12 Days Foodie & Gourmet of Vietnam

Arrive at Noi Bai airport, you will be greeted at Noi Bai Airport and transferred to your hotel for overnight stay. Hanoi is a unique city, with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. And this charming city will be our base to explore the northern part of Vietnam. After check in, you have your free time to relax or explore the old quarter by your own pace. You may prefer to wander through the atmospheric street of the old quarter, explore the Dong Xuan night market (it only takes part on Fri, Sat and Sun). Or enjoy a cup of coffee with an overview of night settings in a café overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake. From here you take panoramic pictures of nightlife around the lake (Suggest café: Highlands Coffee near Fountain of Centre) (Excluded)
Arrive at Noi Bai airport, you will be greeted at Noi Bai Airport and transferred to your hotel for overnight stay. Hanoi is a unique city, with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and oriental temples. And this charming city will be our base to explore the northern part of Vietnam. After check in, you have your free time to relax or explore the old quarter by your own pace. You may prefer to wander through the atmospheric street of the old quarter, explore the Dong Xuan night market (it only takes part on Fri, Sat and Sun). Or enjoy a cup of coffee with an overview of night settings in a café overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake. From here you take panoramic pictures of nightlife around the lake (Suggest café: Highlands Coffee near Fountain of Centre) (Excluded)
 

We today embark a full day city tour including of the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh (Close on Monday, Friday & November), the Presidential Palaceand the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. Close to this complex is the One Pillar Pagoda, whose origins date back to the foundation of city. We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. Have lunch at the local restaurant (by your own). In the afternoon, visit the impressive Ethnologic Museum, dedicated to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups several of which we will see on our forthcoming trek.
Back to your hotel for free time until 6:00 PM, our tour guide with pick up you to join Hanoi food tour by vespa starting daily at 6 - 10 PM
Our Vespas take guests to sample the best dishes that Vietnam has to offer! This is a great way to see parts of the city that most tourists don't get the chance to see or even hear about. Taking you to the most popular street stalls, hidden alleyways and of course where the locals love to hang out with their friends. Vespa tours drive you to a popular street café where you will experience the hustle and bustle of this city with popular lemon-tea drinks and sunflower seeds. Continuing into town in one of the most busy and beautiful places where young people come here to meet friends and take photos of the Opera house. The tour then takes you to to see the beautiful ceramic road and Chuong Duong Bridge to have a glimpse of Hanoi on the two banks of the red river. The exciting rides in organized, chaotic traffic takes you to a local restaurant with authentic food and then to small alleys to try a different versions of Pho and Vietnamese dishes that are world famous and the opportunity to try many different foods from here. A ride around the big lake is a romantic sight of Hanoi that most travelers rarely have the chance to see, which you will experience a big "wow" factor. Continuing with the tour, ride vespa's around Hanoi city and drive past Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, a few minute stop for egg coffee, one of the most famous of coffees in Hanoi. Now it's time to hang out with the young Hanoian crowd in a local bar with trendy, live music. Here you will have an opportunity to take the stage and perform yourself or listen to local musical talent performing both in Vietnamese and English, showing off their unique style and talent.
 

Breakfast at hotel and then start a 3-hour drive through the Red River Delta to Ha Long City. Comfort stop en route for photos and coffee before arriving to Ha Long City. We then transfer to a luxury wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site. While on board we will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch followed by a swim and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. When the sun comes down we drop anchor for the night nearby a remote island.  Dinner on board. Overnight on Junk
 
 

Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on sea followed by breakfast. This morning we continue to move around the bay to find more secluded areas. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a back up vessel for those that require it. At around midday we will return to the main harbor before transferring to our awaiting vehicle for a 3-hour journey to the airport for your flight to Hue. Upon arrival pick up and transfer you to Ms Loan homestay, which is located only 1,5 km from Dong Ba market. They have a family of 3 generations and the owner can speak English & French fluently. Especially enjoy your dinner or even cooking dinner with your host to learn more about the specialties of Hue city
 

Morning enjoy the breakfast with your host and then take part in our Hue city tour with our tour guide including a boat trip to visit the picturesque Thien Mu, or Heavenly Lady Pagoda
Built in 1601, it is one of the best know religious and must-see sites in Hue. Both landscape and monuments here are always in harmony and bring a feeling of peace for travelers.
Disembark the board for a visit the elaborate mausoleum of former emperor Tu Duc.
Stretching along the Perfume River, Tu Duc mausoleum is considered to be the most picturesque site of Hue. The tomb was designed by the Emperor Tu Duc himself and this is the largest architectural work of Nguyen Dynasty’s royal palaces and tombs.
Transfer back to Hue center Hue for lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon we continue to visit the Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City
Built in the 19th century by Nguyen dynasty, the Citadel becomes the most important historical and cultural monument in Vietnam. It is a square 2 km wall encompassing 3 walled enclosures: the Citadel, the Yellow Imperial city, and the Forbidden Purple city.
If time permits, we continue to do the walking and shopping in Dong Ba Market to enjoy the specialty of Hue city. Dinner and overnight at Ms Loan homestay
 

