North Vietnam Heritage Tour for Families

What to expect on this itinerary
Hanoi captures the range of cultural influences that shine throughout Northern Vietnam, Mai Chau shares tasteful vistas of the luscious countryside, and Bai Tu Long Bay offers an emerald waterscape that is off the beaten path. These are but a few of the enchanting destinations that you and your family will appreciate during your fun-filled excursion across the unspoiled expanse of Northern Vietnam. We have tailor-made this tour to cater to families of all ages, ensuring that every experience is as enthralling as it is educational. Capture lifelong moments together on this 14-day excursion through Northern Vietnam as you celebrate the alluring Vietnamese culture and bucolic environmental sights.
Customizable Itinerary
Hanoi – Where French Influence Stands the Test of Time
Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi oozes cultural highlights and offers endless educational experiences, which are set amidst a cityscape that is ablaze with spirit. The streets, which stretch outwards in all directions, cover its broad borders, and among them, you will immerse yourselves in its ever-present vivacity. From sunup to sundown, street-side vendors flicker with verve, and you will negotiate your way through their colorful exhibits and fragrant food stalls as you begin to acclimatize to your surroundings. In the evening, after you have experienced your first taste of exquisite traditional Vietnamese cuisine, you will retreat to your luxurious 5-star accommodation that overlooks the effervescent expanse of Hanoi.
You will be embraced by pleasant chaos the following morning in an authentic Vietnamese market where wafts of delightful delicacies and aromas of freshly squeezed juices will awaken your senses. With bellies full of sumptuous treats, you will escape the hustle to Hanoi’s quaint Old Quarter, which is a humble destination of French-colonial influence that offers a glimpse into ancient traditions that remain prevalent to this day. Ngoc Son Temple is flanked by the peaceful waters of Hoan Kiem Lake, and its 18th-century design still holds up as one of the most endearing sights within the Old Quarter. An elaborate wooden bridge provides access over the lake to this pagoda that houses time-honored artifacts of Vietnam’s past. The bright scarlet doors will welcome your family, and the history will unravel itself from the pagoda’s decorated walls and striking statues that will beckon you to take photos. Old Quarter’s charm will continue to radiate from the neo-Gothic walls of its Notre Dame-inspired, Roman Catholic Church. Outside of the church, you will witness its imposing twin bell towers, and inside, you will marvel at vivid stained-glass murals in addition to its meticulous altar. You will marvel at all of this while uncovering the dramatic French-Vietnamese heritage that leads to the construction of spiritual buildings such as this church.
You will be spoiled for choice the following morning with a collection of world-class French cafes in the heart of Hanoi, where award-winning chefs have a flair for the finer aspects of Vietnamese cuisine. You will then lose yourselves in the phenomenal fusion flavors as you watch your chef curate a delicious meal from the comfort of your charming table while connecting with one another about the magical moments that you have shared so far.
What's Included:
Ninh Binh – Verdant Fields, Golden Paddies, and Emerald Mountains
Mai Chau – Hilltop Meals with the Hmong People
Sapa – Entrancing Treks across the Tonkinese Alps
Bai Tu Long Bay – Explore a Waterscape of Grand Natural Design
Hoi An – A Distinct Destination of Diverse Cultural Influence
Trip Highlights
- Indulge in a visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter to discover the city’s prominent French influence at pivotal landmarks such as Ngoc Son Temple and the Notre Dame-inspired Roman Catholic Church
- Delight in the phenomenal flavors of Vietnamese fusion cuisine at an award-winning restaurant in Hanoi
- Explore the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex UNESCO World Heritage Site and witness the ornate pagodas within archaic rock formations for which the site is famous
- Experience being welcomed into the home of a traditional Hmong family at the ethnic Xa Linh Village that is perched atop the verdant peaks of Mai Chau
- Encounter the simplistic beauty of Sapa as you venture to the renowned Silver Waterfalls and traverse the golden rice paddies of the region
- Embark on a cruise that showcases the unspoiled splendor of Bai Tu Long Bay and captures the surreal waterscape in all its majesty
- Immerse yourselves in the cultural diversity of Hoi An as you tour the ethereal Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation and Japanese Covered Bridge
Starting Price
$11,900 per person (excluding international flights)
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 86 reviews
Our trip to Vietnam was nothing short of exceptional, and it stands out as one of the most well-organized and enjoyable travel experiences we’ve ever had. From start to finish, every detail was thoughtfully arranged, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty, culture, and history of the country without any stress or logistical concerns.
