Southeast Asia Family Journey: Vietnam to Cambodia

Welcome to Hanoi–your arrival transfer to the hotel is included. Check in and get excited to meet your fellow travelers during a welcome meeting this evening where all families can bond before the Journey ahead.

TRANSPORT: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

ACTIVITY: The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

Explore Hanoi’s vibrant old quarter on a traditional cyclo—a three-wheel bicycle taxi! Cruise past shops selling everything from wooden handicrafts to fresh fruit juice and traditional candy, and capture the neighborhood’s lively vibe on camera. Then hop off to watch a delightful water puppet show—a centuries-old storytelling technique that recounts popular Vietnamese legends and folktales.

ACTIVITY: Take a seat on a cyclo for a tour of Hanoi’s lively Old Quarter. Let the driver navigate through the bustling streets and start taking some photos or just use the tour to help get familiar with the area.

ACTIVITY: Watch a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show with beautiful live music and intricate puppets dancing in a water stage. The price listed above is for a VIP seat.

Head south to the ancient Vietnamese capital of Hoa Lu, and get immersed in a fertile landscape of emerald rice fields and towering karst mountains. Step foot in the surviving temples of the Dinh and Le dynasties while learning about the feudal history of the country. After lunch in Tam Coc, set sail on a traditional sampan, or bamboo boat, down the Ngo Dong River. Float through verdant jungle and drift past impressive stalactites in a trio of spectacular caves. Continue to Ninh Binh for an evening at leisure.

ACTIVITY: MORNING Enjoy a visit to the ancient temples of kings Dinh and Le and learn about the history of feudalism in Vietnam. Take some pictures and soak in the scenery.

ACTIVITY: AFTERNOON On the calm waters of the Ngo Dong, board a rattan boat made from bamboo. Visit some caves and enjoy the limestone mountain scenery along the riverside. Try your hand at rowing.

TRANSPORT: Enjoy a scenic ride from Hanoi to Ninh Binh with stops in Hoa Lu and Tam Coc along the way.

Return to Tam Coc and explore the surrounding countryside by bicycle. Witness local life as you pedal past farms, venture through serene Thung Nang (aka Sunshine Valley), and marvel at the intricate Buddhist pagodas of Bich Dong cave. Head to a local restaurant for a hands-on experience learning to make Vietnamese sweet potato chips. Later, enjoy a free evening at the hotel to relax in the pool or spa, or explore the streets of Ninh Binh on your own.

ACTIVITY: Hop on a bike and head out into the flat, scenic locale of Thung Nang. Ride about 5km past limestone karsts and rice paddies, visiting a pagoda cave. Continue on for another 4km for a hands-on cooking demonstration and lunch at a local restaurant.

FREE TIME: EVENING Enjoy some free time around Ninh Binh, with time to relax at the hotel pool or book a spa service.

This morning, take in the scenery en route to Bat Trang, a centuries-old ceramics village where you can try your hand at making pottery under the guidance of a local craftsman. Then transfer to the airport and catch a flight to Hue, situated on the banks of the picturesque Perfume River. Despite being badly damaged during the Vietnam War, this former capital city retains much of its imperial splendor. Spend the evening at your hotel, or walk along the river for a glimpse of some of the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage sites we’ll dive into the following day.

ACTIVITY: Speak to a local artist and learn how to make pottery on a wheel.

TRANSPORT: Take a private vehicle to the airport for your flight to Hue. Stop at Bat Trang Pottery Village along the way.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

Today, we venture into Hue’s grand citadel, guarded by a deep moat and imposing stone walls. Wander opulent palaces and ornate gardens, and hear dramatic stories of former royal inhabitants from your guide. Then venture to the Forbidden Purple City—modeled after Beijing’s Forbidden City—a fortified complex where the ruling emperor once lived. This city-within-a-city even has its own moat! Later, head to the countryside, dotted with rice paddies and pagodas. Have lunch at a Buddhist nunnery, then drive to Hoi An via the spectacular Hai Van Pass, winding across the hilly coast of the South China Sea.

