Vietnam Vacation Tour for Families: A Life Enriching Journey

Ho Chi Minh City is still affectionately called Saigon by the locals. The streets are rambunctious with people. Ben Thanh Market bustles with vendors and glows with vibrant fresh produce. French colonial architecture continues to line the old city along Dong Kohi Street like pleasant jewels. Step into the whirlwind of the city and the family is quickly swept up in the fast pace of boutique shops and street vendors, skyscrapers and layered charm. Your private transfer meets you at the airport and takes you to a quiet hotel located in the center of the city. Cycles roam down ancient streets. A woman wears a conical hat to protect her from the glistening sun. She balances two shallow baskets on a pole across her shoulders as she walks to the flower market. Each basket glows with vibrant yellow apricot flowers.

The city’s energy roars to life just before sunrise. The family is eager to venture out and see the remarkable sites of the city and the distinct culture of Vietnam. Breakfast is colorful and bright. Sweet pineapple and rambutan accompany fresh pressed Vietnamese coffee. The kids find familiar items and flavors and quickly try the tropical fruits that decorate breakfast. After your meal your personal guide meets you at the hotel. Reunification Palace is a time capsule of the 1970s. Tanks used in the Vietnam conflict are parked on the grounds. A fountain spritzes water in the extensive front courtyard. The children know the palace from its appearance in “X-Men Days of Future Past.”

The edifice, constructed in the 1960s, encompasses 1,291,669 square feet. When the family tours the grounds, they are given an intricate look at the past. The basement maintains its war room atmosphere. Maps decorate the walls. Technology, from computers to radios, fills the room in an organized manner. In the evening, you will venture into the opulent old opera house to witness a remarkable circus show that will enchant children and adults alike. The Saigon Opera House is 116 years old and its interior is as opulent today as it was in its heyday. The circus is filled with traditional music and ornaments that offer a glimpse into the heritage of the city and the entire country.

The streets fill with a mixture of motorbikes and bicycles. The Saigon River catches the sunlight and shimmers against the skyline and its spreading shadows. After breakfast, your personal transfer meets you at the hotel and takes you the airport for your flight to Da Nang. The short flight has you in the city in no time. The 16th-century city is full of with treasures from the edges of the cobalt sea to the rising marble and limestone hues of the Marble Mountains. The verdant trees edge the city and the mountainside. The kids are excited to venture up the Marble Mountains.

The natural landscape is full of caves and secret temples hidden inside the grottoes. The mountainside of Thuy Son has 156 steps for visitors to climb. Sandalwood emanates from inside a number of caves. You find a collection of Buddhist sanctuaries carved into the stone. Incense burns under shrines and the detailed statues are captivating. Near the summit, you find pillars decorated with mosaic dragons. The vibrant blue tiles encircle the columns that support the temple. The dragons fascinate the children, and you enjoy the children’s enthusiasm for another culture. In the afternoon, you continue onward to Hoi An and settle into the charming town and its streets ornamented with Chinese lanterns.

The lantern-strewn streets of the old city dangle over the streets in the morning light. The streets and historic buildings create a delightful atmosphere alongside the Thu Bon River. The Japanese Covered Bridge arches over the waterway and dates back to the 18th century. Traditional symmetrical images adorned the graceful sloping roofs and the entire edifice reflects in the tranquil water. Tan Ky House is emblematic of the Chinese and Japanese influences that came with the town’s merchant economy. Seven generations of family members preserved this house built over 200 years ago.

The house is open to the inner courtyard that lets in light and provides refreshing air. It also helped bring a touch of nature to a city residence. The house borders the riverbanks and rented to merchants for its easy access to the water. The house is elegant in its classic and simple style. Mother of pearl dangle from columns revamped columns that continue to support the roof. The children see the importance of history and family connection, and you can see a spark in their eyes.

The aromas of vivacious green onion and fried eggs drift through the streets. The soft sounds of the flowing river rise along the water’s banks. Today the family will venture outside of the cityscape to experience the local culture and historic culture of the countryside. Step onto a bicycle for the best view of the landscape. The town disappears, and the view turns verdant. Tall grass spreads to the distant hillsides. Water buffalo pull carts and plows. What looks like ponds are actually rice paddy fields before the plant absorbs the water and the nutrients.

