Family tour North Vietnam
The north of Vietnam is particularly attractive for a trip with children. The temperatures are milder than in the far south, and the landscape offers a lot of variety. Travel distances remain limited, so there is time for activities and relaxation every day.
Searching for animals
The different landscapes you see continue to surprise, and there are always exciting things to discover. In the dark with a flashlight look for nocturnal animals, picnic in a forest where you can hear noisy gibbons, a cruise on the sea and then a kayak into a cave... They are educational, but above all extremely fun adventures.
Cycling through villages and a homestay
Life in rural areas can be simple, it is pure, authentic and welcoming. Walking or cycling through villages and fields, the contact is quickly made. Perhaps your children will be invited to a ball game, and then proudly tell them what Vietnamese words they have learned. Or who knows, you might suddenly find yourself in a rice field, and you will learn how to evict the young rice plants. During a homestay you will get even closer to everyday life. You can literally take a look at the local cuisine, or even help to make noodles. There is no fixed program, but it is the unpredictability that makes the experience intense. In the evening, when the lights go out and the silence descends over the village, suddenly comes the realization: you are experiencing the real Vietnam.
Following this trip you can travel to the middle or south of Vietnam, for a stay in a benevolent beachside resort. There are several luxury resorts with excellent facilities, also for children of all ages.
Tips & tops Family Trip North Vietnam:
- The Ethnological Museum in Hanoi shows how many different peoples live in Vietnam, and how they live. It is a good preparation, because you will meet some ethnic groups yourself.
- During the puppet show, you'll learn entertainingly about rural life, and vietnam's fascinating history.
- In Bat Trang, children grow up with pottery, it's a real family craft. With an ox cart you drive through the village, and in the workshops you can paint a pot or bowl by hand.
- In Ky Son, you can make your own lunch during a Vietnamese cooking workshop! Step by step everything is done, it's going to be a delicious meal.
- A bike ride through the villages near Ky Son is full of surprising encounters. People would like to invite you over for a cup of tea, and they will tell you about their work on the land. If you want, you can lend a hand! Lunch is served in a traditional house.
- At Mai Chau, the landscape is idyllic and a bit bizarre, with strange karst formations rising from the rice paddies. The people you meet belong to the Thai people. You spend the night here in a traditional pile house.
- Cuc Phong National Park is not only beautiful, it has an exceptionally diverse flora and fauna. At the rescue centre for primates and turtles you can already see some animals, but even more exciting is to go looking for monkeys and other animals in the tropical forest. This can even be done during an evening walk. Try to catch the nocturnal animals in the light of your flashlight!
- You'll take your bike to Lake Yen Quang, and then hop on a kayak. On the lake you can see fishermen at work.
- In the 10th and 11th centuries, Hoa Lu was the capital of Vietnam. The imperial temples and the citadel have remained largely intact.
- A boat trip through the Van Long Nature Reserve is almost a fairy tale, so beautiful! The wet rice paddies are lined by karst mountains, and along the way you can spot many bird species.
- Just as beautiful are the karst formations in the Gulf of Tonkin. On a multi-day cruise you will see several bays, including the famous Ha Long Bay. Along the way you can visit caves by kayak, and regularly you can take a dip in the sea.
- During the cruise, make a long stop on the Cat Ba Island. In the rainforest you will look for the rare long hours, which only occur here. The forest is chirping, chirping, rustling and scratching... they are sounds that will stay with you.
