Vietnam Family Holiday with Teenagers
Vietnam Family Holiday with Teenagers
Vietnam Family Holiday with Teenagers
9 Days Starting in Hanoi and ending in Hoi An
Visiting: Hanoi, Hanoi , Mai Chau , Ninh Binh , Halong Bay , Halong Bay – Overnight Train, Hoi An , Hoi An
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TVFB
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
2 - 16
Age range:
10-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
Discover a different side of a much-loved country on this activity-focused trip through the northern half of Vietnam. Encompassing cycling excursions, guided walking tours, kayaking expeditions and two nights of boating on Halong Bay, this trip is bound to get the blood pumping and the family bonding. Starting in Hanoi, uncover Vietnam's landmark attractions on a city cycling tour, and sit down to lunch at an initiative geared towards helping street children. Savour the picturesque countryside of rural Vietnam during a two-day ride from Luong Song to stunning Ninh Binh, cruise the waters of Halong Bay by junk boat and kayak, and explore charming Hoi An and its surrounds by bike and foot. This is an adventure for families who like spending their down time getting up and at it.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Accommodation: La Sante Hotel or similar
Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins with a Welcome Meeting at 5pm on Day 1.
If you arrive early, why not get your first taste of Vietnam exploring the lovely, laidback capital. You can stroll the tree-lined boulevards to get a sense of the old days, wander the Old Quarter to uncover ancient temples and a rich, religious culture or head to the Temple of Literature, an oasis of calm right at the heart of Hanoi.
Day 2: Hanoi
Location: Hanoi
Accommodation: La Sante Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
This morning you’ll get the chance to explore the Vietnamese capital in more depth. Full of parks, lakes and tree-lined boulevards, the city is known for its laidback atmosphere. .
Jump on our bus and visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Stilt House and Museum, the Buddhist temple One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature.
We'll join our friends at KOTO for lunch. KOTO stands for 'Know One, Teach One'. An organisation supported by The Intrepid Foundation, it trains street kids for careers in the hospitality industry. After lunch we swap 4 wheels for 2 and head out on a cycling tour around the West Lake.
Riding distance: Approx 25kms/15miles
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Mai Chau
Location: Mai Chau
Accommodation: Mai Chau Homestay
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
After another hearty breakfast it's on to our private bus for the journey to Luong Son (a drive of approximately 1.5 hours). Luong Son, a region in the country's northwest, is the starting point for our cycling adventure through Vietnam's famously picturesque countryside. Today's ride to Mai Chau is mostly along paved roads. After Hanoi's hustle and bustle, this area's fresh country air and relative lack of traffic are a delight. Mai Chau is home to a variety of minority groups with their own unique culture and languages. While here, visit a social enterprise centred around preserving and celebrating the traditional crafts of the Thai minority groups who settled in northwest Vietnam. Join some local women to learn about their lives and crafts and learn how to make an embroidery pattern or dye cloth.
We have a support bus that travels with the group during the entire cycling route for those who don't wish to ride the entire way. Don't forget to pack plenty of water and snacks for along the way.
Riding distance: Approx 60kms/37miles.
NOTE: At the homestay you and your family will sleep on mattresses in a communal room. Bedding and mosquito nets are provided. Shared toilet and bathroom facilities are basic.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Ninh Binh
Location: Ninh Binh
Accommodation: Thuy Anh Hotel or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Today is dedicated to exploring the villages and scenic countryside of provincial Vietnam. The journey from Mai Chau to Ninh Binh is fairly easy and leisurely-paced. You'll have plenty of opportunities to hop off your bike and take some photos of the surrounding valleys, sugarcane farms and rice paddies that compose the landscape.
Final stop for the day is the small town of Ninh Binh. The Ninh Binh province is famed for its spectacular limestone karst scenery, lush rice paddies and gently flowing waterways.
