Our Family Adventure to Vietnam & Cambodia – Why We’re So Excited for March 2026

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After weeks of researching, debating, and finally locking things in, it’s official: we’re heading to Vietnam and Cambodia in March 2026! This is shaping up to be one of our most exciting family adventures yet — and I wanted to share a peek into how we planned it all.

Planning: To DIY or Not to DIY?

This was a tough call. I spent so much time weighing the pros and cons of planning the trip ourselves versus booking an organized tour. I mean, we’re traveling halfway across the world with kids — you want it to be epic, not exhausting.

What I loved about organized tours:

• Less stress

• Someone else handles all the logistics

• Great for first-time visits

What made me hesitate:

• Less freedom to choose our own pace

• Sometimes too rushed

• Not as personal

What I loved about planning it myself:

• Total control of where we go and for how long

• More flexible and often budget-friendly

• I could tailor everything to what we actually enjoy

But it’s a lot of work. And that’s where I found my perfect balance:I booked the flights, carefully chose the places we want to explore, and then hired a local guide to help with transportation and day tours. I get the adventure of crafting our dream trip — and we all get the ease of someone local guiding us through the chaos once we arrive.

The Deep Research Rabbit Hole

Planning this trip was almost a full-time hobby for a while. I dove headfirst into vlogs, YouTube documentaries, travel blogs, and joined a whole ecosystem of Facebook groups for families traveling in Vietnam. My feed is now filled with advice about street food, overnight trains, and the best kid-friendly hikes.

I knew we wouldn’t be able to do all of Vietnam, so I focused on what felt most meaningful and doable:Northern Vietnam, with its jaw-dropping landscapes, and a bonus stop at Angkor Wat in Cambodia — because when else are we going to be that close to one of the most iconic sites in the world?

Here’s what made the cut:

• Sapa for those postcard-worthy rice terraces and mountain vibes

• Halong Bay for a dreamy overnight cruise among limestone islands

• Tam Coc for riverside peace and scenic boat rides

• Hoi An, just briefly, for some charming lantern-lit beauty

• And finally, Siem Reap and the legendary Angkor Wat temples in Cambodia
  

Prepping the Kids for a “Different” Kind of Trip

This isn’t a theme park holiday. And I needed to get the kids on board with the idea that this trip would be more about nature, culture, and stories than roller coasters and waterslides.

We’ve been easing into it by watching short travel videos together — ones with drone footage, local food markets, and wild landscapes that spark their imagination. We’ve looked at old temples swallowed by jungle, and laughed at TikToks of people eating bugs in night markets (don’t worry, we’re not doing that… probably).

The key message?This trip is about seeing the world differently. It’s about riding boats through caves, walking through villages, and watching the sunrise over ancient temples. And while it might not be full of flashy rides, I know it’s going to leave them with stories they’ll remember forever.

Countdown to Vietnam 2026

We still have plenty of time before departure — but now that the foundation is set, the real excitement can begin. We’re slowly building our packing lists, learning a few Vietnamese phrases, and daydreaming about warm nights, rice fields, and boat rides under karst cliffs.

March 2026 will be here before we know it. Until then, we’ll keep planning, dreaming, and getting ready for the kind of trip that brings a family closer together — one mountain trail and street food stall at a time.

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