Our Hong Kong Family Adventure: 6 Days of Fun
Here's a glimpse into our amazing 6-day Hong Kong trip at the end of May, traveling as a family of four (2 adults, 2 kids).
Flights & Accommodation
We booked round-trip tickets with Hong Kong Airlines for around 15 million VND, baggage included. The flight offered a light snack with pastries and drinks. No in-flight entertainment screens, but the seats were comfortable, and thankfully, our flight was on time.
For accommodation, we stayed in a room at Chungking Mansions, costing 1,500 VND per night. We booked through Agoda, and for the price, it was acceptable. The room had two double beds, a small refrigerator, a compact but clean toilet, and daily cleaning with fresh towels. A real plus was the friendly receptionist who offered helpful advice and directions.
Transportation
We purchased Octopus cards for both adults and children (the children's cards are light blue). Loading them with credit made getting around incredibly convenient. Many shops also accept Octopus payments. Public transportation costs seemed reasonable. The Ding Ding tram was super cheap (though a bit hot), while buses were great for reaching different destinations comfortably with air conditioning. The MRT required a bit more walking but was the fastest option.
Staying Connected
I purchased a SIM card at 7-Eleven right after exiting the arrival gate for 78 HKD (265k VND). It provided unlimited data for 7 days with excellent signal strength.
Our Hong Kong Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Tsim Sha Tsui Exploration
We took Bus A21 from the airport to Chungking Mansions for about 35 HKD. It was a comfortable ride, and we got to see Hong Kong by night as our flight arrived around 8 PM. There are plenty of food options around Tsim Sha Tsui, so we grabbed some noodles before settling in for the night, ready for Disneyland the next day.
Day 2: Disneyland Magic
After a light breakfast from 7-Eleven, we took the MRT to Sunny Bay Station and then hopped on the charming Mickey-themed train to Disneyland. The park opens at 10 AM, but people were already lining up early. We chose a Friday to avoid the bigger weekend crowds. Make sure to download the Disneyland app to catch all the shows! Luckily, we saw all the shows and didn't wait too long for the rides. We stayed until the evening, securing a spot in front of the castle for the spectacular light and fireworks show—absolutely magical, like a fairytale!
Tip: We bought a 2-adult, 2-child ticket and meal combo on Klook to save money and time.
Day 3: The Peak & AIA Observation Wheel
We started with breakfast at 7-Eleven again. Then, we headed to The Peak Tram (we pre-purchased tickets on Klook, including round-trip tram + Sky Terrace 428 + Madame Tussauds), which was cheaper than buying separately. Consider a fast pass if you want to avoid the long, winding queues. The views were stunning, but it was quite windy and cold. The weather was misty, so Hong Kong appeared shrouded in fog. Definitely a must-do as a family!
In the afternoon, we visited the AIA Observation Wheel, where we waited almost an hour to ride, but it was worth it! We enjoyed three rotations with incredible views. Highly recommend it for families!
In the evening, we took the Star Ferry back to Tsim Sha Tsui (located near the wheel) and enjoyed ice cream from the famous Hong Kong ice cream truck (another queue!). It was delicious; the ice cream practically melted in my mouth. However, we tried other trucks on later days, and they weren't quite the same.
We also took time to see Victoria Harbour.
Dinner was at a restaurant near our hotel.
Day 4: Avenue of Stars & Kowloon Walled City Park
After breakfast, we walked to the Avenue of Stars, taking our time to see the handprints of famous artists. It took a while as I kept Googling the English names to recognize the actors. We spent a good amount of time there.
We then took a bus to Kowloon Walled City Park to see the exhibition recreating the Kowloon Walled City film set. It was very crowded, and we had to queue for free tickets. By the time we got our tickets, the entry time was 4 hours later! We only had 15 minutes inside to take photos, and we didn't realize it and spent too long at one spot, so we didn't get to see everything. We were called out before we could photograph all the scenes. This was a bit disappointing!
Later, we went to Temple Street Night Market, enjoyed lemon tea, beef offal, and grilled skewers. After a satisfying meal, we returned to our hotel.
Day 5: Hong Kong Island Exploration
After a quick breakfast, we took the MRT to Central Station. From there, we rode the Ding Ding tram to explore Hong Kong Island. We stopped at Kennedy Town to see the famous basketball court in the apartment complex for the million-dollar view. To escape the heat, we took the MRT to Central Market. Tip: Try the restaurant in Central Market serving delicious noodles and roast duck. Be prepared to share tables and queue during lunchtime! Don't forget to try Lan Fong Yuen milk tea nearby (strong tea flavor, not too sweet). There was a big crowd waiting to buy and take pictures.
In the afternoon, we took the kids to Tai Yuen Street, also known as Toy Street. The kids loved it! The shops were air-conditioned, making it comfortable to browse the vast selection of toys.
Day 6: Departure
We packed our bags, checked out of the hotel, and headed to the airport. This time, we chose the Airport Express Train to ensure we arrived on time.
At the airport, be sure to find your departure gate early. The distance from immigration to the gate can be very long (you might need to take a transit train, depending on the gate's location, as there are over 500 gates!). It's best to arrive at the airport at least 4 hours before your flight.
This is just my personal experience, and I hope you have a wonderful and memorable trip to Hong Kong!
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