DAY 1 : HANOI ARRIVAL (-/-/D)
Upon arrival at Hanoi airport, you’ll be met by our local tour guide and transferred to hotel for check-in. NOTE : kindly note that should you arrive early, an early check-in is not included and subject to hotel’s availability. Your guide will brief an orientation of the city along the way. Once checked in we leave you at your leisure.
This afternoon, we take a cyclo tour through the ancient "39 Streets" to discover amazing selection of shops in the Old Quarter; silk, silver, enamel bracelets and embroidery are among the best buys and the street names bear testimony to the business conducted there. This is a funny experience for children. You sit in the front and watch everything and the traffic go by.
In the evening, enjoy the delightful water puppets theater, a magical puppet show where the puppets emerge from the surface of a small watery stage telling tales of old Vietnam, a performance art unique to Vietnam. The puppets—foot-high dragons, phoenixes, fairies, and foxes—dance and scamper across a stage of waist-deep water, manipulated by puppeteers hidden behind a screen.
Welcome dinner at Green Tangerine, a lovingly restored 1928 colonial in the center of the Old Quarter featuring French-Vietnamese cuisine (similar restaurant in case of change)
DAY 2 : HANOI (B/L/-)
Vietnam's capital is a stylish and gracious city that retains a unique old world charm and some Asia’s most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. Today we spend a full day exploring Hanoi. We start the tour with a visit Ho Chi Minh complex. First visit the Soviet style Ba Dinh Square where Ho Chi Minh read out the declaration of the nation's independence in 1945. Walk through the gardens of the Presidential Palace before seeing Ho Chi Minh's house, the modest dwelling he built based on a rural Vietnamese stilt house and where "Uncle Ho" lived for the last years of his life. After that, we come to visit the Temple of Literature- a complex of the Confucius Temple built in 1070 and the first Royal National university in Vietnam built in 1076. This temple and its beautiful garden provide an opportunity to learn more about mandarin education in Vietnam since 1000 years ago and to relax in tranquilit
Lunch at KOTO café in Hanoi an amazing project aimed at providing vocational training and experience in the hospitality industry for underprivileged young people. All the staff you meet at this café have come from poor backgrounds.
This afternoon, we visit the Museum of Ethnology (closed on Monday), which offers informative and well-documented display on the country’s 54 ethnic groups, include elaborate and colorful hill-tribal costumes. This museum is very child friendly with an outdoor section and many “hands on” exhibits. Then we take a boat ride on Truc Bach Lake and a visit to one of Hanoi’s best ice cream
Parlours.
DAY 3 : HANOI / BAT TRANG CERAMIC VILLAGE (B/L/-)
Located on the outskirts of Hanoi, by the banks of the Red River, Bat Trang is a popular traditional handicraft village. Discover the small, secret alleys of the old parts of the village, visit local workshop and meet the local crafts people. After exploring the village, your family will spend time at a local ceramic workshop to create your own ceramics. Great fun for the whole family, and of course
you can keep your creations as a souvenir . The remainder of the day is at your leisure
We suggest you to take a stroll through the streets of the Old Quarter with the kids. The traffic here is insane! Cars, trucks, loads of motorcycles, bicycles, cyclos and people all on the street. Hold your kids hands all the time when you are walking. If you are traveling to Hanoi with a baby or toddler you may want to skip the stroller and use a backpack carrier instead. This evening, you can try the night market in the Old Quarter that has lots of bargains. You will find souvenirs, jewelery, knock offs, clothes and more here. Most vendors are of course honest but there will always be a few that try to trick you. The kids will have fun bargaining for trinkets and souvenirs to bring home
DAY 4 : HANOI / HALONG BAY (B/L/D)
The drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long City takes approximately four hours. in Halong City, we transfer to our private boat for a cruise of the crystalline emerald waters of Halong Bay, giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. Filled with thousands of limestone karsts and isles- the bay is simply breathtaking. Your children will have a fabulous time searching for the different shaped karsts. Several have names, such as tiger or fighting cock, due to their shapes. Whilst on board, we will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch, followed by a swim. We will also have the opportunity to explore some of the limestone caves in this area.
