Vietnam Culinary Cuisine Tour

DAY 01: HANOI ARRIVAL
Upon arrival in Noi Bai International Airport, you will be greeted by local guide and transfer you to your hotel in Hanoi that is Vietnam's capital, ranks among the world's most attractive and interesting cities. It was first the capital of Vietnam in A.D. 1010, and though the nation's capital moved to Hue under the Nguyen dynasty in 1802, the city continued to flourish after the French took control in 1888. In 1954, after the French departed, Hanoi was declared Vietnam's capital once again. The remnants of over 1,000 years of history are still visible here, with that of the past few hundred years wonderfully preserved. After checking in hotel, you are free at leisure. There’s plenty to do and see or you may choose to find a spot on the lakeside and just watch the world go by - Hanoi is a truly unique city. In the evening you can choose from one of the many restaurants near Hoan Kiem lake or in the Old Quarter. Hanoi is also a fascinating city to enjoy an alfresco drink. Overnight in Hanoi.
Meals included: None
Optional for lunch or dinner:
• Asia & local cuisine: US$ 15.00 / adult / meal
• Western cuisine: US$ 18.00 / adult / meal

DAY 02: HANOI CITY STREET FOOD TOUR
This morning enjoy a full day city tour of Hanoi. First, visit Ba Dinh Square, where silent sentries guard the marble and granite mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh lies in state (closed every Friday & Monday and in October & November). See the simple cottage where Uncle Ho lived and worked. Nearby, visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum, an extraordinary tribute in abstract form to the life of the 'father of the country' and the evolution of Vietnamese independence. French architecture is a feature of Hanoi, and the nearby former Governor's Residence is a fine example as well as the One Pillar Pagoda. Continue to the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and then dedicated to Confucius, it is a serene retreat from the busy streets outside, and later became Vietnam's first university. This afternoon, walking through the maze of bustling streets that make up Hanoi’s Old Quarter, we tempt our taste buds with the famed Hanoi dishes such as Bun Cha, Banh Cuon at a local eatery. Watch in awe as the skilled chefs demonstrate for you how this tasty dish is put together. Continuing into the atmospheric heart of the Old Quarter, we wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes where you can observe local life that has changed little since Hanoi was founded over 1000 years ago. Our next two snack stops are at outdoor barbecue stalls. We sit down with the Hanoi locals and sample various meat, vegetable and bread specialties that are flame grilled over hot coals for extra flavor. It’s then time for dessert as we venture down a small alley to join in the local tradition of feasting on fresh fruit served in a cup and smothered with crushed iced and condensed milk - this specialty is one not to be missed! Your local guide will then take you to one of Hanoi’s best kept secrets, a hidden street food restaurant to taste top ten street foods in Hanoi is Banh My Hanoi, Vietnamese Rice Wine and famous Egg Coffee. This hard-to-find café is one of the few left in the narrow street inside the old quarter of Hanoi. Or, if coffee is not your style, a cold beer awaits! At the end of the trip you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you with directions or a taxi back to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi.
Meals included: Breakfast & Street Food

DAY 03: HANOI HALONG BAY
After having a breakfast at your hotel, drive through green rice paddy fields to Ha Long Bay where is located in East Hanoi about 170 kilometers (approximate 3,5 hours). You will board a sailing junk for a cruise amongst hundreds of islets of Ha Long Bay. Enjoy a seafood lunch and a swim (if weather permits) before visiting a grotto of gigantic stalactites and stalagmites. Drop anchor in the late evening for an overnight stay amongst the dramatic limestone peaks rising out of the sea. Overnight on Cruise.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 04: HALONG HANOI HUE (EXCLUDED AIRFARE)
You will spend the morning cruising through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay before returning to the wharf. On the way to Noi Bai Domestic Airport for flight to Hue, stop at a ceramic factory. Upon arrival in Phu Bai Domestic Airport, you will be greeted by local guide and transfer you to your hotel in Hue that Hue is a beautiful and welcoming city. As Vietnam’s capital throughout the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945), as a center of Vietnamese Buddhism and scholarship and finally as the setting for some of the Vietnam War’s most bloody fighting, Hue provides a unique window into Vietnam and its complex past. Overnight in Hue.
Meals included: Brunch

