Vietnamese food owes its unique identity to its history, culture, geography and the creativity of its chefs. Like the arts and language, the cuisine has developed in different ways dependent upon the region. No matter where you are in the country, the sights, sounds and aromas of fresh food markets and produce contributes to the excitement and color of the Vietnamese cooking and dining experience.
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN HANOI
Upon arrival in Hanoi, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel. In the late afternoon you will be taken on an hour long cyclo ride through the French quarter and the Administrative quarter to get a glimpse of the city. Welcome dinner is at Pots' n Pans restaurant at the Chef's corner with the lively open kitchen on display. You are given the chance to interact with the special guest – the Master Chef Mr. Donald Berger - who has over 30 years of working around the globe in the finest restaurants, private clubs and hotels and now settled in Vietnam with his own venture.
DAY 2: HANOI
This morning, meet with a local Hanoian chef for a market tour. He can show you how to select fresh ingredients. Enjoy the sights, sounds and aromas of the market. Visit the chef’s private home for a hands-on cooking class of Hanoi & Northern Highland cuisine. Enjoy your own creations at lunch while listening to the chef’s personal culinary adventure. Return to town for a customized city tour including a visit to the Temple of Literature, a cultural symbol and the first University for the sons of mandarins. Walk around the old quarter to enjoy local life and street food stalls. In the evening, visit the house of a musician couple – the husband is a flautist in the National Orchestra while the wife is a piano teacher – for a home-cooked dinner. Enjoy the meal hosted in the cosy dining room to understand the important role food at home plays in Vietnam. Chat and share with them your life experiences. After the meal, enjoy a musical performance by your hosts. Come back to your hotel for the night.
DAY 3: HANOI - HALONG BAY
Au Co ship offers not only luxury cruise experience but also sensational concept of 5-element cuisine including wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The menus onboard are built around fresh seafood and the creative use of aromatics and spices.
This morning, embark on a 3.5 hour drive to Halong Bay with a quick rest stop at Hong Ngoc Center – the best place to stop and stretch your legs en route. On arrival at Tuan Chau pier, board the deluxe Au Co ship. Each of her 32 spaciously-designed private cabins boasts luxurious bathrooms and panoramic balconies. Settle into your cabin and prepare your appetite for an enjoyable lunch on deck. The first day of your cruise is an introduction to the amazing scenery of Halong Bay and its southern sister; Lan Ha Bay. Cruising through Halong Bay will literally take your breath away, as we pass famous spots like Thien Cung and Me Cung caves, plus Soi Sim and Titov islands. Also located in the Gulf of Tonkin, to the south of Halong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, Ba Trai Dao and the Ho Ba Ham islets offer tranquility and nature at its best, and a guided kayaking tour or refreshing swim in the Bay’s emerald waters are two of the best ways to enjoy them. Tonight, interact with the crew members to discover their daily lives or depending on the weather, try squid fishing at the reception.
DAY 4: CAT BA ISLAND – BAI TU LONG BAY
Wake up early and partake in a Tai Chi class which is held on the upper deck or just enjoy the breathtaking views of the bay as the boat starts cruising quietly in Lan Ha bay. Breakfast on board and cruise towards Cat Ba island, famous for its national park, with more than half the island designated. This island, far and away the largest in the Gulf of Tonkin, is covered by a dense rainforest home to numerous indigenous species of flora and fauna. The secluded village of Viet Hai, situated in the middle of this pristine environment, is easily accessible thanks to a 7km cycling trip on paved paths and is where we are developing an organic farm which you can visit.
Return to the ship and cruise east to Vung Vieng village in Bai Tu Long bay which is the most remote area of your voyage. The exceptional scale and variety of the geological rock formations in this area are sure to make this a future destination for cruising in the Gulf of Tonkin. After lunch on board, enjoy a relaxing rowing boat or kayak tour through the floating village of Vung Vieng. Optional swimming in Vons Ha area, depending on the weather. Then departure to Cong Do area while enjoying sunset cocktail on board followed with a special dinner featured 5 elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water
DAY 5: HALONG - HANOI
In the morning, climb up to visit Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave where stalactites hanging from the high ceiling take on numerous shapes and forms. Back to the boat for boarding towards the shore while brunch is served. Prepare your luggage and hand your key to the reception for check out. Arrive at Tuan Chau pier late morning and transfer back to Hanoi with light snack provided en route. Opt to visit a traditional pottery workshop en route.
