Day
1:
Saigon
Arrival
Our
representative/tour
guide
will
meet and
greet
you at
the
airport
in Ho
Chi Minh
City,
which is
formerly
known as
Saigon,
Ho Chi
Minh
City is
a
sprawling
metropolis
that is
home to
over 5
million
people
and a
fast-paced
city
full of
contrasts
as
street
vendors
selling
fruit
and
vegetables
can be
seen
next to
glitzy
western-style
bars and
boutiques.
Saigon’s
history
is only
300
years
old. In
1859 the
city was
captured
by the
French
and
became
the
capital
of
Cochin
China.
From
1956
until
its
dramatic
demise
in April
1975 it
was the
capital
of the
US-backed
Republic
of
Vietnam.
Today,
Ho Chi
Minh
City is
very
much the
heart of
Vietnamese
business
and
entrepreneurs.
And yet
the city
still
retains
its
connections
to the
past,
particularly
in Cho
Lon,
Saigon’s
Chinatown.
Here
dozens
of
elegant
temples
and
pagodas
can be
seen.
The
French
also
left
their
mark
with
some
fine
colonial-era
buildings
such as
the
Notre
Dame
Cathedral
and the
Central
Post
Office.
Overnight
at hotel
in
Saigon.
Day
2: Saigon
Cooking
Class &
City
Sightseeing
(Meals:
B/L/D)
Aimed at
the
enthusiastic
non-professional,
this
course
is an
initiation
into the
Art of
Vietnamese
Cuisine.
It
provides
the
opportunity
not only
to taste
Vietnamese
delicious
dishes,
but
also, by
actually
cooking
them
under
the
friendly
guidance
of our
professional
chef, to
learn
how to
reproduce
them
after
returning
home.
Chefs,
MC and
staff in
Vietnamese
traditional
costumes
will be
welcoming
guests
at the
door of
our
lovely
colonial
style
villa.
Whilst
guests
take
place at
their
personal
cooking
station
and
prepare
their
dishes,
have fun
cooking
them,
our MC
will
tell
tales,
stories
and
anecdotes
to
explain
how the
Cuisine
and the
Culinary
Art of
Vietnam
have
developed
throughout
the
years.
The MC
will
also
detail
the
roots of
the
Cuisine
prevailing
in each
of the
three
main
regions
of
Vietnam,
explain
the set
up of an
original
Vietnamese
kitchen,
the
traditions
the
Etiquette
as well
as the
historical
influences
on
Vietnamese
food. In
the
afternoon,
you will
visit
the
Notre
Dame
Cathedral,
one of
the best
examples
of
classic
French
colonial
architecture
and
where
every
single
stone
used to
build it
has
amazingly
travelled
from
France!
You will
also
have the
chance
to see
the
countries
largest
Post
Office,
another
fine
example
of
French
Colonial
architecture.
Next.
you will
visit
Hau
Temple
devoted
to the
Goddess
of
Mothers
and
Newborn
Babies,
the most
attractive
feature
is the
roof
packed
with
figurines.
The tour
concludes
with a
visit to
the
vibrant
atmosphere
of Ben
Thanh
Market.
Here you
can find
a wide
selection
of goods
ranging
from
fake
Nike
trainers
to
beautiful
silk Ao
Dais.
Back to
the
hotel.
Dinner
at Lemon
Grass
restaurant
in the
city.
Overnight
in
Saigon
Day 3: Saigon -
Danang -
Hoi An
(Meals:
B/L/D)
At
Leisure
and
then
you
will
be
taken
to
the
airport
to
take
1
hour
flight
to
Danang
City.
Pick
up
upon
arrival
and
transfer
to
Hoi
An.
Hoi
An
Ancient
Town
is
an
exceptionally
well-preserved
example
of a
South-East
Asian
trading
port
dating
from
the
15th
to
the
19th
century.
Its
buildings
and
its
street
plan
reflect
the
influences,
both
indigenous
and
foreign,
that
have
combined
to
produce
this
unique
heritage
site. Enjoy
a
walking
tour
through
the
Old
Quarters
to
see
the
town's
landmarks
of
Japanese
Covered
Bridge,
ancient
Assembly
Hall, Phuc
Kien
Temple
and
then
we
take
a
river
trip
and
you
will
enjoy
the
scenery
along
the
Thu
Bon
River
and
the
general
view
of
Hoi
An
Ancient
Town.
