Culinary Delights of Vietnam Tour

Our guide will warmly welcome you at Ho Chi Minh City Airport and then transfer to the hotel for check-in (the rooms are at your disposal from 14:00). In the evening you will have dinner with the flavors of southern Vietnamese cuisine. Stay overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

In the morning, you will take a stroll to a local market to shop for fresh ingredients. Then, back to your class and try hand-on demonstration to gain insight into the diversity of the Vietnamese cuisine. During lunch, you will taste what you have made and enjoy some additional dishes prepared by the host. In the afternoon, set out on a city tour of the former capital of French Indochina, once known as Saigon. Historic landmarks include the Old Saigon post office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the ethnic Chinese district of Cho Lon, especially Thien Hau Pagoda. Overnight at the hotel.

On this day, you will take a cruise to discover Mekong Delta with the first destination in Cai Be floating market. Cai Be is among the biggest and the most bustling floating markets in Mekong Delta with hundred of local barges selling all kinds of fruits and vegetables. On the way, you will come across some local factories making rice paste, coconut candies and some other specialties. After that, you will enjoy lunch at “Le Longanier” beautifully surrounded by orchards. The tour continues to Dong Hoa Hiep Island – a beautiful land on the way from Cai Be to Vinh Long. Then, you will stop at Ancient Mandarin House built in 1890s and listen to the house owners talking about the history of this house. Later, you will pass by peaceful and charming landscapes on the way to Vinh Long such as Dong Phu canal, Binh Hoa Phuoc, An Binh famous for its boundless fruit orchard and Tam Ho’s nursery garden. The cruise finishes at Vinh Long where you will have a drive back to Ho Chi Minh city for overnight.

Leaving the buzzing and modern Ho Chi Minh City, you will take a flight to Danang and then transfer to the quiet former trading town of Hoi An (30 km – 45 minute drive). With more than 200 years of history and the ravages of weather and war, nowadays the ancient Hoi An city still remains much the same as it was in its heyday. Join in a walking tour and a food tasting tour will help you have an overview of the historical vestiges as well as culinary art in the town. Sites include Japanese Bridge, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Phung Hung Ancient House. Your guide will navigate you through the back streets and alleys of the town and then spend time to taste local foods and learn in more depth about the history and intricacies of Vietnamese food. Lunch and dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning, transfer by cycle or cyclo as you wish to Tra Que village which is located on the banks of a lagoon with fertile soil known for harvesting the country's best vegetables. You will spend the morning to do farmer's works among the villagers and learn how to grow vegetables. Enjoy a footbath with herbal leaf. Especially, you have chance to try some specialties of Hoi An in this local house. Transfer back Hoi An in the afternoon. The remainder of day is free at your leisure. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning, you will be fond of visiting the local famous restaurant that is the most energetic and development eating establishments in Hoi An. An expert chef - your host and teacher for the day will guide you through Hoi An bustling markets for ingredients first. Then you will enjoy an interesting cooking class in the restaurant kitchen and have chance to be shared the secrets of chef's signature dishes. In the afternoon, continue your tour with a scenic drive past spectacular beaches to the former imperial capital of Hue. Hue is the photogenic city graced with the Perfume River and enigmatic emperors' tombs. Visit one of unique garden houses in Hue City if time permits. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

Your tour today will start with a cycle tour around the Ancient City of Hue. You will first visit the Imperial Citadel which was recognized as World Heritage by UNESCO. Then continue to visit a local market, stroll through the aisles abundant in the market, you can see there are many fresh produces, and also have chance to know more about the local ingredients that are used in the region's foods. Stop at a local restaurant and enjoy lunch with some specialty foods of Hue, such as "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. Next you explore the Thien Mu pagoda and tomb of Minh Mang King. Back to your hotel at the end of the afternoon.

Leaving Hue and take a flight to Hanoi - the ancient capital of Vietnam. Firstly, take a unique walking tour of Hanoi with a local guide. Enjoy yourself in the finest foods of Hanoi. Continue your food tasting tour with an opportunity for you to discover more about the Hanoi's culinary by strolling along 'food alley' in the heart of Hanoi's main market and try the regional delicacies and unusual foods. This gastronomic day will show you the personality, culture as well as the colorful lives of the Vietnamese people. Enjoy a Water Puppet Show and overnight in Hanoi.

In the morning, you will take part in a cooking class. Explore the lively Hanoi local market for preparing to the demonstration. Donning a chef's uniform, you will learn how to make a number of regional delicacies. After that, you will have time to enjoy delicious dishes that you created in the cooking class in your lunch. In the afternoon, take part in Hanoi City tour with visit to The Temple of Literature and Ethnology Museum. Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel.

Today you will leave Hanoi and take a journey to Halong. Along the way, you can have view of the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life. You will take a cruising tour to visit amazing Halong Bay - the Vietnam's Wonder. Have lunch at your cruise while enjoying the hundreds of unspoilt dramatic limestone karsts. In the afternoon, you will visit a beautiful cave, go swimming, do kayaking, and take part in a Vietnamese spring roll cooking demonstration on the sundeck, or you can simply relax as you wind through the Bay. Stay overnight on your cruise.

This morning you will have time to enjoy the dawn and pure fresh air at Halong Bay. Have breakfast then weaves through strange-shaped limestone rock formations and return to Halong City. Next, drive back to Hanoi. Enjoy Hanoi in the afternoon and evening at leisure.

This last day you will have free time to discover more about Hanoi by yourself. You can do anything that you missed in the previous day, go shopping, go sightseeing or simple relax before your transfer to Hanoi's Airport for onward flight. End of tour services.