Rickshaw Travel

ABTAATOL Protected

  • Destinations
  • Family holidays
  • Travel guides
  • About us
  • Blog
My Travel Plan
Loading...

Your travel plan is empty!

Add your favourite trips or an itinerary to your travel plan. Click on 'My Travel Plan' to see what you've added and send it to us. Our travel specialists will piece your holiday together (including transport & accommodation) and send you a quote within one working day.

Get started!

Added so far...

We'll create your dream holiday

    Next, review & send us your travel plan for your quote

    Request your quote

    Or view/email a copy of your travel plan

    View your travel plan
     Your next steps

    1. Add your favourite trips or an itinerary to your travel plan
    2. Click the Request your quote button to send it over to us
    3. Our travel specialists will piece your holiday together (including transport & accommodation) and send you a quote within one working day

     Your next steps

    1. Add your favourite trips or an itinerary to your travel plan
    2. Click the Request your quote button to send it over to us
    3. Our travel specialists will piece your holiday together (including transport & accommodation) and send you a quote within one working day

    • Destinations
      • Asia
        • Bhutan
        • China
        • India
        • Japan
        • Nepal
        • Sri Lanka
        • Tibet
      • South East Asia
        • Borneo
        • Cambodia
        • Indonesia
        • Laos
        • Malaysia
        • Myanmar
        • Thailand
        • Vietnam
      • North America
        • Canada
      • Central America
        • Belize
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
        • Guatemala
        • Mexico
        • Nicaragua
        • Panama
      • South America
        • Argentina
        • Bolivia
        • Brazil
        • Chile
        • Ecuador & Galapagos
        • Peru
      • View all destinations
    • Family holidays
      • Asia
        • India
        • Sri Lanka
      • South East Asia
        • Borneo
        • Cambodia
        • Indonesia
        • Thailand
        • Vietnam
      • North America
        • Canada
        • USA
      • Central America
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
      • South America
        • Peru
    • Travel guides
      • Travel guides by destination
        • Borneo
        • Canada
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
        • Ecuador
        • Galapagos
        • India
        • Indonesia
        • Japan
        • Peru
        • Sri Lanka
        • Vietnam
      • Family Holiday Guides
        • Borneo
        • Canada
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
        • India
        • Indonesia
        • Malaysia
        • Peru
        • Sri Lanka
        • Thailand
        • USA
        • Vietnam
      • Inspiration
        • Beaches
        • City stopovers
        • Diving and snorkelling
        • Food & drink
        • Honeymoons
        • Self drive
        • Trekking
        • Unique experiences
        • Wildlife & safari
      • Where to Go When
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
    • About us
      • Discover more
        • Our values
        • Meet the team
        • How we work
        • Work with us
        • Customer reviews
        • In the news
        • Contact us
      • Responsible travel
        • Responsible travel
        • Animal welfare
        • Local projects
        • Our Responsible Travel Policy
        • How to be a responsible traveller
      • Travel Advice
        • Accommodation
        • Covid-19
        • Flights
        • Honeymoon Gift Service
        • LGBTQ+ travellers
        • Refer a Friend
        • Travel insurance
        • Visas & passports
    • Blog
    AsiaSouth East AsiaNorth AmericaCentral AmericaSouth AmericaView all destinations
    BhutanChinaIndiaJapanNepalSri LankaTibet
    BorneoCambodiaIndonesiaLaosMalaysiaMyanmarThailandVietnam
    Canada
    BelizeCosta RicaCubaGuatemalaMexicoNicaraguaPanama
    ArgentinaBoliviaBrazilChileEcuador & GalapagosPeru
     
     
    AsiaSouth East AsiaNorth AmericaCentral AmericaSouth America
    IndiaSri Lanka
     
    BorneoCambodiaIndonesiaThailandVietnam
     
    CanadaUSA
     
    Costa RicaCuba
     
    Peru
     
    Travel guides by destinationFamily Holiday GuidesInspirationWhere to Go When
    • Borneo
    • Canada
    • Costa Rica
    • Cuba
    • Ecuador
    • Galapagos
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Japan
    • Peru
    • Sri Lanka
    • Vietnam
    • Borneo
    • Canada
    • Costa Rica
    • Cuba
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Malaysia
    • Peru
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
    • USA
    BeachesCity stopoversDiving and snorkellingFood & drinkHoneymoonsSelf driveTrekkingUnique experiencesWildlife & safari
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
    Discover moreResponsible travelTravel Advice
    Our valuesMeet the teamHow we workWork with usCustomer reviewsIn the newsContact us
    Responsible travelAnimal welfareLocal projectsOur Responsible Travel PolicyHow to be a responsible traveller
    AccommodationCovid-19FlightsHoneymoon Gift ServiceLGBTQ+ travellersRefer a FriendTravel insuranceVisas & passports

