Vietnam Family Adventure

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Upon arrival in Hanoi, private car and tour guide will pick you up at Noi Bai International Airport and then transfer you to hotel for check in (the rooms are at your disposal from 14:00).Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today. You can arrive at any time during the day as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. Please check with hotel reception or look on the reception noticeboard for where and when the meeting will take place. If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception or your booking agent in advance. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader. If you arrive early consider booking the Hanoi Highlights Urban Adventure with an expert local guide to introduce you to the city and it's sites, including the Temple of Literature, the Hoa Lo Prison museum and Hoan Kiem Lake. Or take it at your own pace and wander the Old Quarter and admire the city’s French-colonial architecture, relax in a park, or enjoy some street food.

Notes: If you can't arrange a flight that will have you arrive at the hotel in time for the meeting, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

We begin the day with a private guided tour of the Ho Chi Minh complex. We firstly visit the Mausoleum where we can see the remains of Ho Chi Minh, the founding father of the unified Vietnam. The next stop is the Temple of Literature which is known as both the Confucius Temple and the former National University. Here, you can see that various pavillions, halls, statues and stelae of doctors are places where offering ceremonies, study sessions and the strict exams of the Dai Viet took place. Then, lunch will be at a local restaurant, and you will have a chance to try some of Hanoi’s cuisines.

Vietnamese food is one of the world’s most delightful cuisines. In the afternoon, we visit the Hanoi Zoological Garden. You can see different animals, take photos and even food them. You’ll also have a chance to chat and mingle with the locals. In late afternoon, we drive to Hoan Kien Lake which is considered as the soul of Hanoi, before attending a traditional water puppet show. Today’s Vietnamese water puppetry is a unique variation on the ancient Asian puppet tradition. You can enjoy the orchestra accompanied the performance with traditional music and songs.

Finally, we finish up our day with a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter - a maze of streets, each one traditionally devoted to a different product or industry, and come back to the hotel for rest.

This morning starts with a visit to the Hanoi Cooking Centre to begin your day of Vietnamese cooking. You will enjoy a special 'La Han' Vietnamese welcome tea, followed by a brief introduction to Vietnamese cuisine, including highlighting the contents of a traditional Vietnamese meal. Then take a short walk to Chau Long Market, where you will be shown around by the Chef who will explain the interesting goods on sale. Anything from livestock to silk worms are available to buy.

Upon arriving back at the HCC the cooking class will begin and you will be able to sample some local goods, as well as getting all of the recipes printed for you to take home. On completion of the cooking class, enjoy the meal you have prepared. This gives you a chance to chat to the chef in the comfort of the HCC dining area and enjoy a drink whilst you relax.

After the lesson receive a HCC 'Going Home' gift and you can also purchase some of the Vietnamese spices, tools and books that you have used during the day.

On the next day, we depart to Hanoi by our own bus, which will take us on a four-hour drive through the Red River Delta, to tranquil Halong Bay which was recognized as a UNESCO Heritage site in 1994. After arriving at the dock, we board our boat to cruise around the bay. Here, you can have a chance to experience the magnificent natural landforms. Lunch will also be served while sailing. On this cruise we also visit the Thien Cung Cave, and sail past Dinh Huong Island, Dog Island and Ga Choi Island. All of these destinations have beautiful sights, so you can take photos there. Late in the afternoon, there is a stop at Titop Beach. You can spend your time on swimming and a short walk up Titop Mountain to see the beautiful sunset.

Tonight, you will be welcomed by a a delicious dinner which is served on board, prepared and cooked by our talented crew. You also experience an overnight on the boat in Halong Bay.

This morning we board a smaller boat to explore Lan Ha, a remote corner of the bay. Here we visit the Leaning Tower, a popular rock climbing cliff, then off at some small floating fishing villages to see the farm pens that hold a variety of fish, shrimps and crabs that the locals farm in the bay. Later in the morning there is more time for swimming or to explore the area in a kayak. After lunch the boat cruises to Three Peaches beach, a beautiful white sandy beach, where there is plenty of time top up your tan, weather permitting!

Enjoy an early morning swim followed by breakfast. The tour then visits the "Cave of Surprises" before cruising back to the main harbour for the return drive to Hanoi. In the evening you are transferred to the train station for the overnight journey on the Reunification Express southwards to Danang. Accommodation aboard the train in four berth shared cabins, which are simple but comfortable.

Upon arrival in Danang , transfer directly to your hotel in Hoi An. Early check-in is based on room availability. From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab merchants. Today, Hoi An is a quaint riverside town, renowned for its silk and popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century and much of the town is now heritage-listed.

After lunch, enjoy a half day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Assembly Hall, 200-year-old Tam Ky house and the Japanese Covered Bridge.

This exciting full day tour gives you an insight into the lives of the farming and fishing communities in this beautiful region of Vietnam. Begin your adventure by cycling out into the countryside through emerald green rice paddies. After a short ride you will arrive at the village of Tra Que. This charming little settlement, on the edge of Hoi An, is famous for its sweet scented green vegetables that spice up Hoi An's famous delicacies such as Cao Lau and Mi Quang. On arrival you will be introduced to the history of the village and the cultivation of the vegetables they grow. Continue with a walk around the vegetable garden and join the farmers in preparing the land and planting some crops. Finish off your village experience with a fun cooking demonstration.

Later, return to Hoi An and board the Eco Tour boat for a river cruise to meet and engage with local fisherman. You are sure to enjoy the hands on experience of river net fishing with the locals. Next, you have the opportunity to paddle a unique bamboo basket boat, known as a coracle, as you explore the area’s coconut palmed waterways.

As you stroll along the beautiful streets of the old town at night, you will no doubt have seen the flickering lights of the many beautiful lanterns. Today we cycle from you hotel to the home of a local craftsman, where you will learn about the history, shape and colour of the lanterns and the many stages of their production. Next you get the chance to create your own lantern, which will be yours to keep as a souvenir. At the end you'll enjoy the gentle cycle ride back to your hotel.

Spend the day at leisure on the beach or having clothes made by one of the famous, inexpensive tailors Hoi An is famous for.

Transfer to the airport in Danang. Take a flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, you are met by your guide and transferred to your hotel. You can spend the afternoon exploring Saigon's bustling city streets at your leisure! Places of interest include Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace and the War Remnants Museum. Or just relax at a street side cafe or noodle shop.

Early morning we depart from the hotel and take a speed boat ride along the Saigon River to the Cu Chi tunnels. After watching a short introductory video on the construction of the tunnels, the next hour is spent exploring the maze of tunnels, accompanied by the guide. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500-pound bombs from B52 bombers.

Next we take a short drive through the countryside to a cricket farm. Many locals consider crickets a real delicacy and folk lore says the hungry soldiers ate them to help their nutrient-poor diets. At the farm you'll explore the life cycle of these versatile insects and of course you'll get a chance to sample some wrapped up in a tasty spring roll! After lunch we head back to Ho Chi Minh city where the rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax or explore the city more.

On the last day, you will have a free time to do what you want until your private driver transfers you to the airport for your onward flight. It is also the ending of our tour.