Vietnam Family Holiday

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 Hanoi – famous for its beautiful lakes, shaded boulevards, public parks and thriving Old Quarter. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 5 pm tonight to meet your trip leader and the other families you’ll be travelling with. If you arrive early, why not head out and explore the Old Quarter at your own pace, maybe searching for a fresh banh mi or a cup of refreshing nuoc mia (sugarcane juice). After the meeting, maybe head out to dinner with your family and fellow travellers – your local leader will be ready with some great recommendations.

Embark on a full day of exploration today. 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 supports underprivileged local youth by giving them a chance to start a career in the hospitality industry. In the evening, sit down to a traditional water puppet performance. This northern tradition, dating back nearly a thousand years, is performed alongside traditional Vietnamese music that features drums, wooden bells, horns and bamboo flutes.

Travel by minibus to the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage-listed site of Halong Bay. The bay is a breathtaking and secluded harbour with about 2000 limestone islands jutting out of the waters of the Bac Bo Gulf. When you arrive, hop aboard your private boat and cruise among the dramatic limestone peaks. Today, you’ll also have an opportunity to swim in the famous Vietnam East Sea and explore caves filled with stunning stalactites and stalagmites. Spend a peaceful night on board, beneath a sky alive with stars. Your junk boat has twin-share cabins that have air-conditioning and private facilities. There's also a dining room and bar on board.

If you’re keen, wake up for sunrise this morning and watch the bay come alive with light from the deck. Have breakfast on the boat, then maybe head out for an optional early morning kayak. Return to Hanoi by bus, then board an overnight train bound for Hue. As the former imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue holds the treasures of Vietnam's royal past. It's a curious mix of bustling streets and tranquil settings. Although conditions are basic on your train journey, overnight trains are a classic South East Asian experience and the best way to travel long distances with the locals. Lie back and enjoy the ride! Most trains have a dining carriage serving simple food, but it's a good idea to stock up on supplies like fresh bread, cheese and fruit before you head off.

Arrive in Hue early this morning. Your leader will help you chose a local, tasty breakfast after you disembark, then you’ll have some free time to freshen up before an afternoon cyclo tour. Journey through the streets of Hue, travelling around the citadel and passing through the local fruit and vegetable markets before stopping over at Ho Chi Minh’s house – this traditional stilt house was preserved following the late president’s death in 1969 and features a fishpond and garden.

This morning, visit the Imperial Citadel – the best-preserved remnant of the royal centre that once existed on this fortified site. You’ll also visit the Forbidden Purple City, which was almost completely destroyed during the Tet Offensive of 1968. The gaping holes left by bombs give an idea of the shocking destruction that wreaked upon the country during the war. See Emperor Tu Duc’s tomb and the central lake, then visit the Thien Mu Pagoda – this active Buddhist monastery is widely considered to be the unofficial symbol of Hue. Later, stop by a local non-government organisation that supports Hue’s deaf community by providing training, employment and a place to connect. Meet the hosts and learn a few words in sign language so you can communicate (something priceless to take home with you!), then take part in a paper flower-making workshop. Your hosts will help you and the kids to make paper flowers that you can then take home as souvenirs.

Travelling by bus this morning, head south through coastal rice paddies, then through the Hai Van Pass in the mountains to Hoi An. Recently declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hoi An is beautifully preserved and is perfect for strolling, with many beautiful Japanese houses and Chinese temples lining the narrow lanes. Parts of Hoi An look exactly as they did more than a century ago! It's also a shopping haven – even the kids are sure to love the many shops and markets selling original paintings, handcrafted woodwork, ceramics, embroidery and lanterns. Hoi An has also become famous for its tailoring – there’s a great variety of fabrics and tailors to choose from.

After breakfast, spend the morning at a local beach lying back on the palm-fringed white sands and taking in the views of the Cham Islands. Transfer back to town and pop into a local restaurant where you’ll learn how to make banh bao banh vac (AKA ‘white rose cakes’) – a Hoi An specialty. These tasty savoury dumplings are made with rice paper filled with minced shrimp or pork and are named after their resemblance to a white flower. Once your local instructors have taught you how to make these delicious parcels, sit down together and tuck into your creations for lunch. This hands-on experience gets the whole family involved!

Today is a free day to explore Hoi An’s Old Town at your own pace. Maybe take a cooking class and learn the secrets of preparing local specialties like cao lau (dark pork broth with thick yellow noodles, sliced pork, bean sprouts, green vegetables and croutons). For something more active, hire some bikes and take the family out on a cycling trip into the gorgeous surrounding countryside. Another great activity for the kids is a bamboo basket boat ride down the waterways of the jungle – to organise any optional day trips and activities, just chat to your leader.

Take a short flight to the economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City. Formerly known as Saigon, this city is characterised by a vast array of sights and sounds – a fascinating blend of old and new, East and West. Check out Ben Thanh Market and tuck into a local lunch of street food during an orientation walk with your leader. After, you're free to explore the city on your own. Your leader will have plenty of interesting and fun ideas for you and the kids. Consider scooting off on cyclos to Cholon – the Chinatown area of Ho Chi Minh City – for a bit of temple-hopping. Or visit the Vietnamese version of a department store for some shopping.

Head down to the Mekong Delta and visit Ben Tre, where coconut is everything! The fertile delta is famous for its abundant harvests of tropical fruits and flowers. When you arrive at the ‘rice bowl of Vietnam’, board your private boat and cruise along the maze of waterways to visit some local cottage industries. This is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the local economy. Then, head to your homestay for tonight by the water, where you’ll be invited into a family home for a true local experience and a chance to see daily life from the inside.