Jerome’s Family Vietnam Trip: A Ten-Day Journey from Perth
Last updated: July 28, 2026
Jerome’s family Vietnam trip began with a message from Perth, Australia: eight family members, ten days in October 2025, and a route through Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City. As their travel consultant, I built the whole thing from the ground up — flights, airport pickups, private tours, and a few extra touches that weren’t part of the original plan.
- Traveller: Jerome and his family, a group of eight from Perth, Australia
- Route: Hanoi → Hoi An → Ho Chi Minh City, with a Cu Chi Tunnels day trip and a Mekong Delta excursion
- Trip length: 10 days, October 2025
- Trip style: private family tour
- Highlights: a Hanoi cyclo ride, an authentic local music encounter, the Cu Chi Tunnels, boat rides through the Mekong Delta
Planning Jerome’s Family Vietnam Trip
A group of eight travelling together for ten days needs more than a booked itinerary — it needs someone answering messages quickly and sorting problems before they become stress. For Jerome’s family Vietnam trip, that meant arranging flights, airport pickups and private tours for the whole group, then staying easily reachable the entire time they were on the ground. When something needed sorting, I wanted the family to feel supported, not like they were chasing an answer.
Ten Days Across Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City
The route ran through three very different cities: Hanoi’s older streets, Hoi An’s slower pace, and the bustle of Ho Chi Minh City. In Hanoi, I added a cyclo ride that wasn’t part of the original package — a small change, but it gave the family a gentler way to take in the city between the busier stops on their private tour.
Kevin’s pick: if you only add one thing to a Hanoi itinerary, make it a cyclo ride. It slows the pace right down, so you actually see the Old Quarter instead of driving past it.
The Small Moments That Made It Special
Some of the best parts of Jerome’s trip weren’t on any itinerary line. Somewhere between the sightseeing, one of the family sat down with a local musician and had a go at a traditional Vietnamese instrument — the kind of moment you can’t really plan for, only make room for.
Ho Chi Minh City, the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta
By the time the group reached Ho Chi Minh City, they’d settled into the rhythm of travelling together. The kids fooled around on the lawn near one of the city’s landmark buildings while the rest of the family looked on — the kind of easy, unposed photo that says more about a trip than any itinerary can.
From the city, the family headed out to the Cu Chi Tunnels and then on to the Mekong Delta, where they swapped the road for small boats gliding through narrow, palm-lined canals. It’s a slower, quieter side of southern Vietnam, and a good contrast after two busy cities.
When Plans Changed: A Flight Delay and a Fast Refund
Not everything goes exactly to plan, even on a well-organised trip. One day trip had to be cancelled because of a flight delay, and instead of letting that turn into a headache, I made sure the refund was handled quickly so it barely disrupted the rest of the schedule. That’s really the job — not just booking the highlights, but sorting out the moments that don’t go to plan.
Tips from Jerome’s Trip
- Build in one flexible day: flight delays happen — a private itinerary makes it easy to cancel or reshuffle a day trip without losing the whole schedule.
- A private tour suits bigger groups: with eight travelling together, having a private guide and vehicle kept the family moving at their own pace instead of a bus tour’s.
- Ask for the extras: a cyclo ride wasn’t in the original Hanoi plan, but it turned out to be one of the highlights — it’s worth asking your consultant what small additions are possible.
- Pack for three climates: Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City each have their own October weather, so light layers work better than one packing list for the whole trip.
Want a Trip Like Jerome’s Family?
Like the sound of Jerome’s family Vietnam trip? This was built around our 10-day Best of Vietnam tour, taking in Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City — and I’d happily tailor the same route, extras and all, to suit your own family. Just message me, Kevin, and we’ll start planning. You can also browse more of our Hanoi trip stories or read our Hanoi travel guide for more on planning your own visit.
Over to you: have you already travelled through Hanoi, Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh City as a family? I’d love to hear how you found it — tell me in the comments below. Thank you!
Quick FAQ from Jerome’s Trip
Is ten days enough for a family trip across Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City?
Yes — ten days gives each city enough time without feeling rushed, especially with private transfers and tours cutting down on wasted travel time between stops.
Can My Viva Tour handle flights and pickups for a large family group?
Yes — for Jerome’s family of eight, flights, airport pickups and private tours were all arranged as one package, with a single point of contact throughout the trip.
What happens if a day trip is cancelled on a private tour?
On a private itinerary, a cancelled day — like Jerome’s flight-delay day trip — can usually be refunded and reshuffled quickly, without derailing the rest of the schedule.
If Jerome’s family Vietnam trip has you thinking about your own, get in touch with My Viva Tour and we’ll help you plan a private Vietnam itinerary built around your family.
