Culinary Tales of Vietnam Travel

Welcome to the land of dragons, Vietnam. Upon arrival to Noi Bai Airport, our driver will greet you and transfer you to the city center to your hotel.

Accommodation: Peridot Grand Hotel & Spa

Dive into the history of Hanoi by visiting the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a monument and tribute to Ho Chi Minh, the “uncle” of modern Vietnam. The mausoleum is closed every October and November, as well as every Monday and Friday throughout the year.

Pass by Vietnam’s first university, Quoc Tu Giam, otherwise known as the Temple of Literature. The grounds offer a quiet oasis in the center of Ha Noi and will show you an interesting glimpse into the cultural elite’s past, dating back from 1076.

Have lunch at Koto Training Restaurant, a social enterprise dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty faced by many youths in the city, empowering them by training them in the culinary arts and hospitality training.

After lunch, brave the labyrinth of streets dubbed the “Old Quarter”, famous to international guests and locals alike due to its chaotic but photogenic and charming nature. Visit the 36 streets by cyclo as you meander past bamboo, silver, silk, gold, and fruit sellers. Pause at the heart of it all, the magical Hoan Kiem Lake, to visit Ngọc Sơn Temple and admire views of the “Turtle Tower”.

Return to your hotel in the afternoon and enjoy your time free to shop and wander the Old Quarter independently.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Peridot Grand Hotel & Spa

Leave the hustle and bustle of Hanoi and journey 2 hours east to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay.

Upon arrival to Gat Pier in Hai Phong, check-in to your cabin on the luxury Indochinese-inspired ship, Heritage Line Ginger, to experience Lan Ha Bay (a different region of Halong Bay) in all her glory. Activities include cooking demonstrations on open kitchens, lounging in the luxurious sundeck Jacuzzi, and exploring Viet Hai Village by bicycle on the largest island in the region, Cat Ba.

At the end of the day, the boat will anchor while guests enjoy a beautifully presented and flavoured 5-course dinner. Try your hand at squid fishing in the evening, watch a film in the colonial dining room, or stargaze from the sundeck before retiring to your cabin for a restful sleep.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Ginger cruise

It is a truly a good morning in Vietnam when you wake up in the middle of Halong Bay. Try Tai Chi on the sundeck as the sun rises or simply enjoy breakfast before swimming and kayaking in Frog Lake.

Savor the views and take your last photos as the boat gently glides through the incredible rock formations back to Hai Phong.

Disembark from the cruise and journey back to Hanoi by car, transferring to Noi Bai Airport for a short flight to the central region of the country, Hue Airport.  Check-in to your hotel and relax in this quiet town filled with so much exquisite history.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Pilgrimage Village

Cruise along the poetic Perfume River this morning to the quiet village of Thuy Bieu. A chef from the city brings you to Dong Ba Market for a typical shopping experience in Vietnam and to assist with choosing the best ingredients for the cooking class later. Visit the official symbol of Hue, Thien Mu Pagoda, before continuing on a scenic voyage down the river to the village.

Explore local gardens, old ancestral temples, and incense maker, joss paper, and paper painting families to see how locals make money in the area. Then, prepare elegant dishes in the imperial Hue style from a master chef.

After lunch, relax during a blind massage and then return to Hue in the early afternoon, stopping at the ancient citadel, a testament to the pomp and circumstance of Imperial Vietnam and a symbol of modern tragedy during the Second Indochina War. It is still possible to catch a glimpse of what used to exist here hundreds of years ago as you walk through the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City and the Emperor’s Private Residence.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Pilgrimage Village

Travel 2.5 hours south from Hue along the incredible Hai Van Pass Ocean Road to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An. The very well-preserved town is filled with quirky shops, antique teahouses, and amazing restaurants. Enjoy views of the Thu Bon River and the many canals found in the city as you learn about the history of the town and admire the interesting mix of Vietnamese, French, Chinese, and Japanese architecture. Pause for a tea at the Reaching Out Teahouse, a lovely old-fashioned teahouse providing work for the hard of hearing, serving up delicious tea samplers and home-made snacks.

The rest of your day is free at leisure to discover the city on your own by foot or on bicycle. Hoi An is not only famous for its ambiance as it is for its tailors. Here tourists can get any manner of clothing made in 24 hours for a fraction of a price that it would cost back home. For those interested in tailoring, we can arrange a visit to one of the best tailors in the city to design your own outfits, bags, and shoes.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Lasenta Boutique Hotel Hoi An

Enjoy your day at leisure wandering the romantic streets of Hoi An, dipping into shops and art galleries or just soaking up the charming atmosphere.

In the late afternoon, hop on to the classic vespa and zip around the streets and food stalls, scarfing down local central delicacies like banh bao vac dumplings, seafood dishes, wontons, and banh flan dessert. The tour would not be complete with a few cocktails and local beers to wash everything down.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Lasenta Boutique Hotel Hoi An

Spend a leisurely morning at the hotel before checking-in for an early afternoon flight to the cosmopolitan metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, fondly referred to as Saigon by locals.

Enjoy some time in the late afternoon to peruse the many charming boutiques and shops on Dong Khoi Street before attending a quirky dining experience, Dining in the Dark at Noir Restaurant.

Let your guide lead you into the pitch black restaurant and serve you a multi-course mystery meal. After the meal is finished, your guide will lead you to a lit room and you can guess what you ate before being shown a menu with pictures of the meals just consumed.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel

Explore the less-traveled and quaint waterways of Ben Tre, the “land of the coconuts” in the Mekong River Delta today. Savour juicy fruits in thick orchards and view large catches in fisheries before learning about local cottage industries such as “hu tieu” rice noodles, rice paper, brick making, and coconut processing as you cycle through the countryside. A sampan, a traditional type of small boat used in the delta, will take you down small canals lined by tall palm trees to a local family to lunch in a local homestay.

Return to Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon, with the evening free at leisure to discover the city on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel

Begin your exploration of Saigon with a walking tour of the historical heart and colonial area.  Stop at the photogenic Old Saigon Post Office, Ben Thanh Market, Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica,  City Hall, and of course, the Opera House. On either side of the Opera House you will see Graham Greene’s favourite haunt of the Hotel Continental as well as the Hotel Caravelle, a favorite of correspondents during the American-Vietnam War.

Visit the Craig Thomas Gallery or San Art to discover modern and contemporary art mixed with Vietnamese motifs. Return to your hotel in the early afternoon, joining a quirky Saigon food tour by cyclo as you try some of the best street food in the city as the sun begins to set.

Meals: No meals

Accommodation: Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel

Your day is free until your transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport to catch your onward planned travel arrangements.

Meals: Breakfast