Day 1 (D) Arrival in Hanoi
You’ll be greeted at the airport and driven to your hotel. You may have
time to relax after the journey before a ‘Welcome’ dinner at a family
restaurant situated in a small alley in the Old Quarter of Hanoi – an
authentic menu prepared by a talented Hanoi chef.
Day 2 (B, L) Hanoi cooking class with Madame Anh Tuyet
In the morning, you’ll have a guided tour to the Ho Chi Minh complex
that includes the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, museum and his modest stilt
house. Later we visit the Temple of Literature.
Lunch will be served at a traditional Hanoi restaurant which is famous
for its unique Cha Ca La Vong dish. After lunch, we enjoy Hanoi
coffee before visiting a local market to learn about Vietnamese
ingredients and try your skills in bargaining and buying produce from the
locals. After that, under guidelines of a skillful chef, you'll learn
how to cook some typical Vietnamese dishes representative of classic
northern Vietnamese cuisine.
In the evening, you’ll enjoy a performance of traditional Water Puppetry
Day 3 (B, L, D) Hanoi – Ha Long Bay
8.00am - Depart for a 3.5 hour drive to Ha Long City through the Red
River Delta. Transfer to a traditional wooden junk, for lunch with
fresh seafood (vegetarians catered for) while you embark on a 4-hour
cruise into the bay to see the incredible karst formations. Cruise to
the grand Bai Tu Long Bay through the limestone cliffs risen up from the
emerald water with opportunities to take photo's.
One of the two Red Dragon’s Junks is the working place of the best chef
in Halong Bay, Mr. Hao.
*** Please note that there is no guide for transfer Hanoi – Halong –
Hanoi. However, there is local English-speaking guide on boat who will
always be available for any assistance you may need.
Day 4 (B, L) Ha Long Bay – Hanoi
Enjoy an sunrise in Ha Long Bay before visiting the famous
"Amazing" cave. Further cruise before a brunch will be served on board
as you cruise back to Halong city. Check out is after 10:30 before
docking around noon and leaving for Hanoi.
You’ll spend another night in Hanoi.
Day 5 (B, L) Hanoi street food tasting – Hue
Today offers you a good chance for street food tasting before leaving
Hanoi. Our guide will come and take you for a walk to good local
restaurant of Pho Bo (noodle soup with beef) followed by a short walk to a vivid
market located in the Old Quarter with lots of herbs and ingredients
After lunch, your car will come and pick you up for a visit to Tran Quoc
pagoda, the first pagoda in Hanoi dated back to the 6th century.
Then you’ll be driven to Noi Bai airport to board a flight to Hue. Upon
arrival, you’ll be met and driven to a hotel in the city centre for your
overnight accommodation.
Alternative in the evening: join a royal banquet in Ancient Hue
restaurant
Day 5 (B, L, D) Hue – cooking class
Your morning will begin with a guided visit to the Imperial Citadel of
Hue, followed by a cruise along the Perfume River to visit to the Thien
Mu Pagoda. From there, you’ll be driven to the Royal Tombs of Emperor Minh
Mang.
After that, you’ll return to the Dong Ba and visit one of city’s ‘garden
houses’ where you’ll learn how to cook some traditional Hue dishes. Mrs.
Ton Nu Thi Ha, one of the Nguyen Royal descendants will help you
to prepare a typical Hue meal. Enjoy your home made meal.
Day 6 (B, L) Hue – Hoi An – My Son
In the morning, your car will drive you to Danang. On the way, you'll
cross the Hai Van mountain pass. You will then visit the Cham Museum and
after lunch, the World Heritage ‘My Son Sanctuary’.
Your guide will show you the remains of the remarkable towers
constructed by the Cham builders, many centuries ago - their origins and
purpose have yet to be fully explained.
Day 7 (B, L) Hoi An – cooking class
Today you will cook with Ms. Vy who runs a
great selection of the very best Vietnamese restaurants and a bakery in Hoian
The afternoon will be free for strolling in the town, lazing on the
beach, or whatever takes your fancy. You’ll spend the night in Hoi An.
Day 9 (B) Hoi An – Saigon
Morning at leisure. Later transfer to Danang airport for the afternoon
flight to Saigon.
Day 10 (B, L) Ho Chi Minh city – Cu Chi tunnels
In the morning, you’ll walk to a family restaurant where the owner, a
skilled chef, will invite you to a cup of Vietnamese green tea. You will
then spend the morning in the local markets.
In the afternoon, your guide will take you to visit the famous Cu Chi
tunnels, a maze of underground passages, chambers, rooms and
traps used by both the Vietminh and the Viet Cong.
Day 11 (B, L) Ho Chi Minh city – Mekong delta
Morning depart from Saigon to Cai
Be. There, you’ll cruise on the Mekong River, visit, fruit orchards,
traditional family-run brick kilns, and drop in to look at some
traditional cottage industries.
Late in the afternoon, you’ll drive further into the Mekong Delta to Can
Tho where you’ll spend the night.
Day 12 (B,L) Mekong delta – Saigon
After breakfast and a boat cruise, you’ll arrive at the bustling Cai
Rang floating market – the largest floating market in Mekong River .
Both the journey and the market provide insights into the unique Mekong
rural lifestyle.
Alternative for Day 10+11: Mekong Eyes cruise
Day 13 (B): Saigon Departure
After breakfast, you’ll be free until your transfer to Tan Son Nhat airport for your departure flight.
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