OVERVIEW
From the subtle sweetness of Saigon to the sizzling spice of Hue to the harmonious flavors of Hanoi, this tour takes you right to the heart of the different regional cuisines from mouthwatering street food to sophisticated fine dining. See where the food is cultivated in the countryside, discover where it is bought in the local markets and learn how it is prepared with a cooking class. Vietnam is home to one of the world´s great cuisines and this culinary journey will make you an expert.

HIGHTLIGHTS
- The trip offers you different experiences of various cuisines from south to north of Vietnam, from street food stalls to fine dining restaurants.
- Sharing your culinary passions with local chefs, bartender and Vietnamese home hosts
- Get yourselves into the local cultural activities, not just come and see. 
- Discover the significant landscapes and cultural sites along the country.

HO CHI MINH CITY - MEKONG DELTA - DANANG - HOI AN - HUE - HANOI - HA LONG BAY - HANOI

DAY 7: HUE – HOME VISIT (B/L/D)

After breakfast, follow your guide to visit a local home who live 3 generations in a typical traditional garden house. Meet and walk with the host to nearby vibrant local market to purchase ingredients for lunch. At your host’s house, interact and exchange the culture, traditional with your hosts. Then, take a short walk to visit their family ancestral temple to learn about the customs associated with ancestral worship before coming back to see the cooking demonstration of traditional dishes and participate in setting the home meal. Enjoy a local lunch with your host’s family. Say goodbye to the host’s family then return to your hotel.

In the afternoon, we will visit the Imperial Citadel where Kings of Vietnam’s last feudal dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945, including Flag Tower, Nine Holy Cannons, Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Nine Dynastic Urns, Forbidden Purple City.

We will then spend time at the well-known Dong Ba Market. All of the most special cultural gifts and souvenirs of Hue that remain until today can be found in Dong Ba Market. They include “non la bai tho” (conical hats having poems woven into their design) from Phu Cam Village, royal tea, lotus seed of Tinh Tam Lake and other local specialties. Dong Ba Market is also the place where you can try most of Hue’s delicious dishes within a place at a high quality standard. On the ground of the market, we will try many local specialties such as Banh beo, Banh nam, Banh loc, Nem Lui, Banh Khoai, Bun Thit Nuong (Rice noddle with grilled pork and vegie) and Che (sweet soup with many flavor). Overnight in Hue.

DAY 8: HUE – FLY TO HANOI – CITY TOUR (B/L/D)

After breakfast, take a short morning flight to Hanoi – Capital city of Vietnam. Upon arrival, you’re greeted and transfer to the City central.

Enjoy lunch at Huong Lien Restaurant where the Former US President Mr. Barack Obama ate bun cha in Hanoi with Anthony Bourdain, an American chef, author, and television personality.

After your good lunch, we visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (viewed from outside), Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature & Vietnam’s first university). Constructed in 11^th century, the gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam's past. Take a guided walk to visit Hanoi Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake. We will also visit Hoa Lo Prison which was a prison used by the French colonists in French Indochina for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. Prisoners of War during the Vietnam War.

Then we will go to your hotel to check-in, rest & relax.

Tonight, get ready to enjoy one of the most famous dishes of North Vietnam: Cha Ca La Vong (grilled fish). The dish made from turmeric marinated fish fried with dill and green onion to make special flavor. It is tossed together with handfuls of dill, spring onion, roasted peanuts and served on a bed of rice vermicelli noodles. Hanoi has several stores serving Cha Ca, but none of them can be equal to the Cha Ca Road’s in terms of quality and flavor. According to oral history, a family at Hang Son Street invented his home cook fish dish in addition to earning more money. The delicious taste of Cha Ca soon made it popular so much that the whole street was named after it later on.

Cha Ca must be served while hot with rice vermicelli noodles, top of Vietnamese mint & coriander, along with nuoc cham, Vietnamese dipping sauce with its subtle notes of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar and a bit of heat from red chili. All makes Cha Ca tasty, savory and unique among best known dishes of Hanoi.

After dinner, try a glass of Bia Hoi - local draught beer at a small corner in the little Hanoi Old Quarter, and watch how the local life moving around you. If you are less interested in beer, then follow our local guide to a local coffee shop for a short Egg coffee demonstration and enjoy the Egg coffee which is most famous in Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi city.

