Exciting and fun family trip especially for you who have slightly older children. Here you travel from Hanoi in the north to the beautiful tropical island of Phu Quoc in the south and on the way you get to experience the absolute best of Vietnam.
Vietnam is mainly characterized by two things; the beautiful landscape with its green rice fields, high mountains and clear rivers and the constant presence of history whose signs are visible everywhere. Here are Chinese temples, French architecture, ruins and tunnels dug by freedom fighters during different time periods. There are silk, jade, Vietnamese tea houses and American cafes. Vietnam is a land of contrasts that offers both sleepy villages and organized chaos in the form of big cities where motorcycles and cafes characterize the street scene.
On this trip you will experience the best of this magnificent country. Among other things, you will see the charming capital of Hanoi, the beautiful limestone cliffs of the famous Ha Long Bay, visit a local farmer, discover the cozy city of Hoi An, see central Vietnam from the back seat of a jeep, visit the temples of Ho Chi Minh City ( Saigon) and swim at Phu Quoc’s beautiful beaches.
Day 1: Departure from Scandinavia
You fly from Scandinavia to Vietnam where you arrive the next day.
Day 2: Arrival in Hanoi
You arrive in Hanoi and are picked up at the airport, then you are driven to a nice economy class hotel where you will spend two nights. Hanoi is one of Asia’s most charming and romantic cities. It is a cozy and green city, filled with large lush trees, many small and large parks as well as beautiful French mansions. Especially the old town is charming, with the lake Hoan Kiem, the narrow alleys and the smell of freshly baked baguettes.
Day 3: Hanoi on your own
After breakfast, you can visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the house where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1958 to 1969, or take a walk by the beautiful lake in the middle of the city and perhaps continue on to the Temple of Literature. You can also enjoy the atmosphere of the old town and have lunch in one of the countless fast food restaurants.
Day 4: Hanoi to the village of Ngoc Hoa. Learn about life in a local villageYou will be picked up at the hotel around 08: 00–8: 30 by a bus that will take you to Ngoc Hoa. On the way, you pass field workers who are busy cultivating their rice fields in the traditional way. After a few hours, you arrive at the village and meet the family you will be staying with at the homestay. Then you can join a bike ride around the village and see some of the old houses and get an insight into the daily life of the locals. Back at the family, lunch is then served. After lunch, it’s time to put on a traditional farmer’s outfit and go out and plant rice and plow the fields with the help of a water buffalo. This is a really fun and challenging experience. In the afternoon you can visit a local temple and take a boat trip to see Stork Island which is home to thousands of storks and herons. Back at your homestay, it’s time to help cook dinner and relax in the cozy surroundings. (L,M)Day 5: On to Ha Long Bay. Board the ship, kayak and enjoy nature
Breakfast is served at 07:30. Before heading to Ha Long Bay, you can visit the market where the locals sell their crops and products. This is a genuine experience that many tourists miss. You arrive at the ship shortly after lunchtime and check into your sleeping cabin. Lunch is served while the ship passes the beautiful limestone cliffs that the area is known for. In the afternoon you can go kayaking and explore the small islands nearby. Dinner is served on board approx. at 19:00. Then you can relax on the deck and enjoy the starry sky or play cards. ( F , L , M )
Day 6: Ha Long Bay. Kayak, explore caves and enjoy the surroundings
After breakfast, the ship continues out to the less visited areas of the bay. You can then explore the small islands by kayak and enjoy the beautiful nature. After lunch you visit one of the lesser known caves in the area. Then you can continue exploring the area by kayak or relax on the ship’s sun deck before a good dinner with BBQ is served. ( F , L , M )
Day 7: Ha Long Bay to Hanoi
If you are up early, you can enjoy the beautiful sunrise before breakfast is served. Then you visit one of the area’s most famous caves, Sung Sot, as one of the first before most tourists arrive. After that you sail back to the harbor and have lunch. You then go ashore and head back towards Hanoi, where you arrive late in the afternoon. ( F , L )
Day 8: By plane to Hoi An
You will be picked up and driven to the airport from where your flight to Da Nang departs. Upon arrival, you can book transportation to the charming city of Hoi An. The fishing village of Hoi An is often called the best preserved historic city in Vietnam and has many beautiful ancient houses and temples. Some of the village’s oldest buildings were built during the 19th century. The old quarters are protected as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This means, among other things, that cars are banned in many of the narrow alleys. Hoi An is also known for its skilled tailors. You can get a brand new wardrobe for a relatively inexpensive amount of money. ( F )
