Wet and wild family adventure in Dalat, Vietnam

I had been part of a volunteer vacation in the northern part of Thailand, with western teachers and students, to live with local hill tribe villagers. The trip, even though was long time ago, is still fresh in my memory. I can still picture in my mind when local kids running, seemingly wanting to know who we were. Many kids got a curiosity on their faces and were too shy to be close to us. But some of them smiled and even came close to our group, and only sat and looked at us. We knew that we were and always are the stranger to them. But the thing is that such a trip was a step of promising that western children who have grew up with Mc Donald and Burgers and comfortable living, would have a chance to meet, get to know and learn how these kids and their parents live their lives at such a remote land with less technology and materialism.

Bring your kids and teenagers to immerse themselves in another culture of their unknown destinations, to learn and in the same time to open their vision to the world outside. Bring them to know and meet lovely local kids who may have the same age of your daughters or sons, and who either run to greet you or simply hide their faces, with a shy smile, behind those rustic woven bamboo- strips house walls. And these scenes can be usually found in the remote destinations in Southeast Asian countries.

There are choices of off the beaten track destinations that we Exotissimo have visited and created tour routings and programs for you, to bring your kids traveling with you with promising safety. Usually, family trips have something to do with multi- activities such as soft trekking, kayaking, elephant riding (kids really love this activity!), beach relaxing or island hopping, canal boating, city sightseeing and more.  

In the travel destination in Asia like Vietnam, for example, there are places perfect for family vacation. One of them is Dalat in the central part of Vietnam. Activities you and your family can do in Dalat is such as trekking, canyoning and kayaking. With the excellent trekking, canyoning and kayaking opportunities that abound in the area, the former colonial French hill station of Dalat in the South Central Highlands of Vietnam is the ideal location for an outdoor family adventure holiday, like 4WD, elephant safaris, mountain biking, or cultural exploration. Originally the playground of the French who built villas in the clear mountain air to escape the heat and humidity of the coast and of Saigon, Dalat's lush landscape, temperate climate and stunning waterfalls have made the town a popular holiday destination since the turn of the last century. Today, visitors still flock to experience the natural beauty of Dalat, and Exotissimo's family water adventure tour is a great way for kids and teenagers to make a splash and have a great time.

On the first day, explore the many inlets and secrets spots of Ho Tuyen Lam, one of the most beautiful lakes on the Langbian Plateau, aboard sturdy, purpose-built kayaks and enjoy a picnic-style lunch of locally produced delicacies in the shade of the lake's jungle canopy.

The wet and wild adventures continue on day two with an exhilarating introduction to abseiling (rappelling) in one of Dalat's spectacular canyons. Once you've mastered the basics of knot tying, harness wearing, hardware, and proper rappelling technique with our trained guides at the practice slope, you can take the plunge into spectacular waterfalls and streams and enjoy the thrill of the canyon's natural water slides. No previous experience is necessary for this action-packed trip of hiking, rappelling, swimming, and sliding down the falls; all you and your family need bring is a love of water and a sense of adventure!

Family time! See Family Adventure Holiday in Dalat, by Exotissimo Travel, a leading tour operator in Vietnam, or write to us to request a tailor- made tour program that suits you.

Published on 9/4/07