Vietnam Family Adventure: Ho Chi Minh, Hoi An & Halong Bay – 12 Days

After breakfast, choose a morning (8:00 AM – 8:30 AM) or afternoon (1:00 PM – 1:30 PM) departure time for a guided half-day tour of Ho Chi Minh City's key landmarks. Your first stop is the War Remnants Museum, offering insights into Vietnam’s modern history through exhibits and photographs.

Continue to the Reunification Palace, a significant historic site that once served as the presidential residence. You'll then enjoy an exterior visit to the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon, admired for its elegant French colonial architecture (currently under renovation). Next, stop at the beautifully preserved Saigon Central Post Office, another architectural highlight of the city.

The tour concludes with time at a local market, where you can browse for souvenirs and local goods. Return to your hotel for free time to relax or explore independently. Optional experiences like a Manh Farm & Cooking Class or a Hanoi Street Food Walking Tour can be arranged at an additional cost.

After breakfast, travel to Cai Be, where a Mekong Ecolodge boat will meet you at Cai Be Tourist Pier for an immersive Mekong Delta adventure. Begin with a visit to Cai Be Market and Com Candy Craft Village, where you can observe traditional sweet-making and sample local treats. Continue to a bee farm to learn about honey production and enjoy honey tea.

Next, cruise to Tan Phong Island, known for its lush orchards. Visit local farms growing tropical fruits like rambutan, longan, and jackfruit. Enjoy a traditional folk music performance at a local home while sampling fresh fruit and tea. Afterward, take a peaceful sampan ride through the island’s narrow canals before arriving at Mekong Ecolodge for lunch and relaxation.

In the afternoon, explore the ecolodge grounds and its gardens. Around 4:00 PM, participate in traditional fish catching in a muddy canal—a fun, hands-on activity. Then, head to the garden to harvest fresh vegetables for dinner. Later, join the lodge’s chef for a cooking session using your collected ingredients, followed by a delicious homemade dinner.

After breakfast, embark on a fun and easy cycling tour around Tan Phong Island at approximately 8:00 AM. Ride through peaceful village paths and stop at local homes to observe traditional handicrafts, including rice paper making, hammock weaving, and water hyacinth weaving. Your family will have the chance to try these crafts with guidance from local residents.

Continue to a small workshop where bamboo nail files are handmade. Cycle back to Mekong Ecolodge and join a hands-on cooking activity to make traditional jackfruit leaf cakes, a local specialty. Enjoy your creations together before lunch. Around 12:00 PM, take a local ferry from Tan Phong Island to Hiep Duc Ferry Station for an authentic glimpse of everyday life in the Mekong Delta.

Cross the scenic Tien River, where your driver will meet you on the opposite side. From there, transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City and check in at your hotel. The rest of the day is free for your family to relax and unwind.

After breakfast, enjoy some free time in Ho Chi Minh City before checking out of your hotel. Later, transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Da Nang.

Upon arrival in Da Nang, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel in Hoi An for check-in. Enjoy free time to relax, explore the nearby streets, or unwind before the evening's entertainment.

Between 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM, your driver will pick you up for transfer to Hoi An Memories Land. Arrive between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM and enjoy time at the Hoi An Impression Theme Park, a vivid photo exhibition. Explore colorful scenes and take family photos at spots like Commercial Firm, Vietnam Village, Love Bridge, and Japan Village. Enjoy a tasty dinner with traditional Vietnamese dishes at the bamboo Conical Hat Restaurant. Visit Thien Duc Pagoda to learn about Vietnamese spiritual connections. From 7:45 PM to 9:00 PM, take your seats for the spectacular Hoi An Memories Show, bringing 400 years of Hoi An’s history to life with hundreds of performers and impressive visual effects.

After breakfast, meet in the hotel lobby for a fun and educational family experience in the countryside around Hoi An. Begin with a relaxed bicycle ride to Tra Que Vegetable Village, a charming herb-growing village on the outskirts of town. Along the way, enjoy scenic rural landscapes and learn about Vietnam’s farming traditions.

Continue to Cam Thanh Eco Village, known for its fresh vegetables and peaceful surroundings. Upon arrival, take a tour of the vegetable gardens. Here, you can help local farmers with unique farming activities like preparing and fertilizing the land, raking, sowing, watering, and picking greens. This interactive experience is especially enjoyable for kids and teens, offering a fun look at everyday rural life.

