Family Travelling To Vietnam

Day 1 – Arrival in Hanoi

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel in the city center to check-in (regular check-in time). By sunset and when the temperature is down, walk to the Old Quarter of Hanoi for a cyclo ride around the Old Streets which were named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. Stop at Hoan Kiem Lake to learn about the legend of the lake. Stop at art galleries, handicraft shops for shopping, followed by a Water Puppet Show, a typical art performance of people in the Red River Delta.

🏚️ Hotel Option in Hanoi: Adamas Hotel or similar.

Day 2 – Hanoi – Sightseeing (B)

After breakfast, visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum before exploring his house on stilts and lush gardens. A short walk from the mausoleum is one of the great symbols of Hanoi, the One Pillar Pagoda, an 11th-century wooden temple built on a single stone pillar in the water. It was designed to resemble a blooming lotus. Continue with the venerable Temple of Literature built in 1077 – Vietnam’s first university. In the afternoon, continue with the Museum of Ethnology where displays artifacts of 54 minority groups in Vietnam.

🏚️ Hotel Option in Hanoi: Adamas Hotel or similar.

Day 3 – Hanoi – Mai Chau – Mai Hich Village – 150km ~ 4 hours (B, L, D)

Breakfast at the hotel and check-out.
08:00 A.M you will leave Ha Noi for Mai Chau. Our driver will take you through the beautiful mountainous province of Hoa Binh which is located in the Southwest of the capital of Viet Nam. Four hours on the way, you’ll see gorgeous scenery dotted with limestone and rice paddies while passing several small villages of Thai, H’Mong, and Dao minority people.
Descending the last 14km of your first day of the tour on a steep mountain road into the stunning valley of Mai Chau, you will reach a village where your tasty lunch is prepared. Your comfortable bed tonight will be at a home in this quaint village where you can experience the rich culture and tradition of the Thai people.
Arrive at your homestay by noontime, enjoy a meal cooked by your host and take your time for relaxing. Late afternoon, walk around the village, enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature and rural activities in action, including houses-on-stilt, fish ponds, low terrace paddy fields, and so on.

🏚️ Hotel Option in Mai Chau: Homestay at Mai Hich village or similar.

Day 4 – Mai Hich Village – Cycling (B, L, D)

After breakfast, take 2 hours bicycle ride (kids can seat behind parents). Along the biking route, you will stop to visit a primary school, local families and learn about their daily life. Ride a bicycle to villages of Thai people such as Ban Denh, Ngoa, Sun, Muoi, etc. from Mai Hich to Buoc Village. The route ends at your homestay. The afternoon is free at leisure!

🏚️ Hotel Option in Mai Chau: Homestay at Mai Hich village or similar.

Day 5 – Mai Chau – Ninh Binh – 158km – 4 hours (B)

After breakfast, transfer to Ninh Binh. This route will take 4 hours. Upon arrival, you will check in your hotel and be free by the poolside.

🏚️ Hotel Option in Ninh Binh: Tam Coc Rice Field Resort or similar.

Day 6 – Ninh Binh – Sightseeing (B, L)

After breakfast, the visit is to Hoa Lu – Vietnam’s first capital in the 10th century before it was moved to Thang Long, Hanoi today, in 1,010, and the remains of Dinh & Le Kings’ Temples. Then get on the small rowing boat to travel along the canals amidst local villages and green fields. Enjoy the beauty of Tam Coc (means 3 caves) which is also called “Ha Long Bay on land”. Go through the caves and then row back to the boat quay. Lunch will be at a local restaurant.
Ride a cow cart to Bich Dong temple, 2 km from Tam Coc, which was conferred by a King the title “Vietnam’s second most beautiful grotto”. Climb up the Ngu Nhac Son (Buddha’s Palm Mountain), be charmed by the marvelous scenery offered by the mountains, rivers, and pagodas.

🏚️ Hotel Option in Ninh Binh: Tam Coc Rice Field Resort or similar.

