Southeast Asia Family Journey: Halong Bay and Angkor Wat
About Vietnam - From $2,799.00 USD
From lost temple kingdoms to colorful floating markets and caves dripping with stalactites – Southeast Asia is a dream for adults and kids alike. On this trip, explore the jungle-shrouded ruins of Angkor, catch a water puppet show, learn to make the perfect spring roll and somersault with Cambodian circus performers. Brimming with history and adventure, this unforgettable journey offers discovery at every turn.
Travel Style
National Geographic Family Journeys
Service Level
Upgraded
Physical Grading
3 - Average
What's Included
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Oodles of Noodles, Hoi An
Your G for Good Moment: Kym Viet Local Enterprise Visit, Hanoi
Your G for Good Moment: New Hope Vocational Training Restaurant, Siem Reap
Your Family Journeys Moment: Street Snack Challenge, Hanoi
Made Together Moment: Tra Que Village cooking experience, Hoi An
Junior Explorer's Night: Young Explorers Photo Workshop, Siem Reap
Your Family Journeys Moment: Phare Circus Workshop, Siem Reap. Arrival transfer. Cyclo tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter. Water puppet show. Street snack challenge in Hanoi. Halong Bay overnight cruise. Walking tour of Hoi An Old Town. Tra Que village excursion. Cyclo tour of Ho Chi Minh City. Guided tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels. Guided tour of Angkor Wat with photo challenge and workshop. Internal flights. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
What are the main highlights of this trip?
Take a seat on a cyclo for a tour of Hanoi’s lively Old Quarter, Try some of the oodles of noodles (more than 26 types!) available in the city in this tasty cooking class, Explore Angkor's ancient temples through an interactive photo challenge, capturing your own unique discoveries along the way, Sail past breathtaking scenery, explore hidden caves, and join a sunset party aboard your cruise to learn the art of crafting authentic Vietnamese spring rolls, Learn circus skills, practice beginner acrobatics, and find out what it takes to be a performer at the Phare Circus, Explore a local vegetable garden, try traditional farming techniques, and make and enjoy tasty Vietnamese dishes with a local host
What is the maximum and typical number of participants on this tour?
Small group experience; Max 20
What meals are included in this trip?
11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 4 dinners
What are the modes of transportation on my trip?
Private bus, boat, cyclo, plane, walking.
Is there an extra cost for travelling solo?
We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Odd number adult travellers in your family will be paired in twin accommodation with another adult traveller of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Where will we stay during the trip?
Hotels (10 nts), overnight cruise (1 nt)
Itinerary
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Hanoi
Welcome to Hanoi–your arrival transfer to the hotel is included. Check in and get excited to meet your fellow travellers during a welcome meeting this evening where all families can bond before the Journey ahead.
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Hanoi
Explore Hanoi's historic Old Quarter aboard a traditional cyclo, a three-wheeled bicycle taxi, taking in the lively sights and colorful shops selling everything from wooden handicrafts to fresh fruit juice and traditional candy. Afterward, visit Kym Viet, a G Adventures-supported social enterprise, for a special hands-on stuffed animal crafting workshop. Enjoy lunch together, then set out on a family-friendly Street Snack Challenge through the bustling streets, completing playful missions, learning simple Vietnamese words, and sampling iconic local treats. Cap off the day with a visit to a traditional water puppet theater to watch a centuries-old art form bring popular Vietnamese legends and folktales to life.
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Hanoi/Hạ Long Bay
Travel to Halong Bay and step aboard your overnight cruise. After lunch on board, paddle through the calm waters of Luon Cave by kayak and hike to the viewpoint at Titop Beach. As the sun sets, join a sunset party and learn how to make Vietnamese spring rolls before an overnight stay on the water.
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Hạ Long Bay/Hoi An
This morning, head to the sundeck for a gentle Tai Chi class, a traditional practice of slow, flowing movements and deep breathing, as the sun rises over the bay. Then, explore the chambers of Surg Sot Cave, where giant rock formations and winding passageways twist deep into the hillside. After brunch on board, head back to the airport for your flight to Hoi An, a charming riverside town famous for its lantern-lit lanes. Upon arrival, enjoy a free evening to rest and recharge.
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Hoi An
Travel to the old town for a tour 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 favourite fresh ingredients, and take your haul to the training kitchen to cook up a meal of your own. Explore the streets of Hoi An Ancient Town and set off on a family scavenger hunt, discovering historic buildings and following clues along the way.
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Hoi An
Grab your bike and pedal through the countryside to Tra Que Village, where you'll meet local farmers and learn how fresh herbs and vegetables are grown using traditional methods. Gather ingredients straight from the fields and bring them together during a hands-on cooking class. Enjoy free time in the afternoon to explore Hoi An at your own pace.
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Hoi An/Ho Chi Minh City
Travel to the airport and fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's most populous city and economic hub. Get to know this city on a cyclo tour, exploring the sights, sounds and smells of this buzzing metropolis. Cruise past French colonial buildings and stately monuments, then dive into a local market, where the calls of vendors, the aroma of street food, and the colourful displays dazzle the senses. Finish your first day in the city with a traditional pho dinner.
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Ho Chi Minh City
Today, travel by bike to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a vast network of underground passageways built and used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War. The tunnels connected residents to subterranean schools and hospitals, during the war these tunnels were protected using 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 for a traditional lunch by the river. Spend the remainder of the day exploring at your own pace.
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Ho Chi Minh City/Siem Reap
Catch a flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia, the gateway to the ancient ruins of Angkor. Upon arrival at the hotel, enjoy a free evening to settle in and relax at the hotel or choose to explore Siem Reap on your own.
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Siem Reap
This morning, explore the Angkor temple complex, nestled deep within the Cambodian jungle. Wander hidden passageways and crumbling courtyards where the forest is steadily reclaiming its territory. Grab your camera for the first stage of your photo challenge, capturing the temples from your own unique perspective. Enjoy a delicious lunch at the New Hope Cambodia vocational training restaurant, a G Adventures-supported project that provides hospitality training to unemployed young adults. Return to the hotel to bring your favourite photos to life, turning them into a one-of-a-kind keepsake album with help from your National Geographic Expedition Leader.
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Siem Reap
Hop aboard a boat and explore Tonlé Sap Lake's floating world. Visit Kampong Phluk to see homes, schools, and shops perched high above the water and learn about life in this unique village. This evening, 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 performances. Gather for dinner to celebrate the adventures you've shared as a family.
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Siem Reap
Depart at any time.
What are the mandatory travel insurance requirements for this trip?
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
