Vietnam Culinary & Cultural Discovery – 10 Days

Arrival at Noi Bai International airport, our driver will meet you at the airport and transfer to hotel for check in. Overnight in Hanoi.

AM: 7.45 – 8.15: Free pick up at your hotel. Then visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to explore the architectural and historical aspects of Uncle Ho’s final resting-place. Just next door is Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts and lying to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar Pagoda, which was founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 - the structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Then continue on to the Buddhist Tran Quoc Pagoda at West lake (One of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam). the Literature Temple and Quoc Tu Giam, see Vietnam’s first university, constructed in 1070 - it’s gardens and well-preserved architecture will offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Take you past Hoan Kiem Lake to see the peaceful waters, and the beauty of Ngoc Son temple. At the end, journey through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, where you’ll then have a chance for some shopping and exploration. Tour ends around 15h30 - 16h00.

You can catch the show by one of this time 15:00, 16:10, 17:20, 18:30 & 20:00. This tradition is unique to North Vietnam but has recently found fame on stages all over the world; so it’s a rare treat to see the puppets perform in their original location at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Performances are accompanied by a Vietnamese orchestra playing traditional music using drums, wooden bells, horns, bamboo flutes and cymbals. The show will be finished in 1 hour, then you will free time.

Program customize up to cruise 7:30 - 8:00: Take a 3-hour scenic drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay. 12:00-12:30 : Arrive in Tuan Chau Tourist Wharf. Transfer to Halong Cruise by tender. 12:30 : Welcome drink on the boat and check in to your private cabin. 13:15-14:15: Serve have lunch on board while cruising to some magnificent Halong bay scenes. 14:45 -15:00: Visit Titop island where you take your time on swim, sunbath, trekking.... 16:30: Arrive in Pearl Farm Village. Visit around and swim, kayaking in the bay. 17:30: Back to the cruise and join cooking class to have experience in some traditional dishes. Tea time on sundeck.

Program customize up to cruise 6:00 : Practice Tai Chi on the Sundeck. 7:00-7h30: Start your day with a light breakfast. During breakfast, cruising to explore other part of Halong Bay, admire the beauty of one in seven new wonder in the world. 8:30 - 9h30: Arrive in Surprise cave, explore the Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in Ha Long bay. 9:45: Check out and take all luggage outside of your cabin, cruise back to the Tourist Wharf through Ha Long bay. 10:00: Have brunch and clear bills. 11:30: Back to the Tourist Wharf. 12:00: Departure to Ha Noi 16.00: arrive in Hanoi You will get back to hotel for resting, then our driver will take you to airport for flight to Hue in evening. You will be picked up at the airport after reaching. Transfer to hotel for check in. Take part in to Royal dinner cruise if you would to come, if not you can spend time by your own leisure.

The main attractions at Y Thao garden house are the vegetarian and non-vegetarian Hue specialty dishes. The owner is a skilled chef and the food is delicious. Her recipes have been handed down through the family for many, many years. She includes at least one of the Hue “Royal’ dishes in the menu. This half day cooking experience at the restaurant is very worthy. At 8.30 am our guide will meet you at your hotel and then we will shop for fresh food at the Dong Ba market, the most hustling market in Hue. Then starts the cooking class with Ms. Cuc, the famous chef at Y Thao. We will have our lunch here, eating the delicious foods that were just cooked. Cooking class will end at about 13.00. We then enjoy a cruising along Perfume River with a stop for a visit Thien Mu Pagoda and Minh Mang King Tomb.

Hoi an and Hue are two tourist destinations located along the coast of Central Vietnam. Located roughly 3 hours from one another (130kms), each location sees tens of thousands of tourist visitors each year due to their individual and unique charm. Additionally, when traveling from Hue to Hoi An, travelers have the opportunity to see famous destinations such as the Marble Mountains, My Khe Beach, Ling Ung Pagoda, Hai Van Pass, Lang Co Beach and Elephant Springs – making it one of the most popular short voyages in Vietnam due to it having so much to offer in such a short distance. You will have breakfast at hotel, free of time then we catch the afternoon bus to Hoi An, it may takes 4 hours of transferring.

Red Bridge Cooking School is not just a cooking class, it’s an ‘experience’ that includes a visit to markets and herb gardens followed by a trip down the river to the cooking school restaurant which enjoys one of the most glorious settings Hoi An has to offer. Itinerary: 8.15am We start the day with a welcome drink at Hai Café (98 Nguyen Thai Hoc street, Hoi An town) Visit Hoi An’s colorful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later.

We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy. On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – the Red Bridge chefs first demonstrate each dish before we prepare the same dishes ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we sit down and eat what we have cooked.

Bring your swimsuit and after the cooking tour has finished relax and enjoy free use of the 20 meter swimming pool – towels and showers provided. Recipes (might be changed depending on the season) • Rice paper (making) • Fresh Rice Paper Rolls of Shrimp • Crispy Hoi An Pancakes with Shrimp, Herbs, Bean Sprouts & a Peanut Sauce • Seafood Salad with mixed Vietnamese Herbs served in Half a Pineapple • Vietnamese Eggplant in Clay Pot • Food Decoration – Pineapple Boat, 3 Coloured Flowers & Vietnamese Hand Fan Vegetarians are provided with replacement ingredients Lunch includes the above meals as well as: Steamed Ocean Fish on a bed of Fresh Vegetables (not included in the demonstration).

Breakfast at hotel, free time for your own leisure then transfer to airport for flight to Ho Chi Minh. Overnight stay at hotel.

HCM – My Tho – Ben Tre – HCM ( start 8.00 – return 17.00 ) Enjoy the scenic journey along the way bordered by green rice fields. On arrived at My Tho, visit Vinh Trang pagoda, take a leisurely boat ride along the river, view the stilt houses, fruit plantations and fishing villages along the river bank. Proceed to Tortoise islet, have lunch in the orchard garden. In here you will also try the local exotic food like fried Elephant ear fish, Vietnamese pan cake, spring rolls, Khot cake,.. Then a boat ride to An Khanh – a less touristy attraction in Ben Tre, enjoy cruising on a hand-rowed sampan under the shadow of the water coconut trees along natural canals, then enjoy seasonal fruit & honey tea to the sound of "Southern Vietnamese folk music", performed by locals.

Visit a family business which epitomizes the idyllic rural lifestyle, taste the delicious coconut candy & observe the pastoral life as you roam through the fruit plantation and village. Meet the bus and return to HCMC. This trip provides a fascinating insight into daily life in the Mekong Delta and you are guaranteed to take home your own private collection of beautiful memories. Overnight at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel, free time till our driver come and pick you up to airport from hotel. Ends trip