Family Vietnam Discovery from North to South - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Hanoi, Optional Food Tour

Welcome to Hanoi! The capital of Vietnam is located in the north of the country and has a distinct culture and long history. Your driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you and your family to your hotel in the city. 

Depending on your arrival time and how tired you and the kids are after your flight, you might want to get your trip off to a great start with a street food tour. A local food expert will guide you to fascinating markets and streetside stalls where you can try a variety of dishes that will satisfy every family member. First up is Thanh Ha Market, outside of which street hawkers sell a staggering variety of produce, from live seafood to exotic fruits and spices. Continue to Dong Xuan Market, where noodle shops are located amid stalls selling handbags, clothes, and other goods. End with dessert and coffee in the atmospheric Old Quarter.

Day 2: Day Trip to Duong Lam Ancient Village

Get outside the city today and experience rural Vietnamese life on a family-friendly tour to Duong Lam Ancient Village, where two of Vietnam's kings were born many centuries ago. Ride bikes or walk (depending on the ages and needs of your kids) to visit local houses dating back to the 17th century. Duong Lam is a maze of alleyways, gates, and high walls that conceal beautiful courtyards and historic homes. You and your kids can learn more about Vietnamese culture and history on visits to Mia Pagoda, King Ngo Quyen Temple, and Phung Hung Temple. 

Visit a workshop to see how soy sauce is made and meet the local villagers who make it. Then sit down to a hearty lunch at a local house (with plenty of soy sauce to season your food if you like!) to sample authentic Vietnamese fare. Kids will learn a lot by seeing how regular Vietnamese people live.

Day 3: Transfer to Ha Long Bay, Family-Friendly Activities

Bid Hanoi farewell this morning as you depart for the coastal retreat and fishing community of Ha Long Bay. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a natural wonder of the world, and kids and adults will be impressed by the impressive scenery of towering rocks and karst grottoes. Board your ship for an overnight sail through the large bay, taking in views of more than 2,000 limestone islands. 

Enjoy lunch on board your boat as you set sail. After, explore the limestone islets and caves from a kayak, then enjoy some beach time swimming and relaxing onshore. If you're traveling in the cooler winter, you can still explore caves and islets without getting wet. Return to your boat in the evening to watch the sunset, enjoy some family-friendly activities prepared by the cruise team, and relax over dinner.

Day 4: Continue Exploring Ha Long Bay, Transfer to Hoi An

Rise early to see the sunrise and participate in tai chi on deck. Then enjoy a hearty breakfast and get ready to explore a limestone cave by boat. Kids will be fascinated by the stalagmites and stalactites throughout the cave, illuminated with colorful lights. After exploring, enjoy an early lunch while watching the limestone islands go by as you cruise back to port.

Your driver will meet you at the harbor and transfer you to the airport in Hanoi for your flight south to Da Nang. Your driver will meet you there and transfer you to Hoi An, a short drive away. Hoi An is a well-preserved example of a Southeast Asian trading port dating from the 15th century. Its buildings and street plan reflect both local life and foreign influences, while its pedestrian-only streets and compact nature make it an ideal place for families to explore. It's also a culinary hot spot, with many excellent restaurants to check out.

Day 5: Family Fun at Ba Na Hills

Outside of Da Nang are the Ba Na Hills, a natural and cultural complex that makes an ideal destination for families. Here you can enjoy cooler weather at 4,900 feet (1,500 m) altitude, breathtaking views, and an amusement park. Travel up to Ba Na Hills via cable car, from where you can enjoy the panoramic views of Quang Nam province and Da Nang city from high up. A highlight that everyone in the family will enjoy is the Golden Bridge, a pedestrian bridge with an incredible design that looks like giant hands holding a walkway. You can stop for plenty of fun photos here.

Stroll through Le Jardin D'amourn, with nine gardens and the Linh Ung Pagoda. Continue on the second cable car to reach the French Village, where your kids can enjoy the street music and art statues. There are many shrines, temples, and monasteries to check out here, too. If you like, stop to watch a carnival performance at Square Du Dome or ride the popular tube slide. You can also check out the funicular railway.

Refuel with a delicious Vietnamese buffet lunch, a great way to sample various dishes. In the afternoon, visit Fantasy Park, which includes many attractions that kids will love, from a fairy forest to a dinosaur park, plus more than 90 free games. After two hours of fun, return to the cable car station and head down the hill and back to Hoi An.

