11-Day Family Adventure in Vietnam

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival

Arrive at Noi Bai airport and be driven to your hotel.

Day 2: Sail Through Ha Long Bay 

Be driven to Ha Long Bay – a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will then board a tender boat to transfer to Orchard Cruises. Enjoy welcome drinks and lunch, before taking a bus to Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island. This 300-meter-long cave, naturally formed over 2,000 years, features stunning stalactites that spark the imagination. Then, take a refreshing swim in the tranquil Tra Bau area, before enjoying a cooking demonstration and happy hour on board.

Later, enjoy an evening dinner made with the freshest ingredients, before trying squid fishing.

For your Ha Long excursion, you’ll embark on the Orchid Trendy cruise. This vessel features 20 elegantly designed cabins, crafted with a contemporary aesthetic. Most cabins include private balconies, offering you your own secluded outdoor space to enjoy the stunning views of Ha Long Bay. Each air-conditioned cabin is equipped with large windows overlooking the bay and furnished with either two twin beds or a double queen/king-size bed. All meals will be served on board, with a focus on fresh seafood dishes.

✓ Lunch and Dinner.

Day 3: Explore Lan Ha Bay

Start the day with a refreshing Tai Chi session, embracing the tranquillity of the bay. Enjoy breakfast, before kayaking in Ao Ech. Check out and enjoy brunch, before travelling back to Hanoi.

✓ Brunch

Day 4: Enjoy a Rickshaw Tour

This morning, your guide will take you to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, established in the 11th century. You’ll also visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, along with his simple stilt house where he lived and worked, and the museum dedicated to his memory.

After lunch, you’ll visit the tranquil Tran Quoc Pagoda, located on the shores of West Lake.

In the afternoon, enjoy a rickshaw ride through Hanoi’s Colonial and Old Quarters, where you’ll explore the heart of the city, including Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, and the vibrant Old Quarter—a lively and bustling area.

In the evening, you will board the overnight train to Hue. The North–South Railway, also known as the Reunification Express, runs along Vietnam’s coastline. This line spans 1,726 kilometers, connecting the capital, Hanoi, in the north with Ho Chi Minh City in the south. Constructed over nearly 40 years during French colonial rule (from 1899 to 1936), the railway passes through several regions celebrated for their natural beauty.

✓ Breakfast and Lunch.

Day 5: Discover Hue’s Royal Tombs

Your morning will begin with a cruise along the Perfume River to the Thien Mu Pagoda, followed by a road trip to the Royal Tombs of Emperor Minh Mang and, later in the afternoon, Emperor Khai Dinh. These two mausoleums, representing different eras of the Nguyen dynasty, offer a striking contrast in style and design.

Afterward, you’ll return to Hue to visit one of the city’s traditional ‘garden houses’ before heading back to your hotel.

 The garden houses are a distinctive feature of Hue. These traditional, privately owned homes are nestled within beautifully landscaped gardens, with some even having historical ties to the old Royal Imperial Court.

✓ Breakfast and Lunch.

Day 6: Cycle Around Hue

In the morning, you’ll cycle through Hue’s rural villages, heading toward the Thanh Toan Bridge, a charming structure roofed in Chinese style. Nearby, you can explore a local market, offering a glimpse into daily life and showcasing a variety of local products.

You’ll then return to Hue’s city centre, with a stop at Xuan Vien Tieu Cung, one of the most renowned garden houses in Hue. This garden house, located in the Phu Mong area, is considered the most beautiful and well-preserved. Originally built in 1894 during the reign of King Thanh Thai, it was the residence of the Minister of Ceremonies, Pham Huu Dien. Today, the house is still cared for by his sixth-generation descendants.

After lunch, you’ll pass by the Imperial Citadel and visit other garden houses in Phu Mong Kim Long village. Your journey will also include a stop at a traditional handicraft village known for making ‘banh it’ and ‘banh phu the’ cakes before returning to your hotel.

