Family Adventure Holiday Vietnam
Customizable private tour with flexible start date
14 DAYS / 13 NIGHTS
Overview
Highlights
- Experience both city and rural life in Vietnam on a special north to south route
- Explore the ancient capital of Hanoi
- Discover Mai Chau valley and trek through scenic trails
- Explore the art of water puppetry
- Discover the ‘Pearl of the Orient', Saigon
- Help change the life of locals in the Mekong Delta by donating a sampan
- Explore the charms of the Mekong River by cruising on a luxurious French Colonial riverboat
- Activities and accommodations can be tailored to suit your taste and budget
- Private guided excursions and transfers to enrich your experience
With delicious food, a fascinating culture and history, lush scenery and friendly people, Vietnam is a country that’s easy to fall in love with. Explore Hanoi together on a cyclo, delight at the water puppets, meet the hill tribes in the Mai Chau Valley. Check out the street food scene in Saigon, participate in farming activities, explore the famous Cu Chi tunnels, and conclude with a riverboat journey that will take you across the border into Cambodia. With so much to share and do together, this is a Vietnam family adventure that you and your kids will always remember.
Hanoi and beyond
A cyclo tour of Hanoi is an excellent introduction to this charming old city, and the novelty of travelling on these three-wheeled wonders is a thrill for all ages. Visit national monuments, the Hoan Kiem Lake, and glimpse the daily local life in the backstreets of the French Quarter. Watch the Quintessence of Tonkin, a live stage show that will introduce you to Vietnamese customs and culture. Visit the ancient capital of Hoa Lua and the Van Long Nature Reserve.
Meet the Hill Tribes
In the Mai Chau Valley, meet the Hmong hill tribe in the village of Xa Linh and learn about Vietnam’s cultural heritage. A family bicycle ride or a trek through the scenic valley past lush rice fields and idyllic villages is highly recommended.
Meet the water puppet man
Learn traditional water puppet theater from a master. Water puppetry originated in the wet rice fields of Vietnam’s Red River Delta. During the flooding of the fields in between crops, farmers created and introduced water puppets to entertain themselves and their families. Watch a show, handle the puppets and explore the art.
Saigon and the Cu Chi countryside and Tunnels
Relish a food tour of Saigon and dine with a local family. Pedal at a leisurely pace through the peaceful villages, fertile farmlands, and quiet canals of the Cu Chi countryside, visit an agricultural village, participate in some farming activities, and witness the process of making rice paper. With your guide, you will then explore the Cu Chi tunnels, which played a vital role for the Viet Cong troops as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches, and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese fighters. You and your kids can even crawl around in the safer parts for a unique experience of what underground life in the war was like. The Cu Chi Tunnels are not frightening for most kids, but they are sobering.
Sampan Donation
The Mekong Delta is a sprawling region of intensively cultivated land, where the lives of the locals are dependent on the Mekong River and its myriad of tributaries and canals. Sampan boats are crucial for making a livelihood here, yet some families can’t afford to buy one. In a specially arranged ceremony witnessed by local authorities, you can donate a sampan to one family in need.
Your river cruise to Phnom Penh
Board a luxurious French Colonial riverboat and discover the charms of the Mekong River with its remote villages, historic cities, and ancient temples. Observe traditional life at Cai Be where all the activity is on the water. See the sights at the historic town of Sa Dec, visit the charming island of Cu Lao Gieng, and watch the women weaving traditional Khymer scarves at the island village of Hong Ngu. Finally cross the border into Cambodia, where you will observe a fascinating transformation in the riverfront architecture.
Please note this itinerary for a family adventure holiday in Vietnam is just a sample that can be tailored in accordance with your personal wishes. All excursions and transfers are on a private basis, with the exception of the cruise portion, which is shared with other passengers.
Itinerary & Prices
AVAILABILITY
Welcome to Hanoi
Welcome to Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam, often referred to as the “Paris of the East”, with its yellow ochre colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards, and scenic lakes.
As soon as you deplane, the designated Immigration Officer and a guide will meet you at the end of the jet bridge or the entrance of the terminal.
The officer will assist you with immigration procedures to make sure that the process is as quick as possible.