The journey began in Hanoi, where we were immediately impressed by the seamless airport pick-up and smooth transfer to our hotel. The accommodation was ideally located—comfortable, clean, and perfectly situated for exploring the Old Quarter. Guided tours were expertly paced, balancing iconic highlights with quieter moments that let us absorb the rhythm of daily life. Our guide was knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly passionate about Vietnam’s history and culture.
From Hanoi, we traveled to Ha Long Bay, and this portion of the trip was truly unforgettable. Transportation was punctual and comfortable, and boarding the cruise was effortless. The overnight cruise itself exceeded expectations: elegant cabins, excellent service, and breathtaking views of the limestone karsts rising from emerald waters. Activities such as kayaking and cave visits were well coordinated, never rushed, and thoughtfully timed to avoid crowds. Meals on board were outstanding and added to the overall sense of luxury and relaxation.
Next, we ventured to Ninh Binh, often called “Ha Long Bay on land,” and it was a highlight of the itinerary. The scenic drive was smooth and our accommodations offered a peaceful retreat surrounded by dramatic landscapes. Boat rides through the rice paddies and towering cliffs were serene and magical. Again, the logistics were flawless—clear schedules, attentive guides, and effortless transitions between activities.
Our journey continued south to Hue and Hoi An, with flights and transfers handled seamlessly. In Hue, the historical sites were presented in a way that made Vietnam’s imperial past come alive. The hotel was elegant and restful, perfectly complementing the city’s reflective atmosphere. Hoi An, with its lantern-lit streets and charming architecture, was a dream. The accommodation here was particularly memorable—beautifully designed, centrally located, and paired with exceptional service. Tailoring experiences, cycling excursions, and free time were all balanced perfectly.
What truly set this trip apart was the level of organization. Every transfer, hotel check-in, tour, and meal arrangement was smooth and stress-free. We never once had to worry about timing, transportation, or communication. The attention to detail and professionalism of the tour arrangements allowed us to focus entirely on enjoying Vietnam’s incredible scenery, cuisine, and culture.
In summary, this Vietnam trip—from Hanoi and Ha Long Bay to Ninh Binh, Hue, and Hoi An—was flawlessly executed. Exceptional planning, seamless transport, high-quality accommodations, and attentive guides made it an outstanding travel experience. We would wholeheartedly recommend this itinerary to anyone seeking a comprehensive, comfortable, and deeply rewarding journey through Vietnam.
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Everything worked beautifully from a scheduling point of view. The timing was perfect and the guides were always on time, from the airport pick-up to when they planned to pick us up at the hotels. The hotels were absolutely top-notch. We loved all of them. We loved the breakfasts in all of them. We did eat dinner at a couple and mostly it was great. The dinner at our hotel in Dalat was not so good, but their breakfast was exceptional. We also ate dinner at our restaurant and found that to be wonderful.
We loved all of our guides. They were very informative and were able to tell us about the history of the area where they worked. They also helped us with customs and what was acceptable and what wasn't. The guides had understandable English and when we couldn't understand something, they were willing to help us.
We loved Dalat, Hue, Hanoi, and Ha Long Bay. We found Hoi An to be too touristy and the people in the shops were very pushy in trying to get a sale. That was true of some very nice tailor shops and souvenir shops in Old Town. When we went to see old homes and had a tour through them, we were surprised to see we were led into the back of the building where they would be selling souvenirs and we would be pressed to buy.
We thoroughly enjoyed the boat trip with our guide. We enjoyed sitting and talking with him while we ate his wife's delicious dinner.
We heard about an outdoor show at a theme park from other people. It wasn't included in our trip, but we think it should have been. It was a fantastic production and very informative. We would have liked that more than a second trip to Old Town.
We also loved the cooking class. We liked the demonstrations and the humor of the chef, and the tour around the market before the class.
We loved the cruise at Ha Long Bay and thought the food and everything on our cruise was wonderful. We would have liked to take the kayaking option, but the cruise operators felt the weather wasn't conducive to that event. Other cruises had their kayakers out on the water.
