One time, my friend booked a room at My Khe for three nights, and only upon arrival did they realize they forgot sunscreen for the baby. They had to stop by a convenience store near the hotel to buy a tube of SPF 50 for kids, at a price nearly double that in Hanoi. After the first beach trip, the baby got a bit sunburnt, and the next day the whole family spent half the morning looking for after-sun lotion. The trip was still fun, but if they had packed more carefully at home, things would have been much more relaxed.
Traveling to Da Nang in the summer with small children, you only need to spend an extra 20 minutes preparing before your flight to save the whole family from scrambling upon arrival. I’ve gathered this list after many times accompanying families from Hanoi and Saigon—this isn’t just a generic checklist, but a collection of items that are truly useful.
Documents & Mobile Apps (never forget)
- ID cards/Passports: prepare for the whole family
- Flight tickets, hotel booking codes: consider printing them out in case your phone runs out of battery or the network is weak in crowded areas
- Grab, Xanh SM: pre-install to book a 7-seater car from the airport to the center for about 100k – 150k
- Offline Google Maps: pre-download maps of Da Nang + Hoi An to avoid lag when going to the Cam Thanh area
Sun Protection Items – Priority #1 for babies
From May to August in Da Nang, the UV index is frequently between 9–11 (high to very high). Baby skin is thin; just 30 minutes at the beach without protection can cause a red back.
- SPF 50+ Baby Sunscreen: physical type (contains zinc oxide), safe for children under 3 years old
- SPF 50+ Adult Sunscreen: reapply every 2 hours
- Wide-brimmed hat for baby: the type that covers the neck, not just a baseball cap
- UV protection sunglasses: for children aged 2 and up
- UPF 50+ Sun protection shirt: wear when going to the beach in the morning, dries quickly
- Mini folding umbrella: useful for both harsh sun and sudden rain showers in July-August
Beach & Pool Gear
Most coastal resorts have swimming pools; you should check in advance if your place provides gear for children. If not, note the following list:
- Baby swimwear: 2 sets to alternate while drying
- Swim floats / armbands: for children under 5, absolutely do not use ring floats at My Khe Beach because the afternoon waves are quite strong
- Children’s goggles
- Clamshell shoes / non-slip sandals: rocks in some parts of Non Nuoc beach are quite sharp
- Quick-dry towel (microfiber type, compact)
- Wet bags: 2–3 large zip-lock bags
Items by Age Group
Children under 2 years old:
- Enough diapers for the trip plus 1 extra day (Da Nang has many mother & baby stores like Con Cung, Bibomart, but they aren’t close to every district)
- Formula milk, bottles, bottle brush
- Specific baby weaning food
- Unscented wet wipes, dry tissues
- Compact stroller for trips to Hoi An or Ba Na in the evening is very necessary for long walks and steep sections (There are currently many daily stroller rental shops in Hoi An and Da Nang)
- Carrier/sleep sack if accustomed to using them
Children 2-6 years old:
- Familiar toys (a sleeping plushie is important)
- Books/iPad with offline content for waiting at the airport or traveling in cars
- Personal water bottle with a straw
- Familiar snacks in case the child finds Da Nang food difficult to eat
Mini Family First Aid Kit
This is what 90% of first-time traveling families lack
- Fever reducer for kids (Hapacol or Efferalgan based on weight)
- Smecta or probiotics
- Antihistamines (Loratadine)
- Insect bite cream
- After-sun lotion (aloe vera) as a lifesaver for sunburns
- Cajeput oil for babies under 3 years old
- Band-aids, gauze, physiological saline
- Thermometer
You can prepare these or visit pharmacies to buy them. Currently, in Da Nang, there are many reputable pharmacies in almost every district that sell at the right price with clear invoices, such as Long Chau, Pharmacity, and An Khang.
Electronics & Convenient Accessories
- 10,000mAh+ Power bank
- Charging cables (at least 2, with various connectors)
- Universal power adapter/strip because hotel rooms sometimes only have 1–2 outlets
- Headphones for kids for the flight (watching cartoons)
- Camera/Gimbal if you want to film a family vlog
- Waterproof phone pouch for the beach
“Small but Mighty” items everyone forgets
- Plastic bags + rubber bands: for dirty or wet clothes
- Wet wipes for adults: Da Nang is hot, so these are very necessary
- Mini clothespins: to dry swimwear in the hotel room
- Multi-purpose hangers: to hang items on the room balcony
- Light jacket: car/hotel/cafe air conditioning is often cold
- Folding raincoat: July–August can have sudden 15-minute showers
- 1-2 million VND in cash: Many roadside shops do not accept transfers yet, especially in Hoi An or when buying cheap items on the street starting from 10,000 VNĐ, 20,000 VNĐ.
The list looks long, but try turning it into a small game for the whole family: assign each member to be in charge of a group of items—Dad handles documents and electronics, Mom handles the first aid kit and baby items, and older siblings handle the beach gear. After everyone finishes packing, the family sits back together to “call roll” for each item one last time; it’s fun and makes it harder to miss things than if one person does everything.
If the suitcase is still tight, don’t try to cram everything. Quickly categorize into two groups: items that must be brought from home (baby’s familiar medicine, favorite toys, formula in use) and items that can be bought in Da Nang (water, snacks, tissues, beach toys). You can stop by supermarkets like Lotte, Mega Market, or Go!. This will help lighten your luggage and save time running back and forth.
Wish you and your family a meaningful trip in the friendly and beautiful coastal city of Da Nang!