Travel Style
Culinary
Destinations
Hue
Highlights Itinerary Accommodation Inclusions/Exclusions
Vietnam Culinary tours package of 12 days offers sightseeings to the most highlighted spots in Vietnam with special add-on of cuising experience in the journey. Excursing Vietnam, you will unveil the typical cuisine of three main regions bearing different ingredients combination and tastes in gastronomy. A food on foot tour in Hanoi and another cooking class organized at Hanoian's house bring a plenitude experiences of culninary in the Red River delta. Authentic Vietnamese culinary tour experiences are input in your Vietnam travel package such as interacting and joining cooking with locals, you can observe the unique dining etiquette, buying and selling rituals and also feel the hospitable and welcome from them. In central Vietnam, the eatery of lunch at serene garden house in Hue and cooking class in a rural village in Hoi An accomplish your understand about the places. The peacefully tranquil ambience have yours authentic and pleasant stay while enjoying the acitivites. Move on to a more vibrant and glorious Ho Chi Minh City, you will have a savory of sumptuous food on Saigon River dinner cruise and participate in cooking class setting at organic garden not so far from Cu Chi Tunnels. All these experiences on Vietnamese cuisine and cooking combined with sightseeing makes a unique travel Vietnam.
Welcome to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam which is one of the most enticing Asian cities with cultural richness, vibrant street life, and impressive cuisine. Touring the city, you will see the tourist attractions and relics of Hanoi; the Vietnamese Cuisine Tour also presents a taste of all ranges of dishes in Hanoi with street food on the pavements, beguiling dishes in high-end restaurants, and variable 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 delve into the Hanoi local street food tour. Following your local guide, you will sample popular food and let them melt in your mouth. While walking to explore Hanoi Old Quarter, you will stop from time to time to taste the Noodle soup, Vietnamese baguette, steamed rolls stuffed with ear-mushroom and minced pork, Vietnamese spring rolls in deep fried and fresh style, local beer at beer hub or a Vietnamese coffee. Finish your street food tour, you will get back to the hotel and have a relaxing time on your own.
In the morning, move to the outer of Hanoi center, you will have a fun Hanoi cooking class tour beginning with a stroll to the local market to buy fresh cooking 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 the local buying and selling rituals; and learn of the main cooking style as well as regularly used ingredients and combinations. When having everything ready, you will hand-on the cooking class and prepare the traditional dishes of Vietnam. 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 over the streets, the city’s impressive pottery mosaic wall, and the Long Bien historical bridge which is in use for trains, pedestrians, and primitive vehicles. You then can 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 the iconic tourist attractions of Hanoi. 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 the 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 the first university of Vietnam since 1070, and a Confucius Temple. Though the premise of this educational sanctuary was shrunk down, the temple protected by surrounding walls still preserves the studious spirits, the 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 and see the other side of Hanoi with Colonial architecture buildings like the Hanoi Opera House, Metropole Legend Hotel, the State Bank, Trang Tien Bridge, etc.
This morning, you will check out the hotel and leave Hanoi for Halong Bay one of the must-to-see 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 the serene nature, you can participate in outdoor activities according to cruise schedules like kayaking in water lagoons, sunset break, cooking demonstration hiking to the Halong Bay cave, and going swimming. After having a lavish dinner on the boat, you can chill out on your own or try the luck on squid fishing.
Early risers will find the freshness and quietness of the bay capture the sunrise on Halong Bay and 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 of Vietnam located in the middle of the country and was the former capital where the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam existed. Apart from the tranquil landscape of rivers, cities, and rural villages, Hue is impressed by the Imperial inheritance 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 nice day in Hue with Imperial Citadel for a brief on the histories 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 historical stories of Buddhism during wartime. Your lunch will be served at a local garden restaurant.
In the afternoon, you'll to Tu Duc Tomb nestled on a luxuriant hill and designed by himself before his death. The tomb showcases impressive Vietnamese art and scenic views over the pavilion on Lotus Lake and winding paths on the hills. Then on, head to Chuon Lagoon distanced around 11km from Hue center. Meet up with local people, you’ll hop on a local wooden boat and sail to the endless lagoon of fisheries to enjoy the striking sunset. You also can 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 perfect combination and time to create those dishes to bring high-quality flavors of salts. 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 to the bay with a panoramic view. Arriving in Hoi An late afternoon, you will check in 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 of 2 or 3 floors are attached and designed in unique architectures of the combinations between 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 ancient town in Vietnam is the place for you to go back to the old dates and enjoy pleasurable moments. After lunch, you will get back to the hotel and have some resting moment. You're free to get around the town shopping for leather, tailor-made suits, and other local handicrafts.
This evening, you will head to the Hai Cafe and have 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 on your leisure to chill out at hotel or take a bicycle and traverse to the countryside of Hoi An or pristine beaches.
After check-out, travel to the airport in Da Nang 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 Ho Chi Minh City center.
In the morning, embark on a city tour of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly called Saigon, a city with a strong influence of colonial and Chinese cultures. 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 chilling time on the River Cruise on the Saigon River. After a welcoming cocktail, you will sample the rustic Indochina delicacies on on Saigon River dinner cruise while enjoying traditional shows.
In the morning, travel around one hour to an organic garden in a vegetable village. The host will welcome and introduce to you their large gardens with variable organic vegetable types. Then, start your cooking class by making three dishes and enjoy lunch. After dining, travel to nearby Cu Chi Tunnels. Dug by the Viet Minh resistance force during the Indochina war, Cu Chi Tunnels is comprised of an underground tunnel network which was then extended larger during the Vietnam War up to a total length of 200km and around 3-4m deep. Under there, you can find full 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 then will drive by land back to Ho Chi Minh City in around 1.5 hours.
Have a free & easy time after breakfast at the hotel till 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
Inclusions:
Accommodation in double/twin sharing basic
Daily breakfast at hotel and meals as indicated in the program
Private air-conditioned transfer
Excellent English-speaking guide (other language on request)
Cooking classes and street food tours as mentioned in the program
Entrance fee, boat trip, cycling for sightseeing as mentioned
2 bottles of water per person per day
Exclusions:
International and domestic flights
Vietnam Visa
Tips and gratuities for guide, driver, etc.
Personal expenses and services not mentioned
Remark: The price is applied for group of 2 guests (accommodated with 3 star hotels. Please contact us if you are at bigger group size and prefer higher hotel category
BOOK THIS TRIP
18 days 17 nights
6 days 5 nights