After having breakfast, we continue our south journey by road to Hoian
The ancient town of Hoian is a small town in Central Vietnam. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Hoian was a busy international commercial port for foreign merchants. Today, Hoian is popular for its peaceful beauty, eclectic architecture, tailors and cafes.
The scenery en route is very beautiful. We make a stop at Lang Co beach for coffee and refreshments before winding our way up the spectacular Hai Van Pass to admire the stunning views north to Lang Co beach and south to Danang City. Continue on our way down to the other side and head to Da Nang where we will stop at the Cham Museum, the famed China Beach, and the Marble Mountains. Arrival in Hoi An, we will have our first glimpse of this beautiful boutique town recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. The tranquil and charm of Hoi An with its low tiled houses of Chinese appearance, Japanese covered bridge, and the colorful riverside market make it one of Vietnam’s most delightful places. Overnight at hotel in Hoian
 

Our day starts at (8.30 am) at Vy’s Market Restaurant, 3 Nguyen Hoang Street, An Hoi Islet
We visit Hoi An's colourful and bustling central market by boat in small groups with an English speaking tour guide where participants learn about; the uses of different fresh noodles, how to recognise and buy fresh fish, fresh and dried spices, fresh herbs and their uses in our recipes and medicinal purposes, rice and different grains. You will also see and taste many exotic fruits.
We then return to Vy’s Market Restaurant by boat where you will be guided around the many live food counters in this unique first-of-its-kind interactive dining venue in Vietnam. Here you can see, smell, hear, taste, touch and interact with many different food making processes. You can try samples from over 10 different food counters including banh mi, dumplings, pickles, weird & wonderful foods, our rationing foods in Vietnam that were in place for 45 years, sweet treats and many more. You can see rice paper being made from ground rice and water, laid out to dry on bamboo and then later roasted for rice crackers to eat with Hoi An chilli sauce and salads, various shapes and sizes of rice noodles. Experience our famous local noodle dish Cao Lau, see the noodles rolled out by hand and cut in the traditional way with a long knife and then steamed over an open fire. You may participate in many of the street food counters; cutting noodles, making rice paper and wontons, using the bun noodle machine and more.
The cooking lesson runs about 2.5 hours – our cooking teachers first demonstrate each dish before you prepare the same dishes yourselves. After the lesson we all sit down and eat what we have cooked. You will receive a copy of the recipes and a Vietnamese cooking utensil to take home.
Recipes: (Vegetarians are provided with replacement ingredients).
1. Cabbage leaf parcels shrimp mousse in broth
2. BBQ chicken & lime leaves
3. Mango salad with prawns
4. Crispy Hoi An Pancakes with pork, prawns & bean sprouts
 

Start your exploration today with a visit to the 4th century Cham religious sanctuary of My Son,
Located in a beautiful green valley, the ruins at My Son are the largest and most intact remaining in Vietnam. It is also the home to the Museum of Cham Sculpture, which records the development of the culture and history of the Cham people.
In the afternoon at around 15:00 pick up at your hotel and climb atop your bicycle to begin your explorative ride through the verdant beauty of the countryside. Admire luscious landscapes thronged with paddies and winding waterways and stop at several quaint towns to gain insight into indigenous cultural traditions. Next, venture to the picturesque banks of the Thu Bon River and embark on a majestic cruise down the waterway. Marvel at the riverside beauty of the area then disembark at a floating island to appease your appetite with a flavorsome and fulfilling barbecue feast. Watch the sun sink into the horizon and cast a fiery glow over the scenery while finishing your delicious meal. Afterwards, return to the boat and glide down the river as dusk shrouds the countryside in atmospheric light. Approach the glittering lights of Hoi An and cycle through the bustling streets back to your original departure point, where the tour concludes (at around 18:30)

Leaving Hoian, we transfer to Danang airport to take a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival checking in the hotel, you take a half city tour around this bustling city. Our first stop is the Reunification Palace
Reunification Palace is a unique construction designed for the President of South Vietnam during Vietnam War. When entering, visitors can not only admire its architectural beauty but also enjoy fresh atmosphere created by trees and grasses around.
We then pass by Saigon Post Office & Notre Dame Cathedral.
Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most famous architectural monuments influenced by European architecture. Both its exterior and interior are impressive with bright red color of bricks, stained glass panels and carved tiles, attracting many tourists.
Our last stop is Ben Thanh market where anything and everything is for sale.
Dinner served at Bonsai cruise in Saigon river with Vietnamese traditional music and cuisine.
Overnight at the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
 

Have breakfast at hotel. Our tour guide and driver will present at the hotel at 8:00am and then you will depart from Ho Chi Minh city to Cai Be. It takes about 2.5 hour driving and you can enjoy beautiful scenery along the road. Upon arrival, you will check in the homestay, walk around the Ba Duc homestay to admire its traditional beauty and history as well as fresh air in the big garden full of fruit, chat with the the homestay owners. Lunch is served at the homestay.
In the afternoon, you will cycle through dirty village paths along river, passing some orchards, wooden ferries….interact with local people to learn more about their daily life. Then you come back to the homestay to join scoop ditch fishing activity & enjoy dinner. Stay overnight at Ba Duc homestay.
 

From 07:00 – 07:45am: wake up in the sound of nature and enjoy breakfast in the homestay.
From 08:00am: you will take a boat trip to the bustling floating market, visit handicraft villages and interact with the local people, and Cai Be market on land, then transfer to homestay.
At 11:30 am: you check out the homestay and travel back to Ho Chi Minh city by private car. On the way to Ho Chi Minh, you can stop by Mekong Rest stop to enjoy lunch yourselves. Arrive in Ho Chi Minh city.
 

You are then transferred to the Tan Son Nhat airport for your flight to next destination (suggested flight would be in the late afternoon or evening). End of Asia King Travel’s services