Riding distance: Approx 60kms/37miles
Day 5: Halong Bay
Location: Halong Bay
Accommodation: Overnight boat
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Having seen a bit of Northern Vietnam by bike, it's now time to see it by sea. Back on board our private bus, enjoy some easier travel on the drive to Halong Bay. Factoring in some stops along the way, the journey will take approximately 4 hours.
A natural harbour of more than 2,000 limestone islands rising from the emerald waters of Bac Bo Gulf, Halong Bay is one of Vietnam's most scenic regions. Countless beaches, caves and grottoes exist in its area of 1,500 sq km, creating an environment perfectly suited for exploring by kayak.
Today you'll set out on a kayak expedition. Your trip leader will take you through a safety demonstration, then lead you out onto the open waters.
Tonight you'll be dining and sleeping on board a traditional Vietnamese junk boat. Our vessel has twin-share cabins with air-conditioning and private facilities, plus a cosy bar and dining area.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Halong Bay – Overnight Train
Location: Halong Bay – Overnight Train
Accommodation: Overnight train Hanoi to Danang
Meals Included: breaksfast
Take a moment to soak in the magical landscapes of Halong Bay before disembarking your boat this morning. Make the drive back to Hanoi (approximately 3 hours), where you’ll have use of day rooms to freshen up. You may like to head out and grab some dinner with the group, then it’s time to go to the train station to board an overnight train to Da Nang.
Day 7: Hoi An
Location: Hoi An
Accommodation: Hoi An Field Boutique Resort & Spa or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Arrive to Da Nang early this morning and take a short transfer to to Hoi An, a delightful old city with a great atmosphere. This will be our base for the next two days, from which we explore both the town and its surrounds by foot and bike.
Recently declared a World Heritage site, Hoi An is beautifully preserved. Known as Faifo to early Western traders, it was one of South-East Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Today, parts of Hoi An look as they did more than a century ago and it retains the feel of centuries past, making it the sort of place that grows on you the more you explore it.
Day 8: Hoi An
Location: Hoi An
Accommodation: Hoi An Field Boutique Resort & Spa or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Spend a day becoming acquainted with Hoi An, beginning with a guided orientation walk led by your leader. (approximately 2hours) Following lunch, it's back on two wheels for a wider exploration of the town and its surrounds. One of the routes we often take a ride past rice paddies and shrimp ponds to Cua Dai beach. The ride takes 2.5hours including stops.
Hoi An is one of the best places in Vietnam to shop for souvenirs, especially if you’re looking for clothing, paintings or ceramics. For those interested in getting some clothes tailored, this is definitely the place to snare a bargain. Hoi An's streets are lined with small tailor studios and the speed with which they can whip up garments is remarkable.
On the last night of your tour, why not wander down to the riverside and enjoy a final feast with the group?
Riding distance: Approx 20kms/12miles
Included Activities:
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Day 9: Hoi An
Location: Hoi An
Meals Included: breaksfast
Your trip ends today after breakfast. Either take a transfer to Danang airport for your onward flight or stick around a while longer getting to know this charming city.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Homestay (1 night), Hotel (5 nights), Overnight boat (1 night), Overnight train (1 night) -
Hanoi - Temple of Literature
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Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex
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Hanoi - Lunch at KOTO
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Mai Chau - Pom Coong Village visit & traditional lunch
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Mai Chau - Traditional Textile Social Enterprise Experience
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Halong Bay - Kayaking
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Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
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Hoi An - Bike ride
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Meals
8 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Transport
- OVERNIGHT SLEEPER TRAINS IN VIETNAM:
- Compartments will be 4 berth to 6 berth depending on seasonal variations and the group configuration. We aim to secure 4 berth compartments where possible. A sheet, pillow and blanket are provided, although some travellers prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. Passengers of different genders may be required to share a compartment and there will be occasions where you'll be sharing with local travellers or travellers who are not part of your group. On occasion the group may be split between several carriages, however your leader will coordinate and give further information on the trip.
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
- GENERAL ROOMING CONFIGURATIONS:
- Family of two: All family groupings of two will be accommodated in a twin room.