Day 9: Hoi An on his own
During the day you have time to explore the city on your own or take a trip to the nearby long sandy beach of Cua Dai, located five kilometers east of Hoi An. A visit to the beach is perfect if you want to swim among the high waves and sunbathe. You can also rent a bike for cycling to Cua Dai, the road there is relatively flat. Just a few meters from the sea there are sun loungers for rent and many other innovative services. It offers everything from manicures and massages on the beach to cold soft drinks and handmade jewelry. If you get up early, you can also see the daily morning market by the sea in Hoi An, a lively and colorful event. You can stroll around and see freshly caught fish, live chickens in bamboo cages, fragrant flowers and fresh fruit, neatly stacked in fine pyramids. You should preferably arrive early in the morning. That is when the activity is at its peak. (F )
Day 10: Flight to Da Lat
You will be picked up at the hotel so that you will arrive in time for the flight to Da Lat, a beautifully located city in central Vietnam which has been nicknamed “The City of Eternal Spring”. Upon arrival at Da Lat, you will take a taxi from the airport to the hotel. Da Lat is located in the heart of Vietnam’s central highlands, known for its beautiful mountain scenery and myriad of lakes, waterfalls and lush forests. A large number of ethnic minorities live here and therefore it is a good opportunity to get a little insight into their everyday lives. ( F )
Day 11: Then Lat on your own
Enjoy the atmosphere of the pleasant city or arrange a trip to one of the large waterfalls nearby. You can also go kayaking, mountain biking or climbing the surrounding mountains. ( F )
Day 12: From Da Lat to Di Linh
On this day, the jeep tour into the wilderness begins. The guide and the jeep are ready for departure around 08:30. The tour begins along beautiful forest roads and through a varied landscape filled with pepper, mushroom and flower plantations. Depending on the weather and season, you can stop along the way and get an insight into the everyday life of the local farmers. You drive past the beautiful Pongua Waterfall, the Elephant Waterfall and you also visit the traditional Linh An Pagoda and a coffee farm that produces the famous Sibet coffee.
Day 13: From Di Linh to Bao Loc. Hiking in the mountains and minority villages.
A new day full of adventure awaits you. Depending on the season, you stop at some orchards and also visit one of southern Vietnam’s largest tea plantations. During the day you visit the minority people K’ho, go hiking in the mountains and get an insight into how the locals live in the countryside.
Day 14: From Bao Loc to Dong Xoai via Ho Chi Minh Trail
After a good night’s sleep, another exciting day awaits. You get an insight into a part of the “Ho Chi Minh Trail” which both offers beautiful nature and which was part of a transport system that was used during the Vietnam War to transport goods from northern Vietnam to southern Vietnam and which also extends into Laos and Cambodia. During the day, you pass a farm that grows cassava (used for flour and groats, among other things), a plantation where they grow cashews and a large pagoda in Dong Xoai.
Day 15: From Dong Xoai to Ho Chi Minh City. Experience the Cu Chi tunnels along the way
On the way to Ho Chi Minh City, you will stop at the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. They are over 200 km long and played a crucial role for the Vietcong Army during the Vietnam War. For a few hours you can explore the area yourself and of course also go down and explore the tunnels. Remember to bring extra water as it is very hot in the area. Towards the end of the day you will arrive in Ho Chi Minh City where you will be dropped off at the hotel. ( F )
Day 16: Ho Chi Minh City on your own
The city is best experienced on foot, but if you get tired you can rent a bicycle (bicycle taxi). For example, you can walk past the Reunification Palace, China Town (which has many impressive Chinese pagodas), Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Church, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the War Museum and the Botanical Gardens. ( F )
Day 17: Flight to the tropical island of Phu Quoc
You will be picked up at the hotel and driven to the airport. From there you fly to the beautiful tropical island of Phu Quoc. ( F )
Day 18–19: Phu Quoc
Enjoy the coming days and think back on the many adventures you have experienced. We have chosen one of the island’s most cozy resorts as a conclusion to your holiday. However, you must book well in advance as it will be fully booked quickly. Enjoy snorkeling in the ocean, join a yoga class at sunset or hop in a kayak and explore the beaches around the resort. ( F )
Day 20: Departure from Phu Quoc
On this day, it’s time to take a flight home from Phu Quoc to Ho Chi Minh City and then fly home. However, you can of course choose to stay longer on the island than we have planned here. Feel free to talk to us at Winberg Travel.
Day 21: Arrival in Scandinavia
After a few weeks filled with culture, history, nature and relaxation, you will return home to Scandinavia.
Overnight stays
Fifteen nights at a mid-range hotel
One night at a homestay
Two nights by boat in Ha Long Bay
