Vietnam family holiday

country:	Vietnam
location:	Mekong Delta, North Vietnam, South Vietnam
trip type:	A small group adventure
departures:	2008: 14 Dec
price:	From £549 (14 days) excluding flights, plus local payment of US $200. We can arrange flights from the UK. Children welcome over the age of 6

Vietnam holidays

Family holidays

the amazing things you'll be doing

Can you imagine sharing the evening with your family on the deck of a traditional Chinese Junk in Ha Long Bay staring at the stars?

Can you imagine yourself sharing stories of family life with a Vietnamese family in the Mekong Delta, and then snorkelling along the white sandy coast of Southern Vietnam?

This trip allows you to do all of this and more on a wonderful voyage of discovery.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Saigon. Arrive in Saigon and check into your hotel which is comfortable and centrally located.
Day 2:	Saigon. Morning walking tour of the exotic city of Saigon. We explore the market and see the beautiful old colonial buildings from the French era. In the afternoon you have the option to visit the Cu Chi tunnels outside Saigon where the Viet Cong hid during the Vietnam war.
Day 3:	Mekong Delta. Driving south we visit the Mekong Delta, an area of islands and rivers where there are no cars and the only form of transport is by boat. We explore in a boat of our own, past floating markets and friendly villages and we spend the night in a local house.
Day 4:	Mekong Delta - Saigon. Morning sampan cruise (these are small wooden boats, like a canoe) to Vinh Long. Later we drive back to Saigon.
Day 5:	Danang – Hoi An. Afternoon flight to Danang then transfer to the beautiful ancient trading town of Hoi An.
Day 6:	Hoi An. Boat trip along the river stopping at local craft villages, fishing opportunity and a picnic lunch. Rest of the day is fee to bargain for local handicrafts or even travel to Cua Dai Beach.
Day 7:	Hoi An. Relaxing free day to spend by the pool, at the beach or more shopping or exploring.
Day 8:	Hue. Drive along the coast via Cloud Mountain Pass, the geographical divide between north and south Vietnam. Arrive in Hue and enjoy an afternoon cruise along the Perfume River to the Heavenly Lady Pagoda and the tomb of the Ngyuen Emperor Minh Mang.
Day 9:	Hue. Our guide takes us on a tour of the Imperial City. The afternoon is free and if you are feeling active you can hire a bike and head into the villages around Hue. We then board the overnight train to Hanoi.
Day 10:	Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to our hotel. Afternoon cyclo tour of this beautiful old city.
Day 11:	Hanoi - Halong Bay. A wonderful day as we drive out to Halong Bay, a stunning area of green steep sided islands dotted around the turquoise sea. We have the chance to explore some huge limestone caves and spend the night gazing at the stars from the deck of our Halong Bay cruiser!
Day 12:	Halong Bay. Continue our boat trip in the morning before returning to Hanoi where we spend two nights at our hotel.
Day 13:	Hanoi. A full free day to relax in Hanoi. You can try out your bargaining skills in the markets. In the evening there is the option to see a water puppet show.
Day 14:	Hanoi. Tour ends

small group family holiday

This is a 'small group family adventure' - typically you will join several other families and travel in a group of approx. 16 people. The trips are great value and a great way for you and your children to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of time to yourselves. Most adventure kids tend to be aged between 7 and 15, but some are younger (minimum age 6) and some older (perhaps travelling as part of a larger family group). Please check with the operator to confirm the minimum age for this trip.

highly commended

This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.

how this holiday makes a difference

Who better to lead the way in responsible travel than children? Curious without being intrusive, children bring new ideas, far fewer demands and no preconceptions to off the beaten track destinations. This trip is a wonderful opportunity for both children and adults to explore local markets, restaurants and villages and gain a true insight into this amazing country which was once ravaged by war. But when seen through the eyes of a child war will be the last thing on your mind in Vietnam!

Along the way we stay overnight in a village house in the Mekong Delta which not only gives a wonderful insight into the way of life in this unusual eco system but also allows children to meet their contemporaries and break down barriers between locals and visitors. All the families we visit are well paid for hosting groups, ensuring the communities themselves benefit. We also take a local sampan cruise in the Mekong Delta and hire small boats from local families for a trip along the Perfume River.

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