Vietnam Travel: A 12-Day Culinary Tour

Highlights of the Trip

Your adventure begins in Ho Chi Minh City, where you’ll immerse yourself in the bustling energy of this vibrant metropolis. Explore the city’s secrets on a guided tour, revel in the sensory delights of a local market visit and master the art of Vietnamese cuisine during an interactive cooking class. As your tour continues, you’ll venture to Cai Be, a tranquil haven where time seems to stand still. A boat cruise along the Cai Be Floating market and Tan Phong Island will introduce you to the region’s vibrant culture and flavours. Engage with the locals, savour exotic fruits, and even participate in traditional crafting activities.

Your journey takes you to Hue, a city steeped in history, where you’ll explore traditional garden houses and immerse yourself in the local fishing culture on Tam Giang Lagoon. Then, a flight to Hanoi beckons, where you’ll savour the city’s famed street foods and uncover its rich heritage on a guided tour.

This culinary tour of Vietnam is specially tailored for food enthusiasts, culture seekers, and those who crave an authentic taste of Vietnam’s culinary treasures. Immerse yourself in the flavours, history, and traditions that make Vietnam an enchanting destination for epicurean adventurers.

Destinations and the Landmarks / Sights to Visit

Ho Chi Minh

• Reunification Hall: During your Vietnam travel you will visit this magnificent building. This served as the official residence and workplace of the South Vietnamese President during the Vietnam War.
• Museum of War Remnants: Serves as a powerful and thought-provoking tribute to the impact of the Vietnam War.
• Jade Emperor Temple:  Founded in the early 1900s, this temple is one of the most well-known and revered Taoist temples in the city.

Cai Be

• Tan Phong Island: Discover exotic fruits here and visit Mr Nam On to discover and learn about traditional local instruments.
• Vinh Trang Pagoda: This pagoda is a blend of different architectural styles, with influences from Chinese, Vietnamese, and Khmer cultures.

Hue 

• Imperial Citadel of Hue:  A spectacular testament to Vietnam’s rich history and cultural heritage.
• Thien Mu Pagoda: This seven-story temple, also known as Linh Mu Pagoda, has a rich history dating back to the 17th century.
• Emperor Minh Mang’s Tomb: Construction of the tomb started in 1841 and was completed in 1843, spanning over hundreds of hectares of land.

Hanoi

• Temple of Literature: Built in 1070 during the Ly dynasty, it served as the first national university in Vietnam and is dedicated to Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher.
• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum: The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a significant landmark in Vietnam and a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors from all over the world.
• Tran Quoc Pagoda:  This is the oldest pagoda in the city, dating back to the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De.

Cultural Experiences & Activities of this Holiday

Ben Thanh Market: This is one of the oldest and most famous landmarks in the city, attracting tourists from all over the world. The market was originally established in the 17th century and has since then been a hub of trade and commerce. A must visit on your holiday to Vietnam.

Cooking Class: Visit Hoa Tuc and stroll around a local market to buy local ingredients for your cooking class.

Garden House Dinner: Here the owner will provide a meal made up of classic Hue cuisine.

Morning Tai Chi Session: Embrace this morning session on your cruise. The slow and graceful movements of tai chi are not just for physical exercise, but also for the mind and soul.

Vung Vieng Fishing Village: This small fishing community is made up of floating houses on the crystal clear waters, giving off a postcard-perfect view.

Local Cuisine and Traditional Dishes to try while in Vietnam

During your holiday to Vietnam, numerous opportunities will arise for you to savour the authentic local cuisine, whether from the menus of included meals or from your own culinary exploration during your free time in the itinerary. Indulge in traditional dishes that showcase the rich flavours of the region, including banh mi, a crispy baguette filled with savoury meats, fresh vegetables, and herbs, influenced by French colonialism in Vietnam. The crispy baguette pairs perfectly with the tender and flavourful meat, making for a mouth-watering combination. For those who enjoy seafood, there is cha ca, a Hanoi specialty made with white fish marinated in turmeric, cooked with fragrant dill, and served with vermicelli noodles and peanuts. The dish is bursting with bold and complex flavours that will leave your taste buds wanting more.