If your family enjoys active travel, will love assisted kayaking through the astonishing water landscapes of Halong Bay. Here, you can paddle past towering limestone karst formations and traditional Vietnamese wooden boats. The waters are very calm here, and a pleasant for boating and kayaking with children of all ages and ability. Dinner banquet prepared on board. Overnight in private cabin.
DAY 5 : HALONG BAY / HANOI (B/L/-)
Savor the opaque sunrise on misty Halong Bay and be warmed by Vietnamese coffee, noodle soup, and omelettes. You can leisurely explore grottoes, cragged coves, inland lagoons, and white-sand beaches before returning to Halong City port. After farewell lunch with crew, return to Hanoi, stopping at an interesting crafts center en route. After arrival back in Hanoi, late afternoon and dinner will be on your own. We will provide a list of wonderful choices, such as Wild Lotus, a popular restaurant with pleasant decor offering delicious Vietnamese fusion.
DAY 6 : HANOI / HUE (B/L/D)
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hue, the 19th century former capital. Hue was once the capital of the Nguyen emperors, packed with influential people: bureaucrats, royalty, traders, astrologers and courtiers, who left behind many beautiful reminders of their times.
This afternoon, we visit the Royal Citadel, the most well known and iconic site in Hué. Begun in 1805 by Emperor Gia Long, it is actually a sprawling complex comprised of the Imperial City, several museums, lakes, and lovely gardens, all laid out in a series of concentric circles. We also visit the Forbidden Purple City, originally built in the early 1800s for the personal use of the emperor and staffed by eunuchs who posed no threat to the royal concubines. Nearly destroyed in the Tet Offensive, the ruins today house the Royal Library and the grounds flourish with mimosa plants and vegetable gardens. Late afternoon will find you in the Dong Ba market, the biggest and most significant market in Hue in particular and Central Viet Nam in general. Here, you can find traditional local products who are on sale along with varieties of goods, from the conical hats, toothpicks to luxurious jewelleries.
Dinner at the tranquil private home/restaurant, Y Thao, featuring delicious Hue specialties, including Banh Khoai, a Vietnamese-style crepe
DAY 7 : HUE / PERFUME RIVER CRUISE (B/L/-)
For a fascinating look at life in Hue today, you make your way down to the Perfume River to embark on a journey by dragon boat. Explore the Thien Mu Pagoda (the Temple of the Heavenly Lady), possibly the most famous of all Vietnam’s pagodas. Legend tells of ‘fairy maids’ who predicted that a king would build a pagoda and bring great wealth to the countryside. Situated on the banks of the peaceful Perfume River, it is one of Vietnam’s best-loved buildings. Discover the elaborate tombs of the Nguyen emperors. The tombs are situated among the houses of local farmers who grow rice, fruit and vegetables here. It is this location that gives rise to the views of the Vietnam you know from television; local farmers in straw hats working in paddy fields beneath towering palms. You’ll visit one of the seven tombs, all of which follow a similar layout: statues of mandarins, elephants and horses, a pavilion where a stele (obelisk) tells of each emperor’s glorious reign and a temple where he was worshipped after death
DAY 8 : HUE / DANANG / HOI AN (B/L/D)
After breakfast, we depart for Hoi An pausing to take in picturesque beach views at Lang Co Lagoon and the spectacular coastline panorama of the Hai Van Pass. We will also visit the Cham Museum, with a private tour of the world’s finest collection of Cham sculpture that dates from the 2nd to the 15th century. Approximately four hours after leaving Hue, you’ll arrive in Hoi An - a relaxed and laid-back place, where cars are prohibited from the narrow streets of the old town, preserving the atmosphere in the centre as it would have been in colonial times.
Settled over the years by a variety of nationalities, including the Spanish and Portuguese, the old town is a fascinating place to visit. The fading beauty of the beautiful shops, houses and cafés add to the charm; Hoi An is bound to be a highlight of the trip. Walking or cycling are the only ways to soak up the atmosphere of the old streets. Take a guided tour on foot and can walk down to the riverside market where fresh fish are unloaded and through the backstreets of this colourful town, past temples to the covered Japanese Bridge. Visit the Children's Hope in Action Centre and meet some local children at this community project.
