelling to a hot, humid destination: recovery time on return is real, for babies and parents alike.
Final Thoughts
Da Nang surprised us. We hadn't arrived with high expectations and left with fond memories. The warmth of the people, the ease of getting around with a driver, the simple pleasure of watching our little one experience new things for the first time. A buggy ride, a lazy river, strangers making him laugh — made it worth the effort.
It wasn't a perfectly smooth trip. The roads were unpredictable, the movement was too frequent, and there were moments that made us doubt if we had made the right choice coming at all.
“But we came home with stories, and a little one who, despite being exhausted, had met the whole thing with his usual patience and sweet smile.”
Explore our full itinerary on Wanderlog
Note: The actual days panned out a little differently as we adjusted our pace along the way.