Flavours of Vietnam

📍 Noi Bai Airport to your chosen hotel in Hanoi (35 km):60mins

Hanoi, a city of contrast, 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.

Upon arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport, your private guide and driver will assist on arrival for the transfer to the hotel for check-in.

 

Rest of the day at leisure. 

In the evening, savor a welcome dinner at Tam Vi, a Michelin-starred Vietnamese restaurant with a cozy ambiance. 

Overnight in Hanoi

Inclusions:

🍗 Dinner

Today’s tour begins at 08:30/13:30. 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. 

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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. 

Transfer back to your hotel for a short rest. 

Hanoi is a food haven! This half day experience led by a local foodie and former masterchef contestant allows insight into the traditional eating habits and tastes of Hanoians as well as local culture.

Afternoon tour starts at 15:30. Eating on the street is a typical activity in Hanoi and considered an important part of the city’s unique lifestyle. Take a stroll along the streets to explore the different flavours of Hanoi. Make a first stop to taste pho cuon, and let the chef explain how to make a tasty fresh spring roll from steamed rice-paper and beef. Wrap, roll and dip while experiencing street food heaven.

Proceed to explore a local market and enjoy the sights, sounds and aromas from the hundreds of different meals available. Learn to identify  the freshest and most typical ingredients, picked by the chef. Try banh cuon (savory pancake), made from a thin, wide sheet of rice batter filled with a mix of seasoned pork.

Continue along  the streets and try the tiny plastic chairs the locals sit on to sample  nom –mixed salad of beef and papaya. Finish up with  a  taste of desserts including flan -coconut ice-cream and che -sweet soup. Then, conclude this yummy eating experience by hunting down seasonal fruits, before transferring back to the hotel.

Overnight in Hanoi. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Hanoi to Halong Bay (160km): 2.5 hrs

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 wonderous shapes covered in lush flora is truly breathtaking.   

Following breakfast leave Hanoi at 09:00 for the 2.5hours drive to Halong City. Arrive at the pier around noon and proceed with check-in formalities. 

After the welcome onboard and checking into the cabin, lunch will be served whilst cruising. In the afternoon, enjoy some visits or activities (depending on the boat’s set itinerary). Towards the end of the afternoon the boat will anchor for the night surrounded by karst formations. 

Enjoy sunset on the deck followed by dinner, then retiring for the evening. 

Please note: Subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Overnight on Halong / Lan Ha Bay.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Halong Bay to Noi Bai Airport (150km): 3hrs30mins

Wake up to the fresh morning amidst the islands of the bay for breakfast (brunch on some boats) while enjoying the serene setting of the spectacular rock formations. 

Mid morning, proceed to checkout as the cruise cruises towards port.  Disembark and transfer 3 hours to Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport for the 1.5 hour flight south to Danang City. On arrival at Danang airport, the gateway to Hoi An, your private guide and driver will assist with the transfer to the hotel for check-in. 

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.    

Rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Note: This tour may be subject to change depending on weather conditions.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

Escape to an organic farm set up by a passionate team of locals to learn all about Vietnamese cuisine. Try local produce and unique ingredients to cook a meal that perfectly balances the flavors of yin and yang.   

 

Today, leave the hotel at 08:30 for a short transfer  to the organic farm. Located about 3km from the central Hoi An , this tucked away farm was established by an expert in nutrition based out of the love of food and local cuisine. Be greeted by the passionate team at the farm and start the experience.

 

Just like the varied landscape of Vietnam, the cuisine contains a brilliant balance of aromatics, heat, sweetness, sourness, and umami flavor from the use of fish-sauce. The cuisine is all about the balance between yin and yang; the sweet and the salty, the cool and the warmth, the fresh and the fermented. Follow the expert in nutrition and explore the farm while listening to inspiring stories about how to use food and vegetables for healthy living. Pick-up some ingredients before heading to the lovely kitchen to make dishes.  

 

There will be multiple dishes to learn create , during the  hands-on experience using rice flour with an old stone grinder to make rice paper in a traditional way. Once complete, sit down and feast on a delicious meal of authentic local cuisine. 

 

After filling up on these home-cooked delights, return to Hoi An. 

This afternoon, come hungry and think of the experience as ‘snacking your way’ through the experience. Pick up from your hotel With the trusted  lead of your expert guide, gain an introduction of  Hoi An specialities cooked by old family friends. Your guide grew up on these streets, eating at these same food stalls as a child. 

