Luxury Family Tour of Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi - 10 Days

Highlights

• Enjoy a luxury dinner cruise in Ho Chi Minh City
• Spending a relaxing day at the beach near Hoi An
• Watch a private water puppet show in Hanoi
• Sleep on a luxury cruise ship on Ha Long Bay

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, Culture Show

Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest metropolis! A guide and driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. You'll have time to rest and refresh after checking in. Depending on your time of arrival, there may be time to explore the streets near your hotel before your evening activities.

As evening falls, the whole family will love catching a performance of the A O Show, a unique mix of bamboo circus, acrobatics, contemporary dance, Vietnamese music, and theatrical visual art. Taking place in the iconic Saigon Opera House built by the French in 1898, performers use a variety of props, such as woven baskets, to depict the transition from rural to modern-day Vietnamese life—introducing all ages to Vietnamese history and culture in a fun and entertaining way.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City Tour, Luxury Dinner Cruise

Today your family will learn about the past and admire the present of Ho Chi Minh City. Your driver and guide will first take you to the War Remnants Museum, intended as a call for peace with the hope that the horrors of war will never be repeated. Continue to the Reunification Palace, the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until the end of April 1975, during the Fall of Saigon. It was here that the Vietnam War ended when a North Vietnamese Army tank crashed through its gates.  

Stop for a lunch break at a nearby restaurant serving local cuisine. In the afternoon, visit Notre Dame Cathedral, a neo-­Romanesque Catholic basilica constructed between 1863 and 1880 from imported French building materials. Head across the street to check out the Saigon Central Post Office. Finally, visit the Ben Thanh Market, one of the largest markets in Ho Chi Minh City, where you can practice your bargaining skills while shopping for souvenirs and even treat your children to local snacks. The market is a great place for kids to experience local life and culture in a colorful, laid-back atmosphere.

In the late afternoon, embark on a sunset cruise along the Saigon River. See the fascinating contrast between historic and modern buildings as the sun fades away. Enjoy a set menu dinner with premium dishes created by top chefs while enjoying music and views of the city. Parents can sit back and relax while kids will love watching the city skyline light up as darkness falls over the river.

Day 3: Family-Friendly Activities in Ho Chi Minh City

Take it a bit easier on your next day in Ho Chi Minh City to give everyone a chance to rest. Head out on a fun cyclo (three-wheeled bicycle taxi) tour, a mode of transport that your children probably won't have tried before. Witness daily life unfolding on the streets of the city from a more intimate perspective than in a car. Later, visit the Artinus 3D Art Museum and have fun taking pictures with the 3D art objects—your kids will love it!

Day 4: Fly to Hoi An, Family Food Tour

This morning, catch a 90-minute domestic flight to Da Nang, a city on the coast of central Vietnam that's the gateway to beautiful Hoi An. You'll be met upon arrival and transferred to Hoi An. After you've checked in and had a chance to refresh and relax, you can get ready to explore this UNESCO-listed town.

Hoi An is famous for its delicious cuisine, so why not start exploring this charming town by tasting the most remarkable dishes of central Vietnam? Every member of the family is sure to find something they love. Meet with a specialist in Vietnamese gastronomy for a street food tour. Over the course of three hours, get to know Hoi An better: its history, culture, and also its restaurants, traditional food, culinary specialties, and unique flavors.

End the day with a relaxing sunset boat trip, where children can spot fish and other marine life on the Thu Bon River. Afterward, head back to the hotel, where you'll have the evening free to relax or explore more of Hoi An at your leisure. If you're still hungry after the afternoon's food tour, there are countless fantastic places to eat within easy walking distance, and kids will love venturing out after dark as the town's streets and alleys light up with glowing lanterns.

Day 5: Free Time in Hoi An

Today you can spend more time exploring Hoi An at your own pace. The town is the perfect place for a family holiday as its streets have little traffic, and there are areas where only pedestrians or non-motorized vehicles are allowed, so it is very safe to walk around. The best way to explore Hoi An is to rent a bicycle at the hotel and cycle around the town toward the river or the beach. Your kids might like to swim at the beach in the warm, calm sea. Another favorite Hoi An activity is visiting a tailor's shop to have new clothes, bags, or shoes made overnight.

