Compare Vietnam Family Holiday Comfort by Intrepid Travel vs Vietnam: Saigon, Central Highlands, Coast and Hanoi by Myths and Mountains

Day 1 Hanoi

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. You will be transferred from the airport to your hotel, and your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5pm. Afterwards, enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow families. Hanoi is famous for its beautiful lakes, shaded boulevards, verdant public parks and thriving Old Quarter. The latter is a veritable architectural museum piece that feels like a 1930s provincial French town – a great place to explore today if you have time.

Day 2 Hanoi

Embark on a full-day tour of the city. You will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum, and the tranquil Temple of Literature – an oasis of calm in the heart of town. Also head to the Museum of Ethnology to learn more about the diverse heritage of Vietnam. Enjoy some lunch at the KOTO restaurant – an excellent establishment and long-time friend of Intrepid which lives by the philosophy of 'know one, teach one'. It supports underprivileged local youth by giving them a chance at making a career in hospitality. In the evening, sit down to a traditional water puppet performance. This northern tradition, dating back nearly a thousand years, is performed alongside traditional Vietnamese music that employs drums, wooden bells, horns and bamboo flutes.

Day 3 Halong Bay

Travel by minibus to the spectacular World Heritage-listed site of Halong Bay (approximately 4 hours). The bay is a breathtaking secluded harbour with some 2000 limestone islands jutting out of the waters of the Bac Bo Gulf. Board your private boat and cruise among the dramatic limestone peaks. There's an opportunity to swim in the famous Vietnam East Sea and explore caves filled with stunning stalactites and stalagmites. Spend a peaceful night on board, beneath a sky alive with stars.

Day 4 Hue

Enjoy breakfast on the boat this morning and perhaps head out for an optional early morning kayak. Return to Hanoi by bus (approximately 3.5 hours). From there you will board an overnight train bound for Hue. As the former imperial capital of Vietnam, Hue holds the treasures of Vietnam's royal past. It's a curious mix of bustling streets and tranquil settings. Although conditions are basic on your train journey, overnight trains are a classic South East Asian experience and the best way to travel long distances with the locals. Lie back and enjoy the ride! Most trains have a dining carriage serving simple food, but it's a great idea to stock up on fresh bread, cheese and fruit before you head off.

Day 5 Hue

Welcome to Hue! Your leader will help you chose a local, tasty breakfast option this morning after you disembark the overnight train. As the former imperial capital of Vietnam, Delve further into the fascinating former capital today. You will visit the Imperial Citadel, which is the best-preserved remnant of a large citidel and Royal centre that once existed on this fortified site. The unique fortifications are fascinating, even though much of this place has sadly been destroyed by war. The foliage-covered ruins make for an interesting couple of hours of exploring. You will visit the Forbidden Purple City, which was almost totally wiped out during the Tet Offensive in 1968. The gaping holes left by bombs give an idea of the shocking destruction wreaked upon the country during the war. Afterwards, you will take a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda, which is considered by many to be the unofficial symbol of Hue. It's an active Buddhist monastery originating in 1601. One of the most poignant displays here is a car belonging to a former monk who, in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the treatment of Buddhists by the South Vietnamese regime.

Day 6 Hue

After breakfast you and your family will visit Tu Duc Tomb, Emperor Tu Duc enjoyed the longest reign of any monarch of the Nguyen dynasty, ruling from 1848-1883. Next up we pay a visit to a local non-government organisation that supports Hue’s deaf community by providing training, employment, support and a place to connect with others. Take part in a traditional paper flower making class with members of the community – this exercise is conducted in silence using body language and sure to be a special experience the whole family will remember. This afternoon you will journey through the streets of Hue on a cyclo tour. Travelling around the citadel, passing through the local fruit and vegetable marketing before stopping over at Ho Chi Minh’s house.

Day 7 Hoi An

Travelling by bus (approximately 4 hours), head south through coastal rice paddies before traversing the spectacular Hai Van Pass. You'll all be treated to some stunning mountain scenery en route. After a brief visit to the beautiful China Beach, arrive at Hoi An. Recently declared a World Heritage site, Hoi An and its delicate beauty is being restored and 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 it look exactly as they did more than a century ago – it's the sort of place that grows on you the more you explore it.