From the airport, you will be driven to your hotel in the city center. Enjoy the ride through the busy streets. After check-in, take the rest of the day to relax and prepare for your exciting adventure in Vietnam.
City Tour by Cyclo and an Evening Show
Tour the city of Hanoi, with its ochre-colored colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards, and scenic lakes by quaint, pedal-powered cycle providing an up-close view of the sights. Visit the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing monument built to house the preserved body of beloved Vietminh leader Ho Chi Minh. Tour Ho Chi Minh’s House nearby, a simple wooden house in a tranquil setting where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university built in the late 11th century. Enjoy the cyclo ride back to the city center to visit the scenic Hoan Kiem Lake (“Lake of the Returned Sword”) named after a magical sword once used by a legendary Vietnamese emperor to defeat the Chinese Ming Dynasty. On an island in the middle of the lake sits the Ngoc Son Temple accessible by the iconic Huc Bridge. Conclude the tour by exploring the famed Old Quarter known for its ‘36 streets of 36 wares’ named after the original 36 artisan guilds that date as far back as the 13th century.
PM: The venue of The Quintessence of Tonkin is in Sai Son Village, 20km outside of Hanoi. It is performed by nearly 200 local farmers.
Set in the open-air large amphitheater, the show draws inspiration from the spiritual history of the nearby Thay Pagoda and explains the ancient union between religion and the monarchy. The show blends different aspects of the culture: Poetry, Buddhism, Nostalgia, Music & Painting, Joy & Festivities.
The 1000 years old art of water puppetry will bring you vivid images of daily rural life in Vietnam.
Right before the show, you will have a chance to try some local dishes from the outdoor food village right at the venue.
Transfer to the Nature Reserve
Depart Hanoi for a 2hr drive to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in Ninh Binh Province.
The ravages of time have destroyed the ancient citadel in town but some vestiges remain, including the temples to King Dinh and King Le among the rice paddies.
After lunch at a local restaurant en route, drive to the Van Long Nature Reserve, the largest wetland natural reserve in the Red River Delta. Enjoy a 2hr boat trip taking in stunning scenes of local villages dotted among the limestone karsts and caves. Bring along binoculars as you may encounter some rare langurs or birds.
End the day at the famous resort in Ninh Binh with the evening at leisure.
Welcome to Hanoi Welcome to Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam, often referred to as the “Paris of the East”, with its yellow ochre colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards, and scenic lakes. As soon as you deplane, the designated Immigration Officer and a guide will meet you at the end of the jet bridge or the entrance of the terminal. The officer will assist you with immigration procedures to make sure that the process is as quick as possible. From the airport, you will be driven to your hotel in the city center. Enjoy the ride through the busy streets. After check-in, take the rest of the day to relax and prepare for your exciting adventure in Vietnam. LOCATION Hanoi DAY 1 / 14 City Tour by Cyclo and an Evening Show Tour the city of Hanoi, with its ochre-colored colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards, and scenic lakes by quaint, pedal-powered cycle providing an up-close view of the sights. Visit the historic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an imposing monument built to house the preserved body of beloved Vietminh leader Ho Chi Minh. Tour Ho Chi Minh’s House nearby, a simple wooden house in a tranquil setting where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university built in the late 11th century. Enjoy the cyclo ride back to the city center to visit the scenic Hoan Kiem Lake (“Lake of the Returned Sword”) named after a magical sword once used by a legendary Vietnamese emperor to defeat the Chinese Ming Dynasty. On an island in the middle of the lake sits the Ngoc Son Temple accessible by the iconic Huc Bridge. Conclude the tour by exploring the famed Old Quarter known for its ‘36 streets of 36 wares’ named after the original 36 artisan guilds that date as far back as the 13th century. PM: The venue of The Quintessence of Tonkin is in Sai Son Village, 20km outside of Hanoi. It is performed by nearly 200 local farmers. Set in the open-air large amphitheater, the show draws inspiration from the spiritual history of the nearby Thay Pagoda and explains the ancient union between religion and the monarchy. The show blends different aspects of the culture: Poetry, Buddhism, Nostalgia, Music & Painting, Joy & Festivities. The 1000 years old art of water puppetry will bring you vivid images of daily rural life in Vietnam. Right before the show, you will have a chance to try some local dishes from the outdoor food village right at the venue. LOCATION Hanoi DAY 2 / 14 Transfer to the Nature Reserve Depart Hanoi for a 2hr drive to Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in Ninh Binh Province. The ravages of time have destroyed the ancient citadel in town but some vestiges remain, including the temples to King Dinh and King Le among the rice paddies. After lunch at a local restaurant en route, drive to the Van Long Nature Reserve, the largest wetland natural reserve in the Red River Delta. Enjoy a 2hr boat trip taking in stunning scenes of local villages dotted among the limestone karsts and caves. Bring along binoculars as you may encounter some rare langurs or birds. End the day at the famous resort in Ninh Binh with the evening at leisure. LOCATION Hanoi to Ninh Binh DAY 3 / 14 Hill Tribes and Nature
Depart for a 4.5hr drive to Mai Chau, famed for its splendid vistas of lush mountains and valleys and stilt-house villages inhabited mainly by the H’mong and White Thai ethnic groups.