Hue is a peaceful central city that has a fascinating history, beginning with its ancient Cham origins, to becoming the capital of Vietnam until 1945, and the site of one of the bloodiest and longest battles of the Vietnam War in 1968. Today Hue is regarded as the cultural and spiritual capital of the country and has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site.

ACTIVITY: Tour this one-time capital city and UNESCO World Heritage site. See the walled fortress and former palace, which has many palaces, gateways, courtyards, and gardens to explore. The Forbidden Purple City (modelled on China's Forbidden City) inside the citadel was once home to the imperial family and was significantly damaged during the Vietnam War.

ACTIVITY: Visit a nunnery and enjoy a leisurely lunch following the traditions of Buddhist cuisine, which features fresh, local produce and fermented or preserved ingredients. Today, we'll sample a set menu of six to seven dishes, such as pumpkin soup with mushroom, tofu and green beans; crispy noodles with rice crackers; fresh spring rolls with soy sauce; steamed rice with eggplant and green beans; fried rolls with potato curry; and bread with potatoes, carrots and onion. (Please note: the menu is seasonal and may vary from what is mentioned above.)

TRANSPORT: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

ACTIVITY: Drive through the spectacular Hai Van Pass, a 20km stretch of road that represents the division between northern and southern Vietnam, and is also one of the country's highest points at 500m above sea level. In Vietnamese, Hai Van roughly translates to "sea of clouds" and it's easy to see why. As your vehicle winds through the mountain roads, you'll see misty peaks rise above the South China Sea, with glimpses of pristine beaches, forests and the cityscape of Da Nang along the way.

Discover the enchanting port town of Hoi An, which thrived between the 15th and 19th centuries. Delve into the city’s World Heritage–listed old town, strolling streets strung with paper lanterns and navigating a maze of temples and tailor shops. Visit one of the town tailors to get measured for a custom-made shirt; then travel to a nearby factory to see how your piece of clothing is produced!

Declared a World Heritage site, the architecture of Hoi An is being beautifully restored and preserved. It's also a shopping mecca, with much to browse over and buy. Choose from original paintings, handcrafted woodwork, ceramics, embroidery, lanterns and more. Hoi An has also become famous for its tailoring - there is a huge variety of fabrics to choose from.

ACTIVITY: Stroll through the narrow winding streets of Hoi An’s old town to see Chinese assembly halls, ancestral homes, The Japanese Covered Bridge, and well-preserved pagodas on this self-guided tour. Opt to try local delicacies and fusion food at one of the restaurants for which Hoi An is becoming famous.

ACTIVITY: Visit the world-famous tailoring section of the ancient city of Hoi An and have a shirt made to the exact proportions of your body. First, your measurements are taken in the store. Then you'll travel to a nearby factory to witness how quickly a custom shirt gets made.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore this historic town.

Return to the old town for a fun-filled noodle tour! The tour is led by guides from the G Adventures–supported Oodles of Noodles program, which trains local youth in the culinary arts. Taste your way through different kinds of noodles at a food market; pick out your favorite fresh ingredients; and take your haul to the Oodles of Noodles training kitchen, where we’ll cook up a delectable storm. Later, set out on a leisurely bike ride through the Hoi An countryside, then float down to a nearby farming village in a traditional basket boat.ACTIVITY: Take a walking tour of a Hoi An local market led by youths who have come to Oodles of Noodles, a G Adventures-supported program, to be trained in the culinary arts. This excursion will empower the kitchen youth to lead insider noodle tours in Hoi An. There are currently over 26 types of noodles in this city alone and we will go to the market with two students and their trainer, learn about the ingredients at the market, and do a tasting of the different noodles while supporting local small women enterprises. We then pick the ingredients and return with our youth guides to the training kitchen where you will learn to cook and prepare noodles. After we enjoy our noodles for lunch, watch a video to learn more about the organization.ACTIVITY: Try some of the oodles of noodles (more than 26 types!) available in the city in this tasty cooking class. Run by our G for Good partners, STREETS International, this class was developed exclusively for G Adventures. Former street youth that are part of this hospitality training program, will help you prepare and cook a number of different types of noodles. This program helps these youth practice their English, increasing their skill-set and opportunities available to them in the tourism industry. Enjoy your yummy creations while learning more about the local cuisine and this initiative which empowers street youth through skills and employment training.ACTIVITY: Enjoy a leisurely bike ride through the Hoi An countryside.ACTIVITY: Travel along canals dotted with floating water coconuts in a traditional Vietnamese basket boat.

