A Family Adventure Holiday in Vietnam

From the moment we landed in Hanoi, the energy of Vietnam swept us off our feet. Scooters zipped past like shoals of fish, the smell of sizzling street food filled the air, and everywhere we turned, something fascinating caught our eyes - temples, lanterns, lakes and alleys bursting with life.

'We were off on the overnight train to Hue. The bunks were surprisingly cosy, and the children thought it was great fun. Hue welcomed us with royal history and a fun twist: we made our own Vietnamese kites with a local champion and took a martial arts lesson in kinh van - similar to kung fu and a lot of fun.'

We met the other families in our small group at the hotel, along with our guide Quan, who filled us in on plans for the tour and suggested extra things we could do in our 'free time'. We signed up for everything, feeling we had to make the most of every day

The first full day of the tour was a cultural deep dive (in hindsight, adding a day or two before the tour started would have been a good idea as we were all a little jetlagged, and hot). Quan whisked us around Hanoi to see the gorgeous One-Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature. We couldn't go into Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum that day but learnt about it, watched by striding guards in white uniforms and a cluster of women seated on low stools, weeding the lawns outside - the children were unimpressed that this was seen as a women's job, or, in fact, a job at all.

The afternoon could have been free, but there was so much to do on our only full day in Hanoi that we stuck with Quan for a food tour, exploring markets packed with everything from fragrant fresh produce to bowls full of bugs. We tasted Hanoi 'cheese cakes' (melted cheese-filled pastries) and rich, delicious Vietnamese egg-coffee and lunched on pho. Quan also got us to one of the 'Train Streets' in time to watch a train pass through - a tight fit! 

Then it was off to a water puppet show – yes, puppets in water, complete with dragons and fireworks, and a magical taste of Vietnamese culture. Next, we hopped on cyclos (cycle taxis for two) for a whirlwind tour of the shopping area. It was a little like being cycled through a giant superstore - one street had hardware, the next party decorations, the next haberdashery.

Cruising Halong Bay and the Train to Hue

From Hanoi, we went to one of Vietnam's must-sees, an awe-inspiring landscape of rocky islands, where we joined one of many traditional-style junk boats, stopping off to explore the Thien Canh Son caves and go sea kayaking. Sunrise the next morning was bewitching, as the mist cleared to reveal the islands around us. But while we did enjoy this bit of the trip, we were a little bit underwhelmed due to the number of boats and tourists.

Halong Bay was beautiful and enjoyed by many.

Back in Hanoi, we were off on the overnight train to Hue. The bunks were surprisingly cosy and the children thought it was great fun. Hue welcomed us with royal history and a fun twist. We made our very own Vietnamese kites with a local champion, explored the Imperial City and took a martial arts lesson in kinh van - similar to kung fu and a lot of fun.

Later, we hopped on bikes for a lovely ride through the countryside, past lush rice fields and quiet villages. En route, we tried traditional woodblock painting and made beautiful paper flowers.

Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and the Cu Chi Tunnels

Hoi An was picture-perfect, with lanterns hanging from every doorway and pretty wooden buildings. We explored its network of charming streets, winding over ancient bridges and through colourful markets, choosing some stunning fabrics to take home but resisting the urge to have matching outfits made for the family - something a surprising number of others were doing. Some of us did, however, get a custom-tailored shirt or dress to take home, because when in Hoi An, so famous for its tailors, why not?

Lit up by colourful lanterns, Hoi An was captivating.

We then flew south to Ho Chi Minh City - formerly known as Saigon (many locals still seem to call it that), stopping off on arrival at the 'secret weapons bunker'. Hidden below a family home, this inconspicuous place was used to store weapons used in the TET Offensive in 1968. Kids big and small had fun climbing down the ladder to handle the weapons that remained and imagine the reality of keeping this place secret in such dangerous times. 

Onwards we had a welcome swim in our hotel's rooftop pool before heading off on another cyclo-ride. This time, each bike was for one, which our children weren't so keen on, but we travelled as a group, our drivers pointing out key sights. My daughter is an avid reader and was delighted to spot Book Street, full of bookshops, and the whole street had the delightful smell of books.

Our next adventure took us just outside the city to crawl through the Cu Chi tunnels – tight, dark, and totally fascinating. It's worth bringing ear defenders for this bit - it's quite something to hear visitors having a go at firing an AK-47, but it was a bit loud for some of the younger members of our group.

The Mekong Delta

The following day, we left the city behind and made our way here, where we pedalled along village paths, met locals making rice paper, tried our hand at making Vietnamese doughnuts, and stayed in a lovely garden homestay. That evening’s cooking class turned into a family kitchen party, and we devoured every bite of our efforts before enjoying a traditional musical storytelling evening. 

We weren't sure what to expect with the homestay - imagining we'd literally be staying in a family's dwelling - but actually it was like a little guesthouse, with a relaxed atmosphere, run by the most welcoming family. All rooms had an open-air shower, which the kids thought was fun. And with a bit of help from some bands and sprays, plus nets over the beds at night, we didn't find the mosquitoes a problem at all.

The Homestay we stayed at was beautiful.

Our trip wrapped up with a peaceful morning cruise back through the Delta, through a floating market, stopping off to see some weavers. We then said goodbye to most of the group (and more than a few new friends), who were continuing on to Cambodia – this tour operator offers the option of a two-part, two-country trip. We headed back to Ho Chi Minh City to head home, flying via Thailand for a few days R&R  to finish off this glorious adventure.

By Prue Traynor

Prue is one of Take the Family's Travel Advisors. Her children were 10 and 12 when they took this trip - great ages to make the most of it. The youngest age recommended for this trip is seven years.

Would you like to go to Vietnam on a trip like this? Here's the Vietnam Family Adventure itinerary Prue's family enjoyed - just one of the itineraries we can arrange, either as part of a small group of families, or as a private trip, just for yours.