Family Fun in Vietnam & Cambodia
Variety, balance and adventure. They’re the key ingredients of a great family vacation, and they’re at the heart of this fantastic family trip to Vietnam and Cambodia.
Beach relaxation, exciting city stays, immersive countryside tours and fascinating cultural workshops: this hands-on itinerary is packed with family fun at a lively but comfortable pace.
Pricing
Key facts
Transport in detail
Transfers will be by private car, with two internal flights (from Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City, and from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh). There will be a couple of longer drives, but you’ll never spend more than four hours of any day in transit.
What's great
This itinerary is packed with activities chosen with kids in mind, giving a hands-on and interactive introduction to different aspects of Cambodian and Vietnamese culture
There’s a great balance of beach, city, river and countryside
This route combines classic destinations with a couple of lesser-known gems to give you an experience away from the tourist trail (without being too remote or intimidating!)
We’ve chosen destinations that are at their best during the UK’s Easter and summer vacations
Though it’s a busy trip, we’ve made sure there’s plenty of downtime for independent exploration (or chilling by the pool)
Things to consider
Though we’ve included lots of unusual experiences, the destinations on this trip are fairly well-trodden
This trip is best taken during the Hoi An beach season (March to August). If you’re traveling outside this window, we can recommend a different beach destination
If you travel during the height of UK summer, expect to encounter some rain (except in Hoi An)
Some activities (cycling, paddleboarding, cooking) may not be suitable for children under the age of eight
The experience
This itinerary is just an example of what we can do. All our trips are fully customizable for you and your family — so let us know what your brood loves, and we’ll plan one just for you.
Day 1-3
Hoi An
Hoi An is best known for its beautifully preserved World Heritage center, but you’ll soon discover that’s just one of its charms! After you’ve relaxed on its long and sandy beach, get to know the rural fringes on two different but complimentary countryside tours. Cycle through villages lined with water palms and coconut trees, learn to cast a fishing net from a basket boat, and enjoy a seafood lunch on the boat ride back to town. Then, spend a morning at an organic farm, learning to whip up some Vietnamese home-cooked delights. Your afternoons will be free to go street-food snacking and trinket-shopping on Hoi An’s lantern-strung riverfront, one of the prettiest settings in Vietnam.
Highlights
Arrive and relax! Spend time enjoying your lovely seaside resort and relaxing on Hoi An’s sandy beach
Learn how to cast a fishing net from a traditional basket boat
Take a lesson in Vietnamese cooking and enjoy the fruits of your labor for lunch
Day 4-5
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is the best place in the country to learn about the effects of the “American War”, but museum displays and walking tours aren’t always suitable for children. Instead, we’ve included a fun and educational day out to Cu Chi, part of a network of supply tunnels built by guerrilla fighters. After you’ve squeezed through the tunnels and seen some of their inventive booby traps, you’ll travel back to the city by speedboat, zip through the streets on a cyclo, then spend the afternoon at the home of a local family. Famous for their musical prowess, the Truc Mai family have played all over the world, and they’ll be happy to show you their instruments and play for you today.
Highlights
Take a speedboat to Cu Chi and crawl through tunnels made by guerrilla fighters during the “American War”
Go for a cyclo ride through downtown Ho Chi Minh City, still known as Saigon to the locals
Learn about traditional music and instruments in the home of a three-generation family of musicians
The finer detail
What's included
- Breakfast every day
- Eight lunches: one during the Hoi An farming experience; one you’ll make yourself during the cookery class; one at a restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City; two in the Mekong Delta; one at Romdeng youth training restaurant in Phnom Penh; one Khmer picnic at Free the Bears; one after the paddle boarding in Kampot
- Three dinners: two in the Mekong Delta; one barbecue in Sovanna Phnom Penh
- Two full-day experiences: family day in Ho Chi Minh City including the Cu Chi Tunnels; city walking tour and Living Arts introduction in Phnom Penh
- Five half-day experiences: farming & fishing experience in Hoi An; cookery class at an organic farm in Hoi An; visit Free The Bears at the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center; stand-up paddle boarding in the mangroves of Kampot; countryside tour of Kampot
- Three evening experiences: barbecue dinner at Sovanna in Phnom Penh; Cambodian Living Arts performance; sunset cruise through the fishing villages of Kampot
- Two-night stay at Mekong Home homestay, including activities in the Mekong Delta
- All entrance fees to sites included in guided experiences
- All internal transport & accommodation
Logistics and journey times
Day 1:
Car transfer from Danang airport to Hoi An (45 minutes)
Day 4:
Car transfer from Hoi An to Danang airport (45 minutes)
Flight from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City (1.5 hours)
Car transfer from Ho Chi Minh City airport to city (30 minutes)
Day 6:
Car transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta (1.5 hours)
Day 8:
Car transfer from the Mekong Delta to Ho Chi Minh City airport (1.5 hours)
Flight from Ho Chi MInh City to Phnom Penh (1 hour)
Car transfer from Phnom Penh airport to city (1 hour)
Day 10:
Car transfer from Phnom Penh to Kampot (4 hours + sightseeing stop)
Day 12:
Car transfer from Kampot to Kep (45 minutes)
Day 14:
Car transfer from Kep to Phnom Penh airport (3.5 hours)
What's not included
- International flights
- Meals not mentioned
- Entrance fees to any sites not included in guided experiences
- Tips for guides & porters