Vietnamese Cuisine Trail

Duration: 11 days

Along with exploring the rich culture and must-see fascinating landscapes of Vietnam from the North to the South, travelers also have a chance to discover the Vietnamese cuisine, which is flavorful, colorful, and extremely healthy. Moreover, experience the local identities, daily life activities and communicate with friendly people in every destination of this Vietnam Tour.

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ITINERARY

Day 1: Hanoi arrival - Cyclo tour

Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam! The land of unique culture and stunning natural view.

Upon your arrival, your local tour guide will welcome you at the airport then escort you to hotel with private car. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the historic figure and father of modern Vietnam, and visit the former president’s house on stilts where he lived from 1958 to 1969. Continue on to the small but iconic One Pillar pagoda before heading back to the hotel. Next is the Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam. Founded in 1076, Quoc Tu Giam was established within a temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. The university functioned for an incredible 700 years and its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s past.

Head into the city to visit Hanoi’s Old Quarter, also known as the ‘36 streets’. Take a walking tour through charming Hang Be Market and around Hoan Kiem Lake, stopping off at Ngoc Son temple. This bustling area of narrow streets and alleys is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Hanoi - Halong overnight on cruise

After breakfast, leave Hanoi for an overnight boat trip on Halong Bay. Journey there through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta, observing everyday life of Vietnamese villagers along the way.. Arrive in Halong City late morning and board the boat for the overnight journey into the Bay. Lunch will be served en route, whilst cruising along the bay’s iconic limestone formations. Towards the end of the day set anchor for the night. As the sun sets over the bay, dinner is served on board with fresh seafood, salads, and fruits.

Overnight on Halong Bay.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3: Halong cruise - Hanoi

For early risers, complimentary tea and coffee are served on the sundeck followed by a Tai Chi class. On the cruise back to Halong City, enjoy a wholesome brunch as the boat weaves back to port through strange-shaped limestone rock formations. Upon disembarkation, the driver will provide a private transfer back to Hanoi.

Afternoon and evening at leisure.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Day 4: Hanoi - Fligh to Danang - Hoi An

Transfer to the Noi Bai airport for a flight to central Vietnam. From the Danang airport, take the 30-minute drive south to the ancient port town of Hoi An. Despite the passing of 200 years and the ravages of weather and war, the centre of Hoi An remains relatively untouched since its heyday.

A walking tour is the best way to see this marvelous town, paying visits to the former merchants’ homes, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, and the colourful market.

Enjoy lunch at Silk Village Situated in an elegant traditional style building in the heart of Hoi An’s old town, Silk Village offers ‘Street Food’ on the ground floor of the restaurant featuring Hoi An specialty foods. The upstairs balcony is perfect for a small group as the views are excellent over the street.

Evening at leisure.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Day 5: Hoi An - Cooking class

Begin the day with an 08:00 meeting at Hai Cafe. Enjoy a welcome drink at the restaurant before traveling by minivan (10 minutes) to Tra Que Organic Village. Take a walk through the gardens where local farmers work the fields using traditional methods. Pick fresh, saw-tooth coriander and Vietnamese mint, which will be used later in the day’s cooking class. Head to the local village market to peruse and peruse and purchase local ingredients, from star anise and cardamom to sesame rice paper, water spinach and banana flower.

Continue on to Red Bridge Cooking School for a chance to freshen up before the class. Working together with the resident chef, learn the traditional means of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food from scratch. Using the day’s fresh ingredients, cook four famous dishes, including the national dish, Pho.

After preparing the meals, sit down to enjoy the day’s creations along the tranquil Thu Bon River of Hoi An. After the meal(s), enjoy a dip in Red Bridge’s swimming pool. The meals of the day will feature:

1. Beef Noodle Soup (Pho), includes the making of fresh rice noodles

2. Clay Pot Fish with Fresh Dill (Cha Ca)

3. Lemongrass Shrimp grilled in Banana Leaves (Tom Nuong La Chuoi)

4. Grilled Chicken and Banana Flower Salad (Goi Hoa Chuoi Ga Nuong)

* Lunch includes all of the above meals

The experience will finish around 14:00. Transfer back to Hoi An and enjoy the remainder of the day free at leisure.

