Gastronomy Trails of Vietnam

Xin Chao and welcome to the modern and cosmopolitan city of Ho Chi Minh City, fondly known by its more evocative name, Saigon. Upon arrival to Tan Son Nhat Airport, our driver will greet you and transfer you to the Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel

After breakfast, journey 1.5 hours north of Ho Chi Minh City to experience one of the most powerful symbols of the city and its recent history, the Cu Chi Tunnels. Return to the city center to visit the War Remnants Museum with a quick stop at the former Presidential Palace, which can be viewed from the outside only on certain days.

In the afternoon, join a cooking class at the illustrious Grain, the brain-child of Luke Nguyen, a renowned Australian chef, to prepare delicious fusion cuisine with western-styled dishes accented by eastern herbs, spices, and flavours.

Return to your hotel in the early evening and enjoy your time free to shop and wander the historical heart and colonial area of Saigon.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation: Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel

Leave the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City on a 2-hour mid-morning flight to Da Nang in central Vietnam. Upon arrival to the airport, transfer 30-minutes south to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An Ancient Town.

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 embark on a walking tour to learn about the history of the town, admiring the interesting mix of Vietnamese, French, Chinese, and Japanese architecture. Pause for a tea tasting 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

Hop on a bicycle and peddle out of town to Tra Que Vegetable Farm. 20 different types of vegetables and herbs are cultivated here by the 150 farmers and 400 land owners on site without the use of GMOS or pesticides.

Wander through the garden and meet the locals working in the garden. Learn how the farmers cultivate their crops and even lend a hand raking the ground, sowing the seeds, watering greens, and transplanting and tending the plants.

Soak your feet in a traditional herbal bath and prepare tam huu spring rolls and banh xeo pancakes for lunch with a local family before returning to your hotel in Hoi An.

The rest of the afternoon is free at leisure to discover the city independently.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Lasenta Boutique Hotel Hoi An

Gain an in-depth insight into the history of Vietnam by travelling 2.5 hours north to Hue along the incredible Hai Van Pass Ocean Road to view the grandeur of the emperors. Although the ancient citadel was badly damaged by the Vietnamese-American War, it is still possible to catch a glimpse of what used to exist here hundreds of years ago during your morning visit to the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City and the Emperor’s Private Residence.

Then, stop at the official symbol of Hue, Thien Mu Pagoda, before checking to your Hue accommodation in the afternoon, with some time to freshen up before an evening imperial dinner cruise along the iconic Perfume River. Sample a perfectly prepared 10-course royal dinner as you watch traditional music and dance performances in the style of the Royal Court of Hue.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Pilgrimage Village

Spend the morning browsing the fresh produce and herbs for sale at Dong Ba Market. Continue learning about the imperial history of the city with a journey by cyclo to the immaculately landscaped tombs of Emperor Tu Duc and Emperor Ming Mang.

An early-afternoon flight whisks you away to the capital of the country, the traditional and culturally-rich city of Hanoi. Check into your city center hotel.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Peridot Grand Hotel & Spa

Dive into the history of Hanoi by visiting the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, designed to resemble a blooming lotus flower, commissioned by the legendary King Ly Thai To in 1049. Just a stone’s throw away lies the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a monument and tribute to Ho Chi Minh, the “uncle” of modern Vietnam, as well as his preserved stilt house and a small museum dedicated to his life.

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, view the scenic West Lake by electric car as you take in the incredible views of the immense lake, stopping at Tran Quoc Buddhist Pagoda and Quan Thanh Taoist Temple on the quaint Truc Bach Lake.

The rest of the afternoon is free to discover the city on your own.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Peridot Grand Hotel & Spa

Discover the amazing coffee culture in the city today with a morning tour to some of the best cups of coffee in the city. Try the traditional ca phe sua, a Robusta coffee mixed with sweet condensed milk, served hot or over ice. Then, sip the decadent egg coffee at a little hole-in-the-wall establishment overlooking the magical Hoan Kiem Lake. Finally, depart the Old Quarter and head to the expatriate community and quiet lakeside café of Maison Du Tet in a beautiful reconverted French Villa to try their unique Arabica blend coffees, found only in Hanoi.

After all that coffee, the rest of the day is free to explore Hanoi on your own. Shop in any of the elegant boutiques throughout the city, try a fabulous massage at any of affordable spas in the area, or check out the carefully curated collections of tribal art, clothing, jewelry, and full-size replica houses at The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. All displays are clearly labeled in English, French, and Vietnamese, with guides available at the main entrance for those who want to hear more in-depth information.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Peridot Grand Hotel & Spa

Following breakfast, head 2.5 hours east to Halong Bay. Established as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994 and newly nominated as one of the new 7 natural wonders of the world, Halong Bay’s otherworldly atmosphere and landscape of emerald green waters, sandy beaches, and thousands of towering limestone karst islands are sure to leave you speechless.

Check into your cabin as we embark on an overnight cruise to experience the bay in all her glory. Activities include cooking demonstrations, a visit to a floating fishing village, kayaking and swimming, depending on the boat’s itinerary and weather.

At the end of the day, the boat will anchor while guests enjoy the cocktail happy hour and fresh seafood dinner. Try your hand at squid fishing in the evening or perhaps watch a film or stargaze before retiring to your cabin for a restful sleep.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Bhaya Classic Cruise

Good Morning Vietnam from  Halong Bay! Start the morning with some tai chi on the sundeck as the sun rises, and munch on a light breakfast before participating in a cave visit.

Brunch will be served after the cave tour, which gives you time to savor the views as the boat gently glides through the incredible rock formations towards the dock.

Return to Hanoi in the early afternoon with your day free to discover independently until your transfer to Noi Bai Airport to catch your onward planned travel arrangements.

Meals: Breakfast