My family and I spent one week in the beach town of Mui Ne, Vietnam in October 2022, and we were blown away by the striking landscape, friendly locals, and relaxed atmosphere of this fishing village. I wrote this Mũi Né, Vietnam Family Travel Tips to share our experience and favorite spots with you.
What is Mui Ne popular for?
Mui Ne is a short drive from the capital city, Ho Chi Min City, or the Asian honeymoon capital of Dalat to the north. It is a prime destination for those looking for adventure, especially those learning how to kite surf or those proficient in the sport already.
My husband had learned the sport from a local there 10 years prior to our 2022 trip, and that’s what brought us back; however, kite surfing is not all this beach town has to offer, and we go into that in this blog.
Mui Ne is also home to Vietnam’s largest desert. The massive sand dunes are a stark contrast to the beaches and dense jungle located in other parts of the country.
Activities to do in Mũi Né, Vietnam
Mui Ne offers a variety of activities for all types of travelers, and there are many guided tours available for those interested.
You can fill your days here with kitesurfing, hiking through sand dunes and exploring the fairy springs, cruising through the fishing village as a fresh catch is coming in, tour Cham Temple, and check out the artistic murals by the food court to name a few. Check out my top recommended tours below to make the most out of your Mui Ne experience!
Mui Ne is conveniently located approximately 4-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City and a 2.5-hour drive from Dalat by car. Although there are no direct flights to Mui Ne, the closest airports are located in Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat.
Private Car with Driver
We traveled to Mui Ne by private car since we are a family of five. We did upgrade to the larger vehicle (small SUV) versus a sedan, and were happy with that for the long drive. Traveling by private car gave us the opportunity to make pit stops for Vietnamese coffee, sandwiches (banh mi), and bathroom breaks for our young kids.
Travel by bus is going to be the most affordable option ($1 one way per person). Though this is an affordable option, some of these buses are not air-conditioned and that can make for a warm 1.5-hour ride. If you’re a tourist, you may get charged higher rates; however, that usually equates only to an extra dollar or so.
Traveling through Vietnam by motorcycle is probably one of the best ways to explore the country, though this is more for a single person or couple. This 3-day motorbike tour is what a backpacker’s dreams are made of.
Mui Ne is a fishing village known for fresh seafood and fair prices. Our favorite dish was bahn mi (sandwich) paired with a fresh coconut or mango smoothie… and plenty of excellent Vietnamese coffee.
Good Morning Vietnam – Italian Restaurant Chain throughout Vietnam. It’s a little on the pricey side, but so worth it when you’re craving a good slice of pizza and gelato.
We had a wonderful experience with everyone we met. The locals were always friendly and sweet to our children, and are more than willing to help out visitors. We found that, especially within the service industry, such as hotel and restaurant staff, we had no issues communicating in English and getting around town.
I realize too that service people are trained to be friendly and helpful because it is their job; however, there was just a warmth and general interest that I felt when I interacted with everyone in this town.
Where to stay in Mui Ne
Depending on your budget, a family can stay very affordably ($30/night) or pay a premium ($150/night). We did both!
We came to Mui Ne in the slow season after the COVID-19 pandemic, so most of the hotels and restaurants were operating at low capacity if they were open at all. Below are the two places we stayed at, one representing the low-end budget and the other representing the high-end.
We booked a quadruple room for two nights here from October 21-23, 2022 – this sleeps up to 4 people, not including children under 2 years old. The room was about 25 square meters and included a bathroom (sink, toilet, and shower), two full-size beds (and roll-away upgrade), private balcony with seating, TV, desk space, a closet, and instant coffee and tea. They included a complimentary roll-away bed in our price, but it is priced at 20,000 VND.
This hotel includes a pool with a children’s pool and the option for breakfast (we didn’t do this option). The owners were very friendly and doted on our kids. They had three small dogs, and my son was in love with petting them for long periods of time.
Besides our family, there were maybe one or two others staying at the hotel. At full capacity, this hotel can book 25+ rooms a night, so this tells you how slow things are operating post-pandemic in the small villages.
