hanhpham

Vietnam is a fantastic family friendly destination.  With its chaotic cities, majestic bays, peaceful countryside, stunning beaches and exotic waterways your family will be mesmerized by the variety of places to visit.

I recently took my family on a three week adventure from the north of Vietnam down to the tip of the south.  Whilst we didn’t get to see everything in this trip, we certainly managed to see the main highlights of Vietnam.  3 weeks travelling through Vietnam is an ideal time travelling with a young family as it gives you plenty of down time to relax as well.

A fantastic Vietnam Itinerary by Thrifty Family Travels

Hanoi

Hanoi – by Thrifty Family Travels

We arrived in the chaotic city of Hanoi where we spent 4 nights in the Old Quarter.

The Old Quarter is full of life. As soon as you arrive, your senses come alive.  You are bombarded with the sounds of the traffic, motorbikes, and cars continually beeping their horns.  Your eyes are drawn to the fabulously bright colours of the French influenced buildings, as well as the colourful fruits and vegetables that fill the little stalls that spill onto the pavements.

During our stay in Hanoi we did a food tour with Hanoi Street Food Tours, a city tour with Hanoi Kids, a cyclo tour around town and lots of exploring on our own.  Other activities and attractions include:

• Full day Tour of Hoa Lu and Tam Coc
• Water Puppet Show
• City Cyclo Tour
• Ho Chi Minh Complex
• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum
• The Temple of Literature and Museum of Ethnology
• Hoan Kiem Lake
• French Quarter
• Perfume Pagoda Day Tour
• Bai Dinh Pagoda and Trang An Eco-Tourism Complex

I’d recommend staying in the Old Quarter where there is plenty of great budget hotels.  We stayed at the Real Hanoi Hotel which is in a very central location.

Halong Bay

Halong Bay – by Thrifty Family Travels

After a few days in Hanoi, we arranged an overnight cruise on Halong Bay.

Located 4 hours from Hanoi, Halong […]

India is the land of culture diversity, colours, and rich heritage. Visiting the vast country like India is all about discovering yourself. India has so many to offer to its guests, giving you enough reasons to come, enjoy and relax for a memorable holiday of life. We have compiled best five reasons why you should start packing your bags for India.

                                                 Below 5 reasons to visit India right now

#1: Country of UNESCO heritage sites

As per official UNESCO.org site, India is the home of 35 properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. These lists have 27 cultural, 7 Natural and one under mixed category. The list itself is sufficient to welcome travellers who love to see the vast diversity of India. The capital city Delhi host two cultural heritage site. 1) Qutub Minar 2) Red Fort. Do refer the comprehensive guide on things to do in Delhi before you start your journey.

#2: Country of endangered one horn Rhino

Only 3555 one horn Rhino is left in the wild (as per 2015 WWF). If you are the one who loves to see animals in their original habitat, Kaziranga National Park in the Assam state of India will give you the lifetime opportunity. Royal couple Kate and Prince William went on the jungle safari at Kaziranga National Park. When in the park we highly recommend taking the elephant safari. The safari is surely going to give the best moment of your life. We recommend reading our guide on Kaziranga National Park.

#3: Country of Nature wonders and changing Landscapes

A very diverse, agile and vibrant landscape, flora and fauna and that is what exactly is India to you. From mighty Himalaya in the north to the rough Indian Ocean to the south. The East India will welcome you with her hilly and challenging […]

The Republic of India, which lies across the Tropic of Cancer, comprises most of the Indian sub-continent. India is the largest democracy in the world, the seventh largest country by area, with the second largest population. Located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, it is bound by Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. The Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal border its coastline. Being a sub-continent India offers lots of options for tourists to roam around. If you are planning a trip to India then below are some of the things you should plan for.

1. Toy trains

Mountain railways in India are often referred to as toy trains or Chhotey lines. These are the narrow gauge lines that were built during the nineteenth century by the British. The Indian railways has maintained the legacy and is still operating and maintaining these trains.

There are 5 popular toy train routes in India.

• Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
• Nilgiri Mountain Railway
• Kalka–ShimlaRailway
• MatheranHill Railway
• Kangra Valley Railway

2. Luxury trains in India

If you plan to explore the beauty of India, the best way to do is travel by train. The 4th largest rail network in the world covers most of the parts of the country and offer some of the best sightseeing moments to the passengers. The network covers all major tourist spots in some way or the other by means of passenger trains, toy trains and luxury trains. The railways is not only a mode of commutation to the people rather it is the backbone of the tourism sector in India. In this blog we bring you the list of 5 luxury trains in India

3. Explore of the most iconic historical places in India

With the existence of 5000 year old civilization, India has witnessed the evolution of various cultures and heritages. There is nothing much to say about these marvelous monuments rather than witnessing and indulging the beauty of these places. Watch out this video show casing some of the major historical monuments in India.

4. Visit […]