Chopsticks & Coconuts Family Holiday

• 10 nights hotels, all en suite, one night boat, one night homestay, one night sleeper train
• 13 days sightseeing, boat trips, kayaking and exploration
• Travel by private minibus, boat, bike, train and two internal flights

This trip includes 12 breakfasts, two lunches and three dinners are included. Thanks to the tropical climate, the long coast and the gigantic range of mountains, Vietnam is blessed with numerous varieties of culinary offerings and consequently maintains its reputation as one of the healthiest cuisines in the world that still packs a punch with delicious, fresh and fiery flavours. Vietnamese food relies on fresh fish, vegetables, rice and a whole myriad of verdant herbs and spices; lemongrass, ginger, basil and lime all play an important role in the cuisine. The Chinese and French influence is felt throughout the country where you are just as likely to be offered a Banh Mi (stuffed baguette) as you are a hot steaming bowl of Pho (noodle soup). Each dish is prepared with the Asian principle of Wu Xing in mind (the five elements); meaning that the perfect combination of spicy, sour, bitter, salty and sweet is the ultimate aim. Be sure to also seek out the national beverages; Vietnamese coffee is served iced and sweet with condensed milk, a real sugar and caffeine hit, and beer hoi (local beer, brewed daily) is served on most street corners in the North out of large plastic jugs that are perfect for sharing. Food is cheap in Vietnam and you can generally avoid the spicier food if you wish. Western food is readily available almost everywhere, with the exception of the night in the Mekong Delta. Vegetarian food is widely available, however the offering will be fairly similar in most places. Please advise at time of booking if you have any dietary requirements.

The weather will be hot and humid throughout with temperatures during the day usually 28C-34C (82F-93F). It is only a little cooler at nights.

There is quite a range of seasons between the north and the south: the south up to Hue has a distinct dry season between December to April and then a rainy season from May to November when it tends to come in short heavy bursts with bright sunshine in between. Hanoi is cool in autumn, and even gets chilly between November and February (with a drizzly rain).

There is no ideal time to visit Vietnam; it is quite pleasant at any time of year, though due to the shape of the country it is unlikely that the weather will ever be perfect for the entire duration of any trip.

Please be aware, the Halong Bay boat trip is subject to short notice change if certain adverse weather conditions develop during your trip. These could occur all year round, but especially in monsoon season (from October to April). Boat trips on Halong Bay are governed by the local authorities who are authorised to make such appropriate safety decisions. If your Halong Bay trip is affected by adverse weather, this could either result in a reduced excursion on Halong Bay for your group, or less likely, the need to re-arrange the itinerary if it is not possible at all to go out on Halong Bay. While this is not a frequent occurrence, our local team and leaders are well equipped to handle such situations and have long offered appropriate options to groups in the instances where this may occur.

This trip has been Activity Level 3 (Moderate). It was designed for 13-16 year olds, but is also suitable for 9-12 year olds. 

Our Family Activity Levels are aimed at children in the primary age group, but we are confident it is also suitable for those secondary age range; however, if your child is in this secondary category they may find it a little easier. Please see the Family Activity Levels on our website for further information. When grading our trips we consider multiple factors, such as the pace, the level of activity involved, the amount of time a family will spend travelling and the weather is an important factor too.

This holiday is designed so that you can see the best parts of Vietnam using a mixture of private buses, boats and flights. There is a lot to see in the time you are there, but it is paced so that it doesn't feel too rushed.

Travel time is kept to a minimum in general but there are a few longer drives. There is plenty of time for sightseeing and the trip has numerous stops where we spend two or more nights.

While choosing this trip please note that some of the accommodation will be basic but is clean and tidy. The swimming pools may not be up to western standards.

Locals and other Asian tourists may want to take photos of themselves with your children particularly if they are young, blonde and have blue eyes. You should be prepared for them to do this without asking permission first. You should also be prepared for lots of traffic in the bigger cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, where you will have to relearn crossing the street, as things like zebra crossings are not used as they are in the west.