Price
$35 per night for a room that sleeps up to 4
Location
The hotel is located a few streets off the beach. Finding beach access was an adventure, and the cement sea wall takes away from that charming beach atmosphere a bit, though important none-the-less. My kids didn’t mind at all. Within walking distance is a food court with 10+ food vendors in fixed (permanent) stalls. You can find almost anything your heart desired, including western and vegan food options.
246/5 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Str Ham Tien Ward Phan Thiet VN
Phone
84-252-3743333
Bamboo Village Beach Resort and Space in Mui Ne, Vietnam
Luxurious hotel with high-class amenities
This resort and spa was an absolute luxury for us and we didn’t want to leave after the first week. We booked a family room for 6 nights here in October 2022 – this family room sleeps up to 4 people, not including children under 2 years old.
Read the full review and its amenities in this blog.
Mui Ne, Vietnam, is a beautiful destination that offers a perfect mix of natural beauty, adventure, and relaxation. This comprehensive travel guide provides all the necessary information and Mui Ne travel tips to plan an unforgettable family vacation.
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Discover one week of kid-friendly activities in our ultimate family travel guide to Hoi An, Vietnam, an ancient town on the central coast filled with rich history that is more than just a hot spot for tourists looking to have custom-tailored clothing made in just a few days.
You’ll find a pedestrian-friendly downtown area filled with colorful fruit markets sitting on the canal, excellent food, and striking waterfront with traditional boats decorated with lanterns in every color.
Our family of five spent 7 nights exploring Hoi An in October 2022 and we want to share everything we did so you can enjoy your trip there as much as we did.
Vietnamese Spelling: Hội An
Is Hoi An, Vietnam good for families?
Yes! Hoi An, Vietnam is good for families! The locals of Hoi An are so kind and friendly towards families, especially children. One example occurred daily at our hotel. The hotel staff knew that we had 3 young children and went out of their way to bring them their favorite foods during breakfast (donuts!), just so they would be happy. Honestly, it was a blessing because we always had breakfast in a restaurant setting, and that can be treacherous with kids!
Another example is when I (mom) went to get fitted for custom clothing at Bao Diep Tailor, the staff let my daughter borrow the iPad and play so we could finish my fitting. They always offered water too.
How many days do you need in Hoi An?
You should spend a minimum of 5 days in Hoi An, especially if you are having clothes made. Hoi An is an ancient city and active tailor city on a river. Despite its activities, it still felt relaxed and the locals are so friendly.
We chose a hotel with complimentary bicycle rentals, so our family was able to bike the short distance in to downtown to explore that area daily or walk around the waterfront close to our hotel.
There are some lovely day excursions close that our friends chose to do, but we kept this trip simple.
Our family spent 7 days in Hoi An, and some days we did nothing except sit by the pool or in the hotel restaurant!
How to travel to Hoi An, Vietnam with a family
You can travel into Hoi An city by plane, car or bike, and then you can travel by car, bike or scooter within Hoi An.
If you’re traveling as a big group or family, then I would opt for the car since it offers seat belts. Also, since you pay a flat fee usually, you can have your private car pull over to a 7-11 or a street stall so you can pick up food if you’re hungry from your travels.
Plane
We flew into Da Nang Airport in the north, and took a private car down to Hoi An. The ride took about an hour and a half.
If you want peace of mind so that you have private, socially-distanced transport to your hotel in Hoi An when traveling from the Da Nang airport, then book private transportation. The trip will cost you about $6-7 per person. Booking an entire vehicle cost a little more.
You can rather easily find transport upon landing by many of the taxi drivers waiting. A word of caution is to make sure that they have a taxi sign posted and you negotiate your rates up front and/or that they use the meter if it isn’t a flat fee transport fee to your hotel.
How to travel within Hoi An, Vietnam with a family
Scooter
Traveling by scooter or motorbike is the number one choice when you are in this town. If you don’t have your own rented bike, you can download the Grab app (like Uber), and hire someone to drive you around on their motorbike quickly and affordably.