The exclusive access to  the faces behind the stock pots will teach you how the Hoi An locals live and eat, and how in fact many people graze, due to the portion size, people can eat all day! 

Once you skirt the old town wander into the outskirts, weaving in and out the small  alleyways where you'll chow down with the locals at stalls you'd never discover on your own. End the adventure with a tummy full of great food and a heart full of joy.

Note: limited vegetarian options, not suitable for vegans, maximum 6 persons per group based on availability.

 

Overnight in Hoi An.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Be enchanted by the historic wonders and charm of UNESCO-heritage Hoi An. Spend a half day with a local guide, exploring the ancient town. Explore former merchants’ homes, colorful communal halls, narrow lanes lined with traditional houses and the iconic Japanese Bridge.

 

Today's tour will begin at 08:30. Be charmed by Hoi An, one of Vietnam’s most picturesque towns. 

Meet a knowledgeable local guide for this introductory, half day Hoi An city tour, learning all about its illustrious past as a trading port. Take a walk through town, seeing remarkably well-preserved traditional houses that have withstood hundreds of years of weather and war. 

Make a stop at the Japanese Bridge*, one of two such bridges in Vietnam. The bridge spans a small waterway and was built more than 400 years ago to connect the Japanese community with the Chinese who lived on the other side of the water. Admire the carvings and paintings inside the bridge, learning about their symbolism and cultural significance.

 

Continue to a Chinese communal hall, a colorful mélange of bright gates, dragon statues and elaborate rooftops. Get an introduction to ancestor worship while visiting the family altar and watching local devotees making offerings.

 

Explore smaller laneways and local neighborhoods, gaining a better appreciation of Hoi An’s endless charm. After this insightful glimpse of Hoi An,  return to the hotel or your next destination.

 

*The Japanese Bridge is currently under renovation until Q4 2024 (est) . Visitors are able to walk alongside the bridge (as of March 2024) on a purposely built metal platform however the actual structure is mostly covered in metal sheeting, therefore limiting photo op’s of the town’s most famous monument.
 

Scoot around Hoi An at night on a Vespa, soaking up the atmosphere and sampling street food. Get an entirely new perspective of Vietnam’s culinary scene, venturing away from the tourist area to discover authentic, local flavours. From seafood to snacks, taste the best of Hoi An. 

 

Your vespa experience will start at 17:30 at the hotel. Get acquainted with the driver and your motorbike before making the first stop of the evening, at a rooftop bar with views over the Thu Bon River for a welcome drink and a short briefing.

Then, hop on the back of a Vespa and zip off to the lesser-known part of Hoi An, Cam Nam Island. This charming island is home to a vibrant local community and the perfect place to enjoy a fresh seafood feast at a local riverside restaurant.

After dinner, head back to the centre of Hoi An to learn how to make two of the city's iconic dishes: white rose dumplings and fried wontons. Under the guidance of local experts, you'll master the art of these delicious and delicate dishes.

Once you've finished cooking, enjoy the fruits of your labour! Then, continue your adventure with a short ride to another snack stop: bánh căn, a type of rice cake with quail eggs, served with Vietnamese pork roll, green papaya, vegetables, and fish sauce.

Back on the bikes, it's time to move to the last stop of the evening: a popular, modern-style Vietnamese restaurant nestled amid the rice paddies. Gather around a local-style "beer hoi" with some delicious side dishes. This is the perfect way to end your fun and exciting night out.

Your Vespa adventure ends at around 21:00, enjoy the final ride back to your hotel

This experience is a must-do for anyone visiting Hoi An who wants to experience the city's culture and cuisine. With its mix of food, history, and fun, it's the perfect way to spend an evening in this charming city.

Overnight in Hoi An

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Hoi An to Hue (150km): 3hrs

After breakfast, leave Hoi An for Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam, climbing over the ‘Pass of Ocean Clouds’. Arrive in Hue and transfer to hotel. Enjoy free time at leisure.

 

Enjoy an exclusive private dinner at the lovely Tha Om garden house. A Hue “nha vuon” usually consists of a main and back entrance, and a small wall, rockwork and plants in the front yard and in the house itself. In the middle of the garden, a binh phong (brick wall) rises in front of the house, serving as a defense and protection of the altar in the main room of the house. The path leading around the wall from the entrance gate is lined with tea bushes or apricot trees. The typical house is made with a timber frame and roofed with brick tiles. The whole house stands on big pillars placed on a round or square stone base, which is sometimes decorated. The altar of the family’s ancestors occupies the central room. 

