pilsbury

Hello - me again! Ok so all flights, trains, boats, hotels booked, jabs done and visas being applied for next week. So exciting! Our itinerary is: 3 days hanoi > 2 days halong bay > 1 day hue > 4 days hoi an > 6 days nha trang (our luxury, relax time bonaome!) > 1 night saigon And we will be getting the train between each destination. I am now thinking about packing as we are hoping to squeeze it all into two rucksacks... a few specific questions - do you think we need mosquito nets? is there any specific strong, but child-friendly, deet you'd recommend? do i need to take a US travel plug as well as a european one? as well as all the obvious stuff is there anything vietnam-specific you'd recommend we'd pack? thanks! ps - telemum i am VERY jealous of your trip and have been following it with interest! i also love mexico and will definitely take the kids there one day soon. i haven't been to san christobel but highly recommend oaxaca and san agustinillo if you get the chance!

Hey - I ended up buying a lovely maroon leather one from urban outfitters - probably not what you're after but check out urban outfitters anyway as they have a good range...

my O/H went to the white horse on friyda night and said it was a really nice mix of old locals and new folks and that the food was delicious

our 2.5 year old boy will be getting (from us and various family members) - dressing up, swimming goggles, remote controlled digger, playmobil pirate ship and accessories, jigsaws, a skateboard and helmet (he is desperate for this, but i expect i will live to regret it!) and an electric toothbrush. i think he'll love the playmobile the best as he is always trying to get into his sisters who won't let him, and also cos he's just started making lots of imaginary stories in his head with "his people" (her playmobil when she's at school ;)) for his 2nd birthday, his best presents were definitely a scooter and a ton of duplo HTH

votes from me also for all saints playgroup on weds mornings (you don't need to be religious at all!), bea's baby bop (bea is just lovely, multiple classes and locations per wk),fri morning rhyme time at nunhead library (less manic than the weds dulwich one) and tues morning singalong at margaret's group in nunhead. i never really got into it but the its a scream (or similar) baby cinema in peckham, brixton etc are supposed to be good and nice if you just want your own space!

Wow, I just wanted to say that you for the wealth of info you've all shared on here, in particular bonaome, that must have taken you ages to write and I'm so very grateful! All so very very helpful. We've pretty much decided on our itinerary now and starts booking a couple of hotels but I might PM you and oioihanoi if I have any further Specific questions if that's ok? Thanks so v much again xx Ps - you might be interested to know that I posted the same Q on mumsnet and just got two responses from unhelpful people telling me not to go there with kids (aka I'm a bad mum!).... Love love love EDF!

SO, we've taken the plunge and booked flight to go to Vietnam over Easter hols (flying into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh, 18 nights in total). We have a vague idea of itinerary, but not booked anything up just yet. I'd love to hear if anyone has experience of travelling with young children in Vietnam. My DD will be almost 5 and DS getting close to 3 by the time we travel. In particular I'd love to hear any must/must-not sees/dos, how many different destinations you think is viable in that time with that age kids, any hotel and resto reccs etc. I'd also love to know how to start introducing them to Vietnamese food (starting that this weekend with a dinner of chicken satay, sticky rice and spring rolls, wish me luck!). Thanks!

another +1 for sistema

BBQ Pit (Hisar) on LL would be good for that I'd imagine

thankyou - i'd forgotten about the beach, so we had a lovely wander about, some time in the tate and on the beach, lunch at giraffe (along with a trillion other parents), a ride on the carousel and froyo and the SNOG pink double decker bus (froyo was a bit hit!). it wasn't really warm enough for the appearing rooms, but will do that another day - and sadly my kids are too small for the holler exhib (much as i'd love to whizz down the slides myself!!) thanks!

Promised the kids (2 and 4) a day out in town tomorrow. Am thinking just a mooch along south bank and see what takes our fancy, but pls let me know if there's anything specific youd recommend... Thanks!

Hahaha maybe I need to change the thread title to "most thrilling thread for ages" ;)

wow, some rucksack experts out there! thanks! i looked at the whistles ones and yes they are beautiful but i don't think practical enough for my needs eastpak wyoming - i'm afraid i don't like it, don't laugh but its too rucksack-y for me :) the millican ones are nice, but might be a bit too high spec for me not aware of outnet and just had a peek at this gorgeous chloe one http://www.theoutnet.com/en-GB/product/See-by-Chloe/Textured-leather-backpack/599573 but again i don't think its practical enough (thin straps for example) i think i want a canvas type one, with 1 or no pockets on the outside and a couple of pockets/compartments inside....Annoyingly most of the sites don't actually show what they're like inside!

My kids are 4 and 2 now, so I don't quite have to carry the world around with me anymore, but I still always need a store of wipes, toy cars, spare knickers about me (along with the usual handbag guff of keys, wallet, phone, notebook etc). I am using the pram less and less nowadays(hoorah!), so I am looking for a nice backpack to treat myself too - one that doesn't scream mummy, but is also practical should the inevitable happen and it gets apple juice/wee/coffee on it! I like the fjallraven, herschel and sandqvist brands, but anyone out there recommend one over the other? or something else?

i'd also love to know age suitability...

hi - does anyone go to the stagecoach classes at bessemer grange? am considering the sat morning ones for my 4 year old from september onwards, so would love to hear any feedback - thanks!

And at myatts fields too, had such a fun time there this morning!

Does anyone know if either of these are on today?

apparently an ice cream parlour....

alternatively i went to a meeting where these guys presented the other day - https://www.startuploans.co.uk - all above board, they offer loans up to ?25k for new (less than 24 months old) businesses, 6% interest rate payable over 1-5 years

why don't you approach one of the local bike shops - e.g. balfes on ed road or pauls on bellenden road (tho i guess prefereably the former as they have more space) - and ask if you can do a pop-up style shop within/out front of their shop for a month. that way you can get a good idea of how popular this could be

want to take them for a special day out, but unsure which is more suitable for their age range... chessington obvs has the zoo which is great for everyone and is cheaper but legoland... well its legoland, so its bound to be amazing! we will be going on a friday or monday to avoid crowds and expensive prices. which do you think would be more fun for them?

peckham rye park is looking great ... and when we came out of the park and onto the rye yesterday afternoon around 4.30 there was a rather brilliant 7-piece brass band playing just in front and to the side of the cafe... anyone know whe they are and if they'll be returning? so lovely to sit on the grass and listen!

thanks guys x

anyone know what's going on with this? was supposed to be restarting the other week, but on their twitter it just says that "Due to unforeseen circumstances, Peckham Market will not be opening as planned this Saturday. More news to follow.." (its the one that on saturdays in the playground of the peckham academy) i really liked going there before xmas, do we think its coming back soon?