Seven million motorbikes, colourful shopfronts, and a cacophony of beeping that you'll soon get used to. Welcome to Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. It’s bright, busy, and brilliant for families – there’s always something happening, and you’re never far from a snack.

Your guide will take you to the Museum of Ethnology, which is nothing like the “don’t touch anything” museums you might be imagining. It’s a great way to understand more about Vietnam’s 53 minority groups, with smart exhibits about everyday life – from farming and festivals to family rituals and funerals. Outside, you can wander through full-size traditional houses reconstructed in the grounds, it's often the bit kids remember most.

Later, head into the Old Quarter (aka the 36 Streets). Historically, each street specialised in one trade – and you can still see traces of that today. Dip into the lanes that catch your eye on your search for souvenirs.

Lan Ha Bay (Halong's slightly quieter sibling bay) translates as ‘descending dragon’ and the area here remains rich with legend. The story goes that a mother dragon swooped down to protect Vietnam from invasion, transforming into the limestone pinnacle islands you see today. Kids love that story – it's not hard to believe yourself when the landscape feels this epic.

You'll cruise overnight, with plenty to do onboard (it varies by boat). Climb up to a karst viewpoint for big bay panoramas, duck into echoey caves, or stay on deck and learn how to roll a proper, crunchy-fresh spring rolls.

Fly down to Ho Chi Minh City and get ready to get competitive! Embark on a treasure hunt through District 1’s most famous market – Ben Thanh. Track down tropical fruits in different colours, fill in the missing words from signs, and solve a few quick puzzles as you chat to stallholders with your guide on hand to help.

The next day, skip the city’s morning traffic and head out by speedboat to the Cu Chi Tunnels. This vast underground network, built during the Vietnam War, is now open to visitors. You’ll hear how Viet Cong soldiers lived, moved, and hid here – and if you’re feeling brave, you can squeeze into a section of tunnel yourself.

Mui Ne is one of our favourite beaches, not only because of its proximity to Ho Chi Minh City, but because it's set up for a proper family beach break. Bucket-and-spade shops for kids to browse, ice cream stands and plenty of restaurants to choose from. For older children, Mui Ne also has several kite-surfing schools for a day or two of lessons. Back at your hotel, there’s pools and kids clubs, as well as spas and yoga for the adults – all the ingredients for making your stay as active or relaxing as you choose.

You're back to full cultural adventure mode in Siem Reap. Start with a photo scavenger hunt around Angkor Thom – hunting down carved gods and demons and finding Bayon’s famous, smiling stone faces (there are 216 of them, so perhaps not all of them....). Then it’s over to Angkor Wat for the big one: a bit of history from your guide, plenty of time to wander, and a few family photos that might make it onto the walls at home.

But there's far more to Cambodia than temples. Its animals, great and small, are attractions in their own right. First, the Kulen Elephant Forest, where you’ll meet the resident elephants in a natural setting and learn what ethical elephant care looks like in real life. Then, say hello to the APOPO HeroRats – genuinely impressive creatures that are sniffing out landmines to help Cambodia move towards being landmine-free by 2030.

And then, there's the grand finale. Zipline through the treetops – a proper final-day thrill, and a great way to see the jungle from an adrenalising angle.