DAY 6: HOI AN
This morning, learn the traditional herbs that add in special flavour into Vietnamese cusine. Experience an organic discovery tour with the local farmers in the rural outskirts of Hoi An ancient town. Start your morning with a leisurely 4km bike ride through the countryside, heading to Tra Que vegetable village which is named after a sweet scented herb they grow and use to flavour Hoi An specialties like Cao Lau noodles. Upon arrival, learn about the history and custom of this charming village before getting your hands dirty and venturing into the garden - you may like to borrow the farmers’ clothing provided by the villagers. Join the friendly farmers to learn the traditional gardening methods and how they cultivate vegetables. Bid farewell to your host family and transfer back to town. Use your adventure mind to select one of numerous restaurant choices in walking distance for your independent lunch.
After lunch, meet your guide for a walking tour. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, Hoi An was a prosperous trading port. Today, this World Heritage-listed ancient town boasts well-preserved buildings, pedestrianized streets and unique cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious past. The narrow lanes are ideal for a guided walking tour. There is plenty to visit including the old merchant’s houses with influences Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture; the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge; the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with outstanding wood carvings; and the colourful market with stalls brimming with local specialties including silk, which can be turned into fashionable garments within a day or two.
Dinner tonight is at Mango Mango restaurant looking out Thu Bon River. You might have a chance to talk to the owner – Duc – who has an interesting culinary journey around the world. Try his eclectic and innovative flavors of fusion cuisine.
DAY 7: HOI AN
This morning, save your stomach for a street food tour with other guests from different hotels. Meet with your culinary expert, Neville Dean, and visit a local market in Hoi An to enjoy the tantalizing sights, smells and flavors of local produce. Then walk through zigzagging alleys to savor real street food as the local people do. Along the way, engage in conversation with Neville to understand his passion for food and experience the local culture through the eyes of an expatriate. Gather at a local restaurant to examine and taste traditional central dishes and learn more about this fascinating region. Remainder of the afternoon is free at leisure.
DAY 8: HOI AN - HUE
After breakfast, enjoy a scenic 3.5 hour drive through Ocean Cloudy Pass to Hue. During the reign of the Nguyen dynasty, Vietnam’s finest chefs where hand-picked and transferred to Hue to create new dishes for the emperors. Hue’s cuisine is famous for its refinement and artistic quality. A Hue dish normally requires a dozen different ingredients and an elaborate presentation. In a Hue family meal, each dish has its own complementary sauce while people in other parts of the country normally use one specific sauce for all types of food. Hue is also the centre of Buddhism in Vietnam, enjoy a cup of tea and interact with monks at an ancient pagoda to get a glimpse of Vietnamese Buddhism, monks’ life experiences and their charitable activities for the community. Followed by a pure vegetarian lunch from natural ingredients, learn what monks usually have for a meal (your guide will join you for lunch to help translate). Afternoon, get an overview of the former Royal city. Start with a visit to the Imperial Citadel which was the former home of the royal court of Vietnam up until the mid 20th century. Then head out of the city centre and explore the elaborate Khai Dinh royal tomb where the architecture is influenced by both eastern art and western influences.
Then enjoy an exceptional dinner with Salt Rice, one of the most opulent and symbolic dishes in the former Imperial capital of Hue, has made a comeback thanks to the Master Chef Mme Nhu Huy. There are up to nine kinds of salt such as from sesame, lemongrass, galingale; shrimp and the dishes are prepared by frying, steaming and braising. We can talk with Mme Nhu Huy, who was born and grew up in a Royal family, to understand her effort to search and preserve ancient recipes. And of course, chance to enjoy this delicacy at Mme Nhu Huy’s home. It is necessary to enjoy these dishes slowly to enhance the fragrance of rice and the salty, peppery, sweet, and sour taste of different types of salt rice.
DAY 9: HUE
Step out and explore the delicious world of Hue food tour with the celebrated gastronomy artisan, Ms. Nhu Huy. She is a professor, author of cookbooks, food television presenter in Vietnam and Europe and the recipient of several prestigious Talent awards in Vietnam. Start off with a visit to the local market to see the sights and sounds of daily life. Ms. Nhu Huy will share some advice of how to select the freshest produce and ingredients necessary for Hue food. Later, visit several villages which each specialize in a different popular dish. During the day, sample many wonderful foods including com hen (mussel rice), banh beo, banh nam banh loc (varieties of soft rice cakes) and banh uot (steamed rice pancake). These dishes are not merely considered local food, but an indispensable culinary trait of Hue. End the trip at the local restaurant Huyen Anh that serves Hue specialty of banh uot and grilled pork.
Remainder of the afternoon is to stretch your legs and relax. Dinner at the remarkable Ancient Hue restaurant. More than just a restaurant, Ancient Hue has 5 distinctive ancient houses offering a glimpse of the city’s splendid past. Walk through the local market with the chef to learn about local ingredients before returning to the open-air cultural complex. Here, you will sample the best Royal cuisine.
