Vietnam Cuisine

Arrival at Noi bai Airport. Welcome by your guide and driver, then transfer in center of Hanoi. The rest of the day free. Overnight in hotel in Hanoi.
Check-in time: 14.00
45 mins transfering

We have a full day to visit the today capital of Vietnam. Hanoi is famous for its verdant tree-lined streets, colonial architecture houses, charming monuments and its people's interesting lifestyle. We start with the visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and his stilts house where we can learn about his modest-but-great life, then Tran Quoc Pagoda. Then we discover the Temple of Literature dedicated to Confucius and his disciples. This is also Vietnam's first university founded in 1076. On the same day, visit of Ethnological museum. Enjoy a water puppet show in late afternoon. Transfer to a local family and enjoy the traditional dishes as well as talk to the locals to better understand about their daily life. Overnight at hotel.

Cooking in Hanoi is a beautiful art and with this day tour, we invite you to savor this art. In the morning, take part in a cooking class where you can discover the colorful world of Vietnamese herbs, vegetables and spices. Meet our guide and visit a bustling market where your chef will explain to you the names and use of essential ingredients, even encourage you to taste some of Vietnam's most exotic ingredients. The cooking session will last about 1 ½ hours in which you prepare signature Vietnamese three dishes under the guidance of experienced chefs. Finally, take time to taste your creations. Free in the afternoon. Overnight at hotel.

We leave Hanoi in the morning and drive towards Mai Chau in the North - West. During the ride you will be impressed by the fast changing variety in landscapes which you see through the window. After passing Hoa Binh we enter the real mountainous areas. We enter the area which is the homeland of the Muong minority, a close cousin tribe of the Vietnamese people living in the Delta. They share the region with the White Thai people who live densely in Mai Chau Valley. Lunch at a local Thai ethnic family.
In the afternoon, you will take a 90-minute walk off-the-beaten track. Along the way, you will meet with local farmers in the rice fields, who you may help in the rice paddies or in the garden, depending on the season. The day concludes with a small traditional dance performance by the villagers and adults can enjoy rượu cần (fermented rice wine).
Driving time: 3.5 hours
Driving distance: 90 miles (145 km)

After breakfast, a short transfer by car to Pu Poc. Stop at Buoc Village where you begin your walk. After 1 hour of walking, crossing evergreen forest and small farms, the walk is becoming easier on small paths, on the way of hiking, you will see the house on stilt of Thai people, lush fruits garden, fish ponds. A good experience of contacting with local people, chat with them, learn about the traditional custom and daily life of Thai people. Ends of meaningful hiking day. Then back to Hanoi. Start walking in the Old Quarter and indulging in the famous street food culture. It's a great introduction to the gastronomy of the country, and beyond the bún chả and bánh mì vendors, you'll also try some delicious Vietnamese beverages like the famous "egg coffee"—perfect for those who like their daily caffeine jolt combined with a decadent dessert.
~2.5 hrs hiking, Hiking road condition: way up to mountain, path

After breakfast, (08:00AM to 08:30 AM) we transfer to Ha long Bay, where we board a traditional junk for a cruise among the thousands spectacular limestone islands that make up this UNESCO World Heritage Site. We enjoy a fresh seafood lunch on board while the captain heads out for the horizon. Kayaks will be an opportunity to do some paddling this afternoon. We stay in comfortable cabins on board.

After breakfast, we continue the cruise passing the rock formations which tower out of the bay. Visit one of famous caves. Upon return to the boat to freshen up and finish packing. Having brunch served in dining room while heading back to Ha long City. Transfer back to Hanoi station for a night train to Hue.
Time for transfer: 13 hours

After breakfast transfer to visit the Forbidden Citadel surrounded, a moated, walled fort, constructed during the early 19th century. Within these walls lies the forbidden Purple City, former home of the royal family. You will then make a boat trip on the perfum river to Thuy Bieu village - an authentically village representing the countryside of Hue with the clear notion “garden-home”. On the way stop to visit Thien Mu Pagoda by the side of Perfume River, which is the symbol of Hue romantic city and built in 1610. Visit the pagoda with your guide. A nice walking around the quiet Thuy Bieu village, one of villages is still kept culture of Hue. Along the walking you have opportunity to admire the quiet and superb landscape of Hue: rice field, fruit tree and vegetable gardens, communal house, primary school and a valley of cemetery. Back to Hue Ecolodge and join in a cooking class. You will be guided by our Chef to make some tradional dishes. Then, relaxing by steeping your foot in with medicinal herbs water - a traditional therapeutically practices.  Continue to visit Tu Duc tomb and enjoy an Imperial Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at hotel.

