Essential Central & Southern Vietnam for Families — 12 Days

Dedicate your morning to discovering the historical symbols of Saigon. Admire the famous Central Post Office with its elegant metal framework designed by Parisian workshops, the exterior of Notre-Dame Cathedral and the sumptuous City Hall (People's Committee Building). Then visit the captivating Museum of Traditional Vietnamese Medicine (FITO), a true treasure trove showcasing ancestral remedies and medicinal roots within a magnificent setting of precious woodwork.

In the afternoon, take the road to the countryside to explore the fascinating site of the Cu Chi tunnels. Both children and adults discover the ingenuity of this immense subterranean city dug into the jungle, with its camouflaged trapdoors, command rooms and smokeless kitchens, offering a life-sized history lesson.

Travel time: approximately 1h30 (50 km one way). Overnight at hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Leave the metropolis to immerse yourself in the aquatic maze of the Mekong Delta. Arriving in Ben Tre, board a traditional boat to navigate the branches of the river shaded by lush water coconut groves. Visit a cottage workshop making coconut milk candy and taste tropical fruits with local residents.

Hop on bicycles or climb aboard a motorized cart (Xe loi) to crisscross the flowering trails of Mo Cay Island, before gliding gently in a small sampan rowed through secret arroyos. In the late afternoon, reach a charming ecolodge in Giong Trom along the Ham Luong River, and take part in a joyful culinary workshop to make and flip the famous crispy Banh Xeo pancakes.

Travel time: approximately 2h30 (90 km). Convivial dinner and overnight at waterside lodge in Giong Trom.

Wake up to the singing of tropical birds and set off on a peaceful bicycle ride through the lush orchards of Oc Island, the largest island on the Ham Luong River. Discover rural life, coconut husking workshops and the stalls of a colorful little local market.

In the afternoon, cross the wide branches of the river toward Tra Vinh, a peaceful city renowned for its Khmer community. Visit the magnificent Ang Pagoda (Angkorajaborey), a masterpiece of ancient Khmer architecture surrounded by centuries-old trees. Then continue toward Can Tho, the vibrant capital of the delta, to settle into your hotel.

Travel time: approximately 3h00 (120 km) with river crossings. Overnight at hotel in Can Tho.

At dawn, board a vessel to experience the magical spectacle of the Cai Rang floating market, the largest in the delta. Admire the ballet of hundreds of boats laden with watermelons, mangoes and pineapples, where each commodity is signaled at the top of a bamboo pole (the cay beo).

At twilight, the last rays of the sun illuminate the ochre ramparts of the citadel and shimmer on the Perfume River. An enchanting immersion into the splendor and poetic melancholy of the golden age of the Nguyen emperors.

Throughout this exceptional day, you enjoy moments of authentic human sharing and contemplative pauses in the heart of preserved nature, revealing all the poetry and generosity of the Vietnamese soul.

A day dedicated to discovering the splendors of the Nguyen dynasty. Cross the moats and monumental gates of the prestigious Imperial City to explore the Palace of Supreme Harmony, the courtyards of the mandarins and the mysterious Purple Forbidden City.

At twilight, the last rays of the sun illuminate the ochre ramparts of the citadel and shimmer on the Perfume River. An enchanting immersion into the splendor and poetic melancholy of the golden age of the Nguyen emperors.

Throughout this exceptional day, you enjoy moments of authentic human sharing and contemplative pauses in the heart of preserved nature, revealing all the poetry and generosity of the Vietnamese soul.

Embark on a peaceful morning cruise on the Perfume River toward the eco-friendly village of Thuy Bieu, renowned for its pomelo trees of uniquely fragrant flavor. Ride along shaded paths by bicycle and participate in the preparation of a family lunch with a local village household.

In the afternoon, discover traditional crafts in the artisan village of Sinh, famous for its folk prints on rice paper, then in the village of Thanh Tien where artisans have shaped delicate paper lotus flowers for four centuries. Children joyfully learn these age-old techniques.

Perfume River cruise, easy cycling and craft workshops. Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Take the scenic road south to reach the historic town of Hoi An. Your route skirts the turquoise waters of Lang Co lagoon before ascending the winding curves of the spectacular Pass of the Ocean Clouds (Hai Van), offering a breathtaking panoramic view over the ocean and Da Nang Bay.

Arrive in Hoi An in early afternoon and check in to your hotel with swimming pool. At the end of the day, stroll on foot through the UNESCO-listed pedestrian alleyways: admire the famous Japanese Covered Bridge, the old wooden merchant houses and the magical glow of thousands of silk lanterns at nightfall.

Travel time: approximately 3h30 (140 km) with scenic stops. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Hop on your bicycles for a cheerful excursion into the surrounding countryside toward the village of Van Lang and the water coconut forest of Bay Mau. Board curious round basket boats (thuyen thung) woven from bamboo to navigate shaded canals and try your hand at crab fishing.

After a tasty lunch with a local family, pedal to the organic market gardening village of Tra Que. Children put on conical hats to participate in traditional farming activities: weeding, balanced watering with double watering cans, and picking fragrant herbs.

Easy bicycle ride, round basket boats and market gardening discovery. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Enjoy two full days in complete freedom to savor the tropical sweetness of Central Vietnam. The golden sand beaches of An Bang and Cua Dai, located just minutes from the ancient town, offer a perfect setting for swimming in warm waters, beach games and relaxation under thatched umbrellas.

For curious families, take the opportunity to cycle freely toward the potters of Thanh Ha village, treat yourselves to a silk lantern workshop or savor the gastronomic specialties of Hoi An (Cao Lau, crispy pancakes and passion fruit ice cream) along the Thu Bon River.

Two free days without guide dedicated to rest and the pleasures of the sea. Overnights at hotel in Hoi An.

Savor a final peaceful morning in Hoi An for your last purchases of silks, spices and handicrafts or a final morning swim. Depending on your departure flight schedule, your private driver ensures your comfortable transfer to Da Nang International Airport.

When night falls, the town transforms into a fairy-tale tableau illuminated by hundreds of lanterns floating on the Thu Bon River. You take time to savor an exceptional tea in an antique merchant house of precious wood.

Throughout this exceptional day, you enjoy moments of authentic human sharing and contemplative pauses in the heart of preserved nature, revealing all the poetry and generosity of the Vietnamese soul.

Depending on flight schedule, you enjoy a final free moment in Hoi An before the private transfer to Da Nang Airport. The team takes care to provide a margin adapted to formalities and traffic conditions.

When night falls, the town transforms into a fairy-tale tableau illuminated by hundreds of lanterns floating on the Thu Bon River. You take time to savor an exceptional tea in an antique merchant house of precious wood.

Throughout this exceptional day, you enjoy moments of authentic human sharing and contemplative pauses in the heart of preserved nature, revealing all the poetry and generosity of the Vietnamese soul.