During normal hours, expect to wait no more than 5 minutes for a bike to arrive. These drivers usually carry a spare helmet for guest riders.
Download the Grab app to a quick ride in Vietnam.
Bicycle
Fortunately, our hotel offered complimentary bicycles for hotel guests. Several of the bicycles had child seats on the rear grate, which was perfect for our family. We took them out whenever we wanted and found that the local traffic wasn’t all that scary while riding.
Unfortunately, there are no helmets available, nor did we find any place to rent them. In any case, it was hugely convenient to have access to free bicycles whenever we needed to get around the town.
It does seem like several hotels in this area offered some sort of bicycle rental or availability, because it was common to see bicycles and bicyclists on the street. Also, no bike locks are needed since bike theft seems to be non-existent here.
Private Car or Van
You can also hire a private car and driver for transport between cities like we did when we traveled from the airport to Hoi An.
Family-friendly things to do in Hoi An, Vietnam
Check out our favorite activities to do in Hoi An, Vietnam with a family. If you’re looking for a more extensive list of activities or want to schedule a tour ahead of your arrival, then check out these affordable family tours hosted by Viator.
Ba Na Hill was founded in the early 19th century by the French, and has since evolved to become a French-inspired chateau theme park. It’s tucked on the top of a mountain and you’ll get the feeling of being somewhere in the French Alps rather than in Vietnam.
Golden Bridge (suspended bridge supported by two stone hands)
Tour cost: 120 USD per person
Buy Custom Tailored Clothing
Bao Diep Tailor
At the recommendation of our hotel, I visited Bao Diep Tailor to have about 10 custom pieces of clothing made in Hoi An. My husband had a winter jacket made too. This family-owned business is managed by the eldest daughter and her brother and sister-in-law manage a custom leather goods (bags and belts) and leather shoes store two doors down. As a tired mom of three, I was looking for functional “nice mom outfits” to help me look good but also be easy to grab-and-go on busy mornings. Bao Diep took my measurements and helped me pick out a range of fabrics that would help me meet my goals. The store is equipped with AC and a small bathroom, and water for guests.
After measurements, fabric selection, and payment are complete, they will schedule an appointment with you to return for the first of 2-3 fittings. Each fitting lasts about 15-30 minutes, depending on the number of pieces you have.
Price: $$
Address: Bao Diep Tailor, 28 Tran Hung Dao, Phuong, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Buy Custom Leather Goods (Shoes, Belts, and Bags)
New Stars Shoe Shop
We shopped at New Stars Shoe Shop, also owned by the same family as Bao Diep Tailors. We went there to purchase a luxurious dark green suede bag, 4 pairs of shoes or boots, and two belts. The owners are really kind, and actually took my daughter and me by scooter to find a children’s clothing store nearby.
The shoes make the man, as the saying goes. It felt like a luxury to have shoes made to fit our feet in a friendly environment, and close to where our clothes were being measured. The store owner even delivered everything to our hotel for us.
Price: $$
Address: 34 Trần Hưng Đạo, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
This is a really cute option for bringing a small (foldable!) memory back from Hoi An to your home. It’s relatively affordable to at $11-12 USD per person.
You’ll be provided with everything you need to complete this project: a 30 cm lantern with three shapes to choose from. You’ll also get to drink Vietnamese tea while you work.
If you get the opportunity to try egg coffee, we recommend it. Basically, it’s a soft, sweet egg meringue poured over coffee or even hot chocolate. Both parents and kids really enjoyed this treat, so it’s something we approve as a family activity. Check out this video where we try it out!
We tried egg coffee at Bun Cha Ta, and I give their details in the Restaurant section.
Try Animal Poop Coffee
Squirrel poop coffee
Vietnam grows a lot of coffee, and animals are out there eating those coffee cherries and then pooping them out! Conveniently, someone is paid to gather those “used” fruit and process them further into edible, roasted coffee beans that you can then buy along the “normal” beans. We visited one coffee and tea store that sold this poop coffee from weasels, macaque monkies, ferrets, birds, and probably more.
