Highlights :
- Cookery lessons in Saigon, Hue and Hanoi
- Day cruise on Halong Bay
- Saigon, Hue and Hanoi city tours
Routine :
- Day 1: Ho Chi Minh Arrival
- Day 2: Ho Chi Minh – Cooking Class – Ho Chi Minh
- Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City – Danang – Hoian
- Day 4: Tra Que Village – Hue
- Day 5: Hue
- Day 6: Hue Cooking Class
- Day 7: Hue – Hanoi
- Day 8: Hanoi – Halong
- Day 9: Hanoi Cooking Class
- Day 10: Hanoi Departure
Itinerary :
DAY 1 Ho Chi Minh Arrival
Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, meet our guide and then transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
DAY 2 Ho Chi Minh – Cooking Class – Ho Chi Minh
Start early from your hotel to experience a local Ho Chi Minh City market at its bustling best. There, under the guidance of your host, shop for wonderful, fresh ingredients, all at a leisurely pace. Then head back to the home of your host to start your cooking. Your host is a great cook and more than happy to help you learn about the best ingredients, choicest market stalls and favourite traditional recipes. This cooking experience gives you the flexibility to choose and make a selection of dishes rather than working from a set cooking class menu. When your cooking is done, sit down and relax with your host and enjoy the fruits of your labours! After a satisfying morning and your delicious lunch, return to the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. Have a city tour to visit Presidential Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office. Continue to visit Chinatown, Binh Tay Market and Thien Hau Temple. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.(B,L)
DAY 3 Ho Chi Minh City – Danang – Hoian
This morning take a short flight to Danang. Arrival in Danang, meet our guide and then proceed to Hoian with stops to visit Cham Museum and Marble Mountain in Danang. Arrival in Hoian at late in the morning and then take a walk along the narrow streets where you will pass ancient houses, the Japanese Covered Bridge, Phuc Kien Temple, and Phung Hung house. The Japanese Covered Bridge is on a small stream and was built by the Japanese community back in 1593. It links the Japanese and the Chinese quarters. Phung Hung house is a traditional two-story wooden house, inhabited over 100 years by eight generations and it offers a nice insight into days gone by. Overnight in Hoian. (B)
DAY 4 Tra Que Village – Hue
A leisurely cycle ride to local farm in Tra Que Village where you can explore the riches of the sweet-scented vegetable garden. Talk with the village farmers and join with them as they prepare the land and enrich it with soil-nourishing seaweed. Enjoy the land ‘hands-on’: try raking, sowing, watering and harvesting, just like a local!With the fieldwork done, it’s time to think about food. Learn to prepare tam huu, a spring roll delicacy made with local vegetables, before sitting down for a home-cooked spread including banh xeo, a savoury pancake wrapped in rice paper. A gentle bike ride later and you’re back in Hoi An. Then driving to Hue with stop en route at Lang Co beach and Cloudy Pass to enjoy the marvelous scenery. Check in hotel in Hue. Overnight in Hue.(B,L)
DAY 5 Hue
Take a morning boat trip through the centre of Hue on the romantic Perfume River. Visit Thien Mu Pagoda along the riverbank. Transfer by car to visit Khai Dinh and Tu Duc Mausoleums. En route, visit local families making Vietnam’s famous conical hats and colorful incense. In the afternoon take a cyclo ride to visit the Imperial Citadel and Dong Ba Market. Overnight in Hue.(B,L)
DAY 6 Hue Cooking Class
This morning we will transfer you to Dong Ba Market and meet a staff from the cooking class there. Then he/she will show them round the market and go shopping for the ingredients of the cooking class such as: vegetables, grocery and seafood… After going around the market, you will board a Dragon Boat (behind the market) and feel the fresh air from the Perfume River. The Dragon Boat will stop at the boat station near Thien Mu Pagoda. Here a shuttle bus will pick up you and bring you to the cooking class. Here you will learn how to prepare two dishes and enjoy them together. Overnight in Hue. (B,L)
DAY 7 Hue – Hanoi
Transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi. In the afternoon, begin to explore Hanoi. Visit the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum, the Temple of Literature and Old Quarter. In the evening enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi. (B)
DAY 8 Hanoi – Halong
Drive to Halong Bay. Upon arrival in Halong, board a private junk for a 5 – hour cruise on the emerald green waters of Halong Bay. A fresh seafood lunch will be served on board. In the middle of the afternoon head back to Halong, then on to Hanoi. Arrive in Hanoi in the evening and transfer back to hotel. Overnight in Hanoi. (B,L)
DAY 9 Hanoi Cooking Class
Depart your hotel at 0830 for the heart of the Old Quarter. After a warm welcome at the restaurant, set off for the local market to choose and buy ingredients. Once in the market, there’s a wealth of daily activities to watch and fine, fresh goods to choose from. When you’ve selected your ingredients, head back to the restaurant to start preparing and cooking. There’s so much to learn and enjoy under the supervision of a true Hanoian expert and when the preparation’s all done, lunch is served! Overnight in Hanoi. (B,L)
DAY 10 Hanoi Departure
At leisure until transfer to the airport for onward flight. (B)
End of Tour.
Please contact us for rates.
The above package price includes the following services:
- Meals as indicated.
- Transfer with private A/C vehicle.
- Local English speaking guide*.
- All entrance fees as per itinerary.
- Mineral water and face towels in vehicles.
The above package price doesn’t include the following services:
- International air fare
- Domestic air fares (prices available on request)
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Optional visits.
- Personal expenses (drinks, tips etc..)
- Any service not mentioned above.
- Travel insurance