Higlights of the trip:
+ Walking street food tour
+ Visiting famous places in Vietnam
+ Cruise in Halong Bay with kayaking
+ Cooking Class during the trip
Brief Itinerary:
Day 1: Welcome to Hanoi – street food tour (D)
Day 2: Hanoi cooking class – half day tour (B)
Day 3: Hanoi to Halong Bay (B,L,D)
Day 4: Haloing Bay – Flight to Danang – Hoian (B,L)
Day 5: Cooking class + Hoian city tour (B,L)
Day 6: Hoian – Danang – Hue (B,L)
Day 7: Hue cooking class (B,L)
Day 8: Flight to Ho Chi Minh – walking tour (B,D)
Day 9: Cu chi tunnel – cooking class (B,L)
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta (B,L)
Day 11: Mekong Delta – back to HCM (B)
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh departure (B)
Day 1: Welcome to Hanoi (D)
Arrival Hanoi – our guide and driver will wait you at airprot to tranfser to hotel. You have time to relax at hotel before starting tour on next day. Late afternoon you guide will take you walk around Hanoi old quarter and join Hanoi street food tour. Our walk then continues along both high streets and back streets exploring beaten corners in Hanoi Old Quarter that you never known by walking yourself, enjoying elegance Hanoi through tranquility French quarter with birds singing. You will taste food, drink endless local beverage while chatting with street vendors. The purpose of our tour is to provide you with a unique opportunity to experience and learn about exciting history, exceptional culture, as well as distinctive architecture of Hanoi following its unique cuisine trail – we ensure the food is hygienically handled and provide a comfortable venue for the tastings Overnight at hotel in Hanoi
Day 2: Hanoi cooking class – half day tour (B,L)
In the morning, you will join a cooking class. The Chinese culinary influence remains in the capital and the Northern Highlands, but the dishes are truly Vietnamese. In this class, you will not only prepare some old Hanoian favorites like caramel pork, but will also explore some lesser known dishes from the highlands. Afternoon you will have half day tour of Hanoi city, where you will visit some of the iconic highlights of the city such as the Temple of Literature and the One Pillar Pagoda.
Day 3: Hanoi to Halong Bay (B,L,D)
09:00 Pick up at hotel then transfer to Pier to take cruise 12:00: Rest at the harbour as the V’Spirit Premier Cruise completes its final preparations. We can board shortly after this and enjoy our welcome drink. 13:00 - 15:15: Sit down in the dining room for a delicious lunch and a scrolling view of the wonderfully unique limestone towers outside the windows. On sampan boats, some residents of the bay will show us their home by taking us to the Dark & Bright caves, two gorgeous caverns with a vast and enclosed lake on the other side. Swimming is also available here. 17:00: We return to the V’Spirit Premier Cruise to catch the daily spectacle of a gorgeous sunset, as well as happy hour at the bar. 19:00: Along with a fantastic dinner, we have a very special performance of traditional Vietnamese music in the dining room or on the top deck. Before you retire to your cabin tonight, perhaps you would like to head to the bar, the spa (book in advance) or join the crew for some squid fishing.
Day 4: Haloing Bay – Flight to Danang – Hoian (B,L)
06:00: Begin your new day with the Tai Chi session on the top deck, run by our onboard Tai Chi teacher as the sunrise greets us from behind the mountains. 07:00- 08:15: Enjoy breakfast in the fresh air and peaceful beauty of the Bay 10:00: Experience some fantastic kayaking to discover the lovely Tra Bau area. Visit a fishing farm and socialize with the resident fishermen in order to know more about their life and how they work every day. Return to the ship and enjoy the cooking demonstration put on by our talented chef as they give you an insight into Vietnamese cuisine, then sit down for a lovely lunch buffet, on our approach to the harbour. Then transfer to Hai Phong airport for flight to Danang – Hoian Arrival Hoian – Our guide and driver come to pick up to hotel to check in. Overnight at hotel in Hoian
Day 5: Cooking class + Hoian city tour (B,L)
This morning you will join cooking class to learn how to cook traditional food in Hoian and taste it for your lunch. In the afternoon you will visit Hoian ancient town, a walking tour of this World Heritage Site. Along the way visit the Japanese Covered Bridge which features a Buddhist pagoda attached to one side and the town's most famous landmark, a beautiful Chinese Assembly Hall built in 1740 as a meeting place for all Chinese residents of the town. The hall is lavishly decorated with murals and a replica of a Chinese ship, and Phuoc Kien Pagoda, also called Kim Son Pagoda, built in 1697 by Chinese Phuoc Kien merchants at Hoi An. Conclude your tour at the Central Market, where you will find everything from fruit and flowers to tailor-made clothes and silk lanterns, whose flexible bamboo frames are designed to collapse, so they're easily transported home as a souvenir, overnight at hotel in Hoian