- Family of three: Wherever possible we will put you in a triple room. Please be aware that in some places triple rooms are in short supply. This means that a triple room will often be a twin room with a rollaway bed or mattress on the floor. Where triple rooms aren’t available it will be at your discretion which of your family takes the single room.
- Family of four or more: You will most likely be accommodated in two twin rooms. Where possible, we will accommodate your family in a quadruple room.
- While we do our very best to ensure that family groups are roomed close together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t guarantee this. Most family holidays occur during peak season and we sometimes have little to no control over the exact placement of rooms within a hotel. Please be understanding if we are unable to room your family in immediate proximity of one another.
- GENERAL ROOMING CONFIGURATIONS:
- Family of two - All family groupings of two will be put into a twin room.
- Family of three - Wherever possible we will put you in a triple room. Please be aware that in a handful of places triple rooms are in short supply. This means that, in practice, a triple room will often simply be a twin room with a mattress on the floor or a further bed squashed in. Where it is impossible to provide a triple room, you will have to decide which of your party takes the single room.
- Family of four or more - You will most likely stay in two twin rooms. If and wherever possible we will aim put you in a quadruple room. Whilst we will do our very best to ensure that families are roomed close together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t guarantee this. Most family holidays occur during peak season and we sometimes have little to no control over where you will be put. You need to come prepared for this.
Included Activities
- Hanoi - Temple of Literature
- Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh, Stilt House and Museum
- Hanoi - Koto Restaurant lunch
- Mai Chau - Pom Coong Village visit & traditional lunch
- Halong Bay - Kayaking
- Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
- Hoi An - Bike ride
Important Information
- 1. Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.
- 2. Minimum age: 10 years old. Please note that anyone aged under 18 must be accompanied by (and share accommodation with) a parent or legal guardian.
- 3. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 or younger at the time of travel.
- 4. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport), for overnight train tickets. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
- 5. Two single supplements are available to book on this trip if you'd prefer your own room. A hotel single supplement will cover the 5 nights spent in Hotels in Hanoi, Hoi An and Ninh Binh. The other single supplement available to book will cover the Overnight train (Day 6) if you prefer your family to have a private cabin (cabin fits 4 people). Note Day 3 (Homestay) will be shared accommodation and Day 5 (Halong Bay) is excluded from the single supplements due to limited capacity on the boat. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 6.This trip starts with a welcome meeting at 5 pm on Day 1 in Hanoi. This trip ends on Day 9 and you are free to leave at any time.
- 7. Tet is Vietnam's New Year festival, held annually in late January or early February based on the lunar calendar. While this can be a fascinating time to travel and experience this event, expect some shop closures and busier than usual local transport. Opening hours at some tourist sites may also be affected or closed. Although we make all reasonable efforts to avoid disruption, a flexible approach from the traveler is appreciated.
- 8. During the rainy months (approx. June to October), our mode of transport can be changed at short notice due to weather conditions.
Mode of Transport
- OVERNIGHT SLEEPER TRAINS IN VIETNAM:
- Compartments will be 4 berth to 6 berth depending on seasonal variations and the group configuration. We aim to secure 4 berth compartments where possible. A sheet, pillow and blanket are provided, although some travellers prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. Passengers of different genders may be required to share a compartment and there will be occasions where you'll be sharing with local travellers or travellers who are not part of your group. On occasion the group may be split between several carriages, however your leader will coordinate and give further information on the trip.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
In order to see as much as possible, this trip involves some long journeys, including by overnight train where the amenities are shared and basic. For more about what this experience is like, see our blog post here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-expect-on-an-overnight-train-in-vietnam/
On Days 3 and 4 we cover up to 60kms/37 miles on the bike so a good level of fitness is required.
On Day 3 our accommodation for the evening is a local homestay where you and your family will sleep on mattresses in a communal room. Bedding and mosquito nets are provided. Shared toilet and bathroom facilities are basic. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions