Family adventure holiday to Vietnam & Cambodia
Highlights
Hanoi rickshaw tour | Bike ride by the river | Overnight junk cruise in Halong Bay | Water puppetry show | Overnight train to Hue | Cruise on Perfume River | Thien Mu Pagoda | Bike ride to the Tombs of the Emperors | Hoi An | Siem Reap | Temples of Angkor | Angkor Wat |Description of Family adventure holiday to Vietnam & Cambodia
This two-week tour of Vietnam and Cambodia, some of the most exciting countries in Southeast Asia, hits all the right notes for families with a sense of adventure and curiosity. And while the itinerary of course ticks off all the must-see icons: the magnificent Halong Bay, and the mysterious temples of Angkor (including the jewel in the crown, Angkor Wat), it also has a fair few surprises up its sleeve that will give you a sense of escaping the regular tourist route.Beginning in Hanoi, you’ll take a fun rickshaw tour of the city during which you’ll ride through the busy streets of the Old Quarter, see people ballroom dancing or practising tai chi in the parks, and the tomb of Ho Chi Minh in his mausoleum. You’ll also spend a day cycling around a quieter part of the city, by the river. From Hanoi it’s on to Halong Bay, but not for just a whistle-stop tour of this spectacular destination: you’ll board a beautiful junk boat for an overnight cruise, the best way to admire the bay’s stunning limestone karsts.
Next, an overnight train to Hue is a great experience for all the family as you move further south, continuing on after a little more rural sightseeing by bike to Hoi An. This lovely town is a cultural highpoint of the trip, and the perfect place to pick up a few souvenirs in the markets.
From Danang you’ll take a short internal flight to Siem Reap, your final destination of the trip and a chance to unleash your family’s Indiana Jones spirit, as you spend a few fascinating days exploring the ancient temples of Angkor. Kids of any age will love playing amid the ruins and tree roots, and be amazed by this UNESCO World Heritage Site’s treasures.
Still not entirely convinced? For additional convenience, as this is a tailormade tour, it’s suitable for kids of all ages, and you can choose your own dates.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.comDeparture information
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.
All of our tours in South East Asia are run in conjunction with local partners that have been chosen partly because they provide a fantastic service but also because they share our environmental and social goals. In Cambodia, many of our groups visit a site called Sambor Prei Kuk. This is in an area where landmines have been a problem and our guides use the opportunity to educate visitors about the problems that landmines can cause. There is also a landmine museum in Siem Reap that we encourage those with older children to visit and it provides an excellent insight into this environmental issue.
Throughout the region we try to use small locally owned hotels that have been built and furnished using local materials and we try and eat as locally as possible, making use of the many fantastic seasonal ingredients on offer. We cut down carbon emissions on the trip by using low carbon methods of travel such as cycling and boat rides where possible.
Our UK office is run as environmentally as possible. We operate a primarily paper free environment and do not produce brochures (which often leads to a lot of waste) but market our tours exclusively on the internet.
The Impacts of this Trip
Our programmes in South East Asia are run together with partners that are owned and run by local people and who share our belief in the importance of operating in a socially responsible way.
In Phnom Penh we always encourage families to visit one of the excellent restaurants that are run in conjunction with street children. These provide older street children with a way of earning a living through tourism whilst also providing visitors with information about some of the issues facing in the area.
We also provide the opportunity for our guests to visit other social projects if this is something that they are interested in. In particular there is an excellent museum in Siem Reap that gives details about the use of landmines in Cambodia, something which is a significant problem.
One of the main issues facing tourism in both Vietnam and Cambodia involves the exploitation of some hilltribe communities. We have been working closely with our partners to ensure that all of our visits are carefully controlled to ensure that they bring about a positive rather than negative impact on host communities. As an example we try to 'share out' the hosting experience amongst different families where possible, to ensure that tourist revenue is spread evenly within a village and not just concentrated with one family.
Most of our groups will use local guides throughout their visit. The guides are from the local area and will give an excellent insight into the way of life in the region.
All of our tours in South East Asia are run in conjunction with local partners that have been chosen partly because they provide a fantastic service but also because they share our environmental and social goals. In Cambodia, many of our groups visit a site called Sambor Prei Kuk. This is in an area where landmines have been a problem and our guides use the opportunity to educate visitors about the problems that landmines can cause. There is also a landmine museum in Siem Reap that we encourage those with older children to visit and it provides an excellent insight into this environmental issue.
Throughout the region we try to use small locally owned hotels that have been built and furnished using local materials and we try and eat as locally as possible, making use of the many fantastic seasonal ingredients on offer. We cut down carbon emissions on the trip by using low carbon methods of travel such as cycling and boat rides where possible.
Our UK office is run as environmentally as possible. We operate a primarily paper free environment and do not produce brochures (which often leads to a lot of waste) but market our tours exclusively on the internet.
The Impacts of this Trip
Our programmes in South East Asia are run together with partners that are owned and run by local people and who share our belief in the importance of operating in a socially responsible way.
In Phnom Penh we always encourage families to visit one of the excellent restaurants that are run in conjunction with street children. These provide older street children with a way of earning a living through tourism whilst also providing visitors with information about some of the issues facing in the area.
We also provide the opportunity for our guests to visit other social projects if this is something that they are interested in. In particular there is an excellent museum in Siem Reap that gives details about the use of landmines in Cambodia, something which is a significant problem.
One of the main issues facing tourism in both Vietnam and Cambodia involves the exploitation of some hilltribe communities. We have been working closely with our partners to ensure that all of our visits are carefully controlled to ensure that they bring about a positive rather than negative impact on host communities. As an example we try to 'share out' the hosting experience amongst different families where possible, to ensure that tourist revenue is spread evenly within a village and not just concentrated with one family.
Most of our groups will use local guides throughout their visit. The guides are from the local area and will give an excellent insight into the way of life in the region.
1 Reviews of Family adventure holiday to Vietnam & Cambodia
Reviewed on 25 Jan 2020 by Jodi Morris
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The trip was actually to Viet Nam and Cambodia. It was excellent!! It is so hard to pick a most memorable part because it had it all - cultural and historical sites,
temples, wildlife, beaches, etc. However, we particularly enjoyed the active nature of the holiday - biking through the Mekong Delta, hiking and kayaking in
the Cardamon Mountains.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
The operator is great and will work with you to find a perfect holiday for your family based on the ages of your children and what you like to do.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes. The operator contracts with local people/guides. We enjoyed our time in an eco lodge in the Cardamom Mountains and also a visit to the Wildlife
Alliance, which helps to protect the jungle from deforestation as well as animals from poachers and the illegal wildlife trade. We also enjoyed dining at a
restaurant (Friends and Romdeng) that trains street youth for jobs in the hospitality field. We also recommend the Phare circus (the Cambodian answer to
Cirque du Soleil) that provides education and training in the arts to vulnerable youth. However, if you travel in South East Asia please bring re-fillable filtered
water bottle that can filter tap water so it is safe in order to prevent contributing further to plastic pollution.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Amazing. Memories will last a lifetime.
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