DAY 9 : HOI AN (B/L/-)
Experience life on the waterways in Hoi An on Cua Dai river. Join local fishermen and their families to learn about the lifestyle and social customs of this rural community, and gain cultural insight into this authentic Vietnamese way of life. Next, meet your friendly and safety-minded captain and crew aboard the boat as you embark on an eco-tour of the region, cruising along the Cua Dai River. As you explore the tranquil waterways flanked by mangroves and coconut palms, hear about the extreme conditions once endured here by soldiers on both sides of the Vietnam-American War. Then, join local fishermen and women on the river and take part in several interesting hands- experience fishing the traditional way
The afternoon is free to explore the cobbled back streets full of cafes, art galleries, temples and ancient merchant’s houses at your own pace. Hoi An is now known for "flash fashion," a place where shirts and other items can be measured and sewn overnight. The quality is not on par with Hong Kong or Bangkok tailors, but the price is low and favorite clothing items can be duplicated quickly.
Option : you can choose to attend a silk lantern workshop at the home of a craftsman in the old quarter of Hoi An. This is a very interesting recreational activity for the whole family
DAY 10 : HOI AN / DANANG / SAIGON (B/L/D)
Following breakfast, early morning drive to Danang for our one-hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). After arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, we will transfer to our hotel, in the center of the bustling city. This is an amazing city. There are miliions of scooters everywhere, zipping all over the roads like you have never seen before anywhere else in Vietnam. After lunch and coffee tasting, we will visit historic landmarks including the Art Deco colonial-era post office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the former Presidential Palace, and the spellbinding War Remnants Museum (formerly the War Crimes Museum).
DAY 11 : SAIGON / CU CHI TUNNELS (B/L/-)
This morning you may wish to take a spare shirt with you because we’re literally going to ‘get down and get dirty’. Our excursion to the north of Saigon would have been considered risky business indeed 30 odd years ago but today the peaceful farming communities around the former Viet Cong stronghold of Cu Chi Tunnels belie the horrors of the Vietnam War. Begun by the Viet Minh and later expanded by the Viet Cong, Cu Chi’s tunnels were constructed to conduct covert operations and then quickly hide from the enemy. There are reputed to be around 200 kilometres of underground tunnels within the area and in some places they even managed to penetrate the perimeters of nearby US military bases. The children will love trying to spot the well-camouflaged entrances to the tunnels and then crawling into them; large Western-sized adults might find it a tighter squeeze! In early afternoon, we return to Saigon where you have free time on your own.
Option : your children have the chance to try their hand at painting at the Vin-Space atelier, a local artist will invite you to a “family art blast” where he will teach you with a hands-on art making experience.
DAY 12 : SAIGON / MEKONG DELTA (B/L/D)
Leave the bustling city of Saigon behind, we depart to the Mekong delta considered as Vietnam’s biggest “rice basket” Arrive at Hung Vuong pier( Ben Tre town), embark and cruise along the Bến Tre River – a tributary of the great Mekong River to explore the local lifestyles and their daily activities. Stop at a brick –field belonged to Mr. Tu Lo to see how Vietnamese people made brick by hand and a coconut candy home factory located along the canal to witness the process of making the candies and other souvenirs. We then have an opportunity to taste bee honey tea at a local honey farm and variety of tropical fruit that are widely available in Mekong Delta orchards. Walking or cycling through the coconut groves and green rice fields to soak and relax in the tranquil countryside atmosphere. The afternoon begins by a boat trip (with small rowing-boat)through a maze of waterways shaded by two rows of palm tree. Cruise back to the pier and disembark. Transfer to Can Tho. O/N in Can Tho.
DAY 13 : CAN THO / SAIGON (B/-/-)
Early morning (from 5am), take a boat trip through the winding waterways of Cai Rang floating market- the biggest and busiest floating market in Mekong Delta. This is the best time to visit the market as it is crowded with hundreds of sampans that offer fruits, vegetables, plants, food and other goods for trade. You will earn a great opportunity to take photos, communicate with locals and taste fruits. Leave the market, we get back to Sai Gon. On the way back, stop at Binh Thuy old house( 5kms from Can Tho city) and Long Dinh mat weaving village where you can see how to make a mat - a very popular item closely associated with Vietnamese culture. Back to Sai Gon for overnight.
DAY 14 : SAIGON DEPATURE (B/-/-)
After breakfast, enjoy free time until the transfer to airport for your onward flight