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There is no easier way than a holiday to Vietnam to get under the skin of local cuisine through food, and this holiday to Vietnam includes many encounters with locals who will teach you the secrets of Vietnamese cuisine, and give you a unique insight into their customs and culture. Your holiday to Vietnam with Vietnamese cuisine begins with the charming capital, Hanoi, touring the city’s “must-sees”, diving into Hanoi’s deep-rooted food culture by visiting local markets, and sampling street fares in hidden alleys and local hangouts with local food expert. Then, discover UNESCO-listed Halong Bay on a luxurious Junk-style cruise.
Next, journey south to Central Vietnam to the ancient imperial of Hue, where you’ll tour the city’s ancient sites and enjoy a traditional meal like former Royals at Ngoc Son Princess. We continue south to the vibrant metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, locally called Saigon and forever known as the “Paris of the East” which has blossomed as one of Asia’s hottest destinations.
Here, hop on the bike and savor the city’s food scene with a foodies tour to bring you a completely new journey of the senses. take a trip down the mighty Mekong and drift alongside splendid paddy fields, relax in the lush gardens, and try on sight the freshest tropical fruit you can find. Embracing the history, culture, and cuisine of this remarkable country, this luxury tour enjoys a relaxed pace, all while providing you with the opportunity to deeply understand and appreciate the incredible resiliency and warmth of beautiful Vietnam.
Your holiday to Vietnam begins with your arrival in Vietnam. Your private driver will meet and greet you at the airport. Private transportation will escort you to your hotel. Check in to the hotel and get over the jet lag. After that, you can mooch through the streets of the city. Their historic charm, architectural marvels, and product variety are splashed all over this area. After enjoying the first day yourself, return to the hotel for a relaxing sleep.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Meet with a local food expert for a mouth-watering food tour of Hanoi and live up to all five senses through fascinating markets. Today, start your holiday in Vietnam with a visit to Thanh Ha market, a busy, eclectic market alive with the sounds and smells of Hanoi. Capture the essence of Vietnamese culture while browsing the food stalls, hearing about local culinary culture, and sampling unusual Hanoi delicacies.
Carry on to the Dong Xuan market where, amid the stalls selling handbags, clothes, and other goods, are popular noodle shops. Therefore, seize the chance to sample treats such as pho sot vang, noodle soup with pork and herbs, and bun dau, tofu served in soup with rice noodles and fermented shrimp paste. Together with a culinary experience, the guide will share the secrets of these dishes and explain Vietnamese meal times.
Meander onwards to the Old Quarter and explore the maze of laneways of this historic neighborhood. See ceremonial cake stalls and stop to taste a special French-influenced dessert. An explanation of traditions and food gifts for celebrations will be given. Continue walking along Hang Cot Street where popular preserved fruits are sold and onto other streets with unusual special items for sale.
The schedule for a holiday to Vietnam tour today wraps up at a busy, but small, coffee shop. Sit down and enjoy a sweet iced coffee or a slow-dripped hot brew while watching the passing scenes of local life. This is the perfect way to end a wonderful culinary and cultural Hanoi tour.
Overnight in Hanoi.
After breakfast, you’ll take a 3.5-hour-drive to Halong Bay, one of the great nature in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Upon arrival, the boat crew will welcome you and transfer you to the junk for check-in and enjoy a cruise around Halong Bay with a delicious local seafood lunch served on board. At the same time, you can behold thousands of limestone islands and grottoes rising from the clear, emerald water. After lunch, you’ll join some activities on the boat to discover the beauty of the bay such as visiting a cave or enjoying swimming in the sea before getting back to the junk for relaxation and dining. In the evening, you can join night fishing with locals. Your day 3 of holiday to Vietnam ends here. Free to enjoy leisure time.
Overnight on board.
In the morning, we will serve your breakfast while floating on the sea to explore the beauty of Halong Bay before disembarking time. Joining some more activities on the boat and then checking out the cabin. We will serve you early lunch before getting back to the main dock and back to Ha Noi.
Overnight in Hanoi.
