8 Days Discovering the Culinary in Vietnam

Hanoi dazzles visitors its unique blend of oriental lifestyle, French colonial architecture, tree-lined boulevards and peaceful lakes. Still retaining a charming air from its colonial days, visitors are impressed with the quietness and subtle beauty of Hanoi.
Upon arrival, you are picked up and transferred to hotel check in and leisure. Dinner at famous Ngon restaurant with many specialties of Vietnam.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Today, we enjoy the street food tour from 9am to 13pm. The tour begins with an introduction to the local food scene over a hearty bowl of PHO; noodle soup, the quintessential Hanoi street food. Then it is off to a bustling local market where your chef will demystify the local produce, and encourage you to taste some of its most exotic ingredients.
A further 5 venues are included in the tour and all travel between venus is by taxi or on foot, the tour lasts for 5 hours and finishes with a typical Vietnamese ca phe, or che (Vietnamese tea) and local sweets. Your chef and guide will also share some of their favourite eating and shopping secrets in Ha Noi for you to explore further.
Back to hotel for a short leisure. In the afternoon, continue to visit the Temple of Literature
and Quoc Tu Giam – Vietnam’s first University constructed in 1070. Its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past.
Discover the Old Quarter of Hanoi by cyclo. This fascinating are of narrow alleys and shop houses is also called “36 streets”.
Dinner with “Cha Ca”, the Hanoi speciality food with attracting people all over the world and The MSNBC News listed in guide book named “10 places to see before you die”.
Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, depart for Halong Bay and take in the lush scenery as you drive through the rich farmlands of the Red river delta. Hop aboard a cruise and sail out into this UNESCO World Heritage Site. You’ll marvel at all the weird and wonderful dramatic limestone karst formations rising form the crystal water. According to legend, they were formed as a dragon descended to the sea.
Take a swim and spend the night up on deck chatting away under the starlit sky. A little piece of paradise found and definitely one of Vietnam’s highlights.
Overnight on board.

Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi session on the sun deck and take the opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. Visit a beautiful Surprising cave then head back to the boat for a final glimpse of Halong Bay and a buffet brunch while cruising back to the dock.
Back to Hanoi for a flight to Danang, then transfer to Hoi An.
Dinner at Morning Glory (RAU MUONG) restaurant – serves an array of Central Vietnamese street food and traditional dishes in a stylish setting. The restaurant occupies a refurbished colonial building along Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, featuring an open kitchen downstairs and a breezy terrace that overlooks Hoi An Ancient Town.
Overnight in Hoi An.
 

We start the day with a welcome drink at our meeting point.Travel by minivan (10 mins) to Tra Que Organic Village, and walk through the market gardens where local farmers work their fields using the traditional methods of hundreds of years ago – no electrical machinery here. We pick fresh saw-tooth coriander and Vietnamese mint for our cooking lesson later, before trying a special herbal drink at a local home.
To the local village market and with shopping list in hand we purchase a range of local ingredients, including star anise, cardamom, sesame rice paper, water spinach and banana flower.
Arriving at cooking school we have a chance to freshen up before beginning our class. Working together with our Chef, we learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food from scratch. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional Vietnamese utensils (still in use today) we cook 4 famous dishes, including the national dish ‘Pho’.
After the class, we sit down and a chance to savour the dishes we have prepared. Leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An river bank to central Hoi An.
Dinner at Lantern town restaurant - caters to a sophisticated clientele of expats and tourists, where they can enjoy authentic Vietnamese food, Hoi An specialities, and unique fusion dishes. Decorated with contemporary local artworks and hand-painted silk lanterns, the restaurant features two indoor dining sections, lounge area, outdoor terrace, and an outdoor courtyard with sweeping views of Hoi An Ancient town and riverside. The Hoi An sample plate or Lantern town tasting plate are great for sampling popular Vietnamese appetisers in one sitting, or simply opt for its signature mi quang noodles, mixed fried rice, and braised claypot fish.
Free at leisure and explore Hoi An night on your own way.
Overnight in Hoi An.

Take a journey through the enchanting streets of Hoi An ancient town with their numerous art and crafts shops and tailors. The town’s heritage is quite multicultural, the architecture is a fusion of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European influences. You will visit a traditional ancient house, the Hoi An museum, and a Chinese Assembly Hall. Also visit the town’s emblem, the Japanese Covered Bridge, which was originally built in the mid 16th century, along with the numerous Chinese assembly halls, helps to give Hoi An a cosmopolitan feel.
After lunch, check out Hoi An and depart for Ho Chi Minh city, still called Saigon by local people. Dinner at Mam Restaurant where brings you a superb food experience in a city full of surprises like Saigon. Overnight in Saigon.

Start with a walk along Dong Khoi street and visit the most prominent French colonial structures in the city centre including the Municipal Theatre, City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office with its ochre and white walls, dark wood and painted maps showing telecommunications in late 19th century Indochina making it one of the best preserved colonial style buildings in Asia. You will then travel to the site of the impressive Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum.
Back to hotel for relaxing in the afternoon.
At around 6pm our Vespa driver cum guide will see you at hotel lobby to offer an amazing nightlife Ho Chi Minh city. You will have a chance to sample the most amazing dishes that Vietnam has to offer Ho Chi Minh City! Our drivers will drive you different parts of the city: Stop at one of the best view for photos before having the first dish of the Southern.
While having delicious dish, our guide will share you more inside culture of the dish and southern culture.
Drive through the local districts of real bustling local business happening before we stop for our second dish with fresh and delicious of the freshly made spring roll
Cruise through the amazing busy traffic of the city before nice photos captured at the city land mark.
Zoom through the other busy local traffic before reaching our next stop with local sea foods and cold drinks while watching local nightlife happening!
Drive through the small busy traffic and busy of local before reaching our desert of grill fresh banana rapped in sticky rice.
Have an amazing cocktail or beer and music at the local bar before driving back to your hotel.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh city.

Breakfast at the hotel. Be free at your own leisure. Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
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