Culinary Delights of Vietnam

📍 HCMC airport – HCMC center (8 km): 30 minutes

Upon arrival at the international terminal, look for the assistant displaying your group's name on a signboard, close to the immigration area. From here, be escorted to a fast lane in the  immigration zone. Once the immigration administrative procedures are complete, continue to the baggage carousel with the airport assistant followed by the Vietnam customs clearance lane, before exiting the terminal. Your private guide and car will meet you outside and transfer to the hotel for check in.

Once known as the ‘Pearl of Indochina’, Ho Chi Minh City boasts an enormous architectural wealth, mirroring its colourful history. From the pagodas, museums and European architecture of the city’s recent past to the growing number of skyscrapers, Ho Chi Minh City is like a trip through time.

Tonight, depending on arrival time, treat yourself to dinner at AnAn, the first restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City to receive a star by the esteemed Michelin Guide (at own expense, bookings recommended in advance (contact us). 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Inclusions:

Today begins at 08:30. Meet with a local guide and start with a walking tour (depending on the season, this order might be changed) through the historic city center and CBD. See the architecturally splendid City Hall, historic Dong Khoi Street, the Continental Hotel and the Saigon Opera House. 

Then step off the main road into a historic building revolutionized by the city’s youth. Here, locally owned retail stores, coffee shops and art spaces offer a glimpse into the city’s creative generation. If time allows, relax and enjoy a local coffee at one of the building’s cafes. 

Stroll to the Central Post Office. Here, you can also glimpse the former CIA building, where one of the last helicopter evacuations took place in 1975.   

Stroll through lovely 30 April Park to perhaps the city’s most famous landmark - the Reunification Palace. Now preserved in a time warp, the ‘war rooms’ in the basement plus the opulent displays are fascinating.  

Continue to another historic site, the Ben Thanh Market. Still functioning as a local neighborhood market, the central location also welcomes travelers with a variety of stalls. 

Finish up the morning by discovering the true depth of Vietnam’s national dish beyond the standard bowl. This unique experience showcasing six distinct, and in some case ‘rare’, styles of phở during one cosy and engaging session. Taste unique versions like crispy fried phở, dry-style phở, and other regional variations, offering a genuine culinary education, learn stories about each bowl, and take home the ‘phở-expert’ certificate.

Having gained greater understanding of Saigon's culture and history, return to the hotel or your next destination. 

The rest of the day is at leisure. Ask us for recommendations on the town’s best restaurants.
 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

Start the day at 08:30 with a different discovery of Ho Chi Minh City; the caffeine habits of the locals and the significance of coffee drinking in Vietnamese culture. 

Coffee was introduced to Vietnam by the French in the late 19th century with the country quickly becoming a leading exporter as vast areas of the highlands were given over to this important new cash crop. Today, the Vietnamese have taken coffee to new gastronomical levels, which continues to evolve. 

Start with a stroll through a buzzing local residential area and delve right into local life while browsing the street, watch people enjoying their coffee, reading their newspapers or chatting with each other.  

Here, visit a 90-year-old coffee shop, the oldest in Ho Chi Minh City. Get to know the unique way of making coffee while listening to tales related to this trade.

As part of the tour, you will have a chance to visit a charmingly restored ‘shophouse’ located in the historic part of the city, which still operates as a trading area. Once there, discover the exquisite flavours of Vietnamese specialty coffee and learn how to prepare a delicious ‘caphe trung’, aka egg coffee. 

Tonight’s experience starts at 18:30. Once acquainted with the driver and your motorbike, zip through the city's bustling streets. The first food stop of the evening is a small yet well-regarded ‘bánh mì’ stall. Here, join a queue to purchase these beloved Vietnamese baguettes which are highly favoured by people from Saigon and beyond. From there, proceed to a local coffee shop full of character for a short briefing over a drink of tropical fruits, juice or tea.   

Next, ride to a hidden restaurant and delve deeper into local culture by enjoying a home-cooked tasting meal. 

Once sated, zig zag through vibrant streets, wander around an old apartment complex which transforms into a bustling night market with an abundance of food and drink stalls. Stop at a charming desert spot for a taste of local style cake.     