Day 8 Hoi An

After breakfast, head out to spend the morning at Cua Dai beach. This beach is known for its stunning palm-fringed white sand and views of the Cham islands. Transfer back to town and pop into a local restaurant where you’ll learn how to make ‘white rose cake’, one of Hoi An’s most popular street foods. These tasty savoury dumplings are made with rice paper and minced shrimp and named after their resemblance to a white flower. Once your local instructors have taught you how to make these delicious parcels, sit down together and tuck into your creations for lunch. This hands-on experience is one the whole family will enjoy!

Day 9 Hoi An

The rest of your time is left free to relax in this beautiful area. Hoi An is one of the best places to shop for souvenirs, especially if you’re looking for t-shirts, paintings or ceramics. For those interested in getting clothes tailored, this is definitely the place to shop. You might also like to speak to your leader about arranging a cooking lesson and learn about the many layers of fresh herbs and flavours that can be found in Vietnam's fresh and tasty cuisine. Or simply spend your day by the pool.

Day 10 Ho Chi Minh City

Take a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 1 hour). Formerly known as Saigon, this bustling metropolis is full of vibrant sights and sounds; a fascinating blend of old and new. Check out Ben Thanh Market and feast on a delicious lunch of local street food, and take an orientation walk. Afterwards, you're free to explore the city as you please. Your leader will have plenty of interesting ideas for you and your family. Consider scooting off on cyclos to Cholon, the Chinatown area of Ho Chi Minh City, or for a bit of temple-hopping. Otherwise, you could visit the Vietnamese version of a department store for some serious shopping.

Day 11 Mekong Delta

Head down to the Mekong Delta and visit unexplored Ben Tre where coconut is everything and anything. The journey to Ben Tre is south by private bus (approximately 2.5 hours). The fertile delta is famous for its abundant harvests of tropical fruits and flowers. On arrival, board your private boat and cruise along the maze of waterways to visit some local cottage industries. This is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at a different part of the local economy. Then head to your overnight homestay by the water. Be invited into a family home for a true local experience – a chance to see daily life from the inside. You'll be sleeping on simple camp beds in dorm-style rooms, with all meals included. Bedding and mosquito nets are provided.

Day 12 Ho Chi Minh City

Rise early, as the locals do here on the delta. Enjoy a leisurely morning before heading back to Ho Chi Minh City on the bus. On arrival, you'll have free time to further explore the city at your own pace. This is an opportunity to do anything you might have missed the first time around. District 1 is a great place to walk around with the family. If you've fallen in love with Vietnamese food, sample some of the culinary delights you haven't got around to yet – perhaps some grilled cuttlefish or, for the adventurous, street-barbecued sea snails.

Day 13 Ho Chi Minh City

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time, provided you comply with the hotel’s internal check-out policies.

Day 1: Arrive Saigon. Cyclo Ride And Ben Thanh Market

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Saigon or Caravelle

You will arrive in Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, and transfer to your hotel.

Built on the site of an ancient Khmer settlement and an outpost for early pioneers in the 14th century, Ho Chi Minh City did not begin to come into its own until the early 17th century. The derivation of the  name, Saigon, is somewhat vague and centers around its water location. Some say that Saigon comes from the Annamese word Thay Ngon, meaning a highly populated area near a dammed river. Others claim that Sai Con is a transcription of the Khmer word Prei Kor or The Kapok Tree Forest. In any case, the city is fast regaining its reputation as one of Asia’s most vibrant cities. The tree lined boulevards and French colonial architecture hearken to the city’s recent past, while the bustling markets, changing infrastructure and dynamism of the people look to the future.

In the afternoon, you will meet in the lobby and go for a cyclo ride in the city, ending up at the Ben Thanh Market. You can explore the market and then have a welcome dinner outside with the locals.

