CELEBRITY Q&A
MasterChef star Tommy Pham’s family travel tips
Vietnamese-Australian chef Tommy Pham – a MasterChef fan favourite – loves travelling in Asia with his wife Wendy and his children Miles, 3, and one-year-old Hugo. We asked him about his favourite experiences.
Where have you travelled overseas as a family of four?
We’ve been on two big trips this year. We spent six weeks in Vietnam and four weeks in Japan and Korea.
What was your favourite?
It would probably be our trip to Vietnam. There are lots of things to do with the kids, nice resorts with pools and easy access to food, so everyone was happy. Vietnamese people also just love babies so everywhere we went someone was willing to entertain the kids for us! We spent some time with family in Saigon, then travelled to Da Nang and Quy Nhon. It was our first time in Quy Nhon and we absolutely loved it. There aren’t many secret spots left in Vietnam, but I think Quy Nhon is one of them. It reminded me of the old school Vietnam I experienced when I was little travelling with my family. I also loved that it was a mix between beautiful beaches with lush mountains in the background, and there aren’t too many huge resorts yet. We stayed at Anantara Quy Nhon Villas, which is around 30 minutes from the city centre – close enough for day trips. If you just want to hang out with family then you can just stay in the villa and you’ve got a secluded beach out the back, a private pool, room service, chilled vibes and most importantly good food! It was super fresh and authentic.
Opening image: Tommy Pham and his son Miles in front of Mt Fuji in Japan Image above: Tommy on Masterchef
Images: Tommy and Miles at Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto, At Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto
Where did you go in Japan?
In Japan we went everywhere! Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Isawa (near Mt Fuji). We hit up Universal Studios Japan and Tokyo Disneyland, which are a must if you have kids. The smiles and happiness were just magical. I took Miles on his first rollercoaster ride, and we had to ride the Buzz Lightyear ride twice because he insisted! They’ve also got strollers for hire everywhere, even in the shopping centres! We used to live in Japan before having kids and seeing them fall in love with it made my heart feel so full.
How is travelling different to before you had kids?
It’s very different. Kids come first, and they don’t know or care if you’re overseas. No more late nights wandering around the city and no visiting tiny restaurants or the best food stalls – if there’s no high chair or stroller parking it’s a no go.
What’s the worst thing about travelling with kids?
When you’re excited to dig into a nice meal but you can’t because both kids need to go to the toilet at that exact moment. It happens every time!
And what’s been the best?
Meeting our friends and their kids who we hadn’t seen since before the pandemic and just playing together in the park.
What tips do you have for other parents when it comes to travelling with kids?
Lower your expectations. You won’t be doing all the things you loved doing when you travelled before kids. If you loved to travel for food, you probably won’t be able to visit those hole in the wall places, you’ll probably be eating a lot more McDonald’s than you ever planned to.
Why do you think travelling with kids is important?
It gives you more quality family time than you would have at home. It exposes kids to new experiences and creates new memories that they may not remember but it still shapes their character as they grow up.
Where would you like to go next?
Probably to a nice beach resort that has lots of kids’ facilities and great food. Maybe Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam or Sentosa in Singapore.
Image: Tommy and Miles at a Jumbo Seafood Restaurant in Singapore, Disneyland Tokyo
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