Take a Boat Tour
Hoi An sits on the waterfront, and there are a number of old and new tour boats available. One of the most charming things about the town is the number of many-color lanterns adorning buildings and boats. At night, when the lights are lit, it is such a beautiful place to experience both from water and walking along the streets.
Book a Massage
There are a number of massage parlors and spas in Hoi An that can be found. In Hoi An, the starting one-hour Vietnamese massage price is going to be $30 USD, though nicer establishments or add-on services will make that price go up. Though this activity is not necessarily kid-friendly, it is parent-friendly, and that is really important too!
I booked a massage at my hotel, The Odyssey, and you can get the details of that location below.
Visit the Hoi An Night Market
This night market runs every day of the week, except Sunday, so you don’t have a reason to miss it! You’ll find loads of street vendors selling many types of foods like authentic Vietnamese food and ice cold drinks. We love this option with kids because even the pickiest of eaters can find something to eat.
Hours: Monday-Saturday from 4pm to 10pm
Play Golf
If you love to golf, then take a day trip to Montgomerie Links Hotels and Villas to experience the greens and driving range here. Located between Hoi An and Da Nang, it’s a short drive to relax and enjoy the sunny weather. They also offer accommodations and dining options.
Good Vietnamese restaurants in Hoi An, Vietnam
There are a number of good authentic Vietnamese restaurants in Hoi An, Vietnam. I don’t think it’s possible to find “bad Vietnamese food” in Hoi An, because every place we’ve eaten at has been delicious. We just stumbled upon them through exploration. The restaurants we list here are a sampling of what the town has to offer, and this is our personal experience with them.
Good Morning Vietnam
This is not actual Vietnamese food, but it is really good Italian food that the Vietnamese do incredibly well!
In 1987, an American film came out with the same name. I’m not sure if it’s inspired by that movie, but the name was immediately recognizable to Americans (in a certain age bracket).
We dined in once and had the gnocchi, pizza, butternut squash ravioli, chocolate cake, tiramisu, and gelato. My husband picked up the tiramisu and simple spaghetti for the kids a few times too! Try the limoncello martini when you’re here!
Budget: $$
Address: 11 Lê Lợi, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Delivery: Get their food delivered to your hotel using the Grab app.
LimoncelloGelato
Bun Cha Ta
We find this restaurant because we wanted to try egg coffee (read about that above). We were pleasantly surprised with the other food on the menu (house noodle special) and the kids loved the chocolate egg cream dessert. The staff were so sweet and gave us a tour. They let mom and dad sample the home-made banana alcohol they were infusing. They called it “happy wine” and it’s served at weddings. The tradition is to drink a lot of it so you get really happy!
Budget: $
Address: 197 Nguyen Duy Hieu Street – Hoi An Ancient Town
Hours: 8am to 10pm, every day
Banana wine, cinnamon wineEgg coffee and egg hot chocolate
Hoa Champa Cafe
This cafe has an extensive selection of coffee and tea. We stopped in and tried the iced teas and cool mango smoothies. It is best known forits large selection of animal poop coffee beans!
They had a lovely selection of teas, including my personal favorite: butterfly pea tea. This tea turns a lovely purple color from blue when lemonade is added.
They must have had at least 5 varieties of this animal poop coffee bean:
Luwak
Ferret
Weasel
Squirrel
Bird
Macaque (monkey)
Price: $
Address: 43 Phan Chu Trinh, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Quán Bánh Đập Số 9
This restaurant is just down the street from The Odyssey Hotel that we stayed out. Their noodle dish is fantastic! It’s made with these thick noodles and creamy brown sauce, grilled meat, and some sort of magical crispy thing on top.
The Hoi An Odyssey is a family-owned new construction hotel on a small island just outside the heart of historic Hoi An. We found the hotel staff to be very friendly and helpful, the amenities like the pool, bar, and breakfast to be better than described online, the spa services to be fantastic, and the access to downtown easy.
