Vietnam Family Multisport
With stunning natural landscapes, millennia of history, exciting cosmopolitan cities, friendly hamlets and a mélange of cultural influences, Vietnam intrigues and delights even the most seasoned travelers. And there's no better way to become acquainted with this vibrant country than by exploring at your own pace, under your own locomotion. Walk past pagodas and temples in old Hanoi, kayak amid labyrinthine limestone outcrops in Halong Bay, bike past vibrant green rice paddies, investigate magnificent historic sites in Hué and stroll through the enchanting city of Hoi An, one of Vietnam's architectural gems. Round out your days of discovery with delicious local cuisine and stays at welcoming hotels.
Day 1 Hanoi
Meet in Hanoi 
During a bicycle rickshaw ride in Hanoi's Old Quarter, discover narrow streets packed with food and flower stalls Explore the bustling village of Ngoc Ha on foot and visit the Dong Nuoc Temple, built between the 10th and 11th centuries.
Days 2-3 Halong Bay
Walk along narrow pathways in ancient villages Board a Vietnamese junk for a journey on Halong Bay, a World Heritage site Kayak to an intriguing series of caves and a temple maintained by boat-dwelling fishermen On Cat Ba Island, stride through broadleaf jungle, home to an endangered species of monkey native to the island.
Day 4 Hanoi
Enjoy an early-morning kayak excursion to a floating fishing village Return to Hanoi, where you're free to explore the "Paris of the Orient" and perhaps take in a museum or traditional water puppet show.
Days 5-6 Hue
Fly to the World Heritage site of Hué, Vietnam's ancient capital Embark on a warm-up ride along a lagoon and through small rural communities Visit the Hué Royal Citadel Dine at the house of a local historian Pedal past villages, pagodas and temples to the Khai Dinh mausoleum before savoring a hot lunch on board a dragon boat.
Days 7-9 Hoi An
Journey to Hoi An, an ancient port town filled with wooden shop houses Join our local guide for a walking tour of the ancient town Head to famed China Beach for a swim in a protected grotto Quiet communities line our biking route to the Cham ruins, a set of tower-temples dating from the 4th to the 13th century Ferry to Cam Kim Island for an idyllic country ride.
A GRACIOUS WELCOME: Casual Inns
Sofitel Plaza Hanoi (2 nights): Guest rooms at this modern hotel have breathtaking views and deluxe amenities - its all-weather swimming pool with retractable roof is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.
Huong Hai Junk (2 nights): Our comfortable boat sails amid the bay's surreal karst formations by day and anchors in a quiet cove at night.
Pilgrimage Village Hotel (2 nights): Colonial-style rooms with outdoor sitting areas and an inviting pool welcome you at this hotel in a country setting.
Life Resort (2 nights): This peaceful hotel, located on the banks of the Do River just steps from Hoi An's Old Town, features a swimming pool.
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Walking 2.4 miles
Day 2
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Walking 3 miles
- Sailing 2 hours
Day 3
- Level 1 3 Route Options Available
- Walking 3.1, 4 miles
- 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
- Sailing 4 hours
- Kayaking 1.5 hours
Day 4
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Kayaking 1.5 hours
Day 5
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Biking 15 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
- Levels 2 to 3 2 Route Options Available
- Biking 27, 35 miles
- 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 7
- Level 1 2 Route Option Available
- Biking 15 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
- Walking Tour 1.5 hours
Day 8
- Levels 1 to 5 3 Route Options Available
- Biking 19, 28, 59 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
- Walking Tour 30 minutes
Day 9
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- Biking 16 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
- Walking Tour of Hoi An
On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with no significant gain or loss in elevation. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.
Trips For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Average Distance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biking | Walking & Hiking | ||
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 mile | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
2008 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
2009 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
2010 DATES
FAMILY TRIPS
- 3/16-24Price: $4398 pp dbl. occ., (+ $800 for sgl. occ.), Internal Air: $170
- 12/21-29Price: $4398 pp dbl. occ., (+ $800 for sgl. occ.), Internal Air: $170
Reserve early for the best available price. Prices may change during the course of the year--if they do change, the best prices are available earlier. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Recommended Kids Ages
Minimum Ages:
Recommended minimum age for the trip: 9 years
Minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 9 years
Minimum age restriction to kayak: 5 years
No burleys or piccolos available on this trip
General Info on Minimum Ages:
We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:
- 12+ cultural appreciation, difficulty of activities and route
- 9+ difficulty of activities and route
- 6+ several long adult dinners; parent may not be able to pull a Burley and/or there may be multiple activity restrictions
- 3+ riding is on bike paths, making it great for young kids; Burley and Piccolos are available; there are few or no activity restrictions; and no long dinners (or we offer alternatives)
Guest Trip Reviews
This was the best trip, hands down, we have ever taken. It was exotic, exciting, busy, informative, fun and very meaningful to us, given our daughter's history (being born in Vietnam.) Our guides helped us to reunite our daughter with the wonderful woman who had helped take care of her when we adopted her in 2001. They seemed truly touched by the experience and seem to be very sincere, caring people. We saw parts of the country and had insights into the lives of local people that we would never had have on our own. It is a trip we will never forget and we are deeply grateful for our guides' expertise and caring.- Walden, NY
With Vietnam changing so quickly, it's a great time to introduce your family to this vibrant country. Pedaling & walking alongside the locals through ancient villages is the only way to become immersed in the culture. For kids, the traditional water puppet theater is a fun way to learn more about Vietnamese traditions and customs. And a meeting with village headmen, who open up centuries-old temples for our private viewing, is sure to be a highlight.- Regional Manager Asia, South Africa & the East Coast