Hoi
An
is
also
famous
for
its
large
number
of
tailor
shops,
so
if
you
want
to
have
a
new
wardrobe
made
up,
this
is
the
time
to
do
it.
Dinner
at
Full
Moon
restaurant
in Hoi
An. Overnight
at
hotel in
Hoi
An.
Day
4: Hoi
An
Cooking
Tour
(Meals:
B/L/D)
We start
the day
(8:45am)
with a
drink at
Hai
Scout
Cafe as
our
meeting
point.
Visit
Hoi An's
colourful
market,
and
experience
the
amazing
sights,
sounds
and
aromas
of this
busy
market.
We will
have the
opportunity
to
interact
with the
local
sellers
and
purchase
some of
the
ingredients
to be
used in
the
cooking
lesson
later.
We board
the Red
Bridge
boat for
a
leisurely
cruise
(25
minutes)
along
the Hoi
An River
to the
Red
Bridge
Cooking
School.
This is
a chance
to view
local
river
life, so
make
sure
your
camera
is
handy.
On
arrival,
we have
a chance
to
explore
the
cooking
school's
herb and
vegetable
garden,
before
learning
about
some of
Hoi An's
and
Vietnam's
well-known
dishes.
The
cooking
class is
an
interesting
and fun
way to
learn
about
the
local
cuisine
- the
class
runs for
about an
hour and
15
minutes,
and
includes
demonstrations
from the
school's
chefs as
well as
the
chance
for us
to help
prepare
some
dishes.
Included
in the
demonstration
is a
brief
introduction
to
Vietnamese
food
carving
(plate
decoration).
Free at
leisure
by your
own to
explore
the
ancient
town of
Hoi An
or
shopping
at
tailor
shops.
Overnight
at hotel
in Hoi
An
Day
5: Hoi
An - Hue
(Meals:
B/L/D)
This
morning
we drive
to Hue,
we will
cross
Hai Van
Pass
where
you will
have
magnificent
view of
the
China
Sea.
Arrive
in Hue
at
around
11:00
am.
Check-in
hotel
and
relax
for a
while.
Hue city
served
as
Vietnam's
capital
under
the
emperors
of the
Nguyen
Dynasty
from
1802 to
1945 and
the
city’s
regal
past can
still be
seen
inside
the
walls of
the
Citadel
and the
Imperial
City.
Both
were
heavily
damaged
during
the Tet
Offensive
of 1968
when the
Hue
served
as
Vietnam's
capital
under
the
emperors
of the
Nguyen
Dynasty
from
1802 to
1945 and
the
city’s
regal
past can
still be
seen
inside
the
walls of
the
Citadel
and the
Imperial
City. In
the
afternoon.
we will
tour the
ancient
Imperial
Citadel
and
visit
Thien
Mu, a
beautiful
pagoda
located
right on
the bank
of
Perfume
River.
Then we
will
drive
through
countryside
to visit
Tu Duc
and Khai
Dinh
Royal
tombs.
Back to
Hotel
and the
rest of
time at
your own
leisure.
Overnight
in Hue
Day
6: Hue
Cooking
Tour
(Meals:
B/L)
The
morning
begins
with a
market
tour to
buy
ingredients
and a
hands-on
cooking
class at Tinh Gia
Vien,
once
belonged
to a
royal
princess,
known
for
serving
dishes
in the
traditional
style
of
Hue’s
imperial
court.
Master
Chef
Madame
Ha’s
artistic
presentation
of the
food is
reason
enough
to
visit. Highlighting
the
regal
flavors
of Hue
cuisine
and all
of her
traditional
Hue food
is
elegantly
and
colorfully
presented
much in
the form
of
animals.
Order
Dance of
the
Phoenix
and a
plate of
a giant
cucumber
bird,
resting
on a
nest of
noodles,
with a
pate
plume,
appears
at your
table.
Green
Papaya
with
Lemon in
the Form
of a
Dragon
comes
complete
with
menacing
red
pepper
eyes and
tongue.
The more
subdued
Elephant
arrives
with
carrot
ears,
cucumber
tusks,
pate
head and
body,
properly
dressed
in a
rice
paper
crepe as
we
prepare
our own
midday
meal. In
the
afternoon,
we will
experience
countryside
tour - Touring
the
countryside
around
Hue
is a
great
way
to
discover
the
"real"
Vietnam.
The
cultural,
religious,
and
educational
centre
of
Vietnam,
Hue
has
a
lot
of
historic
sites
waiting
to
be
discovered.