Amenities include bicycles for guests, pool, bar, restaurant, and spa (indoor and outdoor options available). A full list of amenities can be found here. The rooms and resort were very clean and well-appointed.
My husband picked this hotel for us in the Chase Sapphire Rewards portal. We enjoy staying at hotels that offer family accommodations with a minimum amenities such as wifi (internet), air conditioning, and a pool since it makes our travel happier with kids. For days that we don’t leave the resort, the pool is a wonderful amenity to have on hand in sunny and warm Vietnam.
Our first night we stayed in a double room with private balcony and water views. This cost us about $55/night* in this new construction hotel. The price included breakfast. We also stayed one nice in a family room with loft. This room was very nice too, and cost about $70/night. Both rooms overlooked the hotel pool and toward the river.
Address: 40 Luong Nhu Bich, Xuyen Trung , Cam Nam ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, Vietnam
Tel: +84 235 3 911 818
Mobile: +84 (0)93 531 6168
Email: sales@hoianodysseyhotel.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the weather like in Hoi An, Vietnam in October?
We traveled to Hoi An in October. The weather was warm (average of 24 degrees celsius) with moderate humidity, and no to limited rain showers. No thunderstorms.
Which month is best to visit Hoi An?
In post-pandemic Hoi An, we found there were not many tourists in the low to mid-season. Therefore, we were not fighting big crowds or feeling pressure from shopkeepers to buy. We felt very relaxed during our family trip.
The weather was warm (22-25 celsius) and no rain. We spent 7 nights exploring Hoi An with our family of five in October 2022.
Conclusion
Our large family spent a lovely week in Hoi An. We experienced having custom-tailored clothing made, fantastic Chinese, Vietnamese, and French cuisine, pedestrian-friendly streets, and friendly locals.
Have you been to Hoi An with your family? Tell us what your favorite things to do were in the comments.
If you liked this trip, then you’ll love to read our other trips in Southeast Asia here:
Discover one week of kid-friendly activities in our ultimate family travel guide to Ao Nang, Thailand, a beach town in the province of Krabi. Ao Nang is located on the Andaman Sea with striking views of the karst limestone cliffs with many fun activities like island hopping by long boat, walking by the ocean-front shops, going on a jungle hike to the Tiger cave and seeing the giant sitting buddha, finding delicious authentic Thai food, and chatting with the friendly locals. We spent 7 nights exploring Ao Nang with our family of five in September 2022, and enjoyed our time there immensely.
In this blog, I will share with you how we spent our week here, what activities we did or wanted to do, and why you should bring your family to visit this wonderful beach town.
Is Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand good for families?
Yes! Ao Nang, Krabi is good for families! The locals of Ao Nang are so kind and friendly towards families, especially children. To further explain how friendly the locals are, here is one of many magical experiences we had. We went for dinner and the fireshow at Reeve restaurant, and a waitress organized snacks for our 2-year-old and personally attended to her (and squeezed her in) during the fireshow in the front row! Another helped get our daughter and son a fluffy bean bag chair to relax on during the show, then asked a firedancer to come give them a cool close-up of the act. Next, after the show, we heard “happy birthday” over the speakers and a really sweet couple we met earlier bought a birthday cake for our little girl – it wasn’t her birthday! They just did it to be sweet and Maddie loved the attention. The couple snagged a photo with her before heading home.
Friendly Thai local
How many days do you need in Ao Nang, Krabi?
You should spend a minimum of 4 days in Ao Nang, Krabi. Each day, you can plan to do a fun activity like hiking the Tiger Cave and climbing the stairs to see the sitting buddha, hiring a longboat to take you island hopping for 5 hours, shopping and eating along the waterfront, swimming in the sea and playing on the beach, and maybe even some time to explore an animal sanctuary. Our family spent 8 days in Ao Nang, and some days we did absolutely nothing except sit by the pool!
How to travel to Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand with a family
You can travel into Krabi city by ferry, plane or car, and then you can travel by car, local bus or tuktuk to Ao Nang. If you’re traveling as a big group or family, then I would opt for the car since it offers seat belts. Also, since you pay a flat fee usually, you can have your private car pull over to a 7-11 or a street stall so you can pick up food if you’re hungry from your travels.