Day 6: Hoian – Danang – Hue (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel then driver and guide come to pick up you to Hue. On the way you can see Marble Mountain, Hai Van Pass, Lang co beach. Arrival Hue in afternoon, visit Ming Mang tomb and Thien Mu Pagoda. Overnight at hotel in Hue
Day 7: Hue cooking class (B,L)
This morning you will join cooking in Hue. First you are going to the local market, here you can see all fresh herbs, seafood area, butchers, fresh fruits. There are many tasty Hue street food at the market that you might want to try. Its time for taking pictures and learning about Vietnamese food culture and history. The chef will teach you how to cook food and enjoy it for your Lunch. Ending cooking class – we will transfer you back to hotel to relax. Free and overnight at hotel in Hue
Day 8: Flight to Ho Chi Minh – walking food tour (B,D)
Breakfast at hotel then driver comes to pick up to airport for flight to HCM. Arrival HCM, guide and driver pick up to hotel to check in. Relax at hotel until late afternoon you will join walking food tour. 17:30 PM: our guide come to pick up you to walk around walking streets and taste local food. Tours that delve into the culture, history and food of this exciting and crazy metropolis All our street food tours are seasoned with stories that will help you understand the country’s unique history and culture, and how these intersect in the food. Ending tour – our guide will take you back to hotel. Overnight at hotel in Saigon
Day 9: Cu chi tunnel – cooking class (B,L)
Breakfast at hotel, then we start to visit Cu Chi Tunnel. We drive to visit Cuchi tunnels, this network of tunnels, which stretched for over 200km, became legendary during the 1960s. The Cu Chi tunnels played a vital part in the U.S.-Vietnam War in that they allowed the Viet Cong to control a large rural area only 30 to 40 km from Saigon. At its height, the tunnel system stretched from Saigon to the Cambodian border. The network, parts of which were several levels deep, included innumerable trap doors, specifically constructed living areas, storage facilities, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers and kitchens. Today the remaining tunnels have become a major tourist attraction giving the visitor a unique experience and feel of what underground life during the war must have been like. The tunnels have been widened for our benefit (otherwise we would not be able to enter them!). For those interested there's even the opportunity to try an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range. Afternoon you will join cooking class tour - In a warm atmosphere, participants cook all together following step by step our Chef and everyone has their own material and ingredients for a better understanding of cooking techniques. You will discover Vietnamese kitchenware to cook and enjoy a tasty 4 courses meal. We adapt the menu to vegetarians or for people with food allergies, let us know your booking in advance so we can accommodate you Ending cooking class – we transfer you back to hotel to relax. Overnight at hotel in Saigon
Day 10: Ho Chi Minh – Mekong Delta (B,L)
Leave Ho Chi Minh city, enjoy the scenic journey along the National Highway bordered by green rice fields. On arrived at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank. Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. Then a boat ride to An Khanh – a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shade of the water coconut trees along natural canals, then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of "Southern Vietnamese folk music", performed by the locals. Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through fruit plantations and villages. Proceed to Can Tho.
Day 11: Mekong Delta – back to HCM (B)
Wake up in early morning at 05:00 AM to take boat trip to explore the picturesque of Mekong Delta then proceed to visit Cai Răng floating market, which are the liveliest in the whole religion. Then transfer back homestay for breakfast. After that, you can check out to transfer back HCMC. Overnigh at hotel in HCMC Day
12: Ho Chi Minh departure (B)
Breakfast at hotel – you are free until driver comes to pick up to airport for flight departure. End of services.
Trip Included:
Transportation with air-conditioned
Accommodation at hotels based on double/twin sharing good 3-star hotel
Meals as mentioned
English speaking guide on tour
Entrance fees to indicated sights
Halong Bay cruise with kayaking
Flight Haiphong – Danang & Hue – Ho Chi Minh
Bottle of mineral water
Trip Excluded:
Other meals not mentioned
Tip, drinks on meals
Airport tax
Personal expenses
Travel Insurance
International flights
Visa to Vietnam