After lunch, we’ll visit the H’mong hill tribe village of Xa Linh village. Your guide will facilitate chats with local hill-tribe people for insight into their daily lives including planting rice, herding buffalos, and building traditional houses.
Enjoy the evening at leisure at the Ecolodge.
Leisurely Morning and Transfer to Hanoi
After breakfast, take advantage of your free morning to unwind and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. You can cycle or trek through the valley, or just relax by the pool.
Lunch at the Lodge before driving back to Hanoi. Arrive at your Hanoi hotel in the early evening and enjoy the Old Quarter with its restaurants and busy night market.
Water Puppets and Transfer to Saigon
Morning Food Exploration and Dinner with a Local Family
This morning you might want to skip breakfast at the hotel!
The largest city in Vietnam, Saigon is truly a melting pot of flavors, with an amazing street food scene. A local foodie will join you at the Vuon Chuoi Market where you can try freshly made banh khot (grilled rice cakes) and bun cha Hanoi (chargrilled pork with noodles) or banh mi (stuffed baguette).
Continue exploring the small alleys on foot to observe local life and habits, stop at a traditional medicine shop, and listen as your guide reveals insights into Vietnamese food.
Walk past a bustling wholesale flower market before sitting down to lunch in a local canteen.
In the early evening, another local adventure awaits. Transfer to a home of the family in the outskirts. In Vietnam, a typical family has three or four generations living under one roof. Tonight, you will be able to take a very close look into their lives.
Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese meal prepared by Mrs. Hong, a restaurant owner, and a cooking teacher. She’ll be happy to share her recipes and secrets with you.
After dinner, there will be time to interact with the hosts and learn about relationships in Vietnamese families and the traditions involved. Feel free to ask all questions.
Cu Chi Countryside and Tunnels Explorations
Cu Chi District is best known for wartime battles and famous underground tunnels. But there is more to it to discover.
Explore the greener side of this district by visiting the Agricultural Village. Visit farmers and see how they grow buffalos, fish, and prawns. See a mushroom farm and participate in some farming activities, either at a garden or rice field (depending on the season). Sit down to a delicious lunch featuring vegetables picked from the garden.
Start your bicycle ride through the lush countryside. You will see large woven bamboo frames by the side of the road with circular rice paper sheets drying in the sun. Many of the locals in the area are involved in making rice paper. Stop to visit a rice paper workshop to witness the process.
Next, visit the ingenious Cu Chi tunnels, an immense network of connecting underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong as hiding spots during combat. The tunnels also served as living quarters, communication and supply routes, and housed hospitals, food, and weapons caches.
A visit to the underground compounds will provide a better understanding of the tunnels’ history, the hardship of life in the tunnels, and the Vietnamese resilience during combat.
Sampan Donation for a Local Family
Begin a Mekong Cruise
Weaving Village and Daily Lives
Border Crossing
Disembark the Navigator
Accommodations
CRUISES & LODGES
Mekong Navigator
A beautiful riverboat with splendid French-colonial styled interiors reminiscent of a luxury hotel.
68 Guests
34 Cabins