Transfer to the airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s most populous city and economic hub. Get to know this buzzing metropolis—still commonly referred to as Saigon—on a cyclo tour. Cruise past French colonial buildings and stately monuments; then launch into a frenetic market, where the calls of vendors, the smells of street food, and the fascinating assortment of wares dazzles the senses.

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, is a city of bright neon lights, endless shopping and trendy cafes. Its wide tree-lined boulevards reflect its French heritage, and towering skyscrapers announce it has landed squarely in the 21st Century. As a contrast to this modern backdrop is the chaotic traffic of swarming motorbikes which are generally overloaded or carrying multiple passengers. This is people watching at its best.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

ACTIVITY: Take a city tour on a cyclo (cycle rickshaw) – a great way to absorb the sights, sounds, and smells of Ho Chi Minh City while keeping your hands free for that camera action.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Enjoy a free afternoon exploring this bustling city.

Today, we descend into the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels, a vast network of underground passageways built and used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The tunnels connected the residents with subterranean schools and hospitals, and included booby traps smeared with poisonous concoctions to injure enemy soldiers. Try the local cassava root, which sustained Viet Cong soldiers for years, and emerge from the bunkers to enjoy a traditional lunch by the river.

TRANSPORT: Hop in a speedboat for a journey down the river.

ACTIVITY: Take a guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex network of tunnels that the Viet Cong lived in to protect themselves from opposing forces during the Vietnam War. Try crawling through some of the tunnels (if you’re not claustrophobic). These tunnels stored ammunition, had underground hospitals, and served as a hidden base for attacking allied forces.

TRANSPORT: Hop in a speedboat for a journey down the river.

FREE TIME: AFTERNOON Enjoy a free afternoon exploring this bustling city.

Catch a flight to Siem Reap in Cambodia, gateway to the magnificent ruins of Angkor. This evening, we enjoy a delicious Khmer meal at the New Hope Cambodia vocational training restaurant, an initiative spearheaded by G Adventures. The restaurant provides hospitality training to unemployed young adults, and also funds a free community school and a health program.

TRANSPORT: Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy a traditional meal of Khmer food at the New Hope Vocational Training Restaurant, an initiative kickstarted by G Adventures. Providing skill-building opportunities to marginalized community members, the project also funds the adjacent free community school and health centre. Visit the restaurant run by locals and see how the New Hope project has supported positive change in the community.

Who’s ready for a jungle adventure? This morning, we’ll explore the ancient Angkor temple complex, nestled deep within the Cambodian jungle. Discover hidden passageways and crumbling courtyards where the forest is rapidly reclaiming its territory. Later, brush up your acrobatic skills at a workshop with Phare, a Cambodian circus and social enterprise that employs underprivileged youth. Tumble and somersault to your heart’s content; then watch and photograph one of Phare’s amazing performances. Celebrate your unforgettable journey at a farewell dinner tonight.

ACTIVITY: Enjoy a tour of the impressive ancient ruins with a local guide. Explore magnificent Angkor Wat temple--Visit the enigmatic faces of Bayon within the walled city of Angkor Thom, and tour Ta Prohm (aka the "Tomb Raider" temple), which is slowly being swallowed by the jungle.

ACTIVITY: Join the talented performers of Phare Circus for a workshop. After a thorough warm-up, learn some circus basics and fun beginner acrobatics.

Depart at any time.

ACTIVITY: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.