The final stop of the evening takes you to a hidden bar. Take a sip from the bar’s signature cocktail and soak in the vibrant atmosphere of Saigon, before hopping back on the Vespa for one final ride back to the hotel.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

📍 HCMC – HCMC’s airport (8 km): 30 mins Danang airport – Central Hoi An (30 km): 50 mins

This morning, transfer to Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat airport for the flight to central Vietnam. From the Danang airport, it’s a 50-minute drive to the ancient port town of Hoi An. 

Hoi An, one of Vietnam’s most picturesque towns and UNESCO-heritage listed, once a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries now draws international visitors to its streets, for both the history and the surrounding scenes.    

Afternoon and evening at leisure. Ask us for recommendations on the town’s best restaurants. 

Overnight in Hoi An

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

Spend half a day in Hoi An’s rural outskirts learning how to create some of the region’s signature dishes using fresh, fragrant herbs. You’ll also visit a ‘wet’ market to learn more about the area’s produce from farm to sea, before this delectable cultural experience.   

Be picked up at 8:30 from the hotel, begin with a cup of coffee at a riverside restaurant in Hoi An’s centre. Once you’re briefed on the activities for the next few hours, stroll to a nearby ‘fresh market’ to learn about the local shopping culture. Next, enjoy a 10-minute scenic drive to the cooking class by electric buggy.
After arriving at the architecturally stunning venue for the activity, explore the surroundings before learning how generations of farmers have cultivated the land. The soil here is rich and fertile, thanks to the combination of silted river water and natural algae fertiliser. Using these traditional methods to grow their vegetables, without the use of chemicals or pesticides results in produce that is both healthy and delicious.
A short yet satisfying massage to ease your muscles will follow the learning experience, before starting the cooking class, where the Chef will introduce a variety of incredible ingredients for you to create. 
After you ‘cook and learn’,  it’s finally time to sit back and devour your delicious creation. Once relaxed and satisfied, transfer back to your hotel to rest. 
Depart at 17:00 from your hotel, for this secret cocktail adventure, which visits four very different cocktail bars, each of which has its own story and vibes. From a hidden bar tucked down a small alley to a rooftop bar with views over the Thu Bon River, you'll experience the diverse flavors of Hoi An's cocktail scene.
Learn about local ingredients, from herbs to spices to local spirits and the delicate balance of flavors and the inspiration that led to the creation of each unique drink. At the last stop, take part in a hands-on demonstration of a very special ‘Vietnamese themed’ cocktail. Once you’ve sipped this last drink, head to dinner (on own account) or back to the hotel around 20:00.

Overnight in Hoi An

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Join one of Central Vietnam’s most renowned chefs, Duc Tran from Mango Mango fame, on an exclusive half day experience, at his incredible home. The man behind three well-loved restaurants, Mango Mango, Mango Rooms and Mai Fish, Duc fled Vietnam during the 1970s at the tender age of fifteen. After refugee camp’s finding spice in Texas and world travels he came full circle back to Vietnam in 2003. Fast forward 20-years and Duc’s appeared on numerous international cooking and travel programs.  

Be picked up at 8:30 from the hotel and begin the tour with a short visit to a local market (led by a local tour guide, Duc will not join) for a brief intro into the area’s produce, from farm to sea. See locals shopping from the seat of their motorbikes. Here in Vietnam, life is about speed and convenience, both in cooking and in life.  

After, head to Duc's rural home/ cooking studio for a private demonstration followed by lunch, freshly prepared by the chef himself. Once satisfied, return to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. 

Note: Menu is seasonal.

Overnight in Hoi An

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Central Hoi An - Danang Airport (30 km): 50 mins Noi Bai airport - Hanoi (35 km): 60 mins

Take a morning flight and head to your next destination, the capital of Vietnam. 
Upon arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport Terminal 2 (T2), once you've passed immigration and collected luggage from the carousel, proceed to Exit A1 then to Pillar 7 (P7), where the guide/ driver will be waiting for the 50-minute private transfer to central Hanoi. In the event that you can’t find the guide/ driver, please call the 24-Hour Customer CARE hotline: +84 917332246 
Hanoi, a city of contrasts, defies easy categorization. It's both modern and traditional, chaotic and serene, and always full of surprises. But one thing is for sure: it's a place that’s captivating, to all the senses. 
The evening begins at 18:00 with a leisurely stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake, offering a glimpse into the daily rhythm of Hanoians as the day winds down. Hoan Kiem Lake, meaning "Lake of the Returned Sword," blends serene beauty with a captivating legend of a magical sword and a golden turtle, embodying Hanoi's history and charm.