We used the final day in Hanoi to eat bun cha at a restaurant in Hanoi where President Obama ate with Anthony Bourdain, and went to a prisoner-of-war camp for US pilots during the Vietnam War. Both of those were suggestions from our guide, who was not with us that final day. He was our guide and, although it is very difficult to choose a favorite guide, he would probably be it. He was very helpful to us after an ATM ate our credit card. We went to the bank and he spoke with them on our behalf. He allowed himself to be the contact when they located the card after the weekend. We were so impressed with him. It might be helpful, if someone has a spare day in Hanoi, to suggest some other things available. We could walk to the prisoner-of-war camp and the restaurant, so it was easy to do without a guide.
We did not like the water puppet show in the private house. We would have preferred to see the real show in Hanoi. The water smelled in the house and although the puppeteer was probably very skillful, it was not a professional production.
Those are some suggestions from our trip. Our overall assessment is that it was excellent. Zicasso’s travel specialist did great work accommodating our needs and making the schedule work. We would encourage others to take the same trip.
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Zicasso’s travel agency worked patiently with us over several months to organize a perfect four-country tour through Indochina, doing exactly what we asked, including a Khmer cooking class with a local chef.
We were met on arrival in each county by an experienced English-speaking guide who was well-versed in the history, geography, and culture of each location, and they were just delightful people too. They took us to rural villages and through urban mazes to get a close look at the daily life of the citizens. We chatted with farmers in the field and had meals in local homes. Our agency booked amazing hotels for each stop, from an eco-lodge in the mountains of Vietnam to a spectacular seaside resort in Thailand.
We had contact names and numbers for agency representatives in each country. They were incredibly responsive, even after hours, when we had a small medical issue. They gave us a completely seamless experience from arrival to departure, with no wasted time. Vacation time is very precious, so we prefer to work with professionals who know the area intimately and take the time to understand our objectives rather than pushing a canned itinerary.
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Zicasso's tour company did a fabulous job arranging our 10-night trip to Vietnam.
We visited Vietnam from south to north, starting in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and the Mekong River, then to Hội An and Huế, and finally to Hanoi and Hạ Long Bay.
At each location, the travel company provided us with very knowledgeable local guides who taught us the history and the culture of the area, which was our main ask.
The guides and our coordinator were professional and fun, and we enjoyed our time with the guides as much as we enjoyed the beautiful country.
The coordinator even met us at our hotel in Hanoi to make sure we were well taken care of.
We would use this travel company in the future.
Thank you.
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We used Zicasso for the third time and, once again, were not disappointed. We went to Thailand and Vietnam. Our agent helped design our trip and was absolutely wonderful. From hotel to excursion options, he helped us to tailor the trip to exactly what we wanted. He was always available and kept checking on us throughout our trip.
As far as the actual trip, everything was amazing. Our tour guides were such wonderful people who were not only immensely kind, but also so knowledgeable, filling us in on so much of the history of Thailand. We were met at every destination with private transfers that made the trip so effortless. For any minor hiccups (of which there were next to none), all we had to do was contact our agent and his team took care of it immediately. With their assistance, we were able to focus on enjoying our vacation without any stress at all.
In Vietnam, we were met by a guide in Hanoi, yet another wonderful tour guide who made sure our every need was met and who also provided us a local’s perspective on Vietnam’s history and culture. In Hoi An, our guide was very nice and provided amazing recommendations for places to eat. Our expeditions were all wonderful experiences and our only regret was not being able to stay longer.
Zicasso has only given us wonderful experiences on the trips we have planned using their services. We are clearly repeat customers and will continue to be so. We can’t wait for our next trip with Zicasso!
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We traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia from May 8 to 22, 2025. This was my fifth trip through Zicasso. As expected, the itinerary was excellent and exactly what we were looking for. I did double my budget from what I initially sent to Zicasso.
All of the lodging selections were outstanding. Along with the tours of the Ho Chi Minh complex, Hue Imperial City, the Angkor Wat complex, and numerous other temples and pagodas, we experienced a cable car ride to a mountain summit, a walk through an ethnic village, a water puppet show, a Cambodian circus, a Vietnamese cooking class, an evening lantern boat ride in Hoi An, and dinner in one of the top 50 restaurants in Asia. The water puppets are an ancient Vietnamese art (11th century) and the show was extraordinary.
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