Kim Bong is a village known for its woodwork and dates back to the 15th century. The village continues its strong and proud tradition of woodworking. A master carver provides lessons to both locals and visitors to teach the secrets of the delicate art. The scent of earth and grassland is refreshing. You continue your discovery of local life. Farmers teach the children about local vegetables and the importance of understanding the landscape. Riverside villages pull nets from the water and provide fish for the community. In the afternoon, you return to Hoi An. The children gain insight and imagery from Vietnam’s wonders.

The Chinese and the French have influenced Hanoi’s architecture, but the city has a strong and distinct identity separate from its influences and the rest of Vietnam. You fly from Da Nang to Hanoi and arrive in a city with over a millennium of history. The Tall buildings and bustling streets give way to ancient pagodas and lakes surrounded by trees. The Imperial City of Thang Long was founded in the 14th century. The flag tower stands over 108 feet tall and is often a symbol of the city.

In the evening, you will see one of the most popular local shows in Hanoi and Vietnam, the Water Puppet Theater. The ancient art originated in the 11th-century countryside when farmers would entertain their families during monsoon season. Watch as performers use the tools of the water to tell stories from Vietnam’s heritage. Music adds to the ambiance and people cheer and boo with the myths making the audience as involved with the storytelling as the puppeteers. The more inclusive the stories, the more enchanted the entire family becomes.

Today you make your way to the emerald waters of Halong Bay. The sun spreads over the Gulf of Tonkin and makes the water glow like gemstones. The family steps aboard a traditional Chinese junk. The sails look like dragon wings, and the wooden exterior makes the children think of pirates and adventure. The boat weighs anchor and you set out to sea. Giant karsts rise out of the water. The landscape impresses the entire family. The limestone figures average a height of 328 feet. Trees and moss swirl sporadically around the karsts’ powerful stone edges. The aroma of the sea soothes, and the breeze rejuvenates you. There are over 2,000 islands and countless caves that fill the bay, each one promises beautiful scenery and imaginative adventure.

The morning is filled with a magical ambiance as the mist dissipates over the sea. The karsts return to view, and the water maintains its gemstone appearance. The ship anchors near the shores of Bo Hon Island. The family steps onto the shore and travels the path to Surprise Cave. The cave mouth looks small and tight when you arrive, the entrance to a simple grotto. When you enter you hear the kids awe as the cave opens into an expansive cavern.

At the highest point, the cave’s ceiling is almost 100 feet tall. Light bounces off of the walls and the shadows create shades of various hues, from green to blue and gold. The air is cool and the stalactite pillar in the cave’s center supports the extending rooftop. Few things are more adventurous than exploring a grotto. The pathway ensures a safe and illuminating space to discover. In the afternoon, you head back to the ship. The unobstructed starlight extends throughout the night sky.

The sunlight spreads across the sea and over the towering stone. After brunch, you return to shore, and your private transfer takes you back to Hanoi. The city continues to bustle with its mixture of past and contemporary life. In the afternoon, the family can stroll along the tranquil waters of Hoan Kiem Lake. A stone temple sits on an island at the center of the lake. The energetic streets and rising buildings of the city almost disappear behind the encompassing trees. The vibrant red color of Huc Bridge stands out against the prevalent greenery.

The bridge connects Jade Island to the shore. Large soft-shell turtles swim in the water and bask in the sunlight on the lake’s edge. Nearby is the Temple of Literature. The compound,constructed in the 11th century, was home to the first university in Vietnam. A pagoda style embellishes the main gate and a central arched door flanked by another single doorway on either side. The history of the country is palpable in the tranquil outer garden courtyards and paved interior plazas. Even the kids are fascinated by the historic architecture and extent of the concentric walls.

Locals begin to course through the street in the early morning hours. The markets overflow with color, from fresh produce to animated flower bouquets. People exercise in groups and kick and jump in unison. Neighborhoods start to fill with the aroma of fresh Vietnamese coffee. Locals drink theirs with sweet condensed milk and ice. After breakfast, the family’s private transfer takes you to the airport for your flight home. You have been charmed by both the city and the countryside, explored the waters and the cuisine, experiencing the jovial smiles and family-centric culture of Vietnam.