The exploration continues with a walk through the Old Quarter before escaping the bustle in the quiet of a local home - a French-style, century-old villa. Sip green tea (as the locals like it, strong) to learn more on the fascinating multi generational lives of the past and present inhabitants. 

Dine tonight at a premier restaurant in the heart of the Old Quarter, Madame Hien, offering Hanoi specialties by famed chef, Didier Corlou. Housed in a beautifully restored French period villa, the restaurant blends Vietnamese and French influences in both its cuisine and its charming, nostalgic décor. 

Before returning to the hotel, cap off the experience with a handcrafted cocktail at a hidden bar overlooking the splendid St. Joseph's Cathedral. St. Joseph's Cathedral, an iconic landmark in Hanoi, stands as a striking example of French Gothic architecture, steeped in history and a testament to the city's past. 

Overnight in Hanoi

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

Today’s tour begins at 09:00. Set off on a half day guided tour of Hanoi’s highlights. A city of contrasts, defies easy categorization, it's both modern and traditional, chaotic and serene, and always full of surprises. 

Dive right in with a visit to the Temple of Literature. In 1076 Quoc Tu Giam - Vietnam's first university, also referred to as Van Mieu, was established within a temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite, for an incredible 800-years.   

Following, chose a museum option (to be discussed on the actual day of the tour):  

Option 1: Vietnam Women’s Museum.  Highly acclaimed, the museum displays highlights of Vietnam’s vast cultural diversity and the significant role women play in Vietnamese society.  

Option 2: Hoa Lo Museum: Step back in time to the days of the Vietnam War at the "Hanoi Hilton." Once home to POWs, the exhibits include photographs, artifacts, and displays. 

Conclude the exploration with a stroll through Hanoi’s Old Quarter. A maze of alleyways and hidden treasures, learn about local life in the ‘36-guilds’ as you weave through the frenetic streets on foot. 

As an alternative option to the museum and Old Quarter, Hanoi’s iconic Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex can be visited. The site is fascinating yet expect queues and long walking distances (Note the Mausoleum is closed Monday and Fridays, each afternoon as well as annually from June 12th to Aug 14th).  

Join the long queues before continuing on foot past the Mausoleum to learn about the life and legacy of the nation’s founder. Continue to the ‘house on stilts’ where ‘Bac Ho’ resided from 1958 to 1969. Stroll around the tranquil grounds before completing the circuit at the One Pillar pagoda; built in 1049, the symbol of Hanoi is a unique representation of the city. 

Following the introduction to Hanoi’s highlights transfer back to your hotel.

The evening tour begins at 17:00. From the southern end of the Old Quarter, start with a quintessential Hanoi favorite; egg coffee. Once your system is full, continue along backstreets to sample such delicacies as banh da tron (an unusual dish consisting of brown flat noodles), bun (vermicelli) with rice paddy crab which is typical from the north as well as other local favorites. Food sampled is adaptable depending on preferences and tastes. 

The beauty of the Old Quarter is the connection of narrow alleys which are privately shared among the community. You’ll explore such areas usually hidden to outsiders. Continue walking these hidden alleys to sample popular tastes and treats before continuing to a historic home nested behind bustling shops. Meet the owner to learn more on life in the Old Quarter through the eyes of a resident.  

Continue through a streetside market to another hidden lane through houses to Dong Xuan market and its street food alley’s.  Walk around this area then continue to a state-owned shop on Lan Ong ‘medicinal street’ to sample the traditional herbal rice liquor – considered the soul of the Old Quarter. 

Finally, visit a family operated pho noodle enterprise that supplies the area with the country’s staple ingredient. See the production line of this wholesaler (note a bowl of pho will not be eaten at this house as it's for production only).  