Day 2: Visit Saigon and Cu Chi Tunnels

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Saigon or Caravelle

This morning, you will tour some of the important parts of Ho Chi Minh City. You can stop at the Reunification Palace, the former palace of President Thieu and his predecessors. Today this building is a museum and venue for official receptions. Inside you can visit the private rooms of the president, the “War Room” from where the South Vietnamese forces were controlled, and, most poignantly, the room where the North Vietnamese army finally took control in 1975. Nearby are the Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877 and 1883 and one of the city’s major landmarks. Neo-Romanesque in form, Notre Dame is the major seat of the Catholic religion in modern Vietnam.

In the afternoon, you can venture outside the city to the Cu Chi Tunnels, one of the few remaining monuments to the Vietnam War. Beneath the ground lie 200 km of tunnels, dug by hand and inhabited by the forces of the Viet Cong during the conflict, which ended in 1975. At its peak, prior to the Tet offensive, the tunnel complex was base to almost 10,000 troops. To this day, it remains one of the most powerful examples of how the war was fought.

Day 3: Drive Dalat and Explore Town

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Da Lat Du Parc or Ana Mandara Villas Dalat

Rising early, you have about a 4-hour drive towards Lam Dong Province through “Borri Country,” once the home of Jesuit missionaries. Your destination is “The City of Love,” Dalat, a favorite holiday resort for Vietnamese as well as the French. With evergreen forests, waterfalls, beautiful lakes, the country’s best flower gardens, and delicious fresh produce, Dalat has always provided a welcome respite from the heat of the lowlands.

When you arrive, you can have lunch in the market, and then begin to explore the town. You can visit some of the crafts, see the cathedral, walk down to the water and visit the home of Bao Dai, the last of the Nguyen Emperors.

Day 4: Dalat – Valley of Love, Convent, University, Pagodas

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Da Lat Du Parc or Ana Mandara Villas Dalat

Today, you can continue to explore Dalat, visiting its gardens, waterfalls, Valley of Love, convent, university and key pagodas.

Day 5: Drive Buon Me Thuot. Visit Lac Lake and enjoy Gong Show

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Ban Me Hotel

After breakfast, you have a full day’s drive to Buon Me Thuot, the provincial capital of Dac Lac Province, and the site of the last battle of the Vietnam War in March 1975. Along the way, you will visit some of the hill tribe people, stopping in Lak Lake around lunch time. Here you can ride elephants in a M’Nong village and take a dugout canoe ride on Lak Lake.   The area’s villagers welcome all visitors with local dancing – a gong show Q and an invitation to sample the local homebrewed rice wine. Be prepared and you might want to bring some salt, a gift prized by the villagers. The gong culture has been recognized by UNESCO as one of mankind’s most notable cultures.

From Lak Lake, you will continue on to Buon Me Thuot for dinner and the night.

Day 6: Visit town, museum and villages

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Ban Me Hotel

There are said to be about 31 different ethnic groups in Dac Lac, each with their own traditional dress and customs. The area is also known for its big game hunting, although new conservation laws have brought this practice to a close.  Before venturing out into the villages, you will stop at the ethnic museum in town, with its collection of everything from models of houses to clothes to musical instruments to games popular with the local people.

After the museum, you can visit some of the villages in the area. Some of the villages are known for elephant hunting and taming, some for weaving and other arts. The societies vary from matrilineal and matrilocal among the Rha De to patrilinear. In Ako Village, you can see some of the Ede traditional brocades being woven.

In Dra Sap are the biggest and most beautiful waterfalls in Daklak Province, located in a jungle setting. Late in the day, you will return to Buon Me Thuot and walk through the local market.

Day 7: Drive Pleiku and visit villages

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hoang Anh Gia Lai Hotel

Leaving Buon Me Thuot, you will drive on to Pleiku. Crossing the Nha Rong pass is truly a cultural experience. Along the way are coffee plantations and the stilt houses of the Central Highland’s largest ethnic group, the Gia Rai. These people stubbornly resisted the colonization of the French and, later, the town of Plei Me saw the first North Vietnamese battle of the Vietnam War in 1965. Domestic elephants are kept by many of the villages, and there are even sites where one can find   elephant   fossils   dating   back   to   the   Neolithic and Paleolithic ages. We will follow the Tun River over a pass and down into the small market town of Pleiku.

