How a Travel Agent Transformed Our Family Vacation in Vietnam into an Amazing Experience

I never intended to enlist a Vietnamese travel agency to organize our three-week family journey. When the agency proposed crafting a detailed itinerary for our Vietnam trip instead of just one tour, I couldn’t help but scoff.

"Absolutely not, I always handle my own travel plans,” I thought.

Yet, I found myself agreeing, intrigued to discover what activities they believed an American family would enjoy in Vietnam. I contemplated taking their suggestions and booking everything myself, but once I saw the itinerary for the custom tour—complete with private drivers, local guides, visits to hidden gems, and an all-inclusive price that pleasantly surprised my North American budget—I decided to hire them.

As I began planning our family trip to Vietnam, I reached out to my friend Andrea Fleming. Living in Hanoi and working as a school counselor at the international school, she quickly responded with a lengthy voice memo, insisting in February that I needed to secure our June cruise in Ha Long Bay right away, as the ships were likely to fill up. She recommended Blue Asia Tours, the go-to agency for local international teachers. When I shared the proposed itinerary with her before finalizing it, Andrea reassured me that the price was reasonable and that we would experience more of the country in three weeks than she had in three years of living there.

In the period between making the deposit and our departure, I felt a bit lost since our trip was already organized. Aware of my need for control, surrendering the planning process required a level of restraint I didn’t know I possessed.

My email exchanges with Quang Hòa, the owner of Blue Asia Tours, helped refine our itinerary. We wanted to explore the highlands of Sapa, so Quang, who preferred I call him Mr. Lucas, included a few extra days in the far north. After consulting a friend who had honeymooned in Vietnam, we swapped our time at the party-centric Nha Trang beach for the more family-friendly Phu Quoc, a beautiful island in the Gulf of Thailand. Eager to learn more about the Vietnam War, we also added tours of the Mekong Delta and the Cu Chi tunnels in the south. Collaborating with Blue Asia eased some of my worries.

Right after the last day of school, our family of three—my husband, our 11-year-old son, and I—arrived in the humid warmth of Hanoi. After 24 hours of travel, we felt a bit dazed as we exited the airport and spotted a well-dressed driver holding a sign with my name. It made me feel like a celebrity. The driver swiftly gathered our luggage and navigated us through the bustling moped-filled streets to our four-star hotel in the Old Quarter. As soon as we connected to Wi-Fi, my WhatsApp pinged, and our liaison, Hồng Nguyễn from Blue Asia, greeted us and requested a meeting that afternoon to go over the itinerary.

After a quick freshening up, we strolled through the Old Quarter, soaking in the vibrant energy of the 5.2 million residents buzzing through the lively streets. Introducing our son to Asia was a key motivation for our journey. He’s a well-traveled kid, and I felt that the summer before sixth grade was the ideal opportunity for him to immerse himself in a culture so different from our own.

Although he was thrilled to be there, my mama instincts told me that food was crucial. Our tour hadn’t kicked off yet, leaving us to fend for ourselves for lunch. It was sweltering, and we were all exhausted and indecisive about where to eat. The bickering began as we perused menus, and despite the numerous servers beckoning us, we just couldn’t agree. Finally, we spotted a cơm gà hải nam shop bustling with locals. Familiar with the traditional chicken and rice dish, our tempers eased with every bite. Our adventurous little family returned to the hotel just in time to meet Hồng, which translates to Rosie in English.

I mentioned to Rosie that when I first glanced at our packed itinerary, I worried we might be too rushed to truly savor Vietnam. She reassured me that we would have a fantastic time and encouraged me to text her anytime.

I was uncertain about what to expect from our journey. Although I had traveled in Southeast Asia before, grasping the subtleties of Vietnam after the American War (as it’s referred to by the Vietnamese) and in the post-pandemic landscape was still unclear. As I adjusted to the pace of travel, I discovered a sense of relaxation in being cared for. By refraining from constantly checking my phone for the next activity, I was able to be fully present for every delightful moment.

My son and I trekked through the rice fields of the northern highlands while my husband was temporarily sidelined by a brief case of food poisoning. Our H’mong guide, Sung, a representative of one of Vietnam's 54 ethnic minorities, was hired by the agency to immerse us in her culture and showcase her homeland in the Hoang Lien Son mountains. She skillfully navigated us through steep, muddy paths, all while torrential rain poured down. During our seven-mile hike, I frequently stopped, awestruck by the stunning beauty and meticulous craftsmanship of the terraced rice fields.

Upon reaching our homestay in the mountain village, my husband greeted us. He remarked that the smiles on our faces, even in our soaked state, brightened the rainy landscape.

As we traversed the popular route from North to South, we enjoyed a mix of tourist attractions, such as experiencing a water puppet show in Hanoi and releasing candle wishes on the Thu Bon River in Hoi An, along with more unique activities like mud bathing in a pitch-black cave at Phong Nha National Park. Our family squabbles over hunger faded as our tour included so many meals; we had no decisions to make. Private drivers managed our luggage on travel days, which featured guided tours with English-speaking hosts. One Sunday, during our drive from the imperial city of Hue to Hoi An, our driver took us to Dream Spring, a beloved local swimming spot. We were delighted to share the crystal-clear waters and hidden picnic area with local families.

About two-thirds into our journey, while savoring yet another delicious lunch, it hit me why this trip was the best ever: I didn't have to make a single decision. Rosie texted me each morning with the time to meet our driver in the lobby, and that was it. No phone calls, no emails, no status checks on reservations. All we had to do was be punctual in the hotel lobby. We effortlessly glided through Vietnam, placing our trust in Blue Asia and relishing each moment rather than trying to control everything. It turns out that relinquishing decision-making was the best travel choice I've ever made.