Have breakfast at your hotel and some rest and free time until we will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Ho Chi Minh, the next big city which you will cover during your holidays in Vietnam.
Upon arrival, our driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation.
Overnight in Hue.
Start your tour of Hue with a visit to the Imperial Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. After exploring the ruins of this wonderful monument take a cyclo ride through the ‘Old City’ to Tinh Tam Lake where the Emperors used to come to relax, full of lotus flowers in Summer, there are many local style coffee shops around the lake where university students come to study. Drive onto Thien Mu Pagoda, constructed in 1601, the 21-meter tall tower is the centerpiece of the pagoda.
This afternoon, depart for the Mausoleum of Tu Duc, built decades before its occupant’s death, the tomb was used as a palace retreat before becoming the Emperor’s resting place.
Continue to Khai Dinh’s Tomb which is traditional Vietnamese in design with a European touch making it unique from the other tombs in Hue. Then we will transfer you to Ngoc Son Princess’s House for dinner. The house is a classic structure with three bays and two wings, the highlight is a small, artificial rock garden. The present owner also has a fascinating collection of artifacts and mementos from the days of the former Royal Empire. Enjoy a meal of traditional Hue specialties prepared by the family at their historical home, while you unearth Hue’s fascinating past.
Overnight in Hue.
Have breakfast at the hotel, and have free time until our driver will meet you for a transfer to the airport for your next flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, we will transfer you to the hotel. After the hotel check-have some leisure time in Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Your tour guide picks you up at your hotel or specified location. Now, we will brief you on what to expect while sightseeing and safety instructions before your departure.
9:00 AM – we start the tour at Nguyen Thien Thuat backstreet – The Lively Saigon. Then you will pass through one of the typical streets of the city with constructions dating back to the 1960s. Along the street are many Vietnamese guitar makers’ stores. Along which, some of them are really of high quality. There are also many interesting eateries. Mass residential apartment buildings are on the back street. Walking around here gives you an idea of how lively Saigon is. On the way, street Photography is highly recommended. The walk starts from Nguyen Thien Thuat street and ends at Ban Co market. You are invited to try Vietnamese beautiful “chè” (desserts made of beans and sticky rice and coconut milk, etc).
10:00 AM – Keep on to Districts 10 and 5 to stroll through more typical residential apartment buildings. Again, you will witness Saigon’s unique lifestyles on the streets with shops, street food stands, and rickshaws passing by
11:30 AM – Walk along Hai Thuong Lang Ong & Trieu Quang Phuc streets – the traditional medicine streets in China Town. This is an area concentrated with traditional clinics and medicine herb stores. While walking along the streets, you can smell the herbs and watch the shop owners do their business. After that, visit Thien Hau Temple (a temple where Chinese people worship the Heavenly Queen – an important god in their culture.)
12:00 – Go to a local restaurant for lunch then come back to the hotel around 1:00 pm.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Depart from Ho Chi Minh City (clients’ arrangement of land transportation from Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Be (approx. 120km). After arriving at Cai Be, greet at Cai Be harbor and boat trip transfer to Mekong Lodge. You will check in the bungalow. After that, we will serve lunch at a nice restaurant with a Vietnamese day menu. From 14h30pm: bike trip to Tan Phong island: visit some local handicrafts: handmade banana leaves hammock, thatched from water coconut leaves, daily house products being made from water hyacinth, free fruit tasting & Vietnamese folk music. Then take a small rowing boat to a small canal. Cooking demonstration in the evening & dinner in the restaurant. Riverside Bar is open until midnight. Day 9 of your holiday to Vietnam ends here. You are free to enjoy your leisure time.
Overnight at Mekong Ecolodge.
Have breakfast in the restaurant.
After that our boat trip to Cai Be market, visit handicraft villages, then transfer you to Mekong Lodge. Check out the hotel and take a boat trip transfer to Cai Bai harbor. Later our driver will pick you up and transfer you to Ho Chi Minh City.
Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.
Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your holidays in Vietnam. Complete the hotel check-out formalities after which you can visit the local markets and buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later, proceed for departure and board your flight back home. Holiday to Vietnam Ends.