Check out and then you continue driving on one of Vietnam's most spectacular routes; the Mandarin Road. We take the Hai Van Pass (Ocean Cloud Pass), a mountainous highway offering splendid views over the East Sea. Arriving to Hoi An, ancient town was recognized by UNESCO as being World Cultural Heritage in 1999. Hoi An used to serve as an active port of trade with the Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese and Chinese people during the 17th and 18th centuries. The streets, houses and architecture are remained ‘untouched’, despite turbulent history. Visit Tan Ky & Phuc Kien Old House, Japanese Bridge. Enjoy a sunset boat trip and have dinner on board. Overnight at hotel

Discover Hoi An and its surrounding countryside on a full-day tour. Start with a bike ride to the wharf, where you'll take a boat to the Cua Dai sand dunes, learning how to cast a net with fishermen on the way. After taking in views of the towering dunes, continue to Cam Thanh Village, which is known for its 84-hectare Bay Mau palm forest. Take a peaceful trip on a Vietnamese bamboo basket boat through the mangroves.
Next, sail to Cam An Wharf, where you’ll cycle to Tra Que to meet farmers and get involved in village life. You'll get to try local cuisine, from tam huu (three friends) spring rolls to fried fish at the Tra Que Herb Village. Cycle back to Hoi An afterward for a walking tour of this ancient port town. Soak up its UNESCO-listed fusion of architecture, which includes wooden merchant houses, an ornate Japanese bridge, and the Phuc Kien Chinese temple.

Afternoon we transfer to Da Nang airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Pick up and transfer to hotel for check in. then visit the underground system while learning more about war stories - Cu Chi tunnel from our local experienced guide. Enter the tunnels where Viet Cong villagers used to live and fight during war time.
In the late afternoon, you will enjoy a street food tour in Saigon by Vespa. It will take you a chance to taste delicious dishes and learn about the daily life at night of local people. The tour is 6:00pm to 10:00pm. Overnight at hotel. 

You will be picked up at your hotel in the morning and driven to Ben Tre. Upon arrival at Hung Vuong pier you will embark a boat to cruise on Ben Tre River, one of the tributaries of the Mekong River. The boat will cruise along the Ham Luong river (a branch of the Mekong) and stop off at various local workplaces to give you a picture of how the local economy works, a coconut processing workshop, where you can sample fresh coconut and see how every single part of this versatile nut is turned into food and other products; and a mat weaving house, where straw mats are woven using a hand loom – you can even have a go at weaving yourself! The boat will then stop at a quiet village where you can have a nice walk to experience real Delta village life. Afternoon, you will then drive to Can Tho. Upon arrival, check into hotel and relax. Overnight at hotel in Can Tho.

Early in the morning, visit Cai Rang floating market, one of the most bustling floating markets in Mekong Delta with hundreds of small boats barging and jostling for space as owners attempt to sell their goods. Afterwards, we transfer to Vam Xang, You will join a bike tour around Vam Xang Village. On the way, you may find a peaceful moment by admiring gardens and fields, experiencing the local people in the Mekong Delta, and seeing the luxuriant fruit orchards.
In the afternoon, join in a cooking class at the hotel. The participants are introduced to all the ingredients, given the adequate tools to prepare the meal. You can discuss your challenges with our chefs—all the while gaining an understanding of the dishes’ origins and fine-tuning their cooking method. After this highly interactive class, you are able to sit down and enjoy the meal you have just created. You can get to take the recipes you learn home with you and do not forget introduce the specialty of Western Vietnamese food. Overnight at hotel.

Early in the morning, you are free at your own leisure until transferred back to Saigon. On the way, visit Binh Thuy ancient house & Binh Thuy Temple. Afterwards, we spend way back till Ho Chi Minh City. Free at leisure in afternoon.

All day free at leisure for your personal discovery until the transfer to the airport for your flight to Phu Quoc - start your own excursion. End our services.