Vietnam culinary

Itinerary in details

• DAY 1:  HANOI ARRIVAL /(-) – 35 KM / 40 M

  Pick-up at the airport and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi.

  Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

  Overnight at the Hotel Hanoi

• DAY 2: HANOI FARM TOUR ( B,L)

  09.00: Our guide and driver will pick them up at the hotel for over an hour drive to Song Phuong Village. Once we are there, we will visit a local market, vegetable farm before head to our host family for cooking class.

  Back to Hanoi mid in the afternoon, free time

  At 05:00 pm drive to the centre of Hanoi. Once in the centre of town the tour will be mostly conducted on foot so be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. Stroll through Old Quarter, past the old east gate to Thanh Ha market. Along the way delicacies, strange food items and an explanation of Vietnamese food practices will be given. This busy, eclectic market is alive with the sights and sounds of Hanoi and is the essence of Vietnamese culture.

  Continue through the streets of the Old Quarter to Dong Xuan market to sample some local treats such as pho tiu and bun dau. The guide will explain the typical routine during Vietnamese meal times and indigenous/unusual ingredients eaten. Stroll up ‘food alley’ to see other dishes on offer.

  From here visit the food sections of Hanoi’s main market, Dong Xuan. See dried goods and aromatics, the essentials of Vietnamese cuisine.

  Walk down to Hang Than Street to view ceremonial cake stalls and taste a special French influenced dessert. An explanation on traditions and food gifts for celebrations will be given. Continue back into the Old Quarter via Hang Cot Street – check specially treated fruit which are dependable on the seasons and a common snack in Vietnam. Walk along Phung Hung Street through temporary market stalls and see the changing market scene in Hanoi and how modernisation is shaping tradition. At the end of the tour stop at one of the Old Quarter’s busiest (yet smallest) coffee shops for a well-deserved  sit down and coffee break.

  Overnight in Hanoi

• DAY 3: HANOI - HALONG (B,L,D)

  08:00 am – Pick-up at you hotel by shuffle bus of Rosa Boutique Cruise to Halong Bay

  Upon arrival at the wharf in Halong, you will be welcomed by the staff on board.

  Lunch on board while cruising slowly into the bay.

  After lunch, time for enjoying a panoramic view of the bay, swimming on a quiet beach or sunbathing on the sundeck. There is an opportunity to communicate with local people, who have been living in the bay for almost three generations, when you visit a fishing village. Late afternoon, you will take a bamboo row boat to discover a water tunnel. Back on board your cruise, enjoy the glorious sunset.

  Dinner and overnight on board

• DAY 4: HALONG BAY / HANOI - HUE(B, L) – 180 km / 4h

  Start a new day doing tai-chi exercises on the sundeck. You will have an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. After breakfast, visit a beautiful limestone cave.

  Brunch on board while cruising back to the mainland.

  Disembark and transfer to Hanoi.

  04:30 pm – Arrival in your hotel in Hanoi  then transfer to the airport for the flight to Hue

  Once you arrive at Hue airport, our guide and driver will pick you up and transfer to hotel in Hue for check-in.

  Dinner and overnight at Hue

• DAY 5: HUE CITY ( B,L)

  09:00 am – Pick up at your hotel to start the visit of Hue.

  Start your journey to discover the Imperial Citadel then make your way to the Hue Royal Antiques Museum to see a collection of ornaments. The main exhibition house of the present museum used to be a palace under Nguyen Dynasty, called Long An Palace. It was built in 1845 by Thieu Tri King, located on the north of Ngu Ha River. It was a type of “isolated palace” for the king.

  Have lunch at the Đông Thuyền Pagode 65/2 Lê Ngô Cát, Thành phố Huế, tel  0234 3824 150for the vegetarian meal

  In the afternoon, enjoy a boat trip to visit the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda. Thien Mu pagoda is one of the most beautiful and ancient architectural structures of worshiping in Vietnam now, it has become one of the most famous tourist attractions in Hue City. Discover Dong Ba Market,

  Dinner and overnight in hotel in Hue

• DAY 6: HUE - STREET FOOD & IMPERIAL COOKING CLASS - HOI AN( B,L)

  09.00: Our guide will pick you up at the hotel for visit to a local market and street food tour. ATtend an Imperial cooking class where you will learn some of the Nguyen Dynasty special dishes.