In the afternoon, you will visit a Giarai Village. The Giarai are animists, believing that demons are an integral part of creation.  They build their villages in the form of a square, with a communal house for all and the society is matrilineal.

Here you can meet the local musician, stroll around the village to get a sense of the traditional culture and customs, and visit the graveyard. Here you can learn about the wooden statures and the unique burial philosophy behind them. When you are spending time with the musician, you can experiment with the goong, the local instrument of the highlands.

When ready, you will return to Pleiku for the night.

Day 8: Drive Kon Tum via Plei Phun. Visit Orphanage, Church and villages

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kontom Indochine Hotel

After breakfast, you drive to Kon Tum, stopping at Plei Phun Village. Here you can explore the differences between the Bahnar and the Jarai or Gia Rai. The ancestors of the present day Gia Rai arrived on the coast during the first centuries AD, and belong to the Malay Polynesian language group. Villages comprise about 50 homes built around a nga rong or communal house. Families are matriarchal and girls take the lead in choosing their husbands. Hunters, fishermen, and gatherers, the Gia Rai also cultivate fruit trees, rice, beans and other cereals. The animist world of the Gia Rai is peopled by yang or genies of the mountains, water, villages, homes, and other facets of their lives. Two of the most fascinating aspects of the Gia Rai are their graveyards, with their intriguing statues and the watering spring place.

You continue on to Kon Tum, about 30 miles farther. Here you will have lunch. Once in Kon Tum you can begin to do a bit of sightseeing.  During the war, Kon

Tum was the site of massive bombing by American BQ52s and was basically levelled by the bombings and the fighting that occurred between NVA and ARVN troops in 1972. The town is also inhabited by some colorful ethnic groups – Sedeng, Jarai, Bahnar and Rengao. Today you can visit the beautiful wooden Catholic Church, the seminary, and the Orphanage of Vinh Son.

Crossing the amazing suspension bridge, you will visit the villages of Pleitonghia and Konhngokotu. Late in the afternoon, you will return to Kon Tum for the night.

Day 9: Hike to villages and overnight or return to Kon Tum

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Local Village or Kontom Indochine Hotel

After driving to the suspension bridge, you will do a bit of hiking to two other villages – Kon Jori and Kon Kotu. From here you will walk along the Dakbla riverbank to a hanging bridge. Lunch will be a picnic on the Dakbla riverbank.  The length of the walk will depend on you.

After lunch, you will take a wooden boat along the Dakbla River to Kon Ko Tu Village.

Option A: Spend the night

Here you will spend the night. In the evening, you can attend a performance of local ethnic dances, songs and music – the Cong Chieng Show. You can also sip the local wine drink out of a jar through pipes.

Option B: Return to Kon Tum

If you prefer not to spend the night, you can take the boat back and return to Kon Tum and your hotel for the night.

Day 10: Drive Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa

You have a long drive through some spectacular mountain ranges and along sandy beaches to Hoi An, nestled on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Lunch will be on the way.

Hoi An is nestled on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Before the river silted up, Hoi An was one of the most important trading ports in Southeast Asia, and a center for East West exchange and trade. From the 2nd until the 10th century, Hoi An was one of the principal Cham cities. Over the years, Indian, Dutch, Portuguese, French, Thai, Indonesian, Spanish, American, Japanese, Filipino and Chinese ships docked in Hoi An. In the 19th century, as the result of warfare and environmental changes, Hoi An was replaced by Danang as a major port. Reflecting the diversity of the traders and missionaries that settled in the port (including Alexander of Rhodes), the ancient architecture is a fascinating mix of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese. The rooftops of Hoi An retain a magical old world Oriental feel and are a favorite subject for Vietnamese artists. In the early 1980s Hoi An’s ancient quarters and historical monuments came under the protection and restoration efforts of UNESCO and the Polish government.