Plane
Krabi airport is a major airport for this part of the country, and offers many flights to the capital city of Bangkok and other airports in the country and other surrounding countries.
Ferry
We arrived in Krabi on the ferry from Koh Phi Phi.
Private car
From the ferry terminal, we hired an air-conditioned SUV to drive us 25 minutes to Ao Nang.
The private car ride from the Krabi ferry terminal to our hotel in Ao Nang cost us 400 bhat per person, or 2,000 bhat for a family of five.
You can rather easily find transport upon landing by many of the taxi drivers waiting. A word of caution is to make sure that they have a taxi sign posted and you negotiate your rates up front and/or that they use the meter if it isn’t a flat fee transport fee to your hotel.
How to travel around Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand with a family?
Tuk tuk or converted pickup truck
When staying in Ao Nang, we affordably traveled around by tuktuk or converted pickup truck (like a non-air-conditioned minibus). We paid 200 bhat ($5.70) one-way from our hotel to Ao Nang beach or city for a family of five with these forms of transport.
We preferred the truck for our family of five more than the tuk tuk since it was higher off the ground. The tuk tuks basically slowed to a stop at times to get over some bumps due to our weight.
Private car or van
You can also hire a private car and driver for transport between cities like we did when we traveled from Ao Nang to Koh Lanta (400 bhat per person or 2,000 bhat [roughly $50 USD] for a family of five). Our hotel was kind enough to help us book this trip.
13 family-friendly things to do in Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand | Guide to Ao Nang
Check out our favorite activities to do in Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand with a family. If you’re looking for a more extensive list of activities or want to schedule a tour ahead of your arrival, then check out these affordable family tours hosted by Viator.
The beach is completely free and a kid-friendly way to spend an afternoon for all ages and groups. Additionally, food is close by across the street when everyone gets hungry. We found the beaches to be clean and uncrowded when we visited in September.
What a special way to commemorate a trip of a lifetime and to make relatives envious on your next Christmas card! In all seriousness, it is a lovely way to spend family time together, get dressed up and then see your family from a different lens.
We charted a private longboat tour for 5 hours to take us to 4 popular islands off of Ao Nang: Koh Gai, Koh Mor, Koh Tub and Koh Poda. As part of the tour, the captain provided a delicious pineapple that he carved as a refreshing snack, water bottles, masks and snorkels. Prior to departure, make sure the captain has life vests that fit small bodies. We had to make our captain grab vests that would fit our 2, 4 and 5 year olds in case the boat capsized (unlikely but a real risk).
As a young family, we enjoyed this casual atmosphere of this private boat tour because it was relatively fast to hop between the islands, swim, snorkel and plan for bathroom and food breaks at Koh Poda.
When the tour is complete, the captain will pull up to shallow waters on the beach and drop you off. This means you should be prepared to get at least your feet wet.
Koh Poda was the first island we visited on our tour, and the waters are crystal clear. The island is a national park that charges an entrance fee of 400 bhat per adult and 200 bhat per child you pay to the boat captain as you pull up to the island – it’s not included in your boat tour price.
Koh Mor and Koh Tub
The two tiny islands of Koh Mor and Koh Tub will be connected by a cool sand bar during low tide, which makes it a really special way to island hop and check out the bar on one.
Koh Gai
Koh Gai is also known as “Chicken Island” because a cliff rock formation on it looks like a chicken head. We planned to snorkel here but actually got rained out. Before the sky turned dark, you could see all the way to the bottom and loads of fish.
We spent one week in Koh Phi Phi prior to arriving in Krabi, and it was an absolute dream with clear water, secret coves, fire shows in the mountains, cute downtown, and wonderful people. You can easily reach Koh Phi Phi by ferry or by speedboat. My acquaintance, Becca, offers a lot of guidance here on trips, day tours, and top attractions to Koh Phi Phi.
