Vietnam Family Adventure

All content by Intrepid

13 days (ex Hanoi)

Destinations visited: Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, World

Physical rating:
Culture shock rating:

Physical Ratings

The physical rating gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the trip. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our ratings follows:

Rating 1

These trips are a relaxing break. You don't have to worry about doing anything physically demanding unless you want to.

Rating 2

Some easy physical activities included in your trip. No physical preparation is required to make the most of the journey.

Rating 3

This trip will raise your heartbeat. Moderate physical activities are included and a good level of fitness is required.

Rating 4

Be prepared for some serious physical activity. The majority of activities included on this trip will be challenging. The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy your holiday.

Rating 5

Intrepid’s highest physical rating. Get ready for a heart-pumping adventure with plenty of challenges and some extreme conditions. You will be required to be seriously fit for this trip as difficult activities are included.

Culture Shock Ratings

The culture shock rating considers the level of development in the location, the area's infrastructure and how easy it is to access services. It also takes into consideration how different the food and customs are and whether English is widely spoken. While generalisations are always tricky, here’s a summary of the ratings:

Rating 1

This is the least confronting of Intrepid's product range. English is the native language and the food, customs and access to services will be familiar to you.

Rating 2

You will probably have experienced food like this in restaurants back home and English is commonly spoken. Services are available most of the time but there may be some cultural differences.

Rating 3

Expect some culture shock. You will be exposed to signs of poverty and access to services may be sporadic. The food will be quite different to home and English speakers harder to find. Respecting the local culture will make it easier to fit in and really experience the location.

Rating 4

The comforts of home are more of a rarity. English is not common and the food will be quite different to what you are used to. It is important to observe some of the local customs to not cause offence. Many of the locals' standard of living may be confronting.

Rating 5

You're really out there! You'll need to pay specific attention to health and hygiene. A large proportion of locals' living conditions are a world away from standards you are used to. You may have difficulty finding an English speaker and there is little or no access to services. Paying heed to local customs is essential.

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Description

Travel to Vietnam on a family adventure from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. With great food, lush scenery and lots of warm, friendly locals, the whole family will fall in love with Vietnam. Sail Vietnam's beautiful Halong Bay, laugh at water puppets in Vietnam's capital Hanoi, learn about rich emperors in Hue, get a new outfit tailor-made in Hoi An and swim off Vietnam's coast in the South China Sea. Adventure through Vietnam's countryside, discover the culture, taste the flavours of traditional cuisine and experience a different way of life. An incredible opportunity for your family to get off the beaten track in Vietnam.

Highlights

Take a cyclo tour through Vietnam's capital.
Hanoi.
Cruise Vietnam's majestic Halong Bay.
Find a poem hat in imperial Hue.
Discover Vietnam's Perfume River on a dragon boat.
Meet local kids in Hoi An.
Beat the heat at Dam Sen Water Park.

Itinerary

Days 1-2 Hanoi

Enjoy breakfast at KOTO, a restaurant helping Hanoi's disadvantaged youth. Jump on board one of Vietnam's famous cyclos and take a ride through Hanoi's Old Quarter. Then it's off to an evening water puppet show, a form of traditional Vietnamese entertainment that started in rice fields centuries ago.

Days 3-4 Halong Bay/Overnight Train

Cruise through the warm waters of Halong Bay and admire towering limestone peaks and stalactite-filled caves. Take a dip in the South China Sea and at night, be captivated by Vietnam's star-filled sky.

Days 5-6 Hue

A former imperial capital and important Buddhist centre, Hue is filled with ancient sites. Discover the Imperial Citadel and the lovely octagonal Thien Mu Pagoda. Explore the lively Dong Ba Market and search for 'poem hats' between the fruit, vegetable and fish stalls. These hats have shadowy scenes of everyday life, which can only be seen when held up to the light. Later, swap the bustle of the markets for the tranquillity of Vietnam's Perfume River with a cruise on a dragon boat.

Days 7-9 Hoi An

Travel past picturesque rice paddies and verdant mountains to the quaint backstreets of charming Hoi An. Meet local kids on a school visit, shop for handicrafts, get clothes tailor-made in rich silks or enjoy a picnic on the beach.

Days 10-13 Ho Chi Minh City/Mekong Delta

Fly to Vietnam's fast-paced Ho Chi Minh City and fill up on traditional cuisine at a local market. Visit some elusive Ho Chi Minh City tourist spots, before travelling to remote villages to get a taste of Vietnam's rural life. Afterwards, explore the mangroves of the Mekong Delta by paddling a sampan around the tributaries before boarding a boat to cruise the major waterways of the delta. Back in town, escape the heat of the city and head to Dam Sen Water Park for some aquatic fun, then soak up the last of Ho Chi Minh City where this adventure ends.

Group Size

Maximum of 16 travellers per group

Accommodation

Hotel (10 nts), Overnight boat (1 nt), Overnight sleeper train (1 nt)

Transport

Boat, Overnight sleeper train, Private minibus, Plane, Cyclo

Budget

Allow USD $250 for meals not included.

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