Meals: breakfast, lunch

Day 6: Hoi An - Hue - Center of Royal cuisine

Embark on the 3-hour drive from Hoi An to Hue. The scenic route passes through Danang, where a visit to the Cham museum is in order. Continue the drive over the Pass of Ocean Clouds, dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co.

No culinary tour of Vietnam would be complete without a visit to Hue. Regarded as the best in the country, the ‘royal cuisine’ of Hue originated in the days of the Nguyen Dynasty, when the rulers were served lavish meals meeting specific culinary demands. Although the emphasis today is on presentation, the delicious flavors of the royal cuisine continue to tempt modern palettes.

Lunch at Ancient Hue restaurant

Pick up from hotel by cyclo and head to dai noi ‘Old City’ to Tinh Tam Lake (a former emperor holiday spot). Continue by cyclo to Tay Loc Market. This market is mostly for locals and is rarely visited by tourists.

From here transfer by vehicle to the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. The ancient citadel reflects the pomp and ceremony of the dynastic rulers as well as the scars of many years of turmoil, both ancient and modern (the Royal Citadel was badly damaged in the latter stages of the war).

Dinner this evening will be held at the ‘garden house’ known locally as ‘nha vuon’. This traditional style house, which is set in a large and attractive formal garden, has connections with the ancient Hue Royal Imperial Court. A traditional Vietnamese greeting will be encountered on arrival, followed by an extraordinary meal prepared by the lady of the house. Meal is served privately in the traditional manner in the private gardens of the home.

Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Hue

The morning starts with a visit to the Thien Mu (Celestial Lady) Pagoda overlooking the Perfume River. Constructed in 1601, a 21-meter tall tower is the centrepiece of the pagoda representing seven reincarnations of Buddha. Also located within the grounds of the pagoda is the Austin car made famous during the 1963 self-immolation of a resident monk, one of the most famous images from the American War. Continue the visit to the tomb of Emperor Minh Mang, located in a tranquil setting of gardens and ponds.

For lunch, sample some of Hue’s specialty food at Huynh Anh Kim Long. Frequented only by locals, this restaurant serves banh uot, a steamed rice pancake stuffed with delicate, finely chopped pork and bun thit nuong which is a rice noodle dish served with grilled meat.

Proceed in the afternoon to the 500 year old weaving village of Bao La, on the road to Thanh Toan Bridge. Bao La villagers work hard to meet the demands of foreign and domestic market and are proud of their dexterity, creativity and passionate expressions.

After visiting Thanh Toan (one of two covered bridges in Vietnam), take the hour drive north to the 500-year-old village of Phuoc Tich. Once famous and prosperous for its pottery, the village has dozens of homes that date back 100 to 200 years, in addition to several old temples, pagodas, worship halls and communal houses. The religious culture of the village is seen via families, which have their own ancestor worship halls, each worshiping five direct generations.

At the end of the afternoon head back to the hotel. Evening at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Hue - Flight to Ho Chi Minh city

After a morning of leisure, transfer to the airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh city. Upon arrival, a guide and private car will provide transport to the hotel for check-in.

Step off the beaten track in the afternoon into the oldest quarter of the city. Explore Saigon’s well-kept secret, Antiques Street (Le Cong Kieu), followed by a visit to the Beaux-Arts Museum, a superb neo-colonial building home to various modern arts.

Top off the visit with a taste of Ho Chi Minh City’s best ice cream. Fanny’s serves everything from durian ice cream to lychee sorbet in its French-parlor setting.

SAIGON AFTER DARK: 18:00 – 22:00

Experience the nightlife of Ho Chi Minh City the way locals do, all from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter!

Begin at 18:00 with a pick up from the hotel before hitting the buzzing streets. The first stop will be a varied sampling of light evening snacks before continuing to a traditional quan (bia hoi) for dinner and drinks. Complete the evening out just like the locals- with a visit to a Vietnamese-style coffee shop. The night adventure finishes at 22:00 with a transfer back to the hotel.

Notes:

+ It’s best to not eat or drink before the food tour!