Day 7 – Ninh Binh – Ha Long Bay – 210km – 3.5 hours (B, L, D)

After breakfast, depart by road to Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage Area of outstanding natural beauty. Travel through the rich farmlands of the Delta of Red River and the landscape of rice fields, water buffalo, the daily life of the Vietnamese village. Arrive in Ha Long Bay and board your cruise. Lunch on board. The cruise passes by many rocks and islets in many funny shapes. The cruise may stop for a while for visiting one of the best caves on the bay. Later on, the boat moves to the docking area overnight. Dinner and overnight on boat.

🏚️ Hotel Option in Ha Long Bay: Oriental Sails Cruise.

Day 8 – Ha Long Bay – Hanoi (150km – 3 hours) – Hue  (B, L)

Greeting by the morning sunrise from the sea horizon, you can join a Tai Chi lesson for some morning exercise and watch the sunrise over the bay before breakfast. You will visit a beautiful limestone grotto, then head back to the boat for a final glimpse of Ha Long Bay while cruising back to the dock. Disembarking around 11:00, then your driver & guide will transfer you back to Hanoi and straight to the airport for a flight to Hue.
Land in Phu Bai Airport in Hue city, you’re welcomed by our experienced guide and transferred to downtown.

🏚️ Hotel Option in Hue: Rosaleen Hotel or similar.

✈️ Domestic flights from Hanoi to Hue are not included.

Day 9 – Hue’s Royal Citadel & Boat trip (B, L)

After breakfast, you will explore Vietnamese ancient architecture by visiting the Imperial Citadel. Visit the Citadel, including the Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace, Forbidden Purple City (Tu Cam Thanh). At noontime, lunch will be served at a garden house restaurant with Hue cuisine.
In the afternoon, take a boat upstream of the Perfume River, admire the beauty of Hue city and its peaceful atmosphere along the river bank. Disembark at Thien Mu Pagoda (means the “Heavenly Lady”). Built-in 1601 between a river and a pine forest, Thien Mu Pagoda is one of the oldest and prettiest religious buildings in the country.

🏚️ Hotel Option in Hue: Rosaleen Hotel or similar.

Day 10 – Hue’s King Tomb – Hoi An (B, L)

After breakfast, visit the tomb of King Khai Dinh, the twelfth Emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. The tomb is a mixture of Western and Eastern architecture. Then return to your hotel for check-out and have lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, you will drive along the most beautiful coast of Vietnam to Hoi An (3 hours). Stop at Hai Van pass for a panoramic view of white sand beach, blue sea, and green mountains. Arrive at Hoi An Ancient town, check-in at your hotel.

🏚️ Hotel Option in Hoi An: Venus Hotel or similar.

Day 11 – Hoi An & Cooking class (B, L at cooking class)

After breakfast, gather at the Hai Scout Café in Hoi An’s old streets to meet the chef. Visit a local market to buy the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. Board a boat for a leisurely cruise along the Thu Bon River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. On arrival, explore the school’s herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An and Vietnam’s well-known dishes, which are a mix of Vietnamese and Chinese cuisines. The cooking lesson lasts about 2 hours– each dish is first demonstrated by the Red Bridge’s chef before you prepare the same dish by yourself. The class also contains a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carvings (plate decoration). After the lesson, we sit down and taste what we have cooked. Then the boat will take you back to Hoi An town.
In the afternoon, take a guided walking tour around Hoi An Ancient Town. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Assembly Hall, and the local market. There are numerous art galleries, souvenir and tailor shops where you can get some express made-to-order clothes if you like!

🏚️ Hotel Option in Hoi An: Venus Hotel or similar.