    Rickshaw Ramblings

    • Browse by Destination
    • Argentina
    • Bhutan
    • Bolivia
    • Borneo
    • Borneo for Families
    • Brazil
    • Brighton
    • Cambodia
    • Cambodia for Families
    • Canada
    • Canada for Families
    • Chile
    • China
    • Costa Rica
    • Costa Rica for Families
    • Cuba
    • Ecuador & Galapagos
    • Family
    • India
    • Indochina
    • Indonesia
    • Indonesia for Families
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Malaysia
    • Mexico
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Nicaragua
    • Panama
    • Peru
    • Sri Lanka
    • Sri Lanka for Families
    • Thailand
    • Thailand for Families
    • Tibet
    • USA for families
    • Vietnam
    • Vietnam for Families
    • Browse by Theme
    • 24 hours in...
    • Competition
    • Cultural
    • Customers stories
    • Family travel
    • Food and drink
    • Friends of Rickshaw
    • History
    • Responsible travel
    • Top tips
    • Wellness
    • Wildlife

    16th October 2019 by Rickshaw Ramblers • 10 min read

    Vietnam with the kids: Jo's family holiday

    FamilyTravel Family travel pin Vietnam, Vietnam for Families

    Share:

    Man smiling on headset

    Prefer to chat things through?

    Enquire now

    After years of holidays spent campervanning around Europe, our finance wizard, Jo, decided to take her teenagers (aged thirteen, fourteen and seventeen) on a 2-week family holiday to Vietnam. Easy to get around and with lots to see and do, Vietnam is perfect for families.

    We helped Jo create a personalised itinerary using some of our favourite bite-sized trips in Vietnam, here’s what she got up to, in her own words…

    Flavours of Hanoi & Bai Tu Long Bay, 3 nights

    Stepping off the plane and into the heat, humidity and bustle of Hanoi was a big culture shock for our family. But we soon got into the swing of things as we explored the streets near our central hotel; captivated by the mopeds as they hooted and weaved past us.

    5 people standing in front of a lake

    On the second day, we met our local guide who taught us our first Vietnamese words (“xin chào” is “hello”) and showed us how to cross the busy roads. This involved stepping out into the throng and trusting the riders to avoid us! What seemed like chaos at first sight, was in fact a harmonious system of patience, trust and intuition. And somehow it worked perfectly.

    We visited Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where artisans have built their trade and it was fun for the kids to walk down each of the ‘36 Streets’ whilst guessing its speciality, from brass to kitchenware to bamboo.

    View our Hanoi trip

    Next, we ventured to Bai Tu Long Bay; Halong Bay’s less crowded (but equally as beautiful) neighbour. We spent a night on a traditional junk boat as it sailed between jungle-topped islands and sandy coves. Our favourite moment was hopping into a kayak and paddling across the emerald sea.

    deck chairs on the side of a boat in vietnam

    View our Bai Tu Long Bay trip

    Lending a hand in Hue, 2 nights

    After a short flight from Hanoi, we found ourselves on the banks of the Perfume River in Hue. We joined our guide as we cycled into the peaceful countryside of rice paddies and water buffalo. We peddled past harvested rice drying in the sun and even had a go at catching fish with traditional river nets.

    women gathering food in vietnam

    teenage girl fishing on a vietnam boat with a local

    At lunchtime, we got a masterclass in Vietnamese cooking, making Bánh xèo which means “sizzling pancake,” followed by more dishes and some of the best food we’d eaten on our trip!

    two teenage girls cooking with local in vietnam

    View our Hue trip

    We chose to travel by train from Hue to our next destination of Hoi An. This couldn’t have been easier as we were taken from A to B and armed with our tickets in advance. We loved watching the coastline pass by the left windows and the impenetrable jungle to the right.

    A break by the beach in Hoi An, 3 nights

    Our next hotel was a luxurious resort on the beach; the perfect place for some down time and a splash in the pool. By night, it was a short ride to Hoi An’s old town where we sat amongst the hustle of riverside bars, street food vendors and strings of colourful lanterns. By day, we cycled into the countryside, stopping at a local temple, thriving market and even taking a turn at operating the hand loom of a local mat-maker.

    two local people weaving a mat with a young boy

    View our Hoi An trip

    Scooting through Saigon, 2 nights

    After relaxing on the beach, we took a short flight to Vietnam’s largest city, arriving just in time for afternoon tea in our central hotel. The rooftop pool was very impressive and had the most spectacular views of the city.

