- ✓ Taste Hanoi’s street food with a local guide
- ✓ Sleep aboard a traditional junk boat in Bai Tu Long Bay
- ✓ Cycle and paddle through the rice paddies of Ninh Binh
- ✓ Discover caves and rural villages in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park
- ✓ Explore the iconic Angkor temples
If you are travelling in the summer school holidays and would like to pack lots in during your family holiday then this itinerary combines the variety and adventure of vibrant Vietnam with the mystical temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Cruise past limestone cliffs in a traditional junk boat, cycle past rice paddies and grazing water buffalo, chill on soft sandy beaches and watch the sun rise over ancient temples. We’ve picked the places most suitable in the summer school holidays and a variety of accommodation and experiences suitable for most ages.
Days 1 & 2 – Flavours of Hanoi
Welcome to Vietnam! Your family adventure starts in Hanoi, a lively city where motorbikes zip through the streets, food stalls serve steaming bowls of pho and colourful fruit stalls line the shady boulevards. You’ll stay in the heart of the atmospheric Old Quarter, putting you within easy reach of the sights, sounds and street food. It’s a fun city to explore with kids, with something new around every corner.
During your stay, you’ll head out with your own guide for a food and culture tour through the Old Quarter. Along the way, you’ll hear local stories, admire the city’s old architecture and stop at street food stalls to try a selection of Vietnamese favourites, from grilled pork to vermicelli dumplings. It’s a relaxed and tasty way for the whole family to get to know Hanoi and try some new flavours along the way.
Day 3 – Junk boats of Bai Tu Long Bay
Early this morning, you’ll leave Hanoi by minibus and head towards the coast, stopping along the way to stretch your legs and pick up a few snacks. After around four hours, you’ll reach Halong port and board your traditional junk boat, your home for the night.
From here, you’ll sail into Bai Tu Long Bay, where emerald waters are dotted with towering limestone islands covered in jungle. It’s just as impressive as Halong Bay, but generally quieter, giving you more space to enjoy the scenery as a family. There’s plenty to keep everyone busy, from kayaking between the islands and swimming in quiet coves to exploring caves and spotting wildlife along the way. Back on board, tuck into fresh seafood and watch the sun set over the bay, with optional activities such as Tai Chi or squid fishing depending on your cruise.
By sailing in Bai Tu Long Bay, you’re also helping to spread tourism beyond the busiest parts of the region, while enjoying one of Vietnam’s most spectacular landscapes at a more relaxed pace.
Day 4 – Peddle & paddle through the paddies of Ninh Binh
After cruising back to land, you’ll continue by transfer to Ninh Binh, a beautiful corner of northern Vietnam that’s often missed by visitors. Here, towering limestone karsts rise from green rice paddies and winding rivers, creating some of the most impressive scenery of the trip. You’ll be taken straight to your authentic accommodation, a thatched bungalow built from locally sourced materials and located in the heart of the peaceful Tam Coc region, with spectacular scenery all around. Bicycle rental is available and there are endless trails to enjoy.
Day 5 - Two wheel discovery in Ninh Binh
Head out early, before the day-trippers arrive, for a scenic bike ride through the Van Long valley, cycling narrow paths between rice fields and jungle-covered limestone cliffs. After breakfast, swap your bike for a traditional bamboo boat and glide through the wetlands, passing rice paddies and towering karsts. You’ll also visit Bich Dong Pagoda and the historic temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties.
...then overnight on a sleeper train
After your stay in Ninh Binh, you’ll be transferred to the train station in Hanoi to catch the sleeper train to Dong Hoi, the closest station to Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park. The train is air-conditioned and you’ll sleep in a soft-sleeper 4 berth couchette.
Day 6 – Adventure through ancient caves – Phong Nha
When you arrive in Dong Hoi this morning, your driver will be waiting to take you to your accommodation. Then it’s time for a few days of family adventure in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its ancient forests, dramatic limestone mountains and huge network of caves. The area was relatively inaccessible for many years, helping to preserve its wild landscapes, while many of its caves were only discovered in recent decades.
Your first adventure takes you along the Son River by boat to Phong Nha and Tien Son caves. Cruise past limestone peaks and grazing buffalo before entering the caves, where the river leads you deep underground. You’ll stay at a comfortable resort close to the national park, with lush gardens and a swimming pool for cooling off afterwards.
Day 7 - Continue your adventure through ancient caves in Phong Nha
This morning continue your exploration of Phong Nha. You’ll explore the park’s forests and wildlife on a trek, including a visit to the Botanical Garden. In the afternoon, head underground again at Paradise Cave, following wooden walkways through a vast cavern filled with towering stalagmites and stalactites.
Days 7-9 ...then take the train to Hoi An and relax!
Then you’ll swap caves for coast as you board the daytime train south to Danang. From the station, you’ll be transferred to your stylish beach resort just outside Hoi An, where golden sands, swaying palms and a swimming pool make it an easy place to slow down for a few days. When you fancy a change of scene, Hoi An’s colourful, lantern-lined old town is just a 15-minute taxi ride away.
During your stay we’ll arrange a bike tour through the surrounding countryside. Cycle through rice paddies and small farms, passing water buffalo and local villages as you make your way across the Song Thu river delta. You’ll cross the river by ferry and floating bridge, then stop to meet local artisans and chat about life in the countryside. The rest of your time is free to enjoy some family R&R
Days 10-12 – Exploring ancient Angkor
Today you’ll wave goodbye to Vietnam as you head to the airport in Danang for your flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to your central hotel.
No trip to Cambodia is complete without visiting one of the world’s most incredible man-made sites – the temples of Angkor. You’ll stay 3 nights in family friendly hotel with a pool in nearby Siem Reap, with a great range of restaurants and entertainment on your doorstep.
During your stay you’ll head out to explore the site with a private local guide, starting with sunrise over the iconic Angkor Wat temple. After some breakfast back at the hotel, you’ll return to explore more of the pathways, temples and hidden corners of Angkor. Like a fantasy world of ancient gods, on a truly epic scale, it’s an experience which adults and kids of any age will never forget.
Day 13 - Depart Cambodia
As your Indochina family adventure comes to an end you’ll be transferred back to the airport for your international flight home.
Accommodation
