Vietnam Family Holiday Comfort

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. Your adventure begins in Ho Chi Minh City with a welcome meeting at 5 pm to meet the other families joining your trip and your local leader. After, you’ll all head out as a group for a welcome dinner and tuck into some delicious local cuisine. If you'd like to spend more time exploring Ho Chi Minh City or join a tour to Cu Chi Tunnels before your trip begins, speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Today, you'll travel south by private minibus and spend the day exploring the Mekong Delta – often referred to as ‘the rice bowl of Vietnam.’ Board a private boat and traverse the intricate waterways, soaking up the sounds and admiring the waterside views as you float through this fertile landscape. Disembark at Ben Tre and visit the coconut gardens, stopping at a local home to sample tropical fruits and coconut jams before paddling in sampans (small rowing boats). Take a tuk-tuk tour around the villages, learning about rural life and how the locals make their living. Enjoy lunch with a local family in the heart of the delta. Then, it’s back to the boat to cruise the delta’s major waterways to Ben Tre boat pier. After the cruise, return via bus to Ho Chi Minh City.

This morning, say goodbye to Ho Chi Minh City and fly north to Danang where you and the kids will take a short transfer to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hoi An. With a beautifully preserved Old Town, parts of the city look exactly as they did more than a century ago. Your leader will take you on an orientation walk around the Old Quarter to see the beautiful architecture and sights, including the display of lanterns and boats along the river. You and the kids will then join a local artisan to make your very own lanterns to take home! After the workshop, maybe head out for a delicious dinner in town before heading back to the hotel.

This morning, head out to one of Hoi An's best beaches, known for its palm-fringed white sands and views of the Cham Islands. Find a shady spot to relax with a book or take a dip in the clear waters. A picnic lunch is included, so all you have to do is relax and enjoy the beach day! This afternoon, you’re free to explore, relax or shop at your own pace. If you’re feeling active, maybe hire bikes for a ride through the countryside. Or relax by the pool while the kids enjoy some more time to swim.

Today is free for you to spend as you like. Your leader can assist with arranging any optional activities you might like to do – maybe join a family-friendly cooking class that includes a boat ride and farm tour or simply spend more time relaxing at the beach or hotel pool. You might like to venture into the Old Town to further explore the beautifully preserved streets and shops and pick up a souvenir or two. Even the kids will love browsing the original paintings, handcrafted woodwork, ceramics, embroidery and lanterns. This evening, maybe grab an ice cream and take a stroll along the lantern-lit streets.

After breakfast, head back on the road and make your way past coastal rice paddies, taking in the views from the mountains as you cross the scenic Hai Van Pass. When you arrive in Hue – the former imperial capital of Vietnam – you’ll have some free time to relax before exploring the streets on a cyclo tour. The kids will love travelling around the citadel, passing through the local fruit and vegetable market and stopping at Ho Chi Minh’s house on the three-wheeled pedalled taxi. Later, enjoy a delicious homecooked dinner with a local family and get to know the culture with good conversation and some authentic flavours.

Delve further into the former capital today with a visit to the Imperial Citadel – the best-preserved remnant of a large citadel and royal centre that once existed on this site. Explore the foliage-covered ruins, then visit the Forbidden Purple City, which was almost totally wiped out during the Tet Offensive in 1968. After, you’ll have some free time to wander the city streets, maybe picking up some snacks for tonight’s train journey. Tonight, board your overnight train bound for Hanoi.

Wake up in Hanoi early this morning and enjoy some free time to relax, refresh and recharge before visiting Vun Art – a local organisation that provides vocational training and employment to people living with disabilities. Hear their story and maybe make an artwork of your own – the kids will love having something to display in their bedroom back home! Tonight, head out with your family to experience a unique water-puppet show – an ancient art in Vietnam.

This morning, visit the Museum of Ethnology to learn more about the diverse heritage of Vietnam, then head to the Temple of Literature – an oasis of calm in the heart of Hanoi. Enjoy some lunch at KOTO restaurant – a longtime friend of Intrepid that lives by the philosophy of ‘know one, teach one’. This social enterprise equips disadvantaged young people with skills to build their careers in hospitality.

Travel by minibus today to the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage-listed site of Halong Bay – the breathtaking secluded harbour home to some 2000 limestone islands jutting out of the waters of the Bac Bo Gulf. Board your boat, cruise among the dramatic limestone peaks and explore caves filled with stunning stalactites and stalagmites. Spend a peaceful night on board, beneath a sky alive with stars.

Enjoy breakfast on the boat this morning and consider heading out for an optional early-morning kayak to see the karsts, junk boats and still waters from a new perspective. Later, return to Hanoi by bus. When you arrive, check into your hotel and spend some free time to freshen up before joining your group for a final dinner together to celebrate the incredible family memories.

With no further activities planned after breakfast this morning, your trip comes to an end and you’re free to depart the hotel at any time. If you’d like to extend your stay in Hanoi, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.