This is a piece I wrote for a local Vietnam tourist publication. They accepted my query but never replied when I sent in my piece. So I am sharing it here. Hope you find it interesting and/or useful!

On the surface, Saigon might seem like just another city in a developing country with its bustling streets, hole-in-the wall restaurants/cafes, crowded markets, and staid department stores. If you?re with small children, it takes some ingenuity to come up with activities that make everyone happy.

The best places for kids have something new and different to see and explore, wide open spaces to run around and let off steam, toys and knick knacks to buy, and kid-friendly places to eat. Saigon has all of these but you need to know where to look.

1. Zoo and Botanical Gardens (2 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1)

Just down the street from the Sofitel Plaza Saigon Hotel (where chocolate lollipops in the shape of teddy bears, rabbits, and hearts are nice treats for a zoo outing), the historical zoo and botanical gardens were built over 100 years ago. Amidst the mossy smelling air, you?ll find endangered animals native to Vietnam along with other zoo favorites, such as the crested argus pheasant, elephants, Malayan sun bears, and Asiatic black bears. Kids can pretend to be monkeys themselves while dangling at the playground.

To be honest, I wouldn’t step foot in the zoo with bird flu in the air. I felt I had to include it for people who don’t think such precautions are necessary.

2. Reunification Palace (106 Nguyen Du, District 1)

Standing in front of the tall gates of Reunification Palace, the wide white fa?ade and flying flags may seem intimidating. But with lots of open space and no cars allowed inside, Reunification Palace is one of the safest places to let kids run free. There are also tanks and fighter jets to gawk at and two brown cows that roam the grounds acting as animal lawn mowers. Mooooo.

3. Ho Chi Minh City Museum (65 Ly Tu Trong St, District 1)

If your kids hyperventilate excitedly over vehicles, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum has both air and land ones for them explore. Displayed on the grounds are antique cars, a tank, two different fighter jets, and a helicopter. The kids can even touch and take a good look inside the cockpit.


4. Le Van Tam Park (Hai Ba Trung Street, District 1)

Lovers crowd the benches at Le Van Tam Park but in the evenings, children are the ones who crowd the small carnival there. Attractions include a ball pit, miniature car course, and ferris wheel. One of the few city parks with playground equipment, kids will go wild at the jungle gyms, monkey bars, slides, and swings. And across the street, toy stores stuffed full of the latest plastic goodies will tempt your little ones. Don?t worry, prices are affordable and a little bargaining will save you a buck too. Kinh Do Bakery is also a hop away so you can get some snacks to replenish the kids? depleted energy (or maybe fill up their tummies before a nice long nap).

5. Song Be Golf Resort (Lai Thieu Townlet, Thuan An District, Binh Duong Province, +84-650-756-660)

About 30 minutes from District 1, Song Be Golf Resort is a land of green free of the congestion found in the heart of Saigon. You and the kids will all love the clean, breezy air and the well-maintained playground with a reflexology rock bed shaped like a giant foot print. There?s also a rainbow-colored playhouse, jungle gym, and swings. The swimming pool has a large wading pool and shallow ledge that?s perfect for young children. The food at the resort restaurant is simple, but tasty and the buffet lunch will satisfy hungry beasts whether they like Vietnamese sausages or America-style pizza.

6. Windsor Plaza Hotel (18 an Duong Vuong, District 5)

The breakfast buffet at Windsor Plaza Hotel is a delicious way to stuff yourself right at the beginning of the day. After eating, kids can work off some energy at the spacious playroom across from the buffet restaurant. (If the playroom is closed, sweet talk the staff into opening it for you.) There are plenty of fun toys to play with inside the playroom and on the adjoining balcony, a jungle gym with tunnel slides will keep them busy. If the kids get dirty, shops below the hotel sell a full range of affordable clothing for the whole family.

7. New World Hotel Saigon, Sunday Buffet (76 Le Lai St, District 1)

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays, New World Hotel has a sumptuous buffet that will hit the spot especially if you?re looking for some Western food to complement local cuisine. The buffet also caters to children with a special seating area in the front with a TV, coloring pencils and pages to keep them busy. And a table set at kids? level is stocked with popcorn, fish sticks, hot dogs, and other munchies. Chocolate lovers will dive into the chocolate fountain and it?s also a good way to get some fruit into the kids by dipping strawberries or melons into the flowing chocolate. At about noon, circus performers mesmerize children and adults alike with fire swallowing, magic tricks, and other acts of goofiness.

8. Diamond Plaza (34 Le Duan St, District 1)

The first deluxe department store in Saigon, Diamond Plaza recently had a facelift. The food court is now perfect for families to relax on plush sofas next to panoramic windows where kids can people watch while they eat sushi, spaghetti, burgers, French fries, fruit smoothies, or ice cream. They?ll also have fun window shopping at the aquarium stall that sometimes has adorable gerbils and miniature turtles. Other shops have a full-range of toys both imported and locally made. The wooden toy stall is worth a look and there are a few on display that kids can test. The upstairs bowling alley and arcade are popular as well.

9. Parkson Department Store (28 Le Thanh Ton, District 1)

Parkson Department Store is the newest department store in Saigon. Starting at the top floor, you?ll be able to hang out for hours at the arcade and bowling alley (if you can stand the constant pinging noise and crashing pins). Adults can lounge on cushy sofas with a refreshing drink while kids bounce around to Dance Dance Revolution. Children can bowl in socks too with the help of adults. Downstairs, Love Bread bakery has bread and cake creations no one can resist. Top off with a pearl milk tea then hop on down to the toy section where little fingers learn dexterity at the fancy Lego table.

10. Restaurants That Welcome Children

While most restaurants in Saigon make way for children, some stand-out in their hospitality toward little ones. Juice Bar at 49 Mac Thi Buoi, District 1 has a special kids menu ? a favorite is Bella?s Cheezy Pizza ? and fruit smoothies. Al Fresco?s just down the street from Juice papers their tables and provides crayons so kids can release their inner Picasso a la local Vietnamese painters. The second mezzanine level of Au Parc Deli at 23 Han Thuyen, District 1 is a sun room where children can let their hair down provided you go early or late enough to miss the lunchtime crowd.

With so many fun places to stimulate their senses, your kids will love Saigon as much as you do.