Water-based Activities and Cruises

Boat Cruise to Cai Be Floating Market and Cai Rang Floating Market. 

Boat to explore Tam Giang Lagoon.

Dragon Legend Cruise through Bai Tu Long Bay, Thien Canh Son Cave and Hon Co Island. Cruise to Tra San.

Accommodation of this Tour

• Ho Chi Minh City: EdenStar Saigon hotel (city centre location, nice rooftop swimming pool – Premium Deluxe room).
• Can Tho: TTC Hotel Premium – Can Tho (high-rise building in the city centre on the bank of Hau River – Deluxe City View room).
• Hue: Eldora hotel (located in the heart of the city within walking distance to many tourist attractions, exquisite style, spacious room – Deluxe City View room).
• Hanoi: Hanoi La Siesta Classic Hotel (an exclusive oasis in the Hanoi Old Quarter, just a short walk to the legendary Hoan Kiem Lake – Deluxe room).
• Ha Long Bay: Dragon Legend Cruise (traditional style, Deluxe quality boat modelled on Imperial Court vessels).

Itinerary

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh Arrival, check-in at hotel

When you get to Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City, a driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel.

Day 2: Tour of Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon City Tour

Following your breakfast, your guide will take you on a tour of some of the most iconic sites in Ho Chi Minh City. First, you’ll be taken to the Reunification Hall, a glorious colonial-style structure that once served as the Governor General of Indochina’s residence. After that, you’ll visit the War Remnants Museum, where you can see a partial, yet captivating, representation of the ‘American War.’ Then, you will be taken to Ben Thanh Market, one of the city’s busiest and most diverse areas. Finally, you will explore the Jade Emperor Temple, one of the most renowned Taoist temples in the country with awe-inspiring statues, carvings of Hell, and some unexpected terrapin and tortoise sanctuaries.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Local market visit to source ingredients, Hoa Tuc cooking class and dinner, then free time to explore Ho Chi Minh City

At Hoa Tuc, today will begin with a cooking class. You will start off with a visit to a local market to learn about the local produce and how to buy ingredients, followed by an introduction to Vietnamese culinary culture. After this, you will get to work in the kitchen with the help of a Vietnamese chef who speaks English. There is a selection of menus that have been designed to give you a full experience of Vietnamese cuisine. After cooking, you will get to savour the meal you have prepared. The recipes from the class will also be provided so that you can recreate the dishes at home. This is a must try activity during your holiday to Vietnam.

In the afternoon, you can explore Ho Chi Minh City. One of the popular areas to explore is District 1, where you can see many colonial buildings. Or you could spend your time in the city’s bars and get a cocktail with a luxurious price at Saigon Saigon Bar of the Caravelle Hotel, which has a 360 degree view on the top floor. You can also admire the Continental Hotel, Opera House, fashionable Dong Khoi street, and the Majestic Hotel. There are also many stories of Graham Green, Noel Coward, and many more dignitaries and outcasts that still roam the streets of Saigon.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Travel to Cai Be. Boat cruise to Cai Be Floating Market, visit Tan Phong Island, Mr Nam On, local cooking class, and take part in local activities

After departing Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll travel to Cai Be. After a 2.5-hour drive, you’ll arrive at Cai Be pier, and begin a boat cruise that will take you to the Cai Be Floating Market, as well as to handicraft industries and a honeybee farm that line the river’s banks. From there, you’ll visit Tan Phong Island, where you can pick and taste fruits like durian, rambutan, longan, plum, and jackfruit, before heading to Mr. Nam On, where you can learn about traditional instruments and enjoy a folk song show by local artists. You’ll then take a sampan to the Mekong Ecolodge. Here, you can participate in a cooking class to learn about local dishes, before taking bicycles to explore the area and take part in activities like knitting water hyacinth, making rice paper cake, and crafting nail polish tools from bamboo. After visiting the local villagers’ houses, you’ll drive to Can Tho, the capital of the Mekong Delta Region, where you can spend the night.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Boat cruise and breakfast, arrival Cai Rang floating market, visit to Vinh Trang Pagoda