✓ Breakfast and Lunch.

Day 7: From Hue to Charming Hoi An

In the morning, your car will pick you up for the drive to Danang. Along the way, you’ll cross the Hai Van Pass, a high mountain pass offering excellent views. Upon arrival in Danang, you’ll make a brief stop to admire the remarkable Hindu sculptures at the Cham Museum before continuing to Hoi An. After lunch, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of Hoi An’s Ancient Town.

✓ Breakfast and Lunch.

Day 8: From Farmer to Fisherman Tour

Your day begins with a bike ride along narrow countryside roads, passing by rice paddies, water buffalos, bamboo bridges, and local farmers going about their daily tasks. Next, you’ll board a boat and head to the mouth of the Thu Bon estuary, where the river meets the Cua Dai Sea. As you cruise along the coastline, you’ll observe the daily lives of local fishermen.

You’ll have the chance to join the fishermen and try catching fish using a traditional ‘Thung Chai’ basket boat before drifting through the water palm coconut canal. This area served as a strategic hiding place for Viet Cong soldiers during the American War. After an enlightening visit to a local fishing village, you’ll relax and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch before returning to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend at your leisure.

✓ Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9: Foodie Tour in Ho Chi Minh City

Relax with free time before your flight to Ho Chi Minh City where you can explore until the evening. In the evening, explore Saigon from the back of a scooter while sampling local cuisine. Accompanied by a local Vietnamese rider, you’ll navigate the narrow streets and alleys of Saigon, visiting various districts and hidden corners. Your journey will take you through Chinatown, where you’ll stop at a local evening market before heading to the Ho Thi Ky wholesale flower market. At the market, you can take a stroll and learn how to make crispy banana crackers.

Then, hop back on the scooter for a scenic 30-minute ride through alleyways filled with clothing shops, food vendors, and parks, where locals exercise at night. After enjoying the sights from your scooter, you’ll stop at a local eatery to savour Pho (beef noodle soup) and Banh My (Vietnam’s most famous street food). Following your meal, you’ll visit the Nguyen Thien Thuat area, one of the most popular street food neighbourhoods in Saigon, known for its rich culinary diversity and vibrant local culture, influenced by residents from various parts of Vietnam.

Finally, you’ll be taken to a local favourite drinking spot for some beer or soft drinks. Enjoy a chat with your tour guide while seated at a small table, learning more about Vietnamese cuisine and local life. You will then return to your hotel.

Vegetarian food can be arranged.

✓ Breakfast

Day 10: Explore the Mekong Delta by Speedboat

The speedboat will take you away from downtown Saigon through narrow canals to enter the lush waterways of the Mekong Delta. A light breakfast will be served on board.

Your first stop will be at Tuong Van Pagoda, where your guide will share insights about the significance of Buddhism in the lives of many delta residents. Next, you’ll visit a vibrant riverside market brimming with local curiosities, tropical fruits, and an array of fish and shellfish.

You will then arrive at the expansive Delta of Nine Dragons. You’ll navigate through the delta to the small, winding canals of the Thu Thua area. Here, you may visit a riverside house that keeps large Burmese pythons, explore a village surrounded by rice paddies, or stop at a farmhouse to sample coconuts and Mekong whisky. Alternatively, you could visit a local merchant to try various local products, whisky, and wine, then stroll along the river to a traditional home housing three generations and explore a village where you can enjoy coconuts fresh from the tree. This will provide you with a fascinating glimpse into life on the Mekong Delta (your guide may blend elements from both routes).

After enjoying lunch at a local house, you will visit an orphanage run by Buddhist monks, followed by a stop at a colourful Cao Dai Temple. You’ll then cruise back to Ho Chi Minh City, where the rest of the evening is yours to enjoy.

✓ Breakfast and Lunch.

Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City Departure

Enjoy free time before your departure.

✓ Breakfast.