North to South Vietnam family holiday
Highlights
Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum | Temple of Literature | Optional cookery class | Water Puppetry show | Ha Long Bay | Overnight cruise on a traditional junk boat | Sea kayaking | Ride the Reunification Express to Hue | Thien Mu Pagoda | Kite-making and flying workshop | Martial Arts lesson | Traditional wood painting workshop | Hoi An | Ho Chi Minh City | Cu Chi Tunnels | Optional water park visit | Tour the Mekong Delta by boat and bike | Floating markets |Description of North to South Vietnam family holiday
There can’t be many more enticing destinations for a family holiday than Vietnam; certainly not if this thrilling small group tour is anything to go by. You’ll travel from north to south, Hanoi to Ho Chi Min City, over 11 days that are full to the brim with activities and excursions that seem expressly designed to create happy memories.In the capital you’ll begin with a fascinating tour around must-see historic landmarks including the Temple of Literature, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoluem, before the opportunity of a mouthwatering Vietnamese cookery class. A big highlight comes with an evening at a traditional water puppetry show, as tales of dragons, unicorns and fiery sea battles unfold on a flooded stage.
Kids will love having the chance to learn some moves in a martial arts class, or watching an artisan kitemaker at work before having a go themselves, and flying their creations in the Citadel. The photo opportunities are myriad here.
There is sea kayaking through limestone caverns to come, cycling tours in the exotic Mekong Delta, floating markets to be explored, and a wonderful overnight cruise aboard a junk in the spectacular Ha Long Bay.
You’ll take an overnight trip on the Reunification Express to Hue, Vietnam’s former imperial capital, visit the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels outside Hanoi (watch your head), and perhaps spend an afternoon cooling off at a water park – always a hit with kids.
You’ll learn the art of traditional wood painting, wander the stalls at the Hoi An fish market getting to know the locals, take a ‘cyclo’ tour through Saigon’s Chinatown and taste some of the most delicious doughnuts of your life.
All told, you’ll come home from this Vietnam family holiday with memories to last a lifetime, endless stories to tell, and kids begging to know when they can go back. You won't want to leave it too long either.
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.com
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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.
Throughout Vietnam we try where ever possible to use small locally owned hotels that reflect the character. We work in partnership with our local in country ground agents to introduce environmental policies which help to conserve water usage and energy expenditure. We cut down carbon emissions on this trip by using low carbon methods of travel such as cycling, rail and boat rides where possible, examples of this are in the Mekong Delta where we travel by boat, Ho Chi Minh city itself where we travel around the city in Cyclos and on day four where we get the overnight public train from Hanoi to Hue.Waste
During the initial tour briefing all our guests are encouraged to use reusable water bottles to cut down on plastic use.
Eating out
We try and eat as locally as possible, South East Asia offers fantastic fresh seasonal ingredients on offer. Our leaders encourage groups to try community restaurants; more than just a business, these restaurants have been set up primarily to help street children receive vocational training helping them towards a better life.
As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. CoolEarth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in.
The Impacts of this Trip
Whilst in Hue on day five we visit Mr Cu's house who was a national champion kite flier for Vietnam, he shows us how to make traditional Vietnamese kites which you make and decorate with iconic symbols such as dragons, birds and peacocks; it’s a great interactive activity for kids and helps put money back into the community. The following day in Hoi An we visit a local family that specializes in making traditional wood paintings and have some hands-on experience by taking part in making this craft with the local artisans.
Towards the end of the trip we spend two days on the Mekong Delta taking a boat cruise to visit Mrs Nani’s home where we learn the ancient art of making rice paper; we also sample Vietnamese Banh Tieu which most closely resembles a doughnut. By supporting small family businesses we not only generate money for the local community we also provide a fascinating insight in the way of life of communities living in the Mekong Delta. There is time to visit the Cai Be Floating Markets where families can purchase locally produced goods and see how coconut candy pop-rice, pop-corn and rice wine is made.
In addition to the above, we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key and so all staff, Tour leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage. As well as this, we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.
Throughout Vietnam we try where ever possible to use small locally owned hotels that reflect the character. We work in partnership with our local in country ground agents to introduce environmental policies which help to conserve water usage and energy expenditure. We cut down carbon emissions on this trip by using low carbon methods of travel such as cycling, rail and boat rides where possible, examples of this are in the Mekong Delta where we travel by boat, Ho Chi Minh city itself where we travel around the city in Cyclos and on day four where we get the overnight public train from Hanoi to Hue.Waste
During the initial tour briefing all our guests are encouraged to use reusable water bottles to cut down on plastic use.
Eating out
We try and eat as locally as possible, South East Asia offers fantastic fresh seasonal ingredients on offer. Our leaders encourage groups to try community restaurants; more than just a business, these restaurants have been set up primarily to help street children receive vocational training helping them towards a better life.
As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. CoolEarth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in.
The Impacts of this Trip
Whilst in Hue on day five we visit Mr Cu's house who was a national champion kite flier for Vietnam, he shows us how to make traditional Vietnamese kites which you make and decorate with iconic symbols such as dragons, birds and peacocks; it’s a great interactive activity for kids and helps put money back into the community. The following day in Hoi An we visit a local family that specializes in making traditional wood paintings and have some hands-on experience by taking part in making this craft with the local artisans.
Towards the end of the trip we spend two days on the Mekong Delta taking a boat cruise to visit Mrs Nani’s home where we learn the ancient art of making rice paper; we also sample Vietnamese Banh Tieu which most closely resembles a doughnut. By supporting small family businesses we not only generate money for the local community we also provide a fascinating insight in the way of life of communities living in the Mekong Delta. There is time to visit the Cai Be Floating Markets where families can purchase locally produced goods and see how coconut candy pop-rice, pop-corn and rice wine is made.
In addition to the above, we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key and so all staff, Tour leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage. As well as this, we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.
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