An Immersive Family Adventure Through Vietnam

Vietnam’s capital Hanoi vibrates with more than 1,000 years of history. Spreading along the western bank of the Red River, the city has dozens of freshwater lakes with tree-lined paths, temples and ancient pagodas.

As you begin your Vietnam family vacation, get to know the city at its heart: the Old Quarter. Each of its narrow streets was historically dedicated to a particular trade. And you can still find stores and markets selling silks, ceramics and dó, a traditional paper made from bark. Along the way, you’ll notice rows of ‘tube houses’ or nha ong – tall, narrow and sometimes brightly coloured buildings dating from the late 19th century.

Food is another highlight, and a fun way to experience the city together. Try Hanoi’s egg coffee – made with whipped egg yolk and condensed milk – at Café Giang, where the recipe was first created. And stop at street food stalls to sample bún chả, a local favourite of grilled pork served in a sweet, tangy broth. Eat while perching on a red plastic stool – ubiquitous around the city.

Halong Bay is a place of unbelievable natural beauty. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, its water appears inky-blue or emerald depending on how the light catches it. And its surface is interrupted by more than 2,000 limestone islands rising in tall towers and cones, clad with rainforest. The area is also known for its four floating villages. Cua Van is the biggest and oldest with boldly coloured interconnecting homes, classrooms and a pearl farm. Located in a sheltered area, the village’s waters remain calm even during busier times. It’s a fascinating way to glimpse a community living on the water.

You’ll sail through this incredible scenery in the most luxurious way possible: on a private charter cruise, one of our favourite highlights of this Vietnam family itinerary. During your trip, family meals – focusing on regional dishes prepared with the freshest local ingredients – come with unparalleled watery views as standard.

The old port town of Hoi An is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 844 protected structures. Motorised vehicles are banned, making it particularly comfortable to explore with young children. Head to the impeccably preserved Old Town for 18th-century Japanese merchant houses, Chinese temples and traditional pagodas.

The culinary scene is equally diverse. Markets, street stalls and restaurants serve food with Japanese, Portuguese, French and Chinese influences. Taste specialities like quảng – flat, chewy noodles topped with meat, fish or quail eggs, finished with broth – and cao lầu, a bowl of pork with rice noodles that are said to be made with water from a tenth-century well.

After dusk, streets and alleyways are softly illuminated by lanterns, handcrafted with bamboo and silk.

Hue is an intriguing blend of dynastic heritage with art deco, French details and modernist architecture. On the banks of the Song Huong, or Perfume River, in central Vietnam, it served as the Imperial City under the country’s last royal dynasty, from 1802 to 1945.

During your stay here, you’ll have time to explore sites built during the Nguyen Dynasty, including royal tombs, theatres and palaces of the old citadel. Visit Thien Mụ Temple, famed for its seven-storey, hilltop pagoda, originally built in 1601. And see the Tomb of Tu Duc, a vast site built before the emperor’s death – though he, and his treasures, were actually interred in a different, secret location.

Gather on Trang Trien Bridge to watch dragon boats drift by. There will also be an opportunity for children to take part in a cultural exchange, and for the whole family to dine with locals in their home.

Sometimes fast-paced and always thrilling, Ho Chi Minh – formerly Saigon – is Vietnam’s most populous city. The city’s oldest building, 18th-century Tan Xa Palace, shares a district with French historical villas, pagodas and modern apartment blocks. Neighbourhoods are surprisingly easy to explore on foot, or by bike, taking in sites such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Opera House.

Cultural highlights abound here. Take in Vietnam’s more recent history at the War Remnants Museum, where kid-friendly exhibits include well-preserved tanks, helicopters and jets. And tour the Cu Chi Tunnels. Just outside the city, they are part of a network of hiding places used by Viet Cong soldiers during combat.

In the evening, head to District 1 for fine-dining restaurants. Ho Thi Ky Food Street is a major street food hub, with around 100 stalls crammed into the alleyway each evening. Or follow your nose to find spots serving bánh mì sandwiches and cơm tấm – a plate of ‘broken’ rice that’s typically eaten with caramelised pork and steamed egg meatloaf.