Flavors of Vietnam: A 10 Days Culinary Tour

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival.
Welcome to Hanoi: Vietnam's bustling colonial capital. Your guide and driver will meet you outside the baggage claim of Noi Bai Airport and take you to your hotel in the city center. In the afternoon, take a walk around the center, visiting some of Hanoi's main attractions: the Opera House, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. In the evening enjoy a traditional Water Puppet Performance of a unique Vietnamese Art form hailing from Southeast Asia's wet-rice culture - followed by a welcome dinner at one of Hanoi's lovely restaurants.
Meals: Dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi Cooking Class (join in group) & City Tour.
This morning, your tour guide will take you to the cooking class. Discover a local market and learn about ingredients, flavors and see how the local prepare for meals. Next is a short talk on the art of Hanoian gastronomy, vegetables, herbs & spices then learn how to prepare & use them. The Chef will share to you her pride of Vietnamese cuisines and the secrets how to make it good. Enjoy the local food in Hanoi style.
In the afternoon you will explore Vietnam’s charming capital. With its wide tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and ancient oriental pagodas, Hanoi is an eclectic mix that offers something for everyone. Your city tour will take you to Hanoi’s key sites: the Temple of Literature; Hoa Loa Prison (formerly known as the “Hanoi Hilton” during the Vietnam War); West Lake including the sedate Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on cruise.
(Note: The below itinerary is subject to change without prior notice, depends on specific cruise and weather condition)
After breakfast at the hotel, get picked-up for a 2.5-hour drive to mystical Halong Bay. With its jutting limestone islands and sparkling turquoise waters, Halong Bay is among the most popular tourism destinations in Vietnam. It is also voted as one of seven World Natural Wonders and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Upon arrival, embark and being greeted by our boat crew and captain. Check-in at your en-suite cabin and get refreshment before returning to the main restaurant. Savor a gourmet lunch of fresh seafood onboard as you sail out into the mystical bay. In the afternoon, cruise around some of Halong’s many islands, including Dinh Huong and Ga Choi. Along the way visit one of the bay’s 3 largest caves (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island cove with a sheltered white-sand beach and take a dip in the warm waters of the Tonkin Gulf (weather permits). Pass the night on your junk, lulled to sleep by the gentle rocking of calm waters.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Accommodation: Overnight on cruise.

Day 4: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Fly to Danang – Hoian.
Awake early and participate in Tai Chi on the top deck or simply relax and enjoy the sunrise over the bay’s towering islands. Enjoy a morning cup of coffee or tea and light breakfast, before setting out to explore nearby islands by rowboat. Return to the junk and check-out of your cabin as you navigate back to Halong City. It’s time for you to take advantage of the sundeck and admire the amazing rock formations of the bay. Have brunch on board the boat before returning to Halong pier. Your driver will meet you at the dock and take you to Noi Bai Airport of Hanoi for your in-country flight to Danang.
On arrival, your tour guide and driver will transfer you to hotel in Hoian, a destination with two faces: the charming, old-world trading port of narrow streets and traditional houses, and the beach with its luxurious resorts and long stretch of clean white sand.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

Day 5: Hoian Cooking Class (half day tour & join in group).
This morning enjoy a cooking class at the Red Bridge Cooking School. Meet at the Hai Scout Cafe in Hoian’s Old Town. From there we will head to Hoian’s colorful market. Explore the market and interact with local vendors to purchase some fresh ingredients for today’s cooking class. Next, board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely 25min cruise along the Hoian River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. Discover the school’s herb and vegetable garden before starting your cooking lesson. The class runs for about an hour and 15min and includes demonstrations from the school’s chefs as well as time to help prepare traditional dishes. At the end of class, enjoy an introductory lesson in the art of Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration).
Note:
- Bring your swimsuit and after the cooking tour has finished relax and enjoy free use of our new 20 meter swimming pool.
- The meeting point is located right on ancient town so transfer is excluded.  
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

Day 6: Hoian Walking Tour – Boat Trip.
Hoian Ancient Town is wonderful break in the middle of your journey. From the 16th to 18th centuries, Hoian was a thriving international commercial port for Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab traders. These people came primarily to trade in the high grade silk, which is still produced in the area, as well as ceramics. Today, Hoian is a quaint riverside town, popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailors shops, and numerous cafes. Some of the buildings in the narrow streets have remained unchanged for more than a century.
Today you enjoy a half-day walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200-year old Tan Ky ancestral house, and the Japanese Bridge. After lunch, take a short boat trip to a nearby island and visit a handicraft village specializing in ceramics. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon and enjoy a free evening to explore the town by your own.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian.