Private long boat tour
Muay thai gym
Muay thai is Thailand’s national sport and popular among locals and foreigners. If you’re into this sport or boxing, then finding a gym nearby like Bull Muay Thai would be a fun activity. It appears that some gyms even offer children’s after school programs as well.
Tiger Cave and Sitting Buddha
Our resort sat at the foothills of this statue so when we walked around the neighborhood, we could usually spot the sitting Buddha on the mountain. Though we didn’t make the trip to Tiger cave and the hike to the sitting Buddha, we really wanted to. Our youngest is 2 and oldest is 5 at the time of the trip and hiking up 1,200+ stairs just wouldn’t work for our tiny legs unfortunately. If you make the trip, leave a comment down below about how the experience was for you.
You’ll see the Tiger cave, sitting Buddha, Emerald pool and Krabi hot springs.
Massage parlors and spas in Ao Nang
There are a number of massage parlors and spas in Ao Nang that can be found. In Ao Nang, the starting one hour Thai massage price is going to be 300 bhat, though nicer establishments or add-on services will make that price go up. At roughly $10/hour for a Thai massage, this is one activity you can afford to do many times and should. Though this activity is not necessary kid-friendly, it is parent-friendly, and that is really important too!
We’ve never booked ahead for a massage and have not had an issue with not scheduling ahead in any Thai massage parlor.
The Blue Spa and Massage in Ao Nang
I visited The Blue Spa and Massage in Ao Nang and splurged on a luxurious 1.5 hour service: an aromatheraphy relax massage with herbal compression for ~1,125 bhat (~$35 USD). They do offer a number of affordable alternatives, and the spa has over 77 5-star reviews on Google at the time of this post. Included in the service was a customary foot wash prior to the massage, a change of clothes (including little undies), and tea with little cookies after.
As a note, I am a woman and my masseuse massaged me top to bottom, front to back, very thoroughly. All nipples and chests are created equal… but it was a little surprising when she took my towel down on my front half and went to work. It was the best massage though.
Tipping isn’t compulsory in Thailand, but I did tip my masseuse 40 bhat after the service. My husband and kids showed up immediately after my massage and the owner brought out extra cookies for our little ones.
This night market runs every day of the week, except Sunday, so you don’t have a reason to miss it! You’ll find loads of street vendors selling many types of foods like authentic Thai food, ice cold drinks and western foods like pizza. This is a big hit with families since even the pickiest of eaters can find something to eat.
Address: Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 81000, Thailand
Hours: Monday-Saturday from 4pm to 10pm
Ao Nang Wednesday Evening Market
Pop by the Ao Nang Wednesday Evening Market to experience loads of street vendors offering everything from authentic Thai cuisine to more western food. There is a little bit of something for all ages here, which makes it a great trip for families and picky eaters.
Address: 2RX6+RRV, Ao Nang, Mueang Krabi District, Krabi 81000, Thailand
Hours: Wednesday from 4pm to 8pm
Fireshow
You’ve got to experience a fireshow when in Thailand! Reeve Beach Club Krabi on the beach of Ao Nang has one every night at 8pm. We recommend showing up early for dinner and to grab a good seat before the fireshow. Our kids (and mom and dad) were so impressed by the fire dancers and the variety within the show!
In order to get the full glowing experience from the luminescent plankton at Khea Reux Bin, you’ll need to experience this adventure at night. It isn’t widely spoken about from my internet searches and no tour guide advertised it to us, which is shocking. As I wrote this blog post, I only discovered that there was a luminescent plankton swim available in Ao Nang and I am so sad that we missed it since it is a bucket list item of mine.
I stumbled upon this 7 island hopping tour by long boat that includes a beach BBQ and visiting the luminescent plankton. The tour is about 8 hours long and you get off the boat probably after 9pm, which could be too late for little ones; however, you can customize a tour directly with your boat captain if you’re booking a private tour.
The mineral hot spring is a popular tourist activity and for good reason. The mineral springs offer many healing benefits and the waters are crystal clear. You’ll frequently see tours to the Emerald pool offered as a full day Jungle tour where you’ll also visit the Tiger cave, sitting Buddha and warm Krabi hot springs.
