Southeast Asia Family Journey: Halong Bay and Angkor Wat - 12 Days

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.

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 the tour operator-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.

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.

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.

Travel to the old town for a tour led by guides from the the tour operator-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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 the tour operator-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.

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.

Depart at any time.