Vietnam & Cambodia Family Holiday with Teenagers

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins in Hanoi – the capital city, famous for its Old Quarter and 36 shopping streets – with a welcome meeting at 5 pm tonight at your hotel. If you arrive early, maybe stroll the tree-lined boulevards, hang out by Hoan Kiem Lake, see the ancient temples grab a Bahn mi with the family. This city is full of rich culture, fun shopping opportunities and delicious local cafes, so there’s plenty to keep you occupied.

This morning, you and the family will head out to explore Hanoi. Jump on the bus and visit the Museum of Ethnology and the Temple of Literature. Soak up some of the local history, then head to KOTO for lunch – KOTO stands for 'Know One, Teach One' and the restaurant is an organisation supported by The Intrepid Foundation, training disadvantaged young people in the hospitality industry. After lunch, swap the four wheels for two and head out on a cycling tour around the West Lake. Tonight, you’re free to grab the kids and head out for a chilled dinner – maybe grab a bowl of pho from one of the streetside cafes?

After a hearty breakfast, jump on your private bus for the journey to Luong Son – a region in the country's northwest, this city is the starting point for your cycling adventure through Vietnam's picturesque countryside. After Hanoi's hustle and bustle, this area's fresh country air and relative lack of traffic will be a treat for the senses. You’ll ride to Mai Chau – home to a variety of minority groups with their own unique cultures and languages. Visit a social enterprise that’s centred around preserving and celebrating the traditional crafts of the Thai minority groups who settled in northwest Vietnam. Then, join some local women to learn about their crafts and how to make an embroidery pattern or dye cloth. Spend the rest of the day swimming in the pool and relaxing in your retreat-style accommodation.

Today is dedicated to exploring the villages and scenic countryside of provincial Vietnam. The journey from Mai Chau to Ninh Binh is easy and leisurely paced. You'll have plenty of opportunities to hop off your bike and take photos of the surrounding valleys, sugarcane farms and rice paddies that compose the landscape. The final stop is the town of Ninh Binh – this scenic province is famous for its limestone karst landscapes, lush rice paddies and gently flowing waterways.

Now your family has seen some of the beautiful Northern Vietnam by bike, it's now time to see it by sea! You’ll drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay – natural harbour of more than 2000 limestone islands rising from the emerald waters of Bac Bo Gulf. Home to countless beaches, caves and grottoes within its 1500 sq km, this spot is perfect for nature lovers. When you arrive, you'll set out on a kayak expedition. Your 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. Watch the sunset on deck and get to know your fellow travellers as the moon comes out.

Take a moment to soak in the scenery of Ha Long Bay (sunrise, anyone?) before disembarking the boat this morning. Make the drive back to Hanoi, 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. A fun, local experience in Vietnam, the train is the perfect spot to get to know your fellow travellers a little better over a game of cards.

Arrive in Danang early this morning and take a short transfer to Hoi An – a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hoi An is known as Faifo to early Western traders and 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. Hoi An is also 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.

Spend the day exploring Hoi An, beginning with a guided orientation walk led by your leader then it's back on two wheels for a wider exploration of the town and its surroundings. The cycling route includes a visit to Tra Que Village, where you'll see local farmers tending their famous organic herb and vegetable gardens. You may even ride past rice paddies and shrimp ponds to Cua Dai beach. Tonight, why not wander down to the riverside and enjoy a final feast with the group to celebrate an amazing adventure.

Today you’ll take a transfer to Da Nang Airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh City. When you arrive, you’ll be transferred to your hotel. You’ll have a second welcome meeting at 5 pm to meet the new families joining you for the next leg of your trip. If you arrive with time to spare, why not get out and about in Vietnam’s largest city, formerly known as Saigon. Go for a stroll to see some of the city’s most iconic landmarks like the People’s Committee Building, the Opera House and the French-era Central Post Office, or head to a cafe to try the famous Saigon ca phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk). After the meeting, get to know your fellow travellers over a welcome dinner of delicious southern Vietnamese cuisine.

Have a leisurely morning before taking a private bus to the Spice Garden in Cu Chi for a farm-to-table cooking class. See how the organic produce is grown and harvested at this community-run garden, then head into the kitchen and learn to prepare some authentic local dishes like Vietnamese pizza (a crispy rice paper base topped with egg, spring onion and sausage), banh xeo (crispy, savoury pancakes filled with meat, seafood or mung beans and served with a tangy sauce) or fresh spring rolls. The kids will love getting their hands dirty in the kitchen, and you’ll go home with a new recipe to cook together. Tuck into your freshly prepared feast for lunch, then hop back into the bus, headed to the Cu Chi Tunnels for a guided tour. This extensive underground network was initially dug by the Viet Minh and later expanded by the Viet Cong, spanning about 200 km (124 mi). They were used to house hospitals, dwellings and schools and were extensively used for refuge, storage and as a military base. After, travel to Tay Ninh – this mountainous province is known for the ornate Cao Dai Temple and the Black Virgin Mountain, the highest peak in southern Vietnam.

