EXO Travel’s Regional German Product Manager for Indochina, Andrea Koch, recently set off on an unforgettable two-week adventure through Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam with her husband and three young boys.
For the family, it was the first long-distance trip together, and the journey turned out to be a wonderful mix of discovery, fun and memorable family moments—thanks to EXO’s careful planning and personalised touches.
Travelling with children can be challenging, but EXO made it a seamless and enjoyable experience for Andrea’s family.
‘Our children were excited and curious from the moment we set off’, she shared. ‘It was their first long-distance trip, and we were thrilled to see them embracing everything with open hearts and minds.’
Read on to learn more about their family holiday in Indochina, the highlights and why visiting in the green season enhanced the overall experience.
‘My kids loved trying things for themselves and connecting with people in their own way.’
Connect with culture through hands-on discovery
One of the highlights was the connection her boys made with the local people and culture.
Whether it was picking up a few local words or playfully interacting with their guide in Laos—whom they adored—the trip was filled with opportunities for hands-on experiences. ‘My kids loved trying things for themselves and connecting with people in their own way. It was amazing to watch them engage so naturally’, Andrea explained.
Among the memorable experiences were an overnight homestay in the Mekong Delta, a monk blessing in Siem Reap and a workshop at Bamboo for Life in Laos. Participating in the alms-giving procession in Luang Prabang was particularly educational for the kids. Having never experienced anything like it, they were amazed to learn that the monks rely solely on the rice they receive each day.
‘It was an intimate experience early in the morning. It was hard to wake them at 5:15 a.m., but it was so worth it,’ Andrea recalled. The procession was completely private, with the house owner sitting next to them as the monks passed by.
‘Everything ran like clockwork, allowing us to focus entirely on enjoying the trip’
Tailored logistics for families
The trip was thoughtfully designed to meet the unique challenges of travelling with young children. For example, after a long journey to Laos and a comfortable train ride to Luang Prabang, the family enjoyed a relaxing private dinner cruise, offering some much-needed downtime to take in the Mekong River scenery together.
The experiences were selected for their blend of education and fun, such as a morning scavenger hunt at Angkor Thom temple. The family split into two teams to answer questions and uncover fascinating facts about the site. ‘It was great fun for everyone’, Andrea remarked. In Luang Prabang, a VIP tour at Free the Bears provided exclusive behind-the-scenes access, allowing the family to help hide food for the bears. ‘We gained wonderful insights from the ranger, and the kids felt very special’, Andrea explained.
Other thoughtful touches—such as tuk-tuk rides in Cambodia, a Vespa tour in Saigon and a speedboat trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels—offered the kids a fresh perspective on each destination.
EXO’s seamless organisation, along with the safety and comfort provided by a private driver and guide, made all the difference. ‘Everything ran like clockwork, allowing us to focus entirely on enjoying the trip’, Andrea added.
‘We could explore at our own pace and felt so welcome wherever we went.’
The Green Season: Crowd-free experience
Another major perk of their trip was travelling during the green season. Often overlooked by travellers, this period offers incredible advantages for those who seek quieter travels with more authentic local encounters.
The green season is often thought to be too rainy to be enjoyable, however the season’s showers are generally short and refreshing and rarely all day downpours. Andrea’s family experience was typical for the August-October period, as she explains, ‘We had almost no rain in Laos and Cambodia, and in Vietnam, we only encountered a little rain at the end of our stay on Phu Quoc’.
The real highlight of travelling during the off-peak season was the absence of crowds. Iconic sites like Angkor Wat and Kuang Si Waterfalls felt almost private, adding to the magic of the experience. ‘We could explore at our own pace and felt so welcome wherever we went,” she shared. ‘It was hot and humid at times, but the quiet, peaceful atmosphere more than made up for it’.
EXO Travel is a premium Destination Management Company (DMC) providing bespoke travel solutions across a growing portfolio of global destinations. Our services range from one-off tours for individual travellers to memorable incentive trips for groups of hundreds or thousands.
Established in 1993, we’ve harnessed in-depth local knowledge and a widely-recognized penchant for authentic, groundbreaking touring to become a leading DMC for the premium travel market. As a Certified B Corporation, EXO is also demonstrably committed to sustainability and using travel as a force for good.
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