DAY 9: HANOI – HOME COOKING & SECRET OF PHO (B/L/D)

After breakfast, we drive to Ngoc Thuy market - a vibrant and authentic local wet market for introduction of shopping habit of Vietnamese people and briefing about schedule of today special cooking class. Visit the shopping area of alive chicken; fish and buy all ingredients for the cooking class’ menu. You will also have the chance to visit and learn about the herbs, vegetable in a family garden nearby before learning how to cook 4 main dishes of a traditional meal.

Enjoy your own prepared lunch with one drink/person (mineral water or local beer). After lunch, return to your hotel to rest & relax.

Late afternoon, meet your guide again at your hotel’s lobby. Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda - Hanoi’s oldest pagoda on the bank of West Lake.  Next, we walk to Truc Bach Lake to visit the monument of John McCain, a famous American politician and naval officer. In October 1967, during the Vietnam War, his fighter plane was shot down over Hanoi. He parachuted into Truc Bach Lake, where he was rescued by the North Vietnamese. In fact, McCain spent the next five-and-a-half years as a high-profile prisoner of war in Hoa Lo Prison.

Continue by foot we will reach a street where you will get to know how the Hanoian cook and eat Pho in different ways. Since you have already tried a (or more) big bowl of traditional Pho noodle soup, you are here now in the capital of Pho, we would like to introduce different amazing types of Pho. The stories of Pho to be shared by our fascinated local guide during your tour tonight. First, you will be served some kinds of Pho, and other delicious dishes that not realized by many foreigners. Then, let’s explore a new way to enjoy Pho in Vietnam is “Pho” cocktail. The story of how “Pho” Cocktail invented to be told, and you will know how it is loved and served at some selected bars & lounges in the old town of Ha Noi as a signature drink. Enjoy Jazz music & Pho in a glass at the bar where the special cocktail is created. If you are lucky, you will have the chance to meet the Cocktail Barman Extraordinaire, who invented the cocktail. Talk with him and ask him to make a creative cocktail only for yourself and your mood of the day (additional cocktail at own expense). The bar also has a few other Vietnamese inspired creations on the menu. Many of signature cocktails are heavily influenced by Vietnamese culture and cuisine.

A great way to end the interesting day with unforgettable memories!

Overnight in Hanoi city.

DAY 10: HANOI – HA LONG BAY – THE WORLD HERITAGE (Breakfast, lunch, dinner)

After breakfast, take 3.5 hour drive to Ha Long Bay, one of the World Natural Heritages recognized by UNESCO with thousands of spectacular limestone islands rising from the clear, emerald sea in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Upon arrival, welcome aboard. Enjoy welcome drink before check in your cabin. While the junk is passing many rocky islets, caves, floating villages and beaches, a tasty lunch will be served on board with fresh seafood. Relax on the sundeck. Later on, the junk moves a quiet area to dock for overnight stay.

Dinner with Vietnamese food is served on board.

Overnight stay on board

Note: The itinerary of cruise in Halong may change without prior notice depending on situation.

DAY 11: HA LONG BAY – HANOI – (Breakfast)

The junk cruises around Ha Long Bay, passes by many islets named by their shapes such as Dog, Incense Urn, Fighting Cock, Finger, etc. Breakfast or brunch is served while the junk then continues cruising towards the wharf. After disembarkation, travel back to Hanoi city.  Check in your hotel and enjoy free evening.

Overnight in Hanoi city.

Optional Vietnamese Traditional Wellness Package at Sen Garden

Be relaxed and getting better from touring days by joining in this traditional health care & massage package. Local therapeutic massages at Sen Garden is a signature product that combines Vietnamese unmatched methodology of natural (medicine-free) healthcare, which is crystallized from 25 years of experience, with our unique initiative in delivering a true experience of Hanoi’s traditional culture to clients.

After your early morning flight/before your midnight flight or after your excursion, you may love to be brought (by our guide or driver) to the Sen Garden Health Care Center to enjoy the very special package of “Sen Garden VIP health treatment” for 120 minutes in private room.

The package inclusive of:

Step 1: Take a warm shower

Step 2: Soak body in herbal wooden basin

Step 3: Private Jacuzzi with herbal water

Step 4: Traditional Sauna and steam bath

Step 5: Make body warm up with herbal water

Step 6: Relax and enjoy amazing Body massage treatment by professional therapist (90minutes).

Step 7: Enjoy some snacks at La Sen Restaurant.

Inclusions: Private roundtrip transfer by car, “Sen Garden VIP health treatment” for 120 minutes in private room,

Snacks  at La Sen Restaurant after the massage treatment.

DAY 12: HANOI DEPARTURE (Breakfast)

Free time for last minute shopping before transfer to International airport for departure flight