Eat Vietnam!

Vietnam has an amazingly diverse cuisine, with every region and town offering its own specialties. From the earthy mountain food of the north to the light, fresh dishes of the south, Vietnam is a paradise for food lovers, and our 14-night tour will give you a great introduction to the country’s gastronomy.

B = breakfast

L = lunch

D = dinner

Day 1: Arrive Saigon

On arrival in Saigon, you will be met by your driver who will transfer you to your hotel by private car. The rest of the day is free to relax or wander around the city.

Day 2: Saigon tour (B,L)

After breakfast, meet your guide and driver for a full day tour of Saigon. As well as the famous sights such as Notre Dame Cathedral, Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and Post Office, the focus will be on local markets including the famous Ben Thanh market and Binh Tay market in Chinatown, the city’s main wholesale market.

The tour includes a stop for lunch at Binh Tay market so you can sample simple market food.

In the evening, head to Ben Thanh night market and enjoy delicious, freshly-prepared dishes at one of the many lively food stalls (meal not included in tour price).

Day 3: Saigon cooking class (B,L)

After breakfast, you will meet your driver and chef and visit Ben Thanh food market. The chef will point out various local ingredients to you and select some to use later. After stopping for a snack at one of the food stalls, head for Hoa Tuc restaurant where the chef will teach you to cook 3 Vietnamese dishes, after which you can sample your handiwork for lunch!

In the evening, your driver will take you to Cay Gon, an out-of-town non-touristy local restaurant where you can enjoy various typical southern dishes (meal not included in tour price).

Day 4: Saigon-Mui Ne (B)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and take the car (or train) to Mui Ne, around 200km northeast of Saigon on the South China Sea. On arrival you will have the rest of the day free to relax on the beach.

Day 5: Mui Ne (B)

After breakfast, head up to Mui Ne fishing village to see the morning catch come home and wander around the bustling market, before heading to the spectacular Red Sand Dunes, White Sand Dunes and Lotus Lake.

The rest of the day is free to relax, before going for dinner at the famous Cay Bang seafood restaurant, where you can dine by the sea and pick your seafood live from the restaurant’s tanks (meal not included in tour price).

Day 6: Mui Ne (B, L)

After breakfast, relax on the beach before heading to Mui Ne cooking school around lunchtime. This informal beachside school will teach you to cook various local specialities before consuming them for lunch.

Rest of day free to relax.

Day 7: Mui Ne-Saigon (B)

Check out of the hotel at midday and return to Saigon by car (or train). Afternoon free.

In the evening, your driver will take you to Hong Hai, our favourite Saigon seafood restaurant where you can eat tasty fresh seafood cooked in Nha Trang style (meal not included in tour price).

Day 8: Saigon-Danang-Hoi An (B)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and head to the airport for the short flight to Danang. On arrival, transfer to your hotel in Hoi An. Rest of day free to wander around this charming town.

In the evening, dine at Mango Rooms, an innovative fusion restaurant run by the friendly Mr Duc. Feel free to watch him and his team at work in the restaurant’s open kitchen (meal not included in tour price).

Day 9: Hoi An tour (B,L)

Enjoy a full day tour of this beautiful UNESCO world heritage site including all the major sights, as well as a boat trip on the Thu Bon river to see local fishermen at work.

Lunch will be taken at the central food market, where you can try local specialities such as Cao Lau (traditional Hoi An noodle dish), White Rose (wantons), and chicken rice.

In the evening, dine at the lively Cargo Club which sells a wide range of local and international dishes in a friendly, charming atmosphere (meal not included in tour price).

Day 10: Hoi An cooking class (B,L)

In the morning, you will take a market visit with your cooking class instructor before heading to her house for your class where you will learn to cook (and eat!) local dishes.

Rest of day and evening free

Day 11: Hoi An-Hue (B,D)

In the morning, transfer by road to Hue, Vietnam’s ancient imperial capital. Have a short rest before taking a cyclo tour to the citadel and visit the complex on foot.

The tour includes Ngo Mon Gate, Supreme Royal Court Palace, 12 Nguyen Kings alters, Forbidden City, Royal Theatre, Royal Library.

Back to hotel for a rest, then have dinner at home of local family (dinner will be cooked by local family with special Hue cuisine.)

Day 12: Hue-Hanoi (B)

At around 7:30 am, the guide will take you to the Perfume River for the boat trip. Stop at Thien Mu pagoda for a visit. Its beautiful landscape and holy atsmophere will give you a pleasant feeling for the rest of the day.

Get back the boat to the King Tombs Of Tu Duc, who was a famous poet of the Nguyen dynasty in early 19 century. The Tombs were well designed with green hills, lotus ponds and ornate type of buildings together.The King used this tomb before he died as his second home where most of his great works were composed.

After that, Take a xe om ride to a local Buddhist temple to try a vegetarian meal prepared by monks.  Pratise meditation lesson before the meals to experience more of the Buddhism theory.

After lunch have a visit at the Orphanage nearby.

Continue your xe om ride to Hue outskirts, visit more contry-side villages and green paddies. You’ll have the oppotunity to chat with the local people on the way to learn more of their daily life.

Late afternoon, transfer to the airport for the flight to Hanoi. On arrival, transfer to your hotel. Evening free.

Day 13: Hanoi cooking class/tour (B, L)

In the morning, visit a local market with your chef who will show you how to select local ingredients, before you head to the cooking class where you will learn to cook northern specialties.

After eating your handiwork, join your guide for a half-day walking tour of the city’s atmospheric Old Quarter.

In the evening, dine at the famous Highway 4 restaurant which serves mountain specialities including buffalo, snake and locust, as well as a selection of potent rice wines (meal not included in tour price).

Day 14: Depart Hanoi (B)

After breakfast, enjoy free time in Hanoi before heading to the airport for your onward flight.

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