A Food Lover’s Tour of Vietnam

Hanoi is a bustling and fascinating city – a whirlwind of colours, smells and sounds and a wonderful place to get a real flavour of life in Vietnam.

Morning
After breakfast your private guide and driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and take you on a half-day tour to discover the city, taking in sights including the Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house-on-stilts and the nearby One Pillar Pagoda.

Continue to visit the historic Temple of Literature (Vietnam’s first university, built in the 11th century), the iconic Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple.

For your continuous culinary experience, at lunchtime, you will meet Mrs. Anh Tuyet, a recognized Culinary Artist, and the traditional Hanoi Cuisine Conservationist, and enjoy an authentic lunch at her restaurant. As the seventh generation of a Hanoi original family, the chef Anh Tuyet was fortunate to inherit the ingenuity of her grandmother’s cooking. At 9 years old, the granddaughter Anh Tuyet was sitting at her grandmother’s side, she was told from picking vegetables, choosing vegetables to make good and healthy food. Anh Tuyet’s restaurant becomes the favorite place for gourmands and chefs coming from all over the world including students from Orlando Cultural Academy (USA), Anthony Bourdain (a well-known chef in Manhattan), Eckart Witzigmann (3-star Michelin rank chef from Australia) and so on.

Afternoon
After lunch, you will return to the hotel for your free time. Just relax or enjoy a massage.

At around 4 pm when it’s cooling down, meet your guide again and take a fun cyclo (a three-wheeled bicycle taxi) ride through the French colonial architecture of the precinct known as the French Quater, past the French-style villas, the Vietnam History Museum, the heritage Metropole Legend Hotel and the Opera House, name to a few.

Evening
Embark on a walking tour of Hanoi’s best culinary spots with a famous local food blogger who has an enormous passion for his country’s food, and culture.

You will be met at the hotel and set off for the foodie tour. Start with a short walk to Thanh Ha market, a busy, eclectic market alive with the sounds and smells of Hanoi. Here you will capture the essence of Vietnamese culture while browsing the food stalls, hearing about local culinary culture, and sampling unusual Hanoi delicacies.

Next, proceed to the lively Dong Xuan market where you can sample a few local treats such as Pho Tiu (noodle soup with pork and herbs) and Bun Dau (tofu served in soup with rice noodles and shrimp paste). Your food expert will share the secrets of these dishes and explain about Vietnamese meal times.

Continue to see ceremonial cake stalls and taste a special French influenced dessert. At the end of the tour you will stop at one of the Old Quarter’s busiest, yet smallest, coffee shops for a well-earned sit down and coffee before transferring back to your hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi

Vietnamese cuisine is famous for its diversity in cooking styles, ingredients, ways of serving, and especially for its healthiness. As the heart of the country, Hanoi embodies all finest around Vietnam, where the cuisine is entitled the most attractive and typical.

Today you will embark on a fun excursion to the outskirt of Hanoi to join an authentic and traditional cooking class with typical Northern Vietnam dishes.

Morning 
Meet your private guide and drive out of the city to the Ngoc Thuy Market – a vibrant and authentic local market. Here your Chef will greet and guide you around the market, demystify the local produce, explain the market culture, and encourage you to taste some of its most exotic ingredients. Try your bargain skill and buy fresh ingredients for the cooking class’s menu. After your Vietnam trip, you surely can bargain anything you want to buy.

After the shopping, you will pay a visit to the Temple of Hero Ly Thuong Kiet, a local pagoda and a local herb garden where your personal chef will have a short talk on the art of Hanoian gastronomy, vegetables, herbs & spices & how to prepare & use them.

Proceed to the cooking school where you will roll into the kitchen and start cooking 4 main dishes of a traditional meal. The hands-on lesson includes learning cooking, cutting techniques, and how to use a Vietnamese vegetable grater & knife. You will be carefully guided step-by-step by your professional chef to make your own Masterpiece.

Afternoon
After all the lessons and cooking, you will sit down and with your Chef eat what you have together cooked. Engage in more conversation with your chef who will share some of her kitchen secrets and tips, which led to the creation of her cooking classes.

Bid a fond farewell to your chef and transfer back to your hotel where the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure. You can continue to explore Hanoi’s Old Quarter and try dozens of famous loch dishes such as Pho Cuon (fresh spring rolls), and Nom (Mixed Salad).