This jungle tour may be too physically intense for little children, which is why we opted for a longboat tour instead on this trip.
This high-adventure ropes course and zip line through the jungle looks like a blast! Our kids are still too young to experience this event but I know they cannot wait until they meet the height requirements!
Authentic Thai Restaurants in Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand
There are a number of good authentic Thai restaurants in Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand. I don’t think it’s possible to find “bad Thai food” in Ao Nang, because every place we’ve eaten at has been delicious. We just stumbled upon them through exploration. The restaurants we list here are a sampling of what the beach town has to offer, and this is our personal experience with them.
บ้านขนมจีนจ๊ะเหลี๊ย Rice noodles
This cozy restaurant was colorful and offered plenty of safe places for our kids to explore while dining in a traditional Thai setting and authentic Thai food. The owner and her family were so kind, and grandma even taught our kids Thai words like elephant, cat, drink, and eggplant. You’ve got to get grandma’s spicy rice and the fried chicken! We walked here almost every day from our hotel at the Ao Nang Bamboo Pool Resort.
Meal cost per person: 50-100 bhat
Address: ตำบล อ่าวนาง เมือง กระบี่ 81180
Phone: 0843192993
Hours: 8am-2:30pm Saturday to Wednesday
Lunch at our favorite noodle house in Ao NangLunch at our favorite noodle house in Ao Nang
Ton-Soi Kitchen • ต้นซอย
This family-owned restaurant offers authentic Thai food and a large menu of options available. There is plenty of seating available outside, and plenty of places for kids to safely play as well. Our kids enjoyed playing with the kids from the nearby homes and the owner’s daughter. I can’t pronounce what I ordered in Thai but it was a fried egg on rice with chicken and veggies with the chrysanthemum herbal sweet tea.
Reeve is a nice dining establishment situated on the waterfront of Ao Nang. The drink and food selection is varied, from authentic Thai food to European options. Every evening they offer a fireshow on the beach that lasts for about 20 minutes. The staff are incredibly friendly, especially towards children.
This cafe offers a fantastic selection of fun drinks like the butterfly pea peach tea and avocado espresso as well as a full menu of more western style foods like eggs benedict on croissants. It’s going to be a bit more expensive than dining at a traditional Thai restaurant, but the dining experience is worth experiencing in my opinion, especially if you’re looking for a cool blend of old and new Thai, with a little mix of the west.
The shop is located on the waterfront and offers AC with fast WiFi. I believe its a small franchise as well and can be found on several islands.
In post-pandemic Ao Nang, we found the area to not have many tourists in the low to mid-season. Therefore, we were not fighting big crowds, feeling pressure from some shop keepers to buy or tuk tuk drivers calling out “taxi” too much. We felt very relaxed during our entire family trip. We spent 7 nights exploring Ao Nang with our family of five in September 2022.
What’s the weather like in Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand in September?
We traveled to Ao Nang in September. The weather was warm (average of 26 degrees celsius) with moderately high humidity, and one to two rain showers a day lasting between 10 minutes to one hour. No thunderstorms. After the rain, the sky was clear again and the sun would shine.
Budget family accommodation in Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand
We enjoy staying at budget family accommodations with a minimum of wifi (internet), air conditioning and a pool on most of our travels since it makes our travel happier and our budget stretch further. For days that we don’t leave the resort, the pool is a wonderful amenity to have on hand in sunny and warm south Thailand. We stayed at the Ao Nang Bamboo Pool Resort with our family of five for 7 nights at about $24/night.
Read about the Ao Nang Bamboo Pool Resort in this blog.
Conclusion to the ultimate family travel guide to Ao Nang, Thailand
This ultimate family travel guide to Ao Nang, Thailand is our family’s labor of love dedicated to a wonderful town. We experienced its beautiful beaches, islands and limestone cliffs up close, dined at some great restaurants, and met some kind locals.
Have you been to Ao Nang with your family? Tell us what your favorite things to do were in the comments.
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