    If you ask my kids about their highlight of Vietnam, I can guarantee it was the evening Vespa food tour. My fears about sticking the children on the back of a moped with someone they hadn’t met before and launching them into the rush-hour traffic proved completely unfounded.

    group of people on mopeds with guides

    The drivers were incredibly skilled and calm and made the driving part of the evening both exhilarating and relaxing at the same time. The tour took us to places we’d never have found, from hole-in-the-wall restaurants to live music venues.

    Local and a teenager on moped through Vietnam

    View our Ho Chi Minh City trip

    A taste of life on the Mekong, 3 nights

    Next it was time for a slower pace of life in the Mekong Delta, known as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam. We sailed by boat down the river, stopping to sip rice wine and watch locals make popping rice and coconut candy using traditional methods. After lunch, a sampan navigated us down a peaceful waterway and we then cycled the final part of our journey to our homestay on the island of An Binh.

    Our host family welcomed us with homemade juice as we rested in the hammocks surrounding the garden. Our rooms, though simple, were perfectly cosy. In the evening, we prepared our meal together which was a memorable experience for the whole family, as we gained a valuable insight into life on the Mekong.

    girl drinking juice from coconut besides river

    View our Mekong trip

    All good things must come to an end

    Our trip had the perfect balance of planned activities and the freedom to explore independently. Having the hassle removed from planning our holiday was amazing and the whole experience has given my kids a new sense of confidence. I also feel much braver about venturing further afield with the family and can’t wait to visit our next destination…Peru!

    Fancy taking your family to Vietnam? 
    Follow in Jo’s footsteps and discover our exciting range of family holidays, with full itineraries or bite-sized trips.

    View our Vietnam family holidays
    Image of Rickshaw Ramblers

    Written by Rickshaw Ramblers

    View Profile

    Our customers (fondly known as Ramblers) are at the heart of Rickshaw. They travel the world with us, connecting with local communities & enjoying the journey!

    Comments

    Next Article

    6 things you might not know about Mexico's Day of the Dead

    Previous Article

    The Great American Outdoors Index: These are the best US states for outdoor enthusiasts

    Other articles you may like

    A homestay on The Mekong Delta in Vietnam

    20th June 2016 by Paul S

    A taste of life on Vietnam's Mekong Delta, Travel Specialist Paul brings to life his homestay experience with home-cooking, welcoming faces and much more.

    12 min read

    Read More - A homestay on The Mekong Delta in Vietnam

    Bai Tu Long Bay through a lens

    13th March 2012 by Caroline

    Caroline hopped over to Bai Tu Long Bay during her Vietnam trip and got a taste of the local rhythm of life in this stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    6 min read

    Read More - Bai Tu Long Bay through a lens

    Food and drink

    A Borneo family holiday

    11th September 2019 by Hazel

    Read all about Hazel's holiday with the children and find out why Borneo is the perfect match for adventure-seeking families.

    9 min read

    Read More - A Borneo family holiday
    Back up

    As featured in

    • the guardian logo
    • wanderlust logo red
    • Lonely Planet
    • National Geographic Traveler
    • Psychologies
    • The Daily Telegraph

    Information

    • Contact us
    • Booking conditions
    • Financial protection
    • Health and safety
    • Your Package Holiday
    • FCDO travel advice
    • Blog
    • Coronavirus updates

    Get in touch

    We're a friendly bunch and always ready for a chat so feel free to get in touch.

    Call us: 01273 322 398

    Email us: hello@rickshawtravel.co.uk

    Contact us

    Connect with us

    FacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubePinterest
    ATOL Protected ABTA Travelife

    © 2008 - 2021 | Rickshaw Travel

    Privacy Policy  |  Cookie Policy  |  Sitemap

    Call us Phone us

    Please give us your consent to use cookies

    We use cookies to ensure our website works, to give you an enhanced experience while browsing, and to enable us to use 3rd party tools that are connected to us. Read our Cookie Policy for more information.

    What are your holiday plans?

    • Our travel specialists know everything there is to know about your chosen destination. Please tell us what you're looking for below and we’ll get back to you very soon (usually within 24 hours).

    • This field is only shown to Rickshaw Admins, and is used for routing the form to the correct destination inbox
    • This field is only shown to Rickshaw Admins, and is used for routing the form to the correct destination inbox
    • If you'd prefer us to call you, please enter your phone number here
    • If you can, please share with us how many people are travelling, when you’d like to go, what you’d really like to experience, what you love doing on holidays, your rough budget, and when's best to contact you.
      By signing up to the email newsletter you consent to receive promotional emails from us. You can unsubscribe at any time. We genuinely care about you and treat your data securely and respectfully. We tell you all about it in our Privacy Policy.
    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.