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Map of Vietnam Family Holiday with Teenagers including Vietnam

Experience adventure the active way on this family trip through Vietnam

Discover a different side of a much-loved country on this activity-focused trip through the northern half of Vietnam. Encompassing cycling excursions, guided walking tours, kayaking expeditions and two nights of boating on Halong Bay, this trip is bound to get the blood pumping and the family bonding. Starting in Hanoi, uncover Vietnam's landmark attractions on a city cycling tour, and sit down to lunch at an initiative geared towards helping street children. Savour the picturesque countryside of rural Vietnam during a two-day ride from Luong Song to stunning Ninh Binh, cruise the waters of Halong Bay by junk boat and kayak, and explore charming Hoi An and its surrounds by bike and foot. This is an adventure for families who like spending their down time getting up and at it.

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Hanoi, Vietnam
Finish
Hoi An, Vietnam
Destination
Vietnam
Style
Original
Theme
Family
Code
TVFB
Physical rating
Ages
Min 10
Group size
Min 2, Max 16

Why you'll love this trip

  • Experience the tranquil beauty of rural Vietnam while cycling hrough the lush rice paddies and limestone karsts of Ninh Binh

  • Exploring Halong Bay by kayak allows you and your family to access places the junk boats can't. Paddle through grottoes, land on secluded islands and inspect stalactites up close

  • Eat for a good cause at Hanoi's KOTO restaurant, an initiative that trains street kids for careers in hospitality

  • Be romanced by the well-preserved architecture, welcoming atmosphere and superb eateries of Hoi An

Is this trip right for you?

  • The weather in Vietnam can be hot and sticky, particularly during the monsoon seasons, so ensure that you pack accordingly. Please be sure to pack sunscreen and a hat, especially for wearing when out kayaking in Halong Bay.

  • In order to see as much as possible, this trip involves some long journeys, including by overnight train where the amenities are shared and basic. For more about what this experience is like, see our blog post here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight...

  • On Days 3 and 4 we cover up to 60kms/37 miles on the bike so a good level of fitness is required.

  • On Day 3 our accommodation for the evening is a local homestay where you and your family will sleep on mattresses in a communal room. Bedding and mosquito nets are provided. Shared toilet and bathroom facilities are basic.

Enjoy beautiful Vietnam with other like-minded families and children
Rush hour in Hanoi, Vietnam
Cruising in Halong Bay, Vietnam

Itinerary
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Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins with a Welcome Meeting at 5pm on Day 1.

If you arrive early, why not get your first taste of Vietnam exploring the lovely, laidback capital. You can stroll the tree-lined boulevards to get a sense of the old days, wander the Old Quarter to uncover ancient temples and a rich, religious culture or head to the Temple of Literature, an oasis of calm right at the heart of Hanoi.
Accommodation
  • La Sante Hotel or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

This morning you’ll get the chance to explore the Vietnamese capital in more depth. Full of parks, lakes and tree-lined boulevards, the city is known for its laidback atmosphere. .

Jump on our bus and visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Stilt House and Museum, the Buddhist temple One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature.

We'll join our friends at KOTO for lunch. KOTO stands for 'Know One, Teach One'. An organisation supported by The Intrepid Foundation, it trains street kids for careers in the hospitality industry. After lunch we swap 4 wheels for 2 and head out on a cycling tour around the West Lake.

Riding distance: Approx 25kms/15miles
Accommodation
  • La Sante Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Hanoi - Temple of Literature
  • Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex
  • Hanoi - Lunch at KOTO
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. Though laws in other countries do not require riders to wear helmets we ask that all riders on Intrepid trips wear a bike helmet on all included riding activities.
We highly recommend you bring your bike helmet from home. If that is not possible we do have helmets available.

The bikes we use throughout this trip are 2016 TREK 4300 or 4700 models.

After another hearty breakfast it's on to our private bus for the journey to Luong Son (a drive of approximately 1.5 hours). Luong Son, a region in the country's northwest, is the starting point for our cycling adventure through Vietnam's famously picturesque countryside. Today's ride to Mai Chau is mostly along paved roads. After Hanoi's hustle and bustle, this area's fresh country air and relative lack of traffic are a delight. Mai Chau is home to a variety of minority groups with their own unique culture and languages. While here, visit a social enterprise centred around preserving and celebrating the traditional crafts of the Thai minority groups who settled in northwest Vietnam. Join some local women to learn about their lives and crafts and learn how to make an embroidery pattern or dye cloth.

We have a support bus that travels with the group during the entire cycling route for those who don't wish to ride the entire way. Don't forget to pack plenty of water and snacks for along the way.

Riding distance: Approx 60kms/37miles.

NOTE: At the homestay you and your family will sleep on mattresses in a communal room. Bedding and mosquito nets are provided. Shared toilet and bathroom facilities are basic.
Accommodation
  • Mai Chau Homestay (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mai Chau - Pom Coong Village visit & traditional lunch
  • Mai Chau - Traditional Textile Social Enterprise Experience
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
At the homestay you and your family will sleep on mattresses in a communal room. Bedding and mosquito nets are provided. Shared toilet and bathroom facilities are basic.

