Family Vietnam tour in 12 days

THROUGH FAMILY VIETNAM TOUR, YOU WILL DISCOVER

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi

Welcome to Hanoi. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. You have choice to relax at the hotel or venture for a walk to explore the bustling Old Quarter streets with your family.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Cooking class (B, L)

In the morning, create for some family fun as everyone can be master chef joining a cooking class at a training center of a hospitality school for the less privileged children, the street kids. The training program will provide them essential work skills and after graduation they have chance to work in some of the hotels and restaurants throughout Vietnam.

After enjoying your cooking result, explore Hanoi’s old quarter by cyclo through quaint streets and vibrant markets. In late afternoon, attend a water-puppetry performance – a sure-kids entertaining! This performance art dates to the 11th century, all the puppets are traditionally lacquered using Vietnamese painting technique. Continue family adventure through further Hanoi’s quaint alleys or hop in a random local restaurant for a delicious dinner.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Van Long (B, L)

In the morning, meet your expert guide and depart Hanoi for Ninh Binh, one of the Vietnam’s best rustic landscape which also known as “Halong Bay on land”, but rather than rising out of the sea, the limestone mountains here rise out of green rice fields and winding rivers.

After a two and a half hour drive, swap your transfer for a bicycle ride. Then cycle leisurely through rice fields and rustic villages en-route to the nearby Van Long Nature Reserve area. Along the way, stop at Mai Trung hamlet for an in-depth farming experience. Learn how local hosts plan their rice crop, prepare for baby rice stems, scooping water or harvesting, collecting chicken eggs, but depending on the time of year.

Back on the bike, cycle further to a local family home for highlight of the day, an up-close demonstration of traditional Vietnamese cooking using rice paper or fried crab dishes with garden herbs. Then enjoy family meal with your local hosts, savour the local specialties you have cooked along with another Vietnamese favorite drink – rice wine!

In the afternoon, continue to Van Long wharf and set off on a bamboo woven boat trip into the Van Long Nature Reserve – where hundreds of wetland bird species in northern Vietnam gather for haven. Your boat row past poetic but dramatic landscapes and that are perfect for family life photos. At the end, float into a ceiling stalactites cave, oh watch out monsters! before heading back to Hanoi in late afternoon.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Note :

• There are only two rice seasons in North Vietnam: from February to June and from July to September. There will be other farming activities during October to February.
• Please bring a hat / umbrella and be ready for the rainy season or high temperatures during the summer season! Proper hydration is strongly encouraged during the summer months.

Day 4 : Hanoi – Cat Ba (B, L, D)

Rise early, leave the hustle and bustle of Hanoi behind your family and you travel to Hai Phong – a busy sea port city on Vietnam’s northern coast. Take an express boat to Cat Ba Island, where you and your family will embark on the island-adventure. On the way, your hydro foil motors past long barges and port cranes, good signs of Vietnam’s fast growing economy. Upon arrival, check-in your Cat Ba hotel and your guide will take you for a leisurely hike to Cannon Fortress, built during Vietnam’s French colonial period.

On top of this mountain, enjoy sea breezy landscape and panoramic view of the bay’s limestone formations. Return to your hotel for some rest just before dark when local fishing boats start their night fishing. Halong Bay is one of big squid fishing center of Vietnam, therefore fresh seafood, squid feature heavily on all menu in the restaurants on Cat Ba Island.

Overnight in Cat Ba.

Day 5: Cat Ba – Bai Tu Long Bay (B, L)

After good breakfast, the day will be jammed with activities with fun for the whole family in Vietnam. Embark on a wooden junk-boat and explore Lan Ha Bay, after 45 minutes your family arrive a more scenic but less-traveled part of Halong Bay. Leave the boat and hop into kayak, paddle through cave and watch some beautiful coral and colorful fish swimming in emerald water, venture your kayak further into secret lagoon. End of morning you will be served on-board picnic lunch as your junk sails that close up to the surrounding limestone pillars, what a lunch experience. After that sail to Moody Beach where your expert guide assist you to conquering the limestone cliffs.

Overnight in Cat Ba.

Day 6: Cat Ba – Hanoi – Fly to Danang – Hoi An (B, L)

This morning, your expert local guide will escort you into Cat Ba National Park and wind through forest to the top of a limestone formation with superb summit views. Take time to take some postcard photos for home. After lunch in a local family home, jump back on the speedboat and return to the port in Hai Phong City to take a transfer to Hanoi for your flight to Danang.