In the evening, walk around the Old Town area, which looks especially charming when the shops light their colorful lanterns. You and your family will really feel like you're in a fairy tale. Don't skip the fun performances organized on the street in the evening.

Day 6: Fly to Hanoi

Transfer back to Da Nang this morning for a 90-minute domestic flight north to Hanoi, Vietnam's capital city. After reaching your hotel and checking in, you'll have time to rest or head out into the city to explore its attractions—and food! You could check out the Old Quarter, where there are plenty of family-friendly, traffic-free areas. Jump on a cyclo to discover the narrow streets in a relaxing way, and stop at a local vendor's shop to taste street food favorites like bun cha (Vietnamese meatballs) or pho (steaming noodle soup). Then treat yourself to a famous egg coffee and your kids a Trang Tien ice cream, a Hanoi specialty. 

Day 7: Hanoi City Tour, Water Puppetry

Today's activities will be interesting, educational, and fun for everyone in the family. Start in the morning with a city tour to many of Hanoi's most interesting sights, including the Ho Chi Minh Complex (outside), Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum (only go inside if you're comfortable with your kids seeing an embalmed body!) and his stilt house, the Presidential Palace, and the One Pillar Pagoda nearby.

Walk around the Lake of the Restored Sword, a favorite among Hanoian families, and see the Ngoc Son Temple there. Continue to the Temple of Literature, the first university in Hanoi. Enjoy a relaxing time in its beautiful garden while your children play. The last stop is the peaceful West Lake and the lovely Thanh Nien Street and sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda.

Take a short break and enjoy lunch with local dishes. In the afternoon, treat your kids to a private water puppet theater performance, where you'll get the chance to go backstage. Meet Mr. Liem, a passionate seventh-generation puppet maker and performer. He is the creator of the mobile theatre and designs new puppets. Then, enjoy a private show in his small theater. Learn the basic techniques of using bamboo rods to move puppets through the water and become a performer yourself. Kids will love this hands-on and entertaining experience.

Day 8: Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Active Adventures

In the morning, your driver will meet you at your hotel and take you to Ha Long Bay in a comfortable car. Enjoy the views of rice paddies along the scenic route. Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO-listed site east of Hanoi that offers a great mix of sights and activities that everyone will enjoy. Cruising is one of the most comfortable and relaxing ways of exploring the bay, especially with kids. This trip includes a variety of interesting activities, but it's all done at a slow pace. Upon arrival at the harbor, enjoy a welcome drink and check into your cabin.

Have lunch while cruising through the spectacular scenery of limestone rocks and karst grottoes. After lunch, the cruise will stop in a quiet place where adventurous kids can explore the limestone islets and caves from a kayak. Younger ages can relax on deck and enjoy the beautiful views or take a gentle boat ride. Continue cruising to one of the islands where you can swim or relax at the beach. Return to your boat in the evening to watch the sunset, take part in some activities prepared by the cruise team, and relax over dinner.

Day 9: Ha Long Bay Activities, Transfer to Hanoi

Get up early to see the sunrise and participate in some family tai chi on deck. Then enjoy a hearty breakfast and get ready to explore a limestone cave by boat. The cavern is full of dramatic stalagmites and stalactites, and kids will have lots of fun exploring this otherworldly natural wonder. Return to your boat to complete the check-out formalities and have an early lunch while the ship cruises back to the dock.

After the cruise returns to the harbor, your driver will meet you there and transfer you back to your hotel in Hanoi. You'll arrive in Hanoi by mid-to-late afternoon, so there's time to have a quick rest before heading back out into town for your last Vietnamese dinner of the trip.

Day 10: Depart Hanoi

It's time to say goodbye to Vietnam. Depending on your time of departure, you may have the chance to do some last-minute souvenir shopping—or have a last lunch of noodles—before transferring to the airport for your departure flight. Safe travels!

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