Day 7: Hoian – Danang – Fly to Saigon – Street food tour.
Enjoy your free morning until get transfer to airport for flight to Vietnam’s modern metropolis: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Upon arrival, your guide and driver will pick you to hotel in center. Check in hotel and explore nearby area by your own.
Late afternoon, join in street food tour and explore Saigon by night on Vespa scooters.
Our riders meet you at hotel and first stop is to local coffee shop to “watch the world goes by” (quoted by The Lonely Planet) and enjoy cocktail and appetizer (inclusive) before adventuring into favorite local eating spot. You experience the nightlife of Saigon the way locals do, all from the back of a vintage Vespa. The tour will start with a ride to part Chinatown and then heading to District 4 through busy streets and alleys to see the night life of locals and enjoy street sea- food and cold drinks, places that foreigner won't be found. Leaving district 4 to district 3 the tour pass through downtown district 1 to take in the sights on the way to Banh Xeo, specialty of Saigon, and southern food with the locals. Then the tour will continue to a hidden Vietnamese-style coffee shop to have a taste of Vietnamese music (live) as a local. After this the tour will bring guest to a lively bar to enjoy the drinks with live music. Guests ride pillion behind our drivers.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 8: Saigon – HCM Cooking Class (join in group) – City Tour.
Note: Menu can be flexible based on vegetarians and allergy requirements, please contact with our Travel Consultant to set up the menu accordingly.
Today you will join in morning cooking class at Saigon Cooking Class (managed by Hoa Tuc Res.). Your guide meets you at hotel then take a leisure walk to Ben Thanh market. Market visit is from 8:45 am to 9:40 am.
The Chef will guide you through the colorful and vibrant Ben Thanh market to purchase necessary ingredients for your cooking lesson. Afterward, we hop on taxi and take a short drive to the restaurant.
Hands-on cooking class from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
In a warm atmosphere, participants cook all together following step by step our Chef but everyone has their own material and ingredients for a better understanding of cooking techniques. You will use Vietnamese kitchenware to realize and enjoy a tasty 4 courses meal. MSG and “Knorr powders” are forbidden!
In the afternoon you will visit such sites as the War Remnants Museum, learn about Vietnam’s recent history at Reunification Palace, visit the nearby neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and the City's Centre Post Office before passing by the ornate Opera Theatre and the City Hall.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 9: Saigon – Mekong Delta day trip (Cai Be).
Today you travel to the Mekong River Delta on a day trip to explore the rich culture and lush fluvial landscape. Your driver and guide will meet you at your hotel and take you to Cai Be. Start your tour with a visit to Cai Be countryside, cruising among the local barges stuffed-full of fruits and vegetables. Visit some local workshops then enjoy a delicious lunch served at local restaurants/ house.
In the afternoon, we cruise to Tan Phong island, take a traditional rowboat and venture deeper into the countryside, floating through narrow canals to enjoy the peaceful surroundings. If you are biking/ walking lovers, taking a short ride around the village on island or wandering along the paths is perfect way to explore more about daily life of local people in Mekong Delta. You also learn how they make rice-net for spring-rolls, sew coconut-leaves for cottage roof and specially see how they wave the dried water-hyacynth to make many products: baskets, bags, hats, wallets, shoes...
The cruise ends in Cai Be. Your driver will meet you at the dock and take you back to Saigon.
Tour concludes.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.
Accommodations: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 10: Saigon Departure.
This morning is time to walk and shop around until your guide comes to pick-up you and transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure flight.
Tour concludes.
Meals: Breakfast.
Accommodations: N/A.