After a boat cruise and breakfast, you will arrive at Cai Rang floating market in the Mekong Delta. This will give you a glimpse of the rural lifestyle of the Delta region during your Vietnam travel. On your return to Ho Chi Minh City, you can take a short detour to visit the Vinh Trang pagoda. This renowned pagoda features a blend of Chinese, Vietnamese, and Angkor styles, spread across a 2-hectare block and housing 178 pillars and a number of valuable statues, the most noteworthy being the 18 arahant statues carved from wood in 1907. Spending time here will help you understand the relationship between Vietnamese art and Buddhist beliefs. You will arrive back in Ho Chi Minh City in the late afternoon, with ample time to freshen up in the hotel.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Free time, noon flight to Hue, Imperial Citadel of Hue and Dong Ba Market, leisure time and dinner

You will have the morning free until your car and driver come to take you to Tan Son Nhat airport for your noon flight to Hue. Upon arriving, our guide will meet you and take you to the impressive Imperial Citadel of Hue and the Dong Ba market. Afterwards, you will have the rest of the day to yourself. In the evening, you will be treated to a dinner at a ‘garden house’, where the owner will provide a meal made up of classic Hue cuisine. Garden houses are special in Hue, as they are privately owned and built in a formal garden setting. Many of them have connections to the old Royal Imperial Court and adhere to the traditional architecture style of blending with the natural environment. Along the narrow streets and with their abundance of plants, the garden house area gives off a tranquil countryside village feel.

✓ Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Travel to Thuan An Market, boat to Tam Giang lagoon. Visit traditional fishing village, visit Thien Mu Pagoda and Emperor Minh Mang’s Tomb

Today, during your holiday to Vietnam, you’ll set off on a journey starting in the South-east of Hue to Thuan An market. Afterwards, you’ll board a boat to explore Tam Giang lagoon. After that, a drive down a country road will take you to a small village where the locals dry their fish the traditional way, weather permitting. After that, you’ll make your way back to Hue City for lunch. With your bellies full, you’ll be ready to visit the majestic Thien Mu Pagoda and Emperor Minh Mang’s Tomb. Built shortly after the Emperor’s death, this structure is an example of classic Sino-Vietnamese architecture. It showcases the opulence and extravagance of the Emperor, who was a follower of Confucianism and had many wives and children.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8: Free morning, noon flight to Hanoi. Sample and explore street foods and sightseeing.

Your morning is free until your driver arrives to take you to the airport for a noon flight to Hanoi. When you land, you will be greeted by our guide and driven to your hotel in the city centre. Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son temple, Hang Be (Dong Xuan) market, and the bustling Old Quarter are all popular attractions and must-sees for visitors, although the area can be noisy and hectic. Today, you will get to sample and explore different street foods and snacks such as Banh Cuon (fresh rice pancake cooked on site and wrapped with mushroom and meat), Bun Cha (fresh rice noodle with grilled pork belly), and/or Sinh To (mixed tropical fruit). To end your day, you can visit a small local café tucked away in a small alley in the Old Quarter, renowned for its view of Hoan Kiem Lake and its type of Vietnamese coffee.

✓ Breakfast

Day 9: Guided tour of Hanoi, including lunch, and free time in afternoon to explore

Today is an adventure to explore Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital city. Your guide will take you to the Temple of Literature, which dates to the 11th century. You’ll also visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, his simple stilt house, and the museum in his honour. Lunch will be at the ‘Cha Ca La Vong’ restaurant, where you can sample the famous Ca Lang dish. Afterward, you’ll have a chance to visit the Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi, on the banks of the Ho Tay Lake. Afterwards, you’ll have the rest of the afternoon to wander around Hanoi’s Old Quarter and its French colonial buildings and boulevards. To round off the day, why not enjoy a coffee or cocktail at the bar of the Sofitel Metropole Hotel before choosing dinner?

✓ Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10: Board the Dragon Legend Cruise, cruise to Thien Canh Son Cave for swimming, kayaking and relaxing, then Tra San for Mineral Seawater Pool

After breakfast, you’ll embark on the Dragon Legend Cruise and enjoy a journey through Bai Tu Long Bay, an area as stunning as Halong Bay, according to many travellers. You’ll cruise to Thien Canh Son cave in Cong Do and then relax on the white sandy beach of Hon Co Island, where you can enjoy swimming, kayaking, and other activities. Afterwards, you’ll cruise to Tra San and enjoy the Mineral Seawater Pool, Fitness Room, and Spa and Massage Services (Spa and Massage Services are excluded) before dinner. The Dragon Legend Cruise will spend the night in Tra San, a quiet, secluded area.