 

Overnight in Hue.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

Discover Hue's renowned vegetarian cuisine with a cooking class that provides a unique insight into the city's cultural heritage. The class will take place in a  traditional garden house for a tranquil outdoor cooking experience and gain a deeper understanding of the connections between food, culture, and spirituality in Vietnamese society.

As the nation’s capital for roughly 200 years, Hue is the cradle of quintessential Vietnamese cuisine. Even though there is so much food to try, vegetarian cuisine finds its own fame through the effect of Buddhism on locals’ life, when most locals have at least two meat free days per month.

Today's tour will begin at 09:00 with a short transfer to the An Cuu Market, one of the biggest markets in Hue, where locals shop daily. Meet our chef and follow him to explore the fresh ingredients while discovering different veggies used in our dishes today. A 15 mins transfer away from the city center will take you to the garden of one of the oldest families who founded Ngoc Anh village in 1558, where your cooking class places. Take your time to explore the garden before starting your cooking lesson.

Following, it is time to start cooking. Learn about the balance of Hue vegetarian cuisine, the cultural and spiritual traditions that have influenced Vietnamese vegetarian cuisine, including the principles of Buddhism that advocate for a meat-free diet. During six dish course (two cooked by you and 4 by the chef), be surprised by how Hue’s people turn veggies into delicious dishes and understand how cuisine evolved to adapt to the change of modern life but still keep the soul of traditional food.

Return to the hotel by 14:00 and be fulfilled with delicious memories and a deeper understanding of the connections between food, culture, and spirituality through vegetarian cuisine.

Overnight in Hue.

 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Hue to Phu Bai Airport (17km): 30mins From Tan Son Nhat Airport - central HCMC (8km): 30mins

Transfer to Hue Airport after breakfast for the short flight to dynamic Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by the locals. Once known as the ‘Pearl of Indochina’, Saigon 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, Saigon is like a trip through time. 

 

After the transfer from the airport, jump right in and learn all about this southern city 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, sit for a coffee at one of the building’s cafe’s. 

Continue on foot 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 display’s are fascinating.  

Finish up the day at 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. 

Having gained greater understanding of Saigon's culture and history, return to the hotel for a refresh before starting a street food adventure on two-wheels at 18:00. 

Get picked up from the hotel by your driver for an exciting scooter ride through the rush of Vietnam’s busiest city. Ride pillion through unassuming streets and alleys to witness an insider’s view of the Saigonese and their famed cuisine. 

Begin your culinary adventure with a visit to the go-to spot for sizzling ‘Banh Xeo’, a Vietnamese pancake, and bite-sized ‘Banh Khot’. Not only will you savor the crispy, flavorful dish that’s beloved by locals, but you’ll also have the opportunity to witness firsthand the culinary expertise of the skilled cook who prepares it with care. 

Continue through the backstreets and venture to a vibrant residential complex to witness the daily lives of locals. You’ll observe small apartments where three generations may reside under one roof, while neighbors converse and share stories of their day. Lively, colorful and vibrant, sit down for a seafood dinner, a well-loved meal among Saigonese. If fortunate, catch a glimpse of the charismatic owner. 

Once sated, take the lesser-known paths of the city to reach the bustling flower market that remains open round the clock. From there, make your way to a bustling night market nestled in a nearby residential complex, where the city's young and adventurous come to congregate. Join the locals sampling delectable savory bites or indulgent desserts if your taste buds are feeling tempted.

 

Finish up this two wheeled culinary adventure with a local equivalent of beef bourguignon soaked up with banh mi at an establishment that’s been in operation since 1975. To finish, and if the stomach allows, sample some of the Saigon’s best coconut ice cream.  Your scooter will then transport you back to your hotel where the tour ends.

 

Overnight in Saigon.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

Today's half day tour begins at 08:30. Start with a different discovery of Saigon; 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 Saigon. 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 flavors of Vietnamese specialty coffee and learn how to prepare a delicious ‘caphe trung’, aka egg coffee.
 

Caffeine fueled, conclude the tour with a drive back to your hotel.  Rest of the day and evening at leisure. 

 

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Central HCMC - Tan Son Nhat Airport (8km):30 mins

Spend the day at leisure until the time for transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for the onward flight.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast