Vietnam Family Holiday

This luxury Vietnam Family Holiday itinerary covers the highlights of Vietnam in a two week journey covering the north, centre and south of Vietnam.

Begin in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam with its fascinating Old Quarter, attractive lakes and lively temples. Enjoy a full day tour of Hanoi and pay your respects to ‘Uncle Ho’ at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

From Hanoi, enjoy an overnight cruise on a traditional Vietnamese Junk, sailing through the magnificent seascape of Halong Bay, one of the most scenic journeys in Vietnam.

After the cruise fly to Hue and explore the old Imperial capital of Vietnam.

From Hue head down to Hoi An, an old riverside trading town with a nearby beach. The old streets of Hoi An are lined with boutique shops, restaurants and ancient temples, great for wandering around and exploring on foot.

Spend a night in a tribal village and get off the beaten track in one of the most beautiful corners of Vietnam.

From Hoi An, fly to Saigon and discover the real Saigon and enjoy an overnight cruise on the Mekong Delta.

Fly back to the UK or extend the holiday with a beach extension to Mui Ne, Long Hai or Phu Quoc Island.

As with all of our Vietnam holidays, this one can be tailored to suit your interests, time and budget - so just let us know your preferences.

Day 1: Fly UK to Hanoi

Overnight flight UK to Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi

On arrival transfer to your chosen hotel.

In the afternoon, enjoy a 35-minute ride on an electric car through the city centre including Quan Su Pagoda, Silk Road, Hanoi Railway Station and Hoa Lo Prison and finally the Hanoi Opera House.

Get off the electric car and take a 25 minute walk to get a close-up feel of daily life in the Old Quarter of Hanoi.

Overnight Hanoi.

Day 3: Halong Bay

You will be collected from your hotel for your transfer to Halong Bay for your overnight cruise.

Board the Halong Violet and begin your cruise through the World Heritage Site of Halong Bay.

Enjoy a buffet lunch while passing through picturesque areas such as the Mat Quy and Am Islets. Visit Tien Ong Cave (sensible footwear required) and then continue to Cua Van Fishing Village, the oldest and largest fishing village in Halong Bay.

The village is reached via smaller boats that each takes a maximum of four persons.

After returning to the boat in the late afternoon there is the opportunity to watch and take part in, a traditional Vietnamese cooking demonstration conducted by the energetic chef.

As the boat cruises slowly to its mooring points, enjoy a relaxing massage or a sunset drink on the terrace deck.

Just before dinner is served there will be a presentation about Halong Bay

Overnight Halong Bay. All meals included.

Day 4: Halong Bay - Hanoi

Early risers may join a Tai Chi class on the open deck. A smaller boat then takes guests to a natural white sandy stretch of beach with crystal clear water.

Climb to a hill top for a last view over Halong Bay before returning to the boat for the slow cruise back to Halong City.

Enjoy a buffet brunch while passing picturesque areas including Ti Top Island, Tam Cung Cave and Poem Mountain.

Disembark via a smaller boat at Tuan Chau Pier at around 11am for your transfer back to the hotel in Hanoi.

On your way back visit a water puppet village in the Red River Delta. Stop at the communal house to visit and understand more about the water puppet show before enjoying a famous water puppet show (the show is entertaining for all ages).

Overnight Hanoi. Breakfast included.

Day 5: Halong Bay – Hanoi

Enjoy a morning city tour of Hanoi including the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Museum of Ethnology, the Ho Chi Minh Museum and the One Pillar Pagoda.

In the afternoon spend time with a renowned expat chef who will open the door into the world of Vietnamese cooking and the local Hanoi food scene.

Daniel Hoyer is an author and chef with a profound passion for Vietnam and the Vietnamese art of food and dining. Daniel will take you to see markets and restaurants away from the tourist areas.

These secret culinary venues are frequented by Vietnamese and expat foodies, and as a result many are not listed in the guide books.

Take a stroll with him and learn from his many years of experience as a chef, culinary instructor and author.

Visit a bustling local market where Daniel will explain how the different ingredients are used in Vietnamese cuisine. There is also the chance to try out some famous Hanoi specialties.

Overnight Hanoi. Breakfast & Dinner included.

Day 6: Hue

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hue, the ancient Imperial capital of Vietnam where you will be met and transferred to your chosen hotel in Hue.

Located in the heart of Hue is the Imperial Citadel, a vast complex built in the early 19th century and modelled after the Forbidden City of Beijing. Enjoy a guided tour around the citadel.

In the afternoon visit the nearby Imperial Tomb of Tu Duc which is a tranquil and grand site, fitting as the final resting place of an Emperor.

In the city of Hue, enjoy a private imperial dinner accompanied by a traditional music performance.

Overnight Hue. Breakfast included.

Day 7: Hue - Hoi An

Enjoy a leisurely boat ride down the Perfume River, stopping at the iconic Thien Mu Pagoda.

Continue cruising into the countryside to the Imperial Tomb of Minh Mang, a majestic complex of courtyards, pavilions and temples in a beautiful natural setting.

Drive south from Hue along scenic mountain roads with spectacular views over the coastline.

Highlights along the way include the dramatic Hai Van Pass, the high dividing line between the climate zones of North and South Vietnam; Lang Co, a lovely stretch of beach curving outwards between a clear blue lagoon and the East Vietnam Sea; and the large coastal city of Danang.

Transfer to your chosen hotel in Hoi An.

Overnight Hoi An. Breakfast included.

Day 8: Hoi An

Discover a completely different side of Vietnam. Head out of Hoi An and stop at 1,000 year old Cham temples and former US and French bases from the independence wars.

Head into the mountains along quiet roads, through dramatic scenery towards the Lao border, home to the Co Tu minority.

Visit one of the few remaining Co Tu woodcarvers and enjoy a home cooked lunch in his stilted house before continuing deep into the mountains, meandering through isolated villages.

Arrive at Bho Hoong, a traditional Co Tu village for an overnight stay. Little has changed in the past hundred years in Bho Hoong and it is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Central Vietnam.

Is this a Private Tour or a Group Tour?

All of our tours are private tailor made itineraries, customised for you - we can amend things to entirely suit you.

You will have your own private car, driver and guide on excursions.

What are the departure dates?

Let us know your preferred dates of travel and we will find the best and most suitable flights to fit your itinerary.

As this is a private tour, there are no set departure dates.

Which Airlines do you use?

We work with all the major airlines flying to this part of the world.

Typically for Vietnam, Vietnam Airlines, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines or Cathay Pacific would be airlines we most often use.

However, just let us know your preferred airline if you have one. We can organise flights from any regional destination in the UK.

Vietnam Airlines fly directly to both Hanoi and Saigon from the UK.

Which Hotels do you use?

We're careful with our choice of hotels, but we're guided by our customers also. If you have some preferred hotels, just let us know.

We specialise in boutique hotels and so we will often suggest some of our favourite smaller hotels where we think these will be suitable.

We keep on top of hotel developments in Indochina from our office in Vietnam and regularly inspect the hotels we use.