Overnight in Hanoi

Morning
After breakfast, your private tour guide will pick you up and take you through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta to the legendary Halong Bay where you will board a traditional-style Vietnamese Junk Boat that is your home for the evening. The limestone karsts and tropical islets rising up from the emerald waters of the bay provide an ethereal backdrop for your leisurely cruise.

Upon arrival you’ll be welcomed aboard your Stylish Junk boat, each with its own individual route, to begin your cruise around the bay’s thousands of limestone islets and caves.

Afternoon
After a delicious lunch on board, you will spend time to sunbathe on the sundeck and enjoy the peaceful tranquility of the bay.

Later you will visit Sung Sot Cave “Grotte des Surprises” a hidden gem of mother nature. Float peacefully through magnificent limestone formations containing thousands of stalagmites and stalactites.

Continue to cruise. As you weave your way through the islands, you’ll come across secluded bays, white sandy beaches, and floating villages.

There is plenty of leisure time to enjoy activities both onboard and around the fantastical scenery of the Bay. Pamper yourself at the cruise spa or swim in the emerald waters.

Toward the end of the day, you will sail to the overnight mooring area. During this time – the magical “blue hour” – Halong Bay reveals its true, magnificent beauty. You have a chance to attend the chef’s cooking demonstration or enjoy a mesmerising sunset on the top deck before a scrumptious dinner.

The rest of the evening will be at leisure. You can watch a movie or join the crew for squid fishing before retiring to your room for a restful sleep.

Note: If your time permits, we would highly recommend an additional night on board which gives you a lot more time to relax and take in the amazing landscape. You’ll get to cruise deeper into the Bay where it’s more beautiful and less crowded.

Overnight on board in Halong Bay

Morning
The graceful practice of Tai Chi eases you into your day as is the local custom. Join a ‘Local Specialist’ on the deck of the Junk boat for a morning class in exquisite natural surrounds. You’ll have time for an early morning swim at one of Halong Bay’s quiet beaches and, if you’re feeling energetic, hop on a kayak and paddle through the Dark and Bright Caves admiring the glittering stone walls.

Back to the Junk boat. Check out of the cabin and then enjoy a full brunch buffet as you cruise back to port. Disembark around midday for your return drive to Hanoi.

Afternoon
From Hanoi, you will be transferred to the airport to catch the flight to Da Nang, in the central of Vietnam.

Upon arrival at Da Nang airport, you will be picked up by your private guide & driver and taken to your hotel in Hoi An, the UNESCO heritage town. Hoi An has a pick of two beaches just 5kms (3 miles) away with so many beautiful beach resorts so please advise us if you prefer to stay on the beach.

Overnight in Hoi An

Morning
Meet your guide again and start to explore rural Hoi An on a beautiful cycling adventure. Your ride begins by exploring the hidden passageways and winding alleyways of Hoi An countryside. Ride along small lanes at a peaceful pace viewing local life and pause to see farmers toiling in their rice fields using centuries of farming practices. Peddle your way through palm forests, across bridges, fields of water buffalo…

Take a short break at a local family in Cam Thanh Village before enjoying a fun ride on the traditional Basket Boat (round boat) in the Water Coconut Palm Forest. Learn how to sail the basket boat and spend your time to catch fishes and “purple crabs” in the Canal.

Continue riding to Tra Que Organic Vegetable Village, where a large variety of vegetables is produced for the local community. At the village, you will be shown the environmentally sustainable practices which the local villagers have used for centuries and is still being used extensively today.

After some farming practices, you will head to a family in the local village to enjoy a foot massage and the traditional herbal foot dip. After that, you will participate in a hands-on cooking class. Together with your Chef, you will learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food from scratch. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional Vietnamese utensils (still in use today) you will cook 4 famous dishes like: Tra Que Vegetable Salad, Tam Huu (spring onion rolls), Banh Xeo (Vietnamese pancake) & Hoi An fresh spring rolls.

After the class, you sit down and have a chance to savour the dishes you and your chef have prepared. Bid a farewell to your chef and ride back to your hotel.

Afternoon
Embark on a 4-hour walking and food tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter, visiting the Tan Ky house, the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation and the Central Market.

The walking tour combines with food tasting and off-the-beaten sightseeing. This tour is designed to give you the confidence to go out and try street food on your own when you visit a heaven of street food like Vietnam. You’ll also discover a different Hoi An – not beautiful decorating restaurants. This tour is a delicious and fun way to explore Hoi An just like a local. The local dishes you will are Chicken Rice, Hoanh Thanh (Chinese inspired won ton), Banh Vac (white rose cake), and Banh Beo (water fern cake).

