A Foodie Adventure through Vietnam 12 Days

Arriving at Hanoi, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel at 2:00 PM for check-in and having a short rest after the flight.

Afterwards, you get to spend the rest of your day like at the Old Quarter where Hanoi’ most authentic goods are. Our guide will take you to the tasty spots in Old Quarter’s maze-like streets and alleys. You can observe locals life while filling up with Hanoi’s specialties.

Overnight stay in Hanoi.

We will pick you up after your breakfast at the hotel. First visit of day 2 is Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum – a must-see for any tourist visiting Hanoi capital. Aside from the mighty gray-granite mausoleum and vast Ba Dinh Square, you may find Uncle Ho’s vestige and historical objects of the wars in his Stilt House, Presidential Palace and One Pillar Pagoda. Next destination is the well-preserved Temple of Literature. It is Vietnam’s memorial of education as well as greatest example of traditional Vietnam architecture.  

Lunch on your own.

After lunch, you will join a cooking class in a Hanoi local house. The house owner will show you the recipe and instruct you to follow and make dishes from raw materials. You will learn Northern-style cooking which can be compared to other cooking style in the next few days. Enjoy what you have made as dinner with cultural exchange with the house owner.

Return to your hotel in the evening. Overnight stay at your hotel.

Early breakfast as we will go on a ride to the second city – Ha Long. The iconic Ha Long Bay on the Gulf of Tonkin offers exceptional natural scenic beauty of limestone islets, designated World Heritage site. On the way to Ha Long, you might enjoy infinite rice paddy fields, rolling mountains scene of the Red river delta. As soon as you reach Ha Long, it is the beginning of an exciting cruise on this charming bay. 

After your lunch on boat, you will be taken to some of glorious limestone caves. Each caves have stories of its own, possesses splendid and sacred exquisiteness made from stalactite. Finishing visiting the caves, tourists should reward themselves with a revitalizing swim in emerald water when the cruise comes to a halt. Kayaking is another option if you want to explore more of the bay by yourself.

The boat cast its anchor for a stay through the night. Have your dinner on board along with other fun games.

Kindly be informed that transportation used for moving from Hanoi to Ha Long is a shared shuttle bus (with an English speaking guide). Contact our travel consultants for more information about private transfer service.

Early morning on Ha Long bay is dreamy. Wake up to immerse yourself in a peaceful morning with fresh air and soothing light of the first sunshine.  Enjoy your breakfast in such breezy atmosphere while the ship sails you further to the ocean then back to the land.

A light lunch on board will be served, followed by a trip from the dock to Hanoi by shuttle bus. A private car (with no guide) is waiting to pick you up and take you to Noi Bai airport where you will catch a flight to Hue.

On the other side, our guide and driver are already waiting for you at the airport for a pick up and transfer to your hotel.

Have dinner by yourself and relax for the rest of the day.

Make a visit to one of Hue’s local markets to buy fresh ingredients for cooking class. You also see how people sell things on the ground, eye-catching displays of herbs, fruits, meat and seafood. Our guide is always ready for all your questions about diversified Vietnamese culture and custom. Come back to the kitchen with handful of cooking ingredients, your local chef will be your friend and show you how people in Middle of Vietnam prepare and cook them. Then, you have lunch with the dishes made by yourself.

Afterwards, enjoy a relaxing boat trip on Perfume River observe the beautiful and majestic look of the Imperial Citadel and the antique Thien Mu Pagoda on the river side.

Spend one more night in Hue and have dinner on your own.

Hotel breakfast then a 3-hour drive to Hoi An Ancient Town which enable you to admire the excellent view of Vietnam’s coastline along Hai Van Pass. Check in your hotel as you arrive in the destination.

Walk around the old town – living museum of unique architecture which consonantly influenced by French, Japan, China and Vietnam’s culture. Pay a visit to Hoi An Museum to learn more about the town, go see the remarkable Phuoc Kien Assembly hall. Wrap up your tour with a sight-seeing at Tan Ky Old House and one-of-a-kind Japanese Covered Bridge.

Meals on your own account. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Escaping to a green area named Tra Que vegetable village by bicycle from Hoi An (around 15-minute ride).  Not an ideal vehicle but you can choose cyclo or private car for transportation. A trip to Tra Que village gives you a chance to find tranquility and experience life in Vietnam countryside area with nice weather and lovely people.

At Tra Que Villages, pleasant smell from aromatic herbs adds even more refreshing feeling to existed lush green beauty. You not only can see how farmers grow their veggie but also can jump into the field and try your hands on actual farming.

At lunch, you will be taught on how to make local dishes like “Tam Huu”, which has shrimps, pork, local herbs by a farmer. Enjoy your effort for lunch, along with other traditional dishes. Return back to Hoi An with the rest of the day relaxing.

Dinner on your own. Overnight stay at the hotel in Hoian.

Today is free at your leisure. This town has so many things to explore and try, from beautiful beach to delicious local street food. You would definitely love your alone time here.

Meals on your own. Overnight at the hotel.

You will be transferred to Da Nang Airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh City in the morning with no guide. Our driver and tour guide will be ready at Tan Son Nhat Airport to pick you up and send you to the hotel.

In the afternoon, you will go on an arranged tour around Ho Chi Minh City exploring stunning French architectures includes the Old Saigon post office, Notre Dame Cathedral, Opera House, Reunification Palace and Chinatown Cholon.

Meals on your own account. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Today you will be picked up at your hotel and go on a day-tour to Cu Chi District. First destination is Ho Chi Minh Agricultural Villages located in dirt roads of Cu Chi. This vast farm help you to have better look on Vietnam agriculture both plants and cattle. You can also join farming activities such as picking herbs and feeding livestock with a Vietnam traditional hat on.

Prepare your own lunch by a cooking class for three dishes and one dessert. Our instructor will give you delicious healthy cooking tips, recipes, certificate and souvenirs wishing you will remember your time there.  

After lunch, visit rice paper making village to learn how people make rice papers and get your hands on to make rice papers if you want. Then, explore the rubber tree forest and see how the local people collect the latex.

Continue the trip to Cu Chi Tunnels – a 250km network of connecting underground tunnels. These was used in the 40s and again in the 60s, they were not only corridors but also all kinds of rooms for sleep, dining and hospital; as well as storages for weapon and food. It is allowed for visitors to try getting into these tunnels to see the poor conditions people used to endure during wartime.

Come back to the city center from Cu Chi tunnels.

Dinner on your own expense. Overnight stay at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh city.

Another day-tour to an interesting place – Mekong Delta. It takes approximately 2.5 hours to 3 hours’ drive from Ho Chi Minh city center to Ben Tre. Arrive at Phong Nam pier, you will get on a cruise on Chet Say river – one of nine branches of Mekong River. From the boat, you have opportunity to get closer to local life and their handicrafts, i.e. activated coconut charcoal, coconut-based products and mat weaving.

Pay a visit to nearby village where you can hop on “xe loi”(a special motorized trishaw) or cycling around through green vegetation and endless rice fields. Taste some delicacies for lunch at a local house.

Return to the dock after enjoying a fun boat trip along a narrow canal. Go back to Ho Chi Minh City and have dinner on your own.

Stay overnight in your hotel.

Last day in Vietnam, stroll around collecting some souvenirs for you loved ones back home. You will be transferred without guide to the airport for your departure flight. Meals on your own account.

End of tour services.