Vietnam Family Tour

Xuan La Craft Village & Hanoi City Highlights

In the morning, you will be driven for an hour through the lush countryside which surrounds Hanoi to the craft village of Xuan La, famous for its ‘to he’ figurines. Using cooked rice flour dough and natural colourings, the local villagers here deftly create these whimsical figurines mounted on sticks which mimic everything from Vietnamese folk heroes to modern-day cartoon characters. The precise recipe for this rice flour ‘clay’ is a closely guarded secret by the approximate 300 artisans who maintain this traditional craft. Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll tour this charming village and meet a well-known ‘to he’ artisan to observe the process of making these delightful figurines before having the opportunity to try your hand at creating your very own.

During the afternoon, you’ll enjoy a tour of Hanoi, often referred to as the ‘Paris of the East’ for its yellow-ochre French colonial architecture, tree-lined boulevards and picturesque lakes. The tour includes a visit to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first national university which was built in the 11th century and is an excellent example of traditional Vietnamese architecture. You’ll also stop off at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, which offers a broad insight into the people of Vietnam – including the country’s 54 ethnic groups – through the lens of women’s topics. The tour concludes with a walking tour through Hanoi’s frenetic yet photogenic Old Quarter, where each street is named after the goods originally sold here, including everything from silk to silver. Explore this stimulating maze of backstreets fronted by narrow houses known as ‘tunnel’ or ’tube houses’ and soak in the eclectic atmosphere of Hanoi’s historical heart.


Accommodation:

Transfer to Hoi An via Da Nang

You’ll disembark your cruise at approximately midday and meet your driver-guide at the pier before transferring to Hanoi’s airport for your scheduled flight to Da Nang, a city on Vietnam’s central coastline.

After landing in Da Nang, you will be driven to the beautiful historic city of Hoi An, a charming, centuries-old trading port brimming with an eclectic mix of cultural influences including Vietnamese, French and Chinese.


Accommodation: Wyndham Hoi An Royal Beachfront Resort & Villas.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

At Leisure

The day is yours to spend at leisure in Hoi An, giving you extra opportunity to immerse yourselves in this historic port city’s enchanting atmosphere.


Accommodation: Wyndham Hoi An Royal Beachfront Resort & Villas.

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Cu Chi Tunnels & City Highlights Tour

A two-hour drive northwest of Ho Chi Minh City lie the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an immense network of labyrinthine, connecting underground tunnels that were of major strategic import for the Viet Cong during both the Vietnam War and their earlier fight against Vietnam’s French colonialists. Established in 1948 to protect Viet Cong guerillas from French air and ground sweeps, this innovative tunnel system also served as living quarters, communication and supply routes and housed hospitals plus food and weapon caches. Touring these underground compounds, you will gain a detailed understanding and appreciation of the tunnels as well as an insight into the hardships and fierce resilience of the Viet Cong against their adversaries.

With over eight million inhabitants and four million motorbikes, Ho Chi Minh City is truly a city that never sleeps. Despite its modernity, the city maintains a strong link to Vietnam’s past and a city tour will allow you to discover some of its most notable historic landmarks. These include the elaborate, Romanesque-style Notre Dame Cathedral, whose construction was completed by the French colonialists in 1880. You’ll also visit the Central Post Office, built in 1891, which is another stunning example of the city’s French colonial architecture. The head to the former Presidential Palace, the headquarters of the Saigon government during the Vietnam-America War. You’ll then go to the War Remnants Museum, which gives a vivid perspective of the war with America through the eyes of the Vietnamese. Afterwards, you’ll experience Ho Chi Minh City’s famed street coffee culture as your guide provides a brief language lesson as well as insights into the daily life of the city’s residents.


Accommodation:

INCLUDES : Breakfast

Depart Ho Chi Minh City

At a pre-arranged time, you will meet your guide and be transferred to the airport, where you will board your onward flight.

INCLUDES : Breakfast