TASTE OF VIETNAM - 833 USD

 
Vietnamese cuisine has developed over thousands of years with countless influences from other cultures. Full of authentic recipes, Culinary Vietnam teaches how the aspects of flavor, aroma, texture, color, contrast, balance, and even the sound a food makes should be taken into consideration in the planning of a Vietnamese meal. 

 

Arrival at Noi Bai international airport. Pick up and transfer to the city. City tour of Hanoi which includes a rickshaw tours in the Old district Hanoi, a visit of Hochiminh Mausoleum (out side) and the One Pillar Pagoda. Visit the Temple of Literature - built in 1070 and considered the first university of Vietnam. Afternoon, free for leisure. Night in Hanoi.
 

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit  the streets of Hanoi for a full day street food tour and cooking class. During the day, taste some of the local ingredients at a local market, try a Vietnamese ca phe (coffee) or tra (tea) with the locals at one of the many sidewalk cafes in the historic French Quarter, and have lunch at one of the great restaurants.
This afternoon enjoy a cooking session with a local Vietnamese cook, guided through the steps of preparing a Vietnamese appetizer dish with ingredients purchased this morning in the market, enjoying the fruits of your labour and a printed recipe so you can make the dishes again and again. Your final stop of the day is at one of Hanoi's renowned Bia Hoi, favorite social gathering spots serving fresh draft beer and tasty snacks. Evening water puppet or opera Performance. Overnight in Hanoi.
 

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to visit Duong Lam ancient village, a purely agricultural village of the Northern Red River Delta with a history of about 1,200 years and is well-known for its surviving laterite brick houses, built three to four centuries ago.  On arrival we take a walk on the village path to visit the 17th century Mong Phu temple, as well as the beautiful King Ngo Quyen temple and King Phung Hung temple. Lunch will be at a local home.
If the weather permits, you may also have the opportunity to meet the local people while they make local specialties such as soft green-lentil cake and rice cake filled with brown onion and have a chance to taste these products. Continue our tour to visit Mia Pagoda, built in the 15th century, and admire its 287 statues of all sizes before transferring back to our hotel in Hanoi. 
Back to Hanoi in the afternoon. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for Halong bay through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta. Arrive in Halong. Enjoy lunch as you leave the harbour and cruise through limestone karsts and clear waters among the hundreds of unspoilt islets and grottos of Halong Bay. Several options are available for the afternoon - swim off the boat's platform, make use of the on-board kayaks, or take part in a Vietnamese spring roll cooking demonstration on the sundeck. After the sun sets, enjoy a Vietnamese buffet dinner and the award-winning Indochine will be screened on the sundeck should you desire to watch a movie before retiring to your cabin.

For early risers, complimentary tea and coffee are served on the sundeck followed by a Tai Chi class. Enjoy a wholesome breakfast as your boat weaves through strangely shaped limestone rock formations on the return to Halong City. Disembarkation at about 9h, back to Hanoi. Stop on route to visit But Thap Pagoda in Bac Ninh province, the pagoda was constructed in the 13th century during the Tran Dynasty and rebuilt in the 17th century during the Ly Dynasty. This is one of the most popular pagodas in the north of Vietnam and is known as the center of Buddhis. Overnight in Hanoi.

Breakfast at the hotel. Take the short flight to Hue. The 'royal cuisine' of Hue originated in the days of the Nguyen Dynasty as is regarded as the best in the country today. The delicious flavours and exquisite presentation continue to tempt modern palettes. You may also like to visit the Imperial Citadel and take a cycle tour through the streets where locals can be seen going about their everyday lives. Royal style dinner. Overnight in Hue.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a cooking class today at a private 'garden house' known locally as 'nha vuon'. This traditional style house is set in a large formal garden and has connections with the Royal Imperial Court. The traditional architecture has long been associated with the natural environment and the ancient belief of feng-shui. The lady of the house will teach you how to prepare an extraordinary Vietnamese meal served privately in the private gardens of her home.
Transfer to Hoian in teh afternoon. Night in hoian.

Breakfast at the hotel. Spend time with a local farming family to learn about their daily lifestyle and the flavors of fresh Vietnamese cuisine. Walk along shady lanes to the village of Tra Que and join the farmers as they work on their vegetable garden. You will be shown how to prepare the local delicacy tam huu. After lunch, visit Hoian ancient town with the Japanese bridge, the Phung Hung Old Merchant House, Quang Dong Assembly and handicraft center. Night in Hoian.
 

Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer to Danang airport and flight to Saigon. Transfer to hotel. Visit Saigon with the Old Colonial Residential District and discovery of the city center adorned with elegant boulevards and historic French colonial buildings including the Hotel de Ville (City Hall), Opera House, Notre Dame Basilica, Post Office. Dinner on boat on the Saigon River. Night in Saigon.

Breakfast at the hotel. The cooking class begins as you visit a local home to learn how true Saigonese live and cook. Start early at a busy suburban market with your host sharing their favourite dishes, and head back to the house to start cooking your lunch. In the afternoon discover the Cu Chi tunnel.
Night in Saigon.
 

Breakfast at the hotel. Free to discover and go to shopping your souverirs. Transfer to the airport for the return flight
Have a good trip !


Our net price per person in USD with DBL or TWIN sharing:
 

Services including:
Hotel with breakfast
Meals as mentioned in the programme
Land transportation by private bus and drivers
Entry fees, Cyclo, Water puppet show mentioned in the program.
English speaking guides

International & domestic Air ticket  
Personal expenditures such as: Drink, Telephone, and Camera & photo fees, Tips….that not mentioned in the program.
Visa arrangement.
Insurance for luggage, health….
Services not mentioned in above

Mentioned hotels: