Vietnamese cuisine journey 12 days

Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, one of the most enticing Asian cities, with cultural richness, vibrant street life, and impressive cuisine. Touring the city, you will see Hanoi's tourist attractions and relics; the Vietnamese Cuisine Tour also offers a taste of a wide range of dishes, from street food on the pavements to beguiling dishes in high-end restaurants, along with various types of drinks.

Upon your arrival at the airport in Hanoi, you will be greeted by your local tour guide and travel to the hotel for check-in.

Late in the evening, you will embark on a local Hanoi street food tour. Following your local guide, you will sample popular food and let it melt in your mouth. While walking to explore the Hanoi Old Quarter, you will stop from time to time to taste noodle soup, Vietnamese baguette, steamed rolls stuffed with ear mushroom and minced pork, Vietnamese spring rolls in deep-fried and fresh styles, local beer at a beer hub, or Vietnamese coffee. Finish your street food tour, then head back to the hotel and enjoy a relaxing time on your own. 

In the morning, move to the outskirts of Hanoi's center. You will have a fun Hanoi cooking class tour, beginning with a stroll to the local market to buy fresh ingredients. Morning is the busiest and most energetic time of the day; also, it’s the moment all stalls are filled up colorfully and abundantly. You can observe local buying and selling rituals and learn about the main cooking style, as well as the ingredients and combinations commonly used. Once everything is ready, you will take part in the cooking class and prepare traditional Vietnamese dishes. The host is happy to escort and share the cooking experience with you. Finishing the cooking with an authentic experience of Vietnamese cuisine, you’ll enjoy your lunch there and return to the city center afterward. On the way back, have a coffee break at a local Café & Lounge with a view of the streets, the city’s impressive pottery mosaic wall, and the Long Bien historical bridge, which is used by trains, pedestrians, and primitive vehicles. You can then have a walk on the bridge to cast an up-close vision over the Red River before returning to your city center.

You will gain a deeper understanding of the city by visiting Hanoi's iconic tourist attractions. Arriving at the Ho Chi Minh Complex, you will pay a visit to the Ho Chi Minh President's Mausoleum, preserving his embalmed body after he passed away in 1969. When treading around, you also catch sight of the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh President's houses, and the One Pillar Pagoda, constructed like a lotus flower on the pond. Next, visit the Temple of Literature, renowned as Vietnam's first university since 1070, and the Confucius Temple. Though the premises of this educational sanctuary were reduced, the temple, protected by surrounding walls, still preserves studious spirits, cultural architecture, and inspiring relics. This makes the Temple of Literature one of the most significant cultural places for Vietnamese students.

You will have lunch with scrumptious, authentic Vietnamese dishes. Afterward, pay a visit to a passionate artisan who will privately show you his traditional job of performing water puppets at his own house. 

Lately, get to the heart of Hanoi with Hoan Kiem Lake, of verdant green water and trees. From there, you will take a traditional cyclo ride to see the other side of Hanoi, with colonial-era buildings like the Hanoi Opera House, the Metropole Legend Hotel, the State Bank, and Trang Tien Bridge.

This morning, you will check out of the hotel and leave Hanoi for Halong Bay, one of the must-see places in Vietnam. Arriving at the bay at noon, you will embark on the oriental-style Halong Bay cruise and have lunch while the boat sails among towering karst peaks. There are nearly 2,000 islands and islets scattered over the bay, some of which are dotted with huge caves and grottos. Besides enjoying a pleasant time in serene nature, you can participate in outdoor activities according to the cruise schedule, such as kayaking in the lagoons, sunset breaks, cooking demonstrations, hiking to Halong Bay caves, and swimming. After having a lavish dinner on the boat, you can chill out on your own or try your luck at squid fishing.

Early risers can capture the sunrise on Halong Bay, and they can do Tai Chi class exercises with an instructor on the top deck. After breakfast, the cruise’s anchor will be lifted and carry on the sail for you to contemplate the landscape and join activities to explore Ha Long Bay. Early noon, the boat returns to the shore. You will disembark the cruise after your brunch, see your driver for the transfer to the airport in Hanoi, and catch the flight to Hue.

Hue is a unique city in Vietnam, located in the middle of the country, and was the former capital of Vietnam's last feudal dynasty. Apart from the tranquil landscape of rivers, cities, and rural villages, Hue is renowned for its Imperial heritage of architecture, history, skillful handicrafts, and sophisticated cuisine. Arriving at Hue airport, you will meet with your local tour guide and travel to the hotel in Hue for check-in. The rest of the day will be at your leisure.