Day 6: Leisure Day in Hoi An, Optional Basket Boat Ride

Spend some time getting to know Hoi An today. It's a great place to travel with kids as the streets have little traffic, and there are areas where only pedestrians or nonmotorized vehicles are allowed, so it is very safe to walk around. The best way to explore Hoi An is to rent a bicycle at your hotel and cycle around the town toward the river or the beach. You'll find many small cafés at the beach where you can relax with a fresh fruit drink after swimming in the warm, calm sea and your kids can have fun at the playgrounds. Another favorite Hoi An activity is visiting a tailor's shop to have new clothes, bags, or shoes made overnight.

If you'd prefer to participate in an organized activity today, you can embark on a fun bamboo boat ride. Your kids will surely enjoy the novelty of riding in such an unusual boat, shaped like a large basket, which spins around as you sail. Start with a cycling trip through the countryside and rivers around Hoi An. If you're traveling with small kids who can't cycle, they can ride with you, or a car can be arranged instead. Hop on board your boat for a cruise along the river. Meet some local fishermen and enjoy a hands-on demonstration of traditional net fishing. If you or your kids are lucky enough to catch something, it can be cooked for lunch. 

Day 7: Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City, Family-Friendly Activities

This morning, transfer to the airport in Da Nang for a 90-minute flight south to Ho Chi Minh City, where a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Although Ho Chi Minh City is not Vietnam's capital, it is the largest city, and there's a lot to see and do here. 

After you've had some time to settle into your room, head out into the city for some gentle activities to ease you in; explore the city center by cyclo, a fun local vehicle fun for kids (and parents). Stop at the Ben Thanh Market, where you can try street food specialties and shop for souvenirs. Treat your kids to a visit to the Artinus 3D Art Museum and have fun taking pictures with the 3D art objects.

Day 8: Cu Chi Tunnels & Ho Chi Minh City Tour

A full day of family adventure lies ahead, starting with visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels just outside Ho Chi Minh City. Your tour guide will give you an overview of the tunnels and their dramatic history as a network of underground passages built during the Vietnam War. The construction of this underground metropolis—which includes living rooms, kitchens, hospitals, weapon factories, storage facilities, and a command center—took roughly 25 years. The network stretches over 155 miles (250 km). The kids will love exploring the network of underground tunnels and learning about life underground during this important period in Vietnamese and international history.

After lunch at a local restaurant, head back to Ho Chi Minh City. Explore landmarks like the Independence Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the historic Central Post Office. Finally, visit Ben Thanh Market, one of the largest markets in the city. Here, you can practice your bargaining skills while shopping for souvenirs and picking up treats for the kids. With its lively and laid-back atmosphere, the market is a fun place for your kids to experience local life and culture. 

Day 9: Mekong Delta Day Trip

Today you'll deep dive into local life in the Mekong Delta at a relaxed pace and with plenty of family-suitable activities. Your tour guide will pick you up early and take you to Ben Tre, a town in the Mekong Delta, where you'll board a boat and set off on a cruise down the Ben Tre River, a tributary of the Mekong. Your kids will be fascinated by the activities they'll see on the river and the banks, such as fishing and the coconut cargo boats that carry goods on the river. Continue down the river with stops to see how bricks and rice paper are made. 

Moving on to Cai Son Canal, wind through the coconut palm-filled jungle and visit a coconut workshop to see how coconuts are processed. Travel down a small waterway and stop at a bee farm, where you can try fruit and honey tea and listen to local music. There's also a candy workshop kids might like to check out! Nearby, you can also visit the house of a farmer who makes sleep mats.

End with a cyclo or tuk-tuk tour through coconut groves and vegetable farms. Then ride a row boat down a shady canal and stop for lunch at a riverside restaurant. At the end of the day, take a motorboat back to Hung Vuong Pier and transfer back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 10: Depart Ho Chi Minh City

After one last traditional Vietnamese breakfast of banh tieu (fried doughnuts) and milky iced tea, spend a few hours soaking up the atmosphere in Ho Chi Minh City, perhaps shopping for souvenirs in the markets, before transferring to the airport for your flight home. Safe travels!

More Great Vietnam Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Vietnam? Check out these other Vietnam itineraries, explore different ways to spend 10 days in Vietnam with your family, and discover the best time to visit Vietnam.

 

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