DAY 10: HUE TO SAIGON BY FLIGHT
Free at leisure before transferring to the airport in Hue for the noon flight to Saigon. Upon arrival, transfer downtown and experience a first glimpse of Saigon’s hectic traffic. Saigon is the country’s commercial centre and, with over nine million inhabitants and five million motorbikes, a city that never sleeps. Despite the well-documented hustle and bustle, Saigon retains its connections with the past. A walking tour to admire Saigon’s historic landmarks is a must. Transfer to Dong Khoi Street or Rue Catinat as it was known in the time of the French occupation, to discover some of the beautiful French colonial buildings built in the late 19th and early 20th century. Appreciate the splendidly restored exteriors of the Opera House and the former Hotel de Ville which are still two of the finest buildings in Saigon. Wander up to the Notre Dame Cathedral, a red brick edifice with twin spires based on the original construction from Paris. (It is only possible to visit inside from 8.00am – 10.00am and 3.00pm – 4.00pm). Then head across the square to the Central Post Office, designed by the French architect, Gustav Eiffel, before he had risen to fame for the Eiffel Tower. Finally, the former Presidential Palace, the headquarters of the Saigon Government during the American war, is a short drive away and reveals the history of Saigon during its turbulent recent past.
With all its hustle & bustle, Saigon is a city on the move! Discover what this thriving and exciting metropolis can offer in terms of street food, all from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter. After a briefing at your hotel lobby about the logistic, be introduced to your driver and start the journey. Stops include dinner and drinks at Saigon's best authentic street food, and a Vietnamese-style coffee shop. Drive to District 4 to taste various snail dishes which are very popular in Saigon. Then it’s back to District 3 to sample a southern Vietnamese specialty – Banh Xeo (rice pancake with pork and prawns). Finally, head to a local Vietnamese style coffee shop and enjoy a local coffee
DAY 11: BINH DUONG
Located 30km to the north of Saigon and more than 1 hour drive; Binh Duong nowadays is home to significant manufacturing industries. With more than 300 years of history, Binh Duong is also the cradle of typical traditional handicrafts such as lacquerware and pottery. It is also where the celebrated culinary artisan – Nguyen Dzoan Cam Van chose to spend the rest of her life in the peaceful countryside. Drive over Ong Co Bridge to get to the private residence of this talented chef, who has made great contributions to glorifying Vietnamese culinary culture. So far Cam Van has published nearly 40 culinary books, and been invited to introduce Vietnamese cuisine to many countries around the world. Upon arrival, walk around her gardens by the river bank. Today you will learn more about typical Southern dishes. Learning to cook is great fun but enjoying the food that you cook is even better. Optional chance to stay back and interaction with Cam Van in her garden. Return to Saigon in the late afternoon.
DAY 12: CYCLING IN THE MEKONG DELTA
At 8.00am, depart for a 1.5 hour drive from Saigon to Ben Tre, situated in the Delta of the Mekong River. Pass Rach Mieu Bridge before reaching Phu Hung hamlet. Get on a tri-motor cycle (Xe loi) ride to enjoy the lush surroundings of rice paddies and fruit farms alongside the narrow village roads. Arrive at the waterfront; board the charming Mango Cruise for a glimpse at the Delta scenery while enjoying coconut juice. Make a first stop at a small brick workshop where the locals still use centuries-old traditional methods to make the bricks by hand.
Then you will head back to your boat to cross the An Hoa River, where you will start a very leisured biking trip (5-7km) around Phong Nam village on flat terrain. On the way, stop at the local house where they live on coconuts processing. Continue cycling through gardens and stop at the rice noodles factory “hu tieu”, one of most popular breakfast dishes in the region. Take a short walk to visit at Mrs. Huong’s home where they make a living from fishing, shrimping and farming. Enjoy the tropical fruits and honey tea in her garden before taking the rowing sampan; be paddled by a personalized rower trip to discover the maze of small canals.
The boat brings you to Mango home restaurant for a lunch with Mekong Delta specialties. Then ride 500m or walk over to Mr Sau Tuong’s house. He is a former soldier who survived after 4 years fighting the Khmer Rouge in Phnom Penh. Now he and his wife live on making rice paper. Have a chat with him and enjoy the crispy rice paper made by his wife, and see how it is made.
Choose to cycle 500m or walk 10 minute to another house of Mr Hung, who is a famous sticky rice maker in the village. You can also feed his stock of catfish and walk through his fruit garden. After the visit, the boat will be waiting for you at the pier nearby to bring you back to Ben Tre city where your car will take you back to Saigon.
Farewell dinner will be held at Ngon resetaurant which is set up like a local food market selling specialties from each region in Vietnam. Here you can experience each typical dish of each region while enjoying the busting atmosphere exactly like at a market.
DAY 13: DEPART SAIGON
Free time until you transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
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Sample Itineraries