Overnight in Hoi An

Today is free for you to explore Hoi An further or simply relax at your hotel. Hoi An is truly a food heaven. You can try numerous local specialties in one of many restaurants in Hoi An. Certainly, vegetarian and vegan choices are available. Or if you are keen on exploring more about Vietnam Culinary, let’s join a cooking class with Hoi An’s most famous Chef Ms. Vy who has over 30 years of experience in the kitchen – the first 11 of which were in her parent’s restaurant followed later by her own. Over this time, Ms. Vy has gathered an unrivaled repertoire of Vietnamese dishes. Ms. Vy has published her first Book, Taste Vietnam: The Morning Glory Cookbook. Having sold over 35,000 copies, the book reflected Vy’s passion for Vietnamese cuisine and cooking.

Overnight in Hoi An

Morning
After breakfast, you will depart Hoi An heading north to the Royal City of Hue. Your 4-hour trip, hugging the coastline along the Eastern Sea, provides breathtaking views that grow ever more spectacular as we wind our way up Hai Van Pass (“Pass of the Clouds”). On the way, you will stop to visit some sites, such as Non-Nuoc Stone Carving Village, Marble Mountain, and Lang Co Beach.

Arrive at the hotel in Hue at mid-noon. You will be served a light lunch with some local specialties of Hue:
– Nem Lui (Hue Lemongrass Skewers)
– Banh Beo (Steamed Rice Cakes) …
– Bun Thit Nuong (Vermicelli Noodles With Grilled Pork) …
– Banh It Ram (Fried Sticky Rice Dumplings)

Afternoon
You will be transferred to the outskirt to visit Hue’s most impressive tomb of King Tu Duc to learn more about Royal’s life. En route, you will stop to visit the Incense and Conical Hat making villages.

Evening
Hue is famous for its Royal cuisine. The Nguyen Emperors’ banquets were legendary. Some feats were said to have included 300 rare dishes served in more than a thousand bowls. Tonight you will head out to enjoy a Royal Banquet. You will be entertained by the traditional Hue Imperial Court music and served a multiple course meal in the royal tradition of the Imperial Court. Each dish is exquisitely prepared to symbolize the dragon, the phoenix, and the peacock. A truly unique experience.

Overnight in Hue

Morning
After breakfast, you will navigate the busy streets of Hue on the back of a cyclo en route to Dong Ba market, an exciting market filled with colorful sights, sounds, and smells. At the market, you will have a chance to discover a favourite Noddle shop by Anthony Bourdain – the World Famous Chef and TV Producer. Here you will sample the best Bun Bo Hue “Hue Noddle soup”.

From the market, you will be transferred to Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s best-preserved religious monument. Boarding a local dragon boat next, you cruise along the Perfume River.

Continue your journey to discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed wonder of the Atmospheric Citadel including the Forbidden Purple City. After that proceed to the Hue Royal Antiques Museum to see a collection of ornaments, where preserves royal treasures have a history with many changes.

Today you will have an opportunity to visit the house of the former Princess Ngoc Son where you will ‘Connect With Locals’ and meet a family member for a home-hosted lunch to gain a glimpse of their life in this historic house.

Afternoon
After lunch you will be driven to Hue airport for a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by the locals. Arrive and transfer to your hotel in downtown for check-in. The remainder of the afternoon and evening will be at your leisure.

For your dining experience, we would highly recommend the top-notch Noir Restaurant where you can embark on a culinary journey like no other: Dining in the Dark. Experience a different world in which you savor exquisite tastes and textures in complete darkness.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Morning
After breakfast, you will begin your exploration of this vibrant City. Take a walking tour of Dong Khoi Street where the Heritage icons and modern high-rises stand side by side. During the walking tour, you will pass by the Opera House and the former Hotel de Ville. Then, wander up to Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office, designed by the renowned Gustave Eiffel.

Continue to the War Remnants Museum and the Reunification Palace where you’ll have a vivid glimpse of the war through the eyes of the locals. Your final stop will be Ben Thanh market, one of the earliest surviving structures in old Saigon.

