9 Incredible Experiences for the Family in Vietnam

19, June, 2017

Vietnam is a fantastic family destination. Whether the kids are practically grown-up, or still little, there are many different things to see and do to easily fill a 2 or 3 week travel itinerary. Here are just a few of the fantastic family experiences that can be enjoyed on the Vietnam private tour:

Festive fun
Visiting the lively and colourful festivals in Vietnam gives a perfect opportunity to learn more about local life and its people. There are many different delicious festive foods to try, traditional games are played, music fills the streets, and decorations are out. Plus, everybody is in a happy party mood which means there is more interaction with the local people than would be expected on a regular day. Read more: Vietnamese Festivals and Events

Hue Festival is a big event that takes place every other year and attracts Vietnamese performers from across the country for large-scale spectacles. The Hoi An Lantern Festival is a particular favourite and sees the ancient town decorated with nice-looking paper lanterns. This festival takes place on the full moon each month. One of the best festivals for the family is the Vietnamese New Year, or Tet, when the entire country involved in fun activities, including gigantic water fights.

Spectacular beaches
Any well planned Vietnam holiday needs a combination of relaxation time and adventures. With a coastline stretching 3260 km, there are plenty of beautiful seaside resorts to relax with the family. While you get to relax on the beach, the children can go snorkelling in search of tropical marine life, swim in the clear blue sea, build sandcastles on the beach, or anything else that can help blow off steam. A few of the most popular beach destinations include Con Dao, Danang, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Halong bay. Read more: Beaches in Vietnam

Craft workshops
Visiting a few good craft workshops with the family on the Indochina travel is a great way to learn about the local Vietnamese culture. Whether it is cloth-weaving, kite-making, or lantern-making, there are many different traditional crafts to attempt while touring the country. Most of the workshops give a detailed introduction to the particular type of craft and even give demos before you get your own chance to start working on the craft.

Fabulous caves
Located in the centre of Vietnam, Phong Nha National Park is easily accessible for the little ones and get place to explore fabulous cave networks. Truly spectacular cave systems include Paradise Cave and Phong Nha Cave, and these are even accessible for families with children. Paradise Cave is reached by taking a short uphill walk from the foot of the mountains, while Phong Nha Cave is more accessible by boat travelling from Phong Nha town.

The more adventurous treks the explore deeper into the caves and park are more practical for children over 16 years of age. A quite physically demanding tour for active families is the overnight Tu Lan cave trek. This trek is well worth the effort for the virtually deserted landscapes and stunning views. Watch Paradise cave, Phong Nha cave.

Cooking classes
The local Vietnamese cuisine is among the finest in SE Asia, but this doesn’t mean the unadventurous children will be willing to eat it. So, to get the kids more involved, it can benefit to sign up to a cooking class. Most of the major cities and tourist areas have plenty of cooking classes throughout the day. Getting involved is easy and classes include visiting a local market to buy the fresh ingredient, watch a full demonstration, and then have a go at cooking a local dish from scratch. This is a great way to get the fussy children to branch out and be a little more adventurous with what they eat on their travels.

Captivating history
While history and museums may not appeal to the youngest members of the family, Vietnam’s captivating history can still interest the older ones. For instance, a visit to the Vinh Moc Tunnels or Cu Chi Tunnels is certain to appeal when history is brought to life and makes it possible to actually crawl through the underground passages used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. In addition to the fun activities, it can also help the let the family absorb a little bit of history while exploring the best places to visit in Vietnam.

Modes of transport
Many of the simple things like the different modes of transport can be a fun experience for the children. Getting around in Vietnam can become part of the adventure and include cruising the Mekong Delta on a boat, kayaking through Halong Bay, taking an overnight train across country, zipping through Hoi An on a Vespa, a cyclo tour of Hue or cycling around Hoi An in the morning.

Meet exotic animals
A fun and enjoyable wildlife experience can easily make a highlight on the Vietnam family tour. A great place to take the family to encounter the local wildlife is Nam Cat Tien National Park. This national park is easily reached from Ho Chi Minh City. After completing the three-hour drive, you get to explore the park to see rescued primates at the gibbon sanctuary. Also, a short trek to the nearby watering hole gives access to Crocodile Lake where it may be possible to witness the Siamese crocodiles, as well as many other animals that make the lake their home.

Rural experiences
A wonderful part of travelling to Vietnam with kids is the ability to expose them to different cultures and lifestyles. There are many different ways to get immersed in the Vietnamese way of life and one of the most authentic options being an overnight stay in a village homestay. Alternatively, try to get the kids involved with traditional methods, such as farming or other jobs related to land skills.