Tonight, you will enjoy the luxury of the Victoria Hoi An, located on the beach.

Day 11: Visit My Son and Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa

This morning you will rise early and drive a short distance to the Cham ruins of My Son. The Cham Empire controlled the central coastline of Vietnam from the 4th to the 14th century. It is said that the people came to Vietnam from Indonesia, and brought with them the Hindu religion. They made masterful temples and fortunes trading silk, pearls, and even birds nests. Sadly, the ruins of My Son were badly destroyed during the Vietnam War, but enough of the temples remain to get a good sense of the art and architecture of the period.

After visiting My Son, you will return to Hoi An and tour a bit in the town, walking the Japanese Bridge, visiting the different Chinese Assembly Halls and pagodas and walking the market.

After your walk, you can take a boat ride to one of the islands in the river to see a village of potters. In the evening, you might want to head to Brothers for dinner on your own. The food is extraordinary.

Day 12: Free Day in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa

Today is free to rent bikes, enjoy the beach by your hotel, or wander in Hoi An.

Day 13: Fly Hanoi. Cyclo ride and Water Puppet Show

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel De L’opera or Sofitel Legend Metropole

Rising early, you will fly to Hanoi on VN #1509 (0950/1105), where you will transfer to the Serenade, located in the Old Quarter. After changing clothes and a brief lunch, you will take a cyclo ride around the area.

Hanoi, located at the confluence of the Red and Duong Rivers, has come a long way from the stilt houses of the stone and bronze age dwellers of four and five thousand years ago. Myths link Hanoi’s origins to the center of the earth, visions of soaring dragons, and fears of invasions or fierce winds from the north. Between Chinese power struggles, peasant rebellions, invasions from warring Mongol hordes, the French occupation, and American bombing attacks, the city has undergone and continues to undergo tremendous growth and change. Today’s Hanoi, “the city inside a bend of the Red River,” is a blend of thousand year old temples, tube houses, neo Parisian buildings, and new, modern hotels and office buildings.

After your ride, you will enjoy a charming water puppet show. It may seem touristy, but it is an event that is loved by the locals and tells stories that are intimately part of their culture.

After the performance, you have time to explore the Old Quarter. Here many tiny streets join to sell a huge diversity of products. In the old days, each street bore the name of the product sold – “Shoe Street,” “Noodle Street,” and the like. Today, the streets sometimes sell a variety of items, but often the names are accurate. The Old Quarter also houses some of the most interesting art galleries. You spend some time visiting several of the most respected galleries, meeting with the owners and artists.

Day 14: Tour Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel De Lopera or Sofitel Legend Metropole

A real treat is to rise early before breakfast and walk down to Hoan Kiem Lake. Here you will join the locals in their morning Tai Chi exercises. Returning to the hotel, you will eat breakfast and then take a tour of the city. Your path will take you past the granite and concrete mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh lies in state, and the government buildings. Leaving the museum, you will walk around Hoan Kiem Lake in the middle of the city passing the One Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong to celebrate the birth of his only son, and Ho Chi Minh’s house, given him by the people of the country in thanks for his leadership. If time permits, you will also visit some of the most important temples of Hanoi. One of the most interesting is the Temple of Literature, called “Le Pagoda des Corbeaux” by the French, because of the huge flocks of crows gathering in the mango trees near the entrance. Built in 1070, the complex consists of five courtyards dedicated to Confucius and the pursuit of Confucian thought and behavior. It is here that Vietnam’s first university was founded. Another fascinating shrine is the Dao Quan Bich Cau Temple, built in the 15th century and dedicated to the military hero Ta Uyen, who fought many battles against Cham. One of the most   beautiful   in   Vietnam, this Taoist  temple contains statues of the her, his wife and son. Nearby is a statue to Lao-Tse, who founded the Taoist faith around 604 BC.

After lunch, you can choose between a visit to the wonderful Ethnic Museum or time in the Art Museum.

This evening, you will have a delicious farewell dinner at one of Hanoi’s finest restaurants.

Day 15: Home

Meals: Breakfast

The day is free until time to transfer to the airport for your flight home.