Day 12 – Hoi An – Motorbike to villages (B)

After breakfast, meet your motorbike drivers and wear your helmet. Setting off from your hotel and proceed to Cam Kim Island. We ride along the riverbank into the beautiful rural countryside. Our first stop is to visit a hundred years old Ancestral House of Mr. Huynh Ri and a traditional boat builder yard.
After meeting some local families, we will learn the art of sleeping mat weaving, farming, Banh Dap Cake, and coffee roasting. The following stop is to explore Noi Rang and Duy Hai fish markets. Before getting back to your hotel, we will cross Cua Dai Bridge where we can have spectacular panoramic views of Hoi An and also water coconut palm fringed Cam Thanh. The rest of the day is free at leisure!

🏚️ Hotel Option in Hoi An: Venus Hotel or similar.

Day 13 – Hoi An – Ho Chi Minh City (B)

Take your breakfast at your hotel and you will be free at leisure till noon. After check-out, you will meet our driver and transferred to the airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, you’re met by our guide and check-in your hotel.

🏚️ Hotel Option in Ho Chi Minh City: Ha Hien Signature Hotel or similar.

✈️ Domestic flights from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City are not included.

Day 14 – Ho Chi Minh City – Cu Chi Tunnels (B)

After breakfast, visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, which are 70 kilometers North West of Ho Chi Minh City, created in 1948 to assist the Viet Minh to combat the French. This is an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapon shops, field hospitals, command centers. During the American/Vietnam War, the entire area of Cu Chi has designated a fire-free zone and was heavily bombarded. Since 1988, two sections of the tunnels have been open for visitors.
In the afternoon, you will explore Ho Chi Minh City’s highlights including the Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, Old Centre Post Office, and Ben Thanh market.

🏚️ Hotel Option in Ho Chi Minh City: Ha Hien Signature Hotel or similar.

Day 15 – Ho Chi Minh City – Cai Be Floating Market (B, L, D)

Breakfast at your hotel and depart to Mekong Delta. Upon arrival at Cai Be, take a boat cruise around Cai Be Floating Market. Here the Tien River forms the border between Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Ben Tre Provinces. Every day, hundreds of boats filled with fruits, vegetables, and other products anchor along the banks of the river, waiting for traders and customers. The place is picturesque, and the trade is hot and fun. Visit orchards, local houses, and local trade. Lunch will be at a Rustic lodge. The afternoon is free at leisure! Dinner and overnight at your Lodge.

🏚️ Hotel Option in Vinh Long: Mekong Rustic Cai Be or similar.

Day 16 – Cai Be – Cycling (B, L, D)

After breakfast, you will cycle to visit Kinder Garden and inter-contact with kids and teachers and have a chance to make friends with local cute and gentle kids in a village school. It is surrounded by a luxuriant garden with many types of tropical fruit trees, flowers. Then, we experience by learning how to make jack fruits leaves cake and cycling around Tan Phong Island to visit the MONKEY bridge which local people use to cross the canals daily, and learn how local people cross the bridges. Stop at a local farmer’s house to savor a cup of tea and local specialties of banana candies. You can try plucking the fruits at the host’s garden and talk to him to understand how local farmers take care of their gardens. Back to your lodge and be free at leisure! Dinner and overnight at your Lodge.

🏚️ Hotel Option in Vinh Long: Mekong Rustic Cai Be or similar.

Day 17 – Cai Be – Chau Doc (B)

After breakfast, you will check out your lodge and take 4 hours drive to Chau Doc. Along the way, stop at Sa Dec town, Sa Dec riverside market, and the Ancient House of Huynh Thuy Le. Arrive in Chau Doc, visit Chau Doc Market, and check-in at your hilltop resort. Admire the amazing sunset over Nui Sam Mountain.

🏚️ Hotel Option in Chau Doc: Hung Cuong Hotel or similar.

Day 18 – Chau Doc – Joined Speedboat to Phnom Penh (B)

After breakfast, you will take a joined speedboat to Phnom Penh. Speedboat leaves at 7:00 AM and arrives around 13:30. Cambodian visas will be processed at the border gate by speedboat staff (30$ plus a few USD more for their services).