  In the afternoon  transfer to Hoi An. Along the way we will stop in the proximity of Da Nang for photo of the “best coastal way” Hai Van pass, visiting Marble Mountain - named as 5 elements of universe, stone carving village of Hoa Hai.

  Dinner at Tam Tam cafe restaurant in Hoi An

  Overnight at Hoi An

• DAY 7: HOI AN - MY SON ( B,L)

  08:30 am – Pick up at your hotel and drive to My Son

  Drive to My Son Holly land. My Son temples were built from the 4th century under the reign of King Bhadravaman, until late 13th and early 14th century under the reign of King Jaya Simhavaman III (Che Man). My Son used to be a group of more than 70 temple towers.

  Each temple has a typical architecture which reflects a historical stage of the Champa kingdoms. Most of the architecture and sculptures were influenced by Indian culture. Most of the temples point to the East, the sun direction. Champa people thought that the East was the place where the gods lived. Spend 2 hours to enjoy and discover the beauty of Ancient buildings of the ChamPa Kingdom.

  Have lunch at the local restaurant

  Then go back to Hoi An and have free time for the rest of the day.

  Overnight at Hoi An

• DAY 08: HOI AN - SAI GON (B)

  Breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the Da Nang airport for a flight to Sai Gon.  Arrive at Sai Gon airport then transfer to the hotel

  In the afternoon, Walk along Dong Khoi street, formerly la rue Catinat and pay a visit to Gialong Palace – Ho Chi Minh City Museum for its beautiful architecture and listen to its history through times. Continue to ‘Le Loi Street’ to meet a local artisan who specialises in traditional engravings.

  Next, stroll through the old central market (your vehicle will be available)  before arriving at the city’s oldest colonial-era apartment, built in 1886, and see what the young creative Vietnamese are up to from their funky boutiques and coffee shops. Sit down at one of the stylish coffee shops and interact with a local resident who moved here in 1975.

  Leave the compound and have a look at the building on the other side, which used to be ‘Banque de l’Indochine’ (Indochina Bank) during the 1920s. It’s a stunning example of the ‘Indochinois’ east/west fusion style of architecture that this area is known for. After this last stop, head back to the hotel.

  Overnight in Saigon

• DAY 09: SAI GON - MEKONG - SAI GON (B,L)

  Today’s tour starts at 08:00 with a pick-up from the hotel in the city centre. Leave the busy streets and modern buildings of Ho Chi Minh City behind on a day trip to Ben Tre. Drive south of the city to the Mekong Delta, ‘the rice bowl of Vietnam’.

  On arrival in Ben Tre Province, board a local boat for a first glimpse of life inside the Mekong Delta’s maze of waterways. Make a river crossing onto Cai Cam River and start the journey with a visit to Lo Dura - a coconut processing workshop to learn all about coconuts. Make a stop at the workshop to fabricate a coconut broom and visit the workshop next door to learn about coconut fiber mat making.

  Casually stroll through village paths to uncle Tam Nhu’s house to visit his famous fruit orchard and learn how previous generations lived in the Mekong Delta while enjoying some local fruits. Bid farewell Uncle Nhu and take a sampan ride through a maze of canals before making it back to the big boat making the transfer to Mrs. Mai’s house for lunch.

  After lunch, enjoy some time relaxing by the river or try kayaking. Then, take a 2 km cycling trip around the village and admire the tranquility of the delta before cruising back to Ben Tre Pier. Disembark the vessel and take a scenic drive towards Uncle Sau Khanh's house – a local farmer whose hobby is collecting archaeological findings and antiques like ancient ceramics and sculptures. Conclude this trip by getting ready for the drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.

  Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City

• DAY 10: SAI GON - Free time - Departure (B)

  Breakfast at the hotel then free time till the transfer to the for onward flight.

  End of the service