Begin the day in Hue with the Imperial Citadel for a brief overview of the history of the Nguyen Dynasty, royal rituals, and stunning, ornate carvings. Afterward, visit Thien Mu Pagoda on a hill facing the Perfume River. Here, you will find the iconic seven-story pagoda and the historical stories of Buddhism during wartime. Your lunch will be served at a local garden restaurant. 

In the afternoon, you'll visit Tu Duc Tomb, nestled on a luxuriant hill and designed by him before his death. The tomb showcases impressive Vietnamese art and scenic views of the pavilion on Lotus Lake and the winding paths in the hills. Then, head to Chuon Lagoon, located around 11km from the Hue center. Meet up with locals, then hop on a wooden boat and sail to the endless lagoon of fisheries to enjoy the striking sunset. You can also observe and experience local fishing styles. Learn more about the life of fishermen and enjoy snacks with a local beer in Hue.

This morning is at your leisure. At noon, have a unique journey lunch of Royal dish Rice with Salt with Mrs. Nhu Huy, a famous Vietnamese and Hue gastronomy artisan. She will introduce the dish, the special combination, and the stories of each dish. It requires a perfect combination and time to create those dishes and bring out high-quality salty flavors. After lunch, leave Hue for Hoi An in a nearly 3-hour drive passing by the pristine Lang Co Beach and over Hai Van Pass. Have a break on the coastal mountain pass, overlooking the bay with a panoramic view. Arriving in Hoi An late afternoon, you will check into the hotel in Hoi An and relax for the rest of the day.

This morning, you will ramble around Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old houses, 2 or 3 floors high, are attached and designed with unique architectural combinations of Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, and French styles. Stop at the Japanese pagoda bridge, the Fujian communal house, Chinese houses, Pottery museums, etc. You will find the details and reveal the development of the port town. Hoi An, an ancient town in Vietnam, is the place for you to go back to the old days and enjoy pleasurable moments. After lunch, you will return to the hotel and have a moment to rest. You're free to get around the town shopping for leather, tailor-made suits, and other local handicrafts.

This evening, you will head to Hai Cafe for a cooking class. Your chef will introduce you to the local ingredients, take you through the preparation, and explain the Hoi An style of cooking. Then it is your turn to chop, grate, crush, slice, roll, and cook the ingredients into a delicious meal. Your 5-course dinner includes Spring Rolls Hoi An Style, Hoi An Beef Salad in a Bamboo Basket, Grilled Fish in Banana Leaf, and 2 Hoi An specialties - White Rose and Fried Wanton. These secret recipes are made by only 1 family in Hoi An, and are included in the meal, but are not part of the cooking class.

This morning is at your leisure to chill out at the hotel or take a bicycle and traverse to the countryside of Hoi An or pristine beaches. 

After check-out, travel to the Da Nang airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon your arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, the most developed city in Vietnam, you will see your local tour guide and have a transfer from the airport to the Ho Chi Minh City center.

In the morning, embark on a city tour of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, a city with strong colonial and Chinese influences. Pay a visit to the main attractions of the city, like the central post office, one of the architectural designs of Gustave Eiffel, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Reunification Palace, Ben Thanh market, and the walking street of Dong Khoi.

This afternoon, you will visit the Chinatown of Saigon since 1778. During the Vietnam War, this area became a black market for US soldiers to trade some of the supplies. You will stop to see the Thien Hau Pagoda and Binh Tay Market by the Chinese community in Vietnam.

For dinner, enjoy a chill time on the River Cruise on the Saigon River. After a welcoming cocktail, you will sample the rustic Indochina delicacies on a Saigon River dinner cruise while enjoying traditional shows.

In the morning, travel for around an hour to an organic garden in a vegetable village. The host will welcome you and introduce you to their large gardens, featuring a variety of organic vegetables. Then, start your cooking class by making three dishes and enjoy lunch. After dining, travel to the nearby Cu Chi Tunnels. Dug by the Viet Minh resistance force during the Indochina War, the Cu Chi Tunnels comprise an underground tunnel network that was later extended during the Vietnam War to a total length of 200km and a depth of around 3-4m. Under there, you can find all the necessary equipment like a meeting room, kitchen, weapon stores, offices, clinic, etc. Before experiencing the tunnels, you will watch a documentary about the tunnels and the war during the 60s – 70s. You will then drive back to Ho Chi Minh City in about 1.5 hours.

Have a free & easy time after breakfast at the hotel until a good time. You will see your tour guide and take a private transfer from Ho Chi Minh City to the airport.
Please note: hotel standard check-out time is 12:00 pm