Today is a long travel day, so make sure you and the kids are set up with plenty of good books or playlists for the drive. Travel to the Xa Mat Border and cross through the Trapang Phlong border into Cambodia. Continue the drive to your hotel, stopping for lunch on the way. When you arrive in Sen Monorom, you’ll join your leader for an orientation walk through the city. Sen Monorom is the capital of Cambodia’s Mondulkiri province and is filled with picturesque waterfalls, hills and forests. After the walk, head out for dinner with your leader and the other families.

Spend a full day coming face-to-face with gentle giants at the Elephant Valley Project. This was the first elephant sanctuary established in Cambodia and is the region’s largest, providing more than 1500 hectares of forest, grassland, rivers and bamboo groves for the seven elephants in the sanctuary’s care to roam. You’ll have an early start, kicking off your day with a guided hike where you’ll learn about elephant welfare as well as the traditions and culture of the local Indigenous Bunong people. Observe these incredible creatures as they go about their daily activities – these elephants have all either suffered from injuries or were former working elephants and are in the process of rehabilitation. Your hike will finish up at the forest basecamp, set in a valley with a view over the neighbouring 300,000-hectare Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary. Tuck into a buffet lunch prepared by local Bunong cooks, then enjoy some time to lounge in a hammock and really soak up your surroundings. In the afternoon, you’ll play your part by doing some volunteering. Depending on the season, you might help with reforestation or small building projects.

Go on a coffee farm tour this morning. Walk through the coffee nursery, plantation and processing facilities as you learn about growing, harvesting and processing coffee from bean to cup. Taste a fresh brew for yourself while sitting on the mountains, taking in views of the landscape below. You might also spot some of the farm’s wildlife like the endangered, black-shanked douc. After your tour, transfer to the province of Kratie. When you arrive, you’ll take a boat trip on the Mekong River to see the endangered Irrawaddy dolphins. It's estimated that only 92 of these dolphins still remain here in the Mekong and they are considered a sacred animal by both Khmer and Lao people. Later this afternoon, take a ferry across the Mekong River to reach Koh Trong Island. When you arrive, hop onto a bike and explore the island on two wheels – this island is completely vehicle-free. Tonight, sit down to a home-cooked dinner and get to know your hosts who you’ll be spending the night with.

Have a home-cooked breakfast, then say goodbye to your host family. Hop back on a bike for the short ride to the pier, where you’ll catch a ferry back to the mainland, then travel on to Siem Reap. When you arrive, follow your leader on an orientation walk to get the lay of the land. Siem Reap is known for the incredible Angkor temple complex, which you’ll spend a full day exploring tomorrow. For dinner tonight, why not take the kids out for some street food – try num poum (coconut waffles), prahok ktis (a rich minced pork dipping sauce, typically eaten with fresh veggies) or num pang, which is similar to a Vietnamese banh mi.

After breakfast, set off to discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Angkor temple complex. Hop onto a tuk-tuk for a guided tour with a social enterprise that provides sustainable employment opportunities for local women. Follow the Small Circuit to see the mighty Angkor Wat, the grand Bayon and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm. Some of the buildings in the complex are more than a thousand years old, dating back to the Khmer Empire. Make plenty of stops to take family photos and keep an eye out for the monkeys that gather on the temple ruins. Tonight, you’ll head to Phare, the Cambodian Circus. Combining music, theatre and dance with acrobatics, juggling, aerial acts and contortion, this circus is made up of young performers from vulnerable backgrounds and is sure to be a highlight of the trip.

Head to the Apopo Visitor Centre this morning. This centre has trained the Gambian pouched rat to sniff out explosives, and these animals now help to detect landmines so that they can be cleared from the Cambodian countryside. Cambodia is one of the most heavily landmine-affected countries in the world, but these rats play a key role in efforts to combat this issue. During your guided tour, you’ll see how these clever rats are trained and learn a bit about Cambodia’s history. The kids will get the chance to hold a rat, too! Next, dial up the adrenaline with some ziplining through the rainforests of the Angkor archaeological park. You and the kids will get to see the site from a new perspective as you zip through the canopy. You’ll then have a free afternoon. Maybe visit the Angkor National Museum for interactive exhibits about the ancient Khmer empire or take another cooking class. Tonight, you’ll have a farewell dinner with your group – here’s to the incredible memories you’ve shared!

With no further activities planned, your family adventure comes to an end after breakfast. A complimentary departure transfer to the airport is available. If you’d like to extend your stay, and it’s highly recommended you do, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.