DAY 05: HUE CITY TOUR
Have a boat trip on the romantically named Perfume River, passing the 10-meter thick protective walls of the Citadel on board a Vietnamese ‘dragon boat’. A short distance up river is perhaps Hue’s best-known religious site, the Thien Mu Pagoda with its distinctive seven-story octagonal tower. This serene and picturesque landmark is also an important Buddhist sight. From here, in 1963, the monk Thich Quang Duc traveled in his pale blue Austin to Sai Gon and publicly burned himself to death to protest against the anti-Buddhist stance of the President. Visit the Imperial Citadel, a vast complex built in the early 19th century and modeled after the Forbidden City of Peking. The original walls stretched for 10 km and were surrounded by a wide moat. Today, most of the buildings have been destroyed due to bombing during the Vietnam-American War, but the monuments that remain provide a fascinating glimpse into the court life of the Nguyen Dynasty. The hills surrounding Hue are dotted with the tombs of the Nguyen dynasty emperors. Built not only as an eternal resting place, the tombs were designed for recreation; somewhere the Emperor could fish, hunt and enjoy the company of concubines in his twilight years. Your tour combines visits to two of the most contrasting tombs. First, you will visit the tomb of Emperor Tu Duc, resplendent in traditional architecture, paved walkways, resting pavilions overlooking tranquil lotus ponds, and a small forest for hunting. In stark contrast, you will continue on to Khai Dinh's Tomb. Remembered as the "Puppet Emperor" because of his affiliation with the French, this tomb was designed with colonial flair, and a glass mosaic frieze dominates the interior. Overnight at hotel in Hue.
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 06: HUE DA NANG HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN
Depart Hue for Hoi An, on the way our vehicle will stop at Hai Van pass to take in the spectacular view along the coast to Da Nang. Arrive at Da Nang City, visit the Cham museum which displays approximately 300 sculptures, among which some are made from terracotta from the period between the 5th and 15th centuries. The works were collected from Cham temples and towers throughout Central Vietnam, more specifically the area stretching from Quang Binh to Binh Thuan. All the sculptures are displayed in ten showrooms named after where the pieces were discovered. And Marble Mountain, also referred to as Ngu Hanh Son or Mountains of the Five Elements, consist of five marble mountains: Thuy Son (water) which is the highest, Moc Son (wood), Kim Son (metal), Tho Son (soil), and Hoa Son (fire). Climb Thuy Son (Water) by the stone stairs and enjoy the panoramic view of the nearby countryside, and visit Huyen Khong cave before entering Tam Thai and Linh Ung pagodas. Rest at the foot of the mountain, where you can visit Non Nuoc stone village, where the local skillful sculptors create many marble products which are exported to many countries worldwide. Continue to Hoi An Ancient Town along some of the most winding roads in Viet Nam and glory in the best sea views in Central Viet Nam. Upon arrival, check in at hotel. Overnight in Hoi An
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 07: HOI AN COOKING CLASS & WALKING TOUR
Start the day with a drink at a local restaurant which is the meeting point then visit Hoi An's colorful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. You will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. Board a boat for a leisurely cruise along the Hoi An River to the local restaurant. This is a chance to view local river life along riverbanks. On arrival, explore the cooking school's herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An's and Vietnam's well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours, each dish is first demonstrated by a local chef's, before you prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, enjoy the meal you have cooked. Hoi An is the unique trading town; a civilization cut off by destroyed rail lines and a silted river, leaving it untouched by war and almost frozen in time. No cars are allowed to pass through Hoi An, rendering it an excellent walking village. You start your walking tour which includes a visit to Chinese Communal houses/pagodas, the unique Japanese Covered bridge, architecture reminiscent of traders of a bygone era - Japanese, French, Chinese, and Indian, as well as beautifully preserved ancient houses. You will also have chance to visit the Hoi An local market or shop for art at one of the numerous galleries and enjoy the riverside ambiance. Overnight in Hoi An.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch at Cooking class

DAY 08: HOI AN DA NANG HO CHI MINH HALF DAY CITY TOUR
Take an early domestic flight to Ho Chi Minh. Upon arrival in Tan Son Nhat Domestic Airport, you will be greeted by local guide and transfer you to your hotel in Sai Gon - a vibrant metropolis, Sai Gon teems with energy, activity and motion. Everywhere you look, you see the meeting of traditional and modern life. The emerging modern skyline stands cheek by jowl with colonial buildings and traditional temples. Outside on the streets, young professionals zip by on motorcycles, chatting on cellphones; inside the quiet temple courtyards, worshipers pray amidst clouds of incense. In the afternoon, Visit the neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral, Central Post Office. Strolling along Dong Khoi Street, formerly known as the Rue Catinat, the main shopping thoroughfare and heart of old colonial Sai Gon, passing by classic European-style landmarks such as the ornate City Hall (Hotel De Ville), the old Opear House (both may only be viewed from the outside). Stop at the bustling Ben Thanh Market; discover the local handicrafts Overnight in Ho Chi Minh.
Meals included: Breakfast

DAY 09: HO CHI MINH COOKING CLASS CU CHI TUNNELS
Morning transfer to the Sai Gon Culinary Art Center for a cooking class. The course includes detailed explanations of the history and traditions of Vietnamese cuisine and a hands-on cooking lesson. Journey out of Ho Chi Minh City to the Cu Chi tunnels, where you will visit the vast underground network of tunnels built first as a defense against the French, and later expanded during the Vietnam war. It was from here that the North Vietnamese waged their guerrilla warfare. You will marvel at their ingenuity and resilience. See secret trapdoors, underground kitchens, living areas and meeting rooms. The more adventurous may explore the deeper second, and even third level tunnels. For those preferring to remain above ground, there is ample opportunity to view excavated areas from above. Your guide will advise you of the length and level of difficulty of each tunnel before entering - some are easily accessed by stairs. We recommend good walking shoes and sun protection for this tour. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch at Cooking class

DAY 10: HO CHI MINH DEPARTURE
After having a breakfast at your hotel, free at leisure until transferring to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for departure flight back to your home. End of services.
Meals included: Breakfast