Today is dedicated to exploring the villages and scenic countryside of provincial Vietnam. The journey from Mai Chau to Ninh Binh is fairly easy and leisurely-paced. You'll have plenty of opportunities to hop off your bike and take some photos of the surrounding valleys, sugarcane farms and rice paddies that compose the landscape.

Final stop for the day is the small town of Ninh Binh. The Ninh Binh province is famed for its spectacular limestone karst scenery, lush rice paddies and gently flowing waterways.

Riding distance: Approx 60kms/37miles
Accommodation
  • Thuy Anh Hotel or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Having seen a bit of Northern Vietnam by bike, it's now time to see it by sea. Back on board our private bus, enjoy some easier travel on the drive to Halong Bay. Factoring in some stops along the way, the journey will take approximately 4 hours.

A natural harbour of more than 2,000 limestone islands rising from the emerald waters of Bac Bo Gulf, Halong Bay is one of Vietnam's most scenic regions. Countless beaches, caves and grottoes exist in its area of 1,500 sq km, creating an environment perfectly suited for exploring by kayak.

Today you'll set out on a kayak expedition. Your trip leader will take you through a safety demonstration, then lead you out onto the open waters.

Tonight you'll be dining and sleeping on board a traditional Vietnamese junk boat. Our vessel has twin-share cabins with air-conditioning and private facilities, plus a cosy bar and dining area.
Accommodation
  • Overnight boat (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Halong Bay - Kayaking
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Take a moment to soak in the magical landscapes of Halong Bay before disembarking your boat this morning. Make the drive back to Hanoi (approximately 3 hours), where you’ll have use of day rooms to freshen up. You may like to head out and grab some dinner with the group, then it’s time to go to the train station to board an overnight train to Da Nang.
Accommodation
  • Overnight train Hanoi to Danang (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
There are shared day use hotel rooms available this afternoon if you would like to freshen up before the overnight train. There is one room provided between up to 6 members of the group. Single supplements do not apply to day use rooms.

Sleeper trains typically have four or six berth compartments with bench seats that convert into sleeping bunks. A sheet, pillow and blanket are provided, although some travellers prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. Depending on the configuration of the group, you may have to share with people of different genders or passengers who aren’t part of the group. Your leader will coordinate and give further information on the trip. Most trains have a dining carriage serving simple food, but we recommend that you stock up on snacks and drinks before departure.

Arrive to Da Nang early this morning and take a short transfer to to Hoi An, a delightful old city with a great atmosphere. This will be our base for the next two days, from which we explore both the town and its surrounds by foot and bike.

Recently declared a World Heritage site, Hoi An is beautifully preserved. Known as Faifo to early Western traders, it was one of South-East Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Today, parts of Hoi An look as they did more than a century ago and it retains the feel of centuries past, making it the sort of place that grows on you the more you explore it.

Accommodation
  • Hoi An Field Boutique Resort & Spa or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Spend a day becoming acquainted with Hoi An, beginning with a guided orientation walk led by your leader. (approximately 2hours) Following lunch, it's back on two wheels for a wider exploration of the town and its surrounds. One of the routes we often take a ride past rice paddies and shrimp ponds to Cua Dai beach.  The ride takes 2.5hours including stops.

Hoi An is one of the best places in Vietnam to shop for souvenirs, especially if you’re looking for clothing, paintings or ceramics. For those interested in getting some clothes tailored, this is definitely the place to snare a bargain. Hoi An's streets are lined with small tailor studios and the speed with which they can whip up garments is remarkable.

On the last night of your tour, why not wander down to the riverside and enjoy a final feast with the group?

Riding distance: Approx 20kms/12miles
Accommodation
  • Hoi An Field Boutique Resort & Spa or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
  • Hoi An - Bike ride
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Your trip ends today after breakfast. Either take a transfer to Danang airport for your onward flight or stick around a while longer getting to know this charming city.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

8 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners

Transport

Plane, Private Bus, bike, Kayak, Overnight Train

Accommodation

Homestay (1 night), Hotel (5 nights), Overnight Boat (1 night), overnight train (1 night)

Included activities

  • Hanoi - Temple of Literature
  • Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex
  • Hanoi - Lunch at KOTO
  • Mai Chau - Pom Coong Village visit & traditional lunch
  • Mai Chau - Traditional Textile Social Enterprise Experience
  • Halong Bay - Kayaking
  • Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
  • Hoi An - Bike ride

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Vietnam Family Holiday with Teenagers trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.
2. Minimum age: 10 years old. Please note that anyone aged under 18 must be accompanied by (and share accommodation with) a parent or legal guardian.
3. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 or younger at the time of travel.
4. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport), for internal flights and train tickets. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
5. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 3 (Homestay), Day 5 (Halong Bay) and Day 6 (Overnight Train), where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
6.This trip starts with a welcome meeting at 5 pm on Day 1 in Hanoi. This trip ends on Day 9 and you are free to leave at any time.
7. Tet is Vietnam's New Year festival, held annually in late January or early February based on the lunar calendar. While this can be a fascinating time to travel and experience this event, expect some shop closures and busier than usual local transport. Opening hours at some tourist sites may also be affected or closed. Although we make all reasonable efforts to avoid disruption, a flexible approach from the traveler is appreciated.
8. During the rainy months (approx. June to October), our mode of transport can be changed at short notice due to weather conditions.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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