Hong Kong Family Adventure: A 5-Day Trip (30/4/2025)
Flights
Our family trip included four adults and three young children (ages 4 and 5). We decided to book our flights *before* securing our visas, optimistically assuming the Hong Kong visa process wouldn't take too long. We chose HK Express for its affordable fares, despite the less-than-ideal return flight time. Each adult ticket included 20kg of checked baggage, costing approximately 4,600,000 VND per person.
Visa Application
The Hong Kong visa application process is entirely online. We submitted applications for two adults and two children first, followed by our friends' family applications about three weeks later. I submitted our documents on March 1st and received an Acknowledgement Letter on March 5th. When I hadn't received any updates by March 18th, I sent a follow-up email. I received a response on March 20th, and our visas were approved by the afternoon of March 21st!
Our friends' application took longer. After waiting three weeks, I also sent a follow-up email, attaching our family's approved visas and explaining that we were traveling together and needed the visas expedited to best organize our travel plans for the children. After waiting another week, I sent a second follow-up email, and they received their approvals the next day.
I found many YouTube tutorials helpful for completing the application form, but I encountered a confusing question:
Is there any included spouses/partner#/children/ siblings in the applicant's travel document who is/are travelling with the applicant?
I answered "No" because Vietnamese passports no longer include children on their parents' passports. Some YouTube tutorials suggest answering "Yes," but this no longer seemed accurate.
The Hong Kong Immigration Department's website checklist is comprehensive. I followed it closely and added a personal checklist for each applicant, detailing the number of files and the documents included in each file. This aimed to make the application review easier and prevent overlooking important documents.
Mobile Data
We purchased an eSIM from Hong Kong Bên Hông, which provided detailed activation instructions before boarding the plane in Vietnam. It was very convenient and easy to use.
Accommodation
Hong Kong hotels are quite expensive. Agoda offered very few hotels with a "pay later" option; most required immediate payment for the best rates. Since we didn't yet have our visas, we were hesitant to pay upfront. After some searching, we booked Cosmo Hotel Wanchai, paying upon visa approval. We booked a room with one large bed for approximately 3,200,000 VND per night.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Close to bus stops
- Friendly staff
- Well-equipped rooms
- Convenient location for transportation
- Walking distance to dining options in Wanchai
Cons:
- Slightly dated facilities (still clean and acceptable)
- One of our two rooms had a direct view of a columbarium
Dining
Traveling with young children meant we often ate wherever was most convenient. Pushing two strollers limited our culinary exploration, and we didn't experience many of the famous restaurants.
Each day, we explored with the kids from 9 AM to 11 PM before returning to the hotel for bedtime.
In the Wanchai area, I recommend Hang Heung Bakery Cake. They offer delicious and affordable breakfast sets. Our entire family ate for under 200 HKD and stayed full until early afternoon!
Transportation
We borrowed adult Octopus cards from family members who had recently visited. I also borrowed three children's cards from Hong Kong Bên Hông.
I recommend topping up your Octopus cards at the Hong Kong airport, adding a substantial amount to avoid constant reloads. We added 200 HKD per card (children's cards are 50% off) for five days, and it was almost not enough. Transportation costs are significantly higher than in countries like South Korea or Singapore.
Disneyland
Many people ask about the best way to purchase Disneyland tickets. We found that purchasing a ticket and lunch combo via Klook was quite convenient and cost-effective because the combo included lunch, dinner, and snacks (food inside Disney is quite expensive).
For popular rides with long queues, we purchased Premier Access for individual rides on the Disney Hong Kong website. The "Frozen" ride was sometimes included in a three-ride combo; other times, it wasn't. Therefore, we purchased individual Premier Access passes on the website for convenience. This ride is very popular, and passes are released on the day of your visit. Buy your passes early that morning before heading to Disney! Skipping a 70-minute line was incredibly rewarding.
Since we were traveling with young children, we stayed late to watch the 9 PM fireworks. We left the hotel around 9 AM, enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and explored the city before heading to Disney around noon. The lunch voucher could be used anytime before 4 PM, so we had plenty of time.
We were able to experience almost all of the attractions (except for a few thrill rides the kids weren't old enough for), making it a successful Disney day!
Sightseeing
- The Peak Tram line was two hours long. We bought our tickets in advance, we felt obligated to make the climb. We purchased round-trip tickets but chose to queue for only the ascent. Due to the intense afternoon heat, we decided to skip the return tram ride and take a bus back down.
- Our family explored various locations, including a visit to Lan Kwai Fong for a quick check-in with the kids. I'm happy to share our detailed itinerary via direct message if anyone is interested.
The total cost for two adults and two children was approximately 75,000,000 VND. The trip cost 60,000,000 VND for 2 adults and 1 child. I consider these prices to be quite affordable, considering the high cost of living and expenses in Hong Kong.
I hope this review is helpful for your upcoming trip to Hong Kong!
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