+ All clients sit on the back of Vespas to travel from place to place

+ Guides/Drivers are from the Vespa Team

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9: Cu Chi Tunnel - Saigon city tour

Enjoy a free morning at hotel. Pick up and transfer to the airport for a flight to Saigon. Upon arrival, pick up and transfer for a Cu Chi Tunnels tour. The Cu Chi Tunnel was built during the wartime by the Vietnamese for fighting with enemies, but nowadays it has become an interesting and fun place for tourists.

Enjoy lunch at Dong Pho restaurant.

After that we drive back to Saigon to visit the flower market entrance. Open day and night, this market sells flowers from all over Vietnam. Walk through small alleys and meander through countless flower stalls, taking time to learn the flower names, smell their exhilarating perfume, and interact with the vendors. Exit the quiet freshness of the flower market and delve into a bustling local market. Discover different types of local products such as vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, rice, clothes, and jewelry. This tour is a wonderful, non-touristy glimpse into daily Saigonese life. Back to hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 10: Mekong Delta tour

Head out of the city in the morning for the 2.5-hour drive to the Mekong Delta town of Cai Be. Upon arrival, board the Victoria boat. Modelled after traditional sampans, these are the perfect way to see the Delta. The tour starts with the visit of Cai Be’s colourful floating market. Proceed on to visit some local industries crafting rice popcorn and coconut candy. The day’s journey continues with an excursion to Dong Phu, Binh Hoa Phuong, and Anh Binh islands. These evergreen islands among the Mekong River bring about large networks of meandering rivers, crossed with countless arroyos. Lunch awaits at a superb colonial style villa located in a quaint village. The specialty of the Mekong, ‘elephant ear fish’, will be served, grilled and wrapped in rice paper together with fresh herbs.

Following the meal, it’s back on board the boat to discover the beautiful landscapes along the river. After crossing the Co Chien River, the boat will dock and the trip will continue back to Ho Chi Minh City via road. The evening is free to discover the vibrant southern city.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Day 11: Saigon - Departure

Free time for shopping or optional visit before transfer to the airport for flight back home.

It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for traveling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.

Meals: Breakfast

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

TOUR COST PER PAX IN USD

TOUR COST PER PAX IN USD (Valid from 1 Sep to 31 Mar 2018, except peak season, holiday)

Hotel class	2 pax	3-4 pax	5-7 pax	8-10 pax	SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
3*	934	954	787	745	423
4*	1057	977	908	774	505

SUGGESTED HOTEL OR SIMILAR

Hotel class	3-STAR	4-STAR
Hanoi	Hong Ha hotel	Thang Long Opera hotel
Halong crusie	Majestic cruise	Calypso cruise
Ho Chi Minh city	Blue Diamond hotel	Golden Central hotel
Hoi An	Pho Hoi resort	Royal Riverside hotel
Hue	Rosaleen hotel	Romance hotel

INCLUSION

Private door-to-door pick-up & drop-off services
All private transportation
Accommodation shared in Double/Twin room with daily breakfast
Experienced English speaking guide
Private boat trip as per tour
1 night sleeping on Ha Long bay cruise
Meals as stated in the itinerary
All sightseeing tickets
Tissues and water on coach
Services charges and government tax
No extra charge after services confirmation
24/7 hotline support guaranteed

EXCLUSION

International/ Domestic air ticket
Travel insurance
Visa fee
Beverage
Personal expenses
Peak season or Public holidays surcharge if any
Tipping ( US $3/day/pax)
Others not mentioned nor specified above

CHILD POLICY

Child under 12 years old sharing with 01 adult: 90% of adult fare
Child under 12 years old sharing with 02 adults with extra bed: 75% of adult fare
Child under 12 years old sharing with 02 adults without extra bed: 50% of adult fare
Child under 02 years old sharing with 02 adults without bed: FOC

REMARK

Prices quoted in USD and subject to change without prior notice.
Please be informed that the quotation does not imply or constitute availability.
In case if the hotel listed is unavailable, other similar class hotel shall be provided.
Compulsory Gala Dinner will be applied during Christmas Eve and New Year Eve.