VIETNAM CULINARY TOUR

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (D)
Arrive at Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport and transfer to hotel. Take a cyclo, the Vietnamese version of the rickshaw, to Trang An Restaurant for an introduction to Vietnamese Gastronomic Culture. Set in a beautifully restored French villa, Trang An serves specialties of traditional Vietnamese cuisine. You will no doubt be introduced to "nuoc mam", a fermented fish sauce that compliments most dishes in Vietnam, "cha gio", Vietnamese spring rolls and many other dishes that can give you a whole look on the source, the development and the changes of Vietnamese cuisine during its long history. The staffs are attired in traditional costume and musicians perform classical Vietnamese songs. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi

Day 2: Northern Vietnam’s cuisine - The flavor of land (B, L, D)

Price / Person (for 2+)
Executive	Contact us for current rates!
Deluxe
Standard
(Single person surcharge applicable)

Hanoi, the present day capital of Vietnam is a city of tree-lined boulevards and lakes with a unique blend of French colonial buildings and Chinese inspired Vietnamese architecture. A full day to explore this fascinating city takes in the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum, the Temple of Literature, the Lake of the Restored Sword and the bustling "Old Quarter", with its 36 ancient streets. Lunch at "Cha Ca La Vong" serving seasoned fish. One of the Doan Family members will recommend you the long history of this special dish and show you the process of preparing, cooking and enjoying it. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, then head for the Le Ton kin restaurant, which specializes in superbly prepared northern Vietnamese cuisine. Northern Vietnamese food has a strong Chinese influence with stir-fried dishes and less spicy food popular. Besides, it reflects the flavor of land with many kinds of herbs. After our tour guide introduces you about the characteristics of northern Vietnamese cuisine, the head-chef will show you an interesting performance of cooking and laying the dishes for your dinner. Enjoy your delicious dinner then.

Day 3: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Fresh Seafood (B, L, D)
An early start for the 160km drive to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where 2000 rocky islands emerge from the emerald green waters. On board, cruising out to the Bay (6 hours). You will visit the most beautiful caves here. A fresh seafood lunch is served on board. In the evening a barbecue of local specialties is served on the terrace of the colonial Ha Long Bay Hotel. Here you will learn the way seaside residents cook and keep their food, through which you can understand more about their traditional culture.

Day 4: Hue - Complicated Spicy Corner (B, L, D)
Return to Hanoi by road with a picnic lunch before transferring direct to Hanoi Airport for the early afternoon flight to Hue (Flight time varies depending on day of week). On arrival transfer to the hotel. In the evening, cyclo ride to Tinh Gia Vien restaurant for dinner. Food in Hue is spicy with considerable use of chili and, reflecting its imperial roots, is often presented in carefully displayed small servings, a kind of Oriental nouvelle cuisine. We enjoy the culinary legacy of the Nguyen Dynasty rulers, famous for their demands on the skills and creativity of court chefs. We sample some of the city’s vegetarian cooking, reflecting Hue’s continuing importance as a centre of Buddhism in Vietnam. Overnight at hotel.

Day 5: Cooking Class - Boat trip and Royal Banquet (B, L, D)
At 7:30 in the morning, we follow the chef to Dong Ba central market, where she gives an instruction on how to choose food for our cooking lesson at 9:30 at Y Thao Garden House. Lunch is the food we prepare. In the afternoon, travel by Dragon Boat on the romantically named Perfume River to Thien Mu pagoda standing on the riverbank with its seven-storey tower. Transfer by car to the Imperial Citadel from which the Nguyen emperors once ruled Vietnam. Royal banquet at the Huong Giang Hotel on the bank of the Perfume River. Overnight at hotel.

Day 6: Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An: Central cuisine- the Generosity of Ocean (B, L, D)
In the morning, drive to visit Tu Duc's Mausoleum with its traditional Vietnamese architecture. Leave Hue in mid-morning for a scenic journey on Highway One. The road passes by vivid green fields of rice and the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co with its blue lagoon and deserted sandy beaches before climbing over the dramatic Pass of Mountain Clouds. Lang Co is well known for its fresh seafood restaurants and a lunch of locally caught shrimps and squid on the edge of the lagoon is a must. Once over the mountain pass the road drops down to Da Nang. Stop off at Da Nang to visit the famous Non Nuoc Beach, once a 'rest and recreation' resort for American servicemen, and pass by the sacred Marble Mountains whose caves contain dozens of Buddhist shrines. Arrive at the former trading port of Hoi An around five in the afternoon. Transfer to hotel and stroll down to the picturesque riverfront for a refreshing drink before dinner at Tam Tam Restaurant, located in a meticulously restored colonial property and appropriately run by a French man. Overnight at hotel.

Day 7: Hoi An - A Fusion Cuisine (B, L, D)
During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries Hoi An was a major Asian trading centre and much remains as it was then. A morning walking tour of the ancient town centre takes in former merchants' houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful market. For lunch try the local specialty, "cao lau", a delicious soup made with noodles, pork and greens. This is an original dish found only in Hoi An and made using the water from the town's ancient well (duly boiled). The afternoon is free to cycle through rice paddies to the nearby beach, shop for souvenirs among the antique shops and art galleries or just sit at a pavement café and soak in the atmosphere of this friendly little town. For a dinner visit a Hoi An institution, the White Lantern Restaurant, whose the owner, Ms Vy, dishes up sumptuous five-course meals featuring Hoi An's unique cuisine. Expect to sample more Hoi An delicacies like "hoanh thanh" and "banh vac". Overnight at hotel.

Day 8: Wild and generous: Southern dishes (B, L, D)
Transfer to Da Nang Airport after breakfast for the early flight to Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh Cityas it is now officially known. Transfer to hotel on arrival. After a lunch of "pho" on Pasteur Street, a half day city tour includes the Unification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office and Cholon, the city's lively Chinatown. Dinner at one of Saigon's best-known restaurants, Quan An ngon, where our tour guide introduce you about the southern cuisine. The cuisine of the south uses many herbs and spices and has been influenced by Cambodia, Thailand and India among others. Curries using coconut milk are an example of this influence. The south also has a wide selection of tropical fruits and vegetables that are not readily available in the cooler north. And that most of dishes are cooked in clay pot makes southern food a very special savor. Overnight at hotel.

Day 9: Mekong Delta - Exotic food (B, L, D)
Full day trip to the watery world of My Tho in the Mekong Delta, just a couple of hours by road from the hustle and bustle of Saigon. Take a boat trip along the narrow waterways overhung with dense vegetation and try exotic fruits in one of the many orchards. Try the local specialty of Elephant's Ear Fish at a riverside restaurant. A fascinating glimpse into the daily life of the people who work, rest and play on the mighty Mekong and its numerous tributaries. Finally to Indochina Restaurant in Saigon, where we can enjoy the chef's cooking demonstration in the restaurant's airy, open-plan kitchen. Dinner at this beautifully restored colonial villa is the last supper our culinary tour through Vietnam. Overnight at hotel.

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh City Departure (B)
The morning is free until transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for departure flight.

All tours include: Present of handmade work - Accommodation based on twin sharing either Executive, Deluxe or Standard - Air Conditioned transportation - Meals in full board - All admission fees - English speaking guide - Tourist insurance. NOT included are: Single person surcharge - Drinks - Personal expenditures - International air ticket and airport tax - Tips