Visit
the
500-year
old
village
of
Phuoc
Tich
with
its
worship
halls
and
communal
houses
for
a
taste
of
ancient
Vietnam.
And
stop
at
the
historic
Thanh
Toan
Bridge,
one
of
two
covered
bridges
remaining
in
the
country
and
then
we
will
drive
to
visit
handicraft
village
of
Phu
Cam
-
the
one
of
the
best-known
places
for
making
conical
hats
for
hundreds
years.
This
guided
tour
will
teach
you
more
about
these
hidden
gems
and
their
legacy,
as
nearly
all
of
them
have
direct
links
with
the
old
Imperial
Court.
The
houses
are
not
only
attractive,
but
they
also
are
a
great
way
to
learn
about
the
traditional
beliefs
and
rituals
of
the
Vietnamese
people.
Back
to
hotel.
Overnight
in
Hue
city.
Day
7: Hue
An -
Hanoi
(Meals:
B/L/D)
At
leisure
and we
will
transfer
you to
the
airport
in
Danang
city
for
flight
to
Hanoi,
the
capital
city of
Vietnam,
is an
elegant
city
located
on the
banks of
the Red
River
with
tranquil
Restored
Sword
Lake at
its
heart.
North of
the lake
are the
bustling
streets
of the
Old
Quarter,
each
street
named
after
the
trade
that
used to
take
place
there.
Much of
the city
was
transformed
by the
French
when it
became a
French
protectorate
in the
1880s
and
there
are wide
boulevards
and
large
colonial
buildings
which
are now
home to
government
departments
and
foreign
embassies.
You will
be
transferred
to your
hotel in
the city
center
to
refresh.
Tonight,
we will
experience
a
cuisine
delights
at Cha
Ca La
Vong
restaurant
or
simply
grilled
fish. is
the
famous
restaurant
to many
Hanoians
as well
as
visitors
from all
over the
world.
Ambience
atmosphere,
simple
meals
but it
was
truly
experience.
Overnight
at hotel
in Hanoi
City.
Day 8:
Hanoi
Cooking
Tour
(Meals:
B/L/D)
Morning
cooking
class:
Today’s
class
begins
with a
walk,
accompanied
by the
Chef of
the
Spices
Garden
Restaurant,
to the
local
market,
where
participants
get a
chance
to learn
all
about
Vietnamese
ingredients.
After
that,
everyone
rolls up
their
sleeves
in the
kitchen
to
prepare
a proper
Vietnamese
meal.
After
the
class
lunch
will be
served
in the
Spices
Garden
Vietnamese
Restaurant
to
sample
all the
different
dishes
prepared
during
the
class.
This
afternoon
you will
discover
Hanoi to
visit
essential
sites
with an
English
speaking
guide.
Part of
your
tour
will
include
sightseeing
by
cyclo, by
which
you’ll
discover
the Old
Quarter
made up
of the
so
called
"36
streets,"
most of
which
are
named
after
the
crafts
or
merchandise
traditionally
sold
there.
Dinner
tonight
at
another
of
Hanoi’s
fine
restaurants.
Afterwards
enjoy a
performance
of a
traditional
water
puppet
show.
This
fantastic
art form
originated
in
northern
Vietnam
and is
best
seen in
Hanoi.
Overnight
at hotel
in Hanoi
City.
Day 9:
Hanoi
- Halong
Bay -
Hanoi
(Meals:
B/L/D)
Morning
depart
for
Halong
Bay, we
go
through
the
scenic
countryside.
The
wondrous
Halong
Bay is
truly
one of
Vietnam’s
most
impressive
scenic
sights.
Heading
out of
the town
we
embark
on a
boat for
an
exploration
of the
legendary
Halong
Bay.
This
exciting
five
hour
cruise
will
provide
us a
fantastic
view of
the
picturesque
scenery
blending
with the
sky and
some
3,000
limestone
islands
rising
amazingly
from the
clear
and
emerald
water.
The
limestone
karsts
formations
are
littered
with
beaches,
grottoes
and
beautiful
caves.
Along
the way
we will
anchor
for a
leisurely
swim in
a
secluded
cove and
an
enjoyable
visit to
one of
the many
hidden
grottoes
beneath
towering
cliffs.
Back to
Hanoi
and
dinner
at a
local
restaurant.
Overnight
at hotel
in
Hanoi.
Day
10:
Hanoi
Departure
(Meals:
B)
Free at
leisure
until
transferring
to the
airport
to take
departure
flight
for next
destination.
Private
Cooking
Class
upon
request
»
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