Enjoy a homemade lunch with a local family, featuring fresh ingredients from the garden. After lunch, cycle back to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax or explore Hoi An at your own pace.

Enjoy a full free day to relax and explore the peaceful charm of Hoi An with your family at your own pace. You may wish to stroll through the lantern-lined streets of the Ancient Town, browse local boutiques, visit riverside cafés, or unwind at the beach.

If you'd like to add more experiences, optional tours are available at an additional cost, such as the Tra Que Village by Bike & Cooking Class, Cam Thanh Coconut Village & Lantern Making, Authentic Hoi An Cooking Class & Biking Tour, Hoi An Memories Show Ticket, or a Hoi An Half-Day Walking City Tour.

This flexible day allows your family to choose the pace and activities that suit you best, ensuring everyone can enjoy Hoi An in their preferred way.

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to Da Nang Airport for your domestic flight to Hanoi. Upon arrival in Hanoi, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy some free time to relax and recharge after your journey.

At approximately 5:30 PM, set out with your family on a guided walking food tour through the lively Hanoi Old Quarter. Led by a knowledgeable local food expert, this experience offers a fun and flavorful introduction to Hanoi’s culture, daily life, and street food traditions.

Discover some of the lesser-known dishes the locals love, such as Bun Bo, Banh Cuon, and Ca Phe Trung (Egg Coffee). This is a great way for teens and parents alike to experience the city through its vibrant food scene, tasting authentic flavors along the way.

Between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM, your driver will pick you up from the hotel for a visit to Bat Trang Ceramic Village, a traditional craft village famous for its pottery. Here, your family will learn about centuries-old ceramic-making techniques and watch local artisans at work in their studios.

You’ll also have the chance to create your own pottery piece with hands-on guidance from experienced craftsmen—an especially fun activity for teenagers and families. After the workshop, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant featuring Vietnamese cuisine.

Between 1:00 PM and 1:30 PM, continue with a guided half-day city tour of Hanoi’s top cultural landmarks. Begin at the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university. Next, visit the exterior of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an iconic national monument (closed Mondays, Fridays, and June-August). Continue to the unique One Pillar Pagoda and the historic Tran Quoc Pagoda. Then enjoy time around scenic West Lake. Return to your hotel after the tour.

After breakfast at your hotel, check out and prepare for your journey to the world-famous Halong Bay. Between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM, your driver will pick you up for the scenic transfer to the cruise port. Upon arrival, board your chosen cruise and enjoy a welcome drink as the crew introduces the ship and itinerary.

Savor a fresh seafood lunch on board while sailing past Halong Bay’s dramatic limestone islands and hidden grottoes. In the afternoon, begin exploring the area's breathtaking natural beauty. Depending on your specific cruise, you will join various activities to discover the bay's beauty, such as visiting a cave, kayaking, or swimming.

Return to the cruise for relaxation and to watch the beautiful sunset over the bay, or join a cooking class. Have dinner and stay overnight on board. After dinner, you can participate in fun evening activities like squid fishing or karaoke, depending on the cruise’s facilities. Note that cruise routes and onboard activities may vary.

Start the day early with optional sunrise views over the limestone karsts of Halong Bay. You may also join a Tai Chi session on the sundeck for a peaceful start to the morning. After breakfast, continue exploring the bay with optional activities such as kayaking or a bamboo rowing boat ride, which are great fun for families and teenagers.

Return to the cruise to check out, followed by a relaxed brunch while sailing back toward the harbor through the stunning limestone landscape. Between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM, disembark and transfer back to Hanoi. Upon arrival, check in to your hotel.

The rest of the afternoon and evening are free for your family to relax or explore Hanoi at your own pace. Optional evening experiences are available at an additional cost, including a Hoa Lo Prison Night Tour, Imperial Citadel of Thang Long Night Tour, or a Hop-On Hop-Off Hanoi Sightseeing Bus.

Enjoy your final morning in Hanoi at leisure. This is a great time to do some last-minute shopping for souvenirs or gifts for family and friends. Please note that hotel check-out time is at 12:00 PM; late check-out can be arranged upon request with an additional surcharge.

At the scheduled time, you will be transferred to Noi Bai International Airport for your onward flight. Your Vietnam family journey concludes here. We hope you leave with wonderful memories shared with your family throughout the trip.