Many countries in Asia are well known for being family-oriented, and the family, including the extended family in many countries, is an important part of the Asian cultures. When taking an Indochina tour with kids, you can almost guarantee that there are plenty of places that will cater to your trip as a family, and will have the facilities to cater for kids of all ages, from small babies to teenagers.
While there are many challenges to traveling in Indochina with small babies, it is possible, though many people prefer to leave it until the kids are a little older, so that they may enjoy the experience better. There are pros and cons to traveling with kids of any age, and the decision on whether to travel in Indochina with very small children lies only with the parents. If you are comfortable traveling around developing countries with a small baby, carrying unimaginable amounts of stuff that you need for their feeding, changing, bathing, sleeping, and other things, then there is no reason why you should not.
Ideally, for a child to enjoy the trip, and understand what is going on and what they are seeing, they really need to be a little older, and one of the main reasons families travel to far-off countries is so that the children can experience other cultures and people, and get a better understanding of the world around them. A trip to an Indochinese country can be an eye-opening experience for a youngster and can give them a unique insight into the way other people live around the world, opening them up to other new experiences and travel adventures.
What age is best for Indochina?
For many people, the best age to start taking kids to countries in Indochina is around 5 years old. This is normally the age where they start to get more interested in their surroundings and begin to explore what they see around them, which can be just as exciting for the parents as it is for the kids. Kids love to explore and get their hands dirty and have an interest in everything they see and hear. From around five years old, your children are ready to experience the unique cultures of Indochina and take on the experience of traveling to different countries and exploring new places. For them, it is an adventure that will give them a better outlook on the world, and help them with their growth and development.
Indochina is a region that includes many different people and cultures, and for their first trip to the Asian Continent, is an ideal place to introduce them to Asian cuisines, cultures, and beliefs. While Cambodia and Laos may still be developing countries, they have a very good tourism infrastructure and are well versed in catering to western tourists, as they have been doing so for more than 20 years now. Vietnam, on the other hand, is more developed and has a tourist industry that is second to none, with more places that cater to children and families and is probably the most child-friendly country in Indochina.
Top places to take kids in Indochina
Wherever you go in Indochina, you will find attractions that are suitable for kids of all ages, from the youngsters who love to scramble over the ruins of Angkor, to the older, more mature teenagers, who want to experience the beaches of Halong Bay and Sihanoukville, or the amazing markets of Luang Prabang and the street foods of Phnom Penh.
Cambodia
Visit the overgrown temples of Angkor
If your kids love climbing on old ruins and scrambling through dense jungles as if they were Indiana Jones or Lara Croft, then the temples of Angkor are the ideal place to visit. A huge temple complex that belongs to the period of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th century, these crumbling ruins are the ideal playground for kids of all ages. What better way to explore the ancient architecture and stunning temples of the ancient Khmer Empire than to become an explorer for a day, and rediscover them for themselves.
Sixty kilometers outside Ho Chi Minh City lies the site of the Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex of tunnels and man-made caverns that were used by the Viet Cong soldiers during the Vietnam war. used as hiding places during the fighting, as well as supply routes and living quarters for the troops. A great afternoon out, the kids can learn more about the lifestyle of the troops in the tunnels and are allowed to scramble through them for a little adventurous play.
Country living in Siem Reap
25 minutes drive outside Siem Reap in northern Cambodia lies the small village of Kompheim, where you and your kids can take a ride on an ox-drawn cart, and even drive it themselves, as you travel through some of northern Cambodia’s most beautiful countryside. And if that is not enough, you can always spend the day trying your hands at local jobs such as rice planting, thatching, or harvesting crops.
Phare Circus in Battambang
Kids and adults alike love to go to the circus and the Phare Circus in Battambang is one of the most amazing in Asia. The sheer talents of the performers will leave you gaping in awe and includes theater, dance, music, and more modern circus acts that are all used to tell the unique Cambodian tales. As well as taking in a great night out, you will be giving to a great cause in Cambodia. The circus has three social missions: to provide employment to the impoverished youth of the country; to sustain the Phare Ponleu Selpka NGO School; and to contribute to the rebirth of Cambodian art.
Laos
Trek to Buddha Park, Vientiane
On the outskirts of Vientiane, close to the Lao/Thai border, lies a large park that was built in 1958 by an imaginative Buddhist monk. Designed to include the sculptures of both Buddhist and Hindu religions, the monk, known as Bunleua Sulilat, included lots of space specifically for children to run around an play, and the park now has a delightful outdoor restaurant, ideal for snack breaks in between play. Also, a beautiful place for adults to explore and admire the multitude of statues and sculptures, it is a nice afternoon out at the park for the whole family.
Caving at Pak Ou
The Pak Ou cave complex near Luang Prabang is one of the most intricate and respected holy sites in Laos and is filled with more than 4,000 statues of Buddha, of varying sizes. A shrine to the river spirit and the Lord Buddha, the statues are set into the limestone cliffs of the caves, which are themselves in a cliff at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. A great day out exploring the caves with kids, it is a safe caving trip, as the walkways are all fenced and the cave floors are flat.
Kuang Si Bear Sanctuary
Another great site to visit with kids near Luang Prabang in Laos is the Bear Sanctuary at Kuang Si Falls. A popular attraction on the local tourist circuit, the sanctuary provides shelter for the sun bears and moon bears that are indigenous to this part of Southeast Asia. These endangered bears were once hunted for the bile they produce as a popular ancient medicine for virility and are now one of the most endangered species of bears in the world. Located inside the gate to the Kuang Si Falls Park, the sanctuary protects and looks after the local bear population, and rehabilitates those that have come in injured due to hunters. A great way for kids to learn more about the endangered species in Asia, the park makes a great day out, with the falls there for a relaxing walk through the beauty of these turquoise pools afterward.
Vietnam
Crawl through the Cu Chi Tunnels
Sixty kilometers outside Ho Chi Minh City lies the site of the Cu Chi Tunnels, a complex of tunnels and man-made caverns that were used by the Viet Cong soldiers during the Vietnam war. used as hiding places during the fighting, as well as supply routes and living quarters for the troops. A great afternoon out, the kids can learn more about the lifestyle of the troops in the tunnels and are allowed to scramble through them for a little adventurous play.
Hanoi/Hoi An Water Puppets
Both Hoi An and Hanoi have water puppet shows that are spectacular and will amaze your kids, even the older ones. The shows last for around 50 to 60 minutes, and the beautifully crafted puppets play out their drama on a water pool, with the puppeteers hidden behind the back curtain. Colorful and full of singing, the shows are performed every evening and while it may be done in Vietnamese, it is well worth watching.
Boat Rides in Ninh Binh Cave System
To the south of Hanoi lies what is left of the country’s ancient capital of Hoa Lu. Nearby the ruins of the ancient city lies the small village of Trang An, set in the midst of some of Vietnam’s most stunning scenery. The towering karst cliffs rise up sharply from the low rice fields, and the rivers wind their way along between the cliffs. It is along these rivers that you can take a boat ride as a family, steered by a local rower, as you follow the course of the rivers that have carved their way through the limestone cliffs over thousands of years. The river finally enters the cave in the base of one of the cliffs, and the journey continues underground and through the hills, as stalactites hang low above your heads and the narrow channel transports you to a magical underground world.
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