Upon arrival you’ll be met by your guide and after 40 minute drive you will arrive the coastal town of Hoi An. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site this charming town used to be an international port. Unlike many destinations in Vietnam, Hoi An offers great pedestrian leisurely walking routes. Enjoy the rest of the day for leisure with your family.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 7 : Hoi An – Farmers & fisherman (B, L)

After breakfast, discover the rural beauty Vietnam’s countryside. Hop on a bike and paddle through the green rice paddies to a nearby vegetable village of Tra Que where you will put your hands in helping out the farmers. Cycle your way back to Hoi An and take a peaceful river cruise to meet some fisherman for a hands-on lesson in net-fishing. Here you’ll gain a deep appreciation for how difficult (but good fun) it is to paddle bamboo boats. Well, eventually you would argue bamboo baskets!

Head back to town and enjoy another night on the riverside promenade in Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8: Hoi An city tour (B, L)

For another picturesque half day you will discover further Hoi An surrounding rural as you cycle through rice field to Cam Thanh Village where you’ll have chance to know more about rural life as many locals still shelter in thatched houses and the roof are made of woven coconut leaves. Visit a family is a good way to exchange understanding with the very friendly local hosts. After refreshing with a fresh coconut, cycle to the river to hop on a bamboo basket boat to try your hand in catching crabs with assistance if needed from local master. Finally, you will have chance to show your handicraft skills making lantern in a local workshop. Take home your own. Cycle leisurely to head back to town where you have the rest of the day wandering the mesmerizing streets of Hoi An ancient town.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9 : Hoi An (B)

Wow, today is free day. Spend the whole day to feel Hoi An at your own pace, the way & the style you like. Cycle to the beach or join in a cooking class, or even spend time in spa. If those are not your things then you might like explore the ruins of ancient temple of My Son on a half day-tour. Save the best for the last, this evening in Hoi An, be sure to float fire lanterns on Hoai river – it’s a traditional rite for good lucks that the whole family will be sure to enjoy!

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 10 : Hoi An – Danang – Fly to Ho Chi Minh City (B)

In the morning, take a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, your guide will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel.

In the afternoon, start at the magnificent Saigon Opera House – built during colonial Indochina, one of the city’s most iconic buildings. There you’ll enjoy the unforgettable art performance – A O Show, which is a spectacular contemporary showcase of Vietnamese culture and performance art combining beautifully precise elements of both old and new. This has been Vietnam’s most talented performance where the artists, traditional musicians and circus – like choreography combine so well, A O Show expresses the lives of the Vietnamese people through its ensemble creations with very simple aid material like wood, bamboo sticks performers recreate the peaceful serenity of the Vietnamese countryside, life pace and frenetic traffic in Hanoi and Saigon. It’s one of the most memorable experiences to be watched in the city.

After the show, walk along the main boulevards of Saigon’ central district to a local restaurant for dinner. Afterwards transfer back to your hotel for a well-deserved sleep.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 11 : Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)

This morning depart from your hotel and after approximately 2 hours meet your Mekong Queen at the Cai Be jetty at 10 AM, you will be welcomed with cold towels and a refreshing drink while your Mekong Queen sets off for its leisurely cruise on the busy waterways. On the river, boat traffic is endless and the activity never ceases. From your comfort sampan you will observe local life as it plays out on the river sides – the people, the lush green landscapes – while your attentive crew serves you some more tea and local fresh fruits. In short while, your boat glides through Cai Be floating market to see the houses cum boats from around the regions sell locally agricultural products. We’ll make stops along the way to visit local family industries: coconut candy and puffed rice, rice paper to have glimpses of products that provide a living for the riverside locals. Your cruise ends at local restaurant for the local tasty lunch.

After lunch, at around 2.30 PM, take a short cruise across mighty Mekong, towards the Vinh Long city where your personal vehicle awaits to drive you back to Ho Chi Minh City, arrival is in late the afternoon.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 12 : Ho Chi Minh City – Departure (B)

Well what begin must finish and unfortunately, this is the end of your journey! Today, meet with your guide who will transfer you to the airport for your onward flight.

You might be interested in our Absolute Vietnam tour, otherwise look for other interesting options in our Vietnam multi-destination tours!