Gifted with a staggering abundance of flavourful food, fascinating culture, untouched nature, and disarmingly friendly people, Vietnam has more than earned its rep as one of the world’s most popular travel destinations. This fun-focused family trip packs as much of the good stuff into 12 days as humanly possible – including cruising Halong Bay, exploring the Imperial Citadel, museum visits, and even a boat trip to a floating market – yet still offers more than enough time to relax. Don’t forget to pack your smile; you’ll be needing it often here.
What's Included
Cyclo tour through Old Quarter (Hanoi)
A market tour, noodle making demonstration and lunch at Oodles of Noodles, a Planeterra-supported project (Hoi An)
Water puppets show
Halong Bay boat trip
Citadel tour in Hue
Cooking Class in Hoi An
City cyclo tour
Mekong Delta boat trip
11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners. (Allow USD210-275 per person for meals not included.)
Train, bus, plane, cyclo, boat
Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides.
Small group experience; Max 20, avg 10
Hotels (8 nts), homestay (1 nt), sleeper train (1 nt), overnight junk boat (1 nt).
Day 1Delhi(1D)
Arrive in Delhi at any time. Arrival transfer included. Enjoy a local meal with your group.
Day 2Delhi/Udaipur(1B)
Dive into the heart of India’s capital to explore Old Delhi. Visit Delhi’s famous Jama Masjid and count the steps to the top of the minaret for a great view over the old city. Walk through Chandni Chowk, one of India’s oldest and busiest markets, and learn some of the history of the Sikh religion at the Gurduwara. In the afternoon, fly to Udaipur.
Day 3Udaipur(1B, 1D)
Visit the City Palace and Jagdish Mandir, and enjoy a cultural show at Bagore Ki Haveli.
Day 4Udaipur(1B)
On Day 4, take a boat ride on Lake Pichola and enjoy a sunrise over the city, before a free afternoon to explore further.
Day 5Udaipur/Tordi(1B, 1D)
Get a taste of Indian village life in Tordi Garh. Play a game of cricket with the local school children and, in the evening, take a camel cart ride out to the dunes.
Day 6Tordi/Jaipur(1B)
In the morning, arrive in the Pink City of Jaipur. Take a photo opportunity of Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds. Follow in the footsteps of the royal harem and explore the Amber Fort Palace, which sits atop a rocky hill out in the desert.
Day 7Jaipur/Ranthambore National Park(1B, 1L, 1D)
In the afternoon, drive to Ranthambore.
Day 8Ranthambore National Park(1B, 1L)
Go on safari into Ranthambore National Park, which is one of the original Project Tiger Reserves. Look for deer, birds, monkeys, and, of course, tigers. With lakes, scrublands, and ruined palaces, this park is a fascinating area to visit. After a morning game drive, visit a local school and play a game of cricket with the children.
Day 9Ranthambore National Park/Agra(1B)
Travel to Agra, visiting Fatehpur Sikri, the now deserted former capital of the Mughals, en route.
Day 10Agra/Delhi(1B)
Rise early to take in the sunrise at the world famous Taj Mahal. Later, visit the Baby Taj and Agra Fort before driving back to Delhi.
Day 11Delhi(1B)
Depart at any time.
Day 1Hanoi
Arrive at any time.
Day 2Hanoi(1B)
Guided cyclo tour of Old Quarter, Water Puppet Theatre performance. Optional museum visits, shopping.
Day 3Hanoi/Ha Long(1B, 1L, 1D)
Halong Bay cruise, cave visit and island lookout. Seafood lunch and dinner.
Day 4Ha Long/Hu?(1B, 1L)
Continue on the cruise of Halong Bay to Man's Head Island and Tortoise Island. Visit Luon cave by small bamboo boat. Overnight train to Hue.
Day 5Hu?(1B)
Guided tour of Imperial Citadel. Optional visits to Royal Tombs and Tien Mu Pagoda, countryside motorbike tour.
Day 6Hu?/Hoi An(1B)
Travel over the Hai Van Pass to Hoi An. Optional activities include cooking school, riverboat trip, bike riding, beach, visit the tailors or My Son ruins.
Days 7–8Hoi An(1B, 1L)
Enjoy a market tour, noodle making demonstration and lunch at Oodles of Noodles, a Planeterra-supported project. Afterwards enjoy some free time to explore Hoi An.
Day 9Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City(1B)
Morning flight from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Cyclo city tour of Central Saigon.
Day 10Ho Chi Minh City/Mekong Delta(1B, 1D)
Take a boat trip along Mekong Delta, later enjoy a homestay and traditional dinner with local family.
Day 11Mekong Delta/Ho Chi Minh City(1B)
Return to Ho Chi Minh City; free afternoon. Option to visit War Remnants Museum, Reunification Palace, and Ben Thanh Market.
Day 12Ho Chi Minh City(1B)
Depart at any time.
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