Today you will enjoy lunch at BLOOM restaurant. Your visit will ‘Make A Difference’ to this Culinary Vocational Training facility developed by the charity ‘Aid to Children Without Parents’ that provides training to disadvantaged young people in the hospitality industry enabling them to become self-reliant.

Afternoon
Finish the tour and return to your hotel for your leisure time.

Evening
Experience the City’s nightlife the way locals do, all from the back of a Vespa scooter. Sample the most amazing dishes that Vietnam has the offer! Taste your way through cuisine from North Vietnam, Hue and the South. The Foodie is the most acclaimed Vietnam Food tour, and is designed to introduce you to the dishes and desserts that most food blogs and other tours don’t really touch upon!

During the food tour, you will be taken to the most popular street stalls and hidden alleyways in the city and we will show you where the locals really love to eat! So save your appetite, delight your palate, and let us fill your tummy with delicious and authentic Vietnamese Food!

The foodie tour focuses on street food dishes that most people outside of Vietnam have never had a chance to experience. The food is not just a gastronomic tour, but a great way to see parts of the city that the majority of tourists do not get to see.

Overnight in HCM City

Morning
After breakfast, your private guide and driver will take you out of HCM City in a private vehicle and onto some beautiful country roads to Ben Tre Town in the Mekong Delta, famous for its vast rice fields, numerous waterways, and beautiful landscapes. Known as the ‘rice bowl’ of Vietnam, this region produces most of Vietnam’s fruit, rice, sugar cane, and coconuts.

After the two-hour drive through the lush farming land, you will arrive in Ben Tre where you will set out on a motorized boat trip on narrow channels winding through the coconut forest. During the boat ride, you will stop at the local cottage industries to see how the local people make bricks and weave sleeping mats by hand. Learn about their craft handed down through generations.

Take a leisure walk along the village lanes, visiting the local homes to try fresh fruits, taste delicious honey tea while enjoying a local Tai Tu music show. Continue to visit another workshop where the local delicacy of coconut candy is produced and a wide range of coconut husk and fiber products are skillfully handcrafted.

Next, take a small sampan through palm-fringed back canals, gliding peacefully along the hidden waterways surrounded by an immense variety of tropical plants. The quiet, rural setting is a welcome and restorative retreat to the frenetic buzz of HCM City which seems far, far away.

Enjoy sitting in the back a Motor Cart (xe lôi) passing local hamlets, rice fields, coconut groves, and lush orchard farms while meeting with local people.

Afternoon
Finish your sightseeing tour then your guide will take you to a riverside restaurant for lunch sampling the most delightful cuisines such as Banh Xeo and the grilled Elephant-Ear Fish. After lunch, you will be transferred toward Can Tho, the capital city of the Mekong delta. Arrive and check in to your hotel.

Evening
Your Chef will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the local market by the river for some shopping. You will personally select the ingredients for the cooking class. After having some fun at the market head to the local home where you will take part in a hands-on, entertaining cooking class. With the help of your personal chef, you learn how to cook some of the most delightful dishes of the Mekong region such as Banh Xeo (Vietnamese rice pizza) and Hu Tieu (southern style noodle soup). After preparing the food you will enjoy your dinner afterward.

Overnight in Can Tho

Morning
After breakfast take a leisurely boat trip to explore the picturesque tributaries of the Lower Mekong River.

Proceed to Cai Răng floating market, the largest wholesale floating market in the Mekong Delta. Packed into a section of the river, hundreds of vessels sell all sorts of fruits and vegetables grown in the Delta. You’ll see one boat heaped with pineapples, another with carrots while sellers nimbly toss watermelons down to a smaller boat that has latched on.

Get off the boat you will take a leisurely walk through the village, see the fruit gardens and visit a rice husking mill and rice noodles making shop.

Head back to the City you will continue to visit Binh Thuy Ancient house. The amazing combination between Old style of Vietnam and French construction in one House has been well maintenance by the inherited family.

Afternoon
Depart Can Tho you will wind your way for 4 hours back to Ho Chi Minh City. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon and spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.

For your fine-dining experience, we would highly recommend the world-class La Villa French Restaurant ran by the renowned Chef, Thierry Mounon. Located on a quiet side street off Thao Dien, a short taxi ride from the city center. La Villa French Restaurant features authentic French cuisine with the true love of top products.

Overnight in HCM City

Your private transfer greets you at the hotel after breakfast and escorts you to Ho Chi Minh International Airport where you board your flight home or travel on to more adventures, we will help you with the planning.