Finish your exploration of one of Vietnam’s most fascinating districts with a last hidden alleyway, followed by more grazing before transferring back to your hotel or your next stop.

Notes: 

• This tour can be taken in the morning or afternoon. We recommend PM due to the atmosphere of the Old Quarter / less humid than during the heat of summer. 
• The tour may be subject to change due to weather conditions etc. 
• The tour is primarily conducted on foot so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. 
•  Street food options for vegetarians are limited. Not recommended for vegans 
• The experience offered while vetted as visiting popular and well-frequented local establishments, either street stalls or local family run establishments, standards might not be comparable with international standards. While we check the standards of these local vendors, please be aware that consuming street food involves some risk

Overnight in Hanoi

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

📍 From central Hanoi to Halong Bay (160 km): approx. 2.5hrs

The perfect way to see the UNESCO World Heritage areas of Halong and Lan Ha Bay is to spend a night aboard a charming boat. The mystical scenery, where thousands of limestone islands jut out of the emerald sea, sculpted into wondrous shapes covered in lush flora is truly breathtaking.   

Following breakfast leave Hanoi at 08:00 for the 2.5hours drive to Halong City. Arrive at the Tuan Chau International Port then at 10:30 (approx) proceed with check-in formalities. 

Once onboard, relaxation before lunch is served as the cruise navigates through the magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay, offering views of captivating formations along the way. 

While sharing the same dramatic limestone karsts and emerald waters as Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay is significantly less crowded. A large portion of the bay is protected as Bai Tu Long National Park, an ASEAN Heritage Park, and it's home to traditional floating fishing villages.

Mid-afternoon brings active exploration by kayak through calm waters and towering cliffs, guided by our crew. The boat then anchors in a peaceful bay for the night.

As evening descends, enjoy a multi-course à la carte dinner, followed by optional activities such as squid fishing, meditation, or board games.

Overnight on Bai Tu Long Bay.

Notes: 
- The cruise’s itinerary may be subject to change depending on weather conditions.
- Over the past years Halong Bay has been experiencing increasing environmental problems such as pollution, overfishing and impairment of its natural habitats. We encourage you to enjoy the beauty of Halong Bay, but also to help protect and preserve it so that future generations can experience its beauty with responsible tourism behaviour which is crucial to reducing issues on Halong Bay and ensuring its long-term sustainability.

- To ensure we can effectively manage guest dietary needs during the cruise, please provide a list of any specific food restrictions or preferences at least 7 days prior to arrival. Please note that accommodating last-minute dietary changes may not be feasible and could incur additional costs

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

Wake up early and start a new day with a Tai Chi session on the deck or some early morning meditation on a nearby islet. Have breakfast while leisurely immersing in the serene setting of the spectacular rock formations on the bay. 

The morning excursion begins at Thien Canh Son Cave. After a gentle 100-step climb, enjoy sweeping views and explore a prehistoric cavern of chandeliers. Continue to Vung Vieng, a floating village where locals share their time-honored life on fish and pearl farming.

Back on board, savor lunch while sailing west, then join an oyster-harvesting or traditional “phin” coffee-making workshop. 

As the day winds down, reach a secluded beach for barefoot relaxation: swim, sip sundowners with canapés, mingle, or simply enjoy the fading light.

Dinner is served onboard, followed by free time.

Overnight on Bai Tu Long Bay.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 From Halong Bay to Noi Bai (160 km): approx. 2,5hrs

Early morning begins with a refreshing Tai Chi session on the top deck followed by a light breakfast of pastries. Those preferring a slower start can rest while the ship sails toward the marina. 

Upon re-entering Halong Bay after sailing from Bai Tu Long Bay, a fuller breakfast is served in the restaurant or on the deck, accompanied by the final serene views of the bay before returning to the marina. 

Disembark at 10:45 and transfer airport.

Tam Biet Vietnam! Upon arrival at the airport terminal, bid farewell to your guide and meet the airport representative before entering the terminal. Proceed to the airline check-in counter and complete the check-in process. Then, accompanied by the airport assistant, head to the departures zone. The assistant will assist with  passports and expedite the process through the priority line. After receiving the boarding passes and passports back from the immigration officer, you will be escorted through security to the departure gate or airline lounge.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast