Vietnam - Jungles and Junks
- Family Vietnam Adventure
- Easy trekking and homestay with the charming hill-tribes of Sapa
- Cruise Halong Bay in a traditional junk boat
- Explore the Mekong Delta backwaters with its floating market
- Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and relaxation at the resort of PhanThiet
In this superb adventure, we have put together an itinerary which explores the best of Vietnam. From the Red River Delta in the north to the Mekong Delta in the south, Vietnam offers the visitor an almost overwhelming variety of natural beauty and traditional culture. As a result of the 1960's civil war most people had heard of Vietnam, but it was not until the early 1990's that the first intrepid travellers started arriving. They received a warm welcome from a forward looking people and discovered a hidden gem. Thatched bamboo huts set in a patchwork of brilliant green rice paddies, tended by women in conical hats, bustling city streets and grand colonial buildings, exotic temples and pagodas, deserted sandy beaches, breathtaking mountain scenery, colourful ethnic minorities, graceful women in ao dai tunics, delicious cuisine, luxurious hotels and resorts. Vietnam is all this and much more. With a rapidly developing infrastructure, opportunities for varied activities, and its famous hospitality, Vietnam is now firmly online as a destination for family travel. After exploring the maze-like streets of Hanoi's old quarter, we then drive to sensational Halong Bay, where we board a traditional Vietnamese junk for a two day cruise around the island limestone towers. Sleeping on board there will be opportunities to explore caves and do some kayaking in this very special scenery. Thereafter we catch the overnight sleeper train to the former French hill-station of Sapa, close to the Chinese border. Here, we have a homestay with a family from the Giay hill-tribe, joining in with their daily life and rituals. Heading south via Hoi An and Hue ,we visit Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon and take a boat trip on the backwaters of the Mekong Delta, including a visit to the floating market at Cai Be. The adventure ends perfectly with 2 full days of relaxation at a comfortable beach hotel in the laid-back resort of Phan Thiet.
Is this holiday for you?
Is it for you? Suitable for children age 6 and up.
This trip is a mix of touring and sightseeing with activities such as hiking, cycling and kayaking. On the trekking sections of the itinerary the underfoot conditions are relatively easy, following mainly inter-village trails. During the visit to Sapa in the north, families will have a one night homestay and the opportunity to take part in local family and village life. This is a multi activity and multi area trip and in order to see as much as possible of the country from north to south there is a lot of travelling to be done. With its mix of activities and sightseeing, this holiday will appeal to children of 6 and over. Three days of relaxation on the beach with the opportunity for further optional activities should please mums and dads too.
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