For your two-day Ha Long excursion, you’ll board the Dragon Legend Junk, the newest member of the Indochina Junk fleet. Featuring 24 spacious, wood-panelled cabins luxuriously designed for your comfort, it also has 4 decks with both indoor and outdoor restaurants, a spa, bar, sundeck, and other entertainment options. The 26.5 sq.m cabins are furnished with traditional Vietnamese art from different regions in the country, and the 9 sq.m bathrooms come with bathtubs for a soothing seawater or freshwater treatment. Two of the cabins are connected, perfect for families. All meals, usually based on fresh seafood, are provided and kayaking is included in the price. Bai Tu Long Bay, located further east of Halong Bay, offers an exceptional scale and variety of geological rock formations, making it a great destination for cruising in the Gulf of Tonkin.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Day 11: Morning Tai Chi on deck, visit to Vung Vieng fishing village via rowboat, return to Hanoi

Start your day by joining the Taichi session on the large sundeck (beginners welcome!). After your morning workout, you’ll enjoy a delicious breakfast before heading to Vung Vieng fishing village via a rustic rowboat. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to meet the local people as well as explore the floating school and fish farms. As lunch is served, you’ll cruise back to the harbour, arriving around noon. You will then be picked up and returned to Hanoi.

✓ Breakfast, Lunch

Day 12: Free time until transfer to airport for departure flight

Once you’re done with breakfast, you’ll have nothing else to do until your chauffeur shows up to take you to Noi Bai airport for your flight out. We hope you enjoyed your travel throughout Vietnam!

✓ Breakfast

Price

 £1,615

– Price per person based on two-people group size.

– The price is subject to availability, based on twin or double room sharing.

– Peak season surcharges may apply during local public holidays.

Please note, this package is an example of our many exciting daily offers. We are happy to check up-to-date prices for the dates and times that suit you for your perfect package holiday, or to tailor or upgrade elements of any package. Please feel free to contact us at enquiry@asiara-holidays.com or call us on 01473 356 000.

Please note, this package is an example of our many exciting daily offers. We are happy to check up-to-date prices for the dates and times that suit you for your perfect package holiday, or to tailor or upgrade elements of any package. Please feel free to contact us at enquiry@asiara-holidays.com or call us on 01473 356 000.

Map

Tour Summary

Day 1: Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, transfer to hotel.

Day 2: Explore iconic sites including Reunification Hall, War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market, and Jade Emperor Temple.

Day 3: Market visit, cooking class at Hoa Tuc, free time to explore Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 4: Travel to Cai Be, boat cruise to Cai Be Floating Market, visit Tan Phong Island, Mr Nam On, and local cooking class.

Day 5: Boat cruise to Cai Rang floating market, visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 6: Free morning, flight to Hue, visit Imperial Citadel and Dong Ba Market, dinner at a garden house.

Day 7: Travel to Thuan An Market, boat to Tam Giang lagoon, visit fishing village, Thien Mu Pagoda, and Emperor Minh Mang’s Tomb.

Day 8: Free morning, flight to Hanoi, sample street foods and explore the city.

Day 9: Guided tour of Hanoi including Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Tran Quoc Pagoda, and free time to explore.

Day 10: Board Dragon Legend Cruise, visit Thien Canh Son Cave, Tra San for Mineral Seawater Pool.

Day 11: Morning Tai Chi, visit Vung Vieng fishing village, return to Hanoi.

Day 12: Free time until departure flight.

FAQs

1. How do I get from the airport to the hotel upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City? Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat airport, a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in the city.
2. What are the highlights of the Saigon City Tour in Ho Chi Minh City? The Saigon City Tour includes visits to iconic sites such as the Reunification Hall, War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market, and Jade Emperor Temple.
3. What activities are included during the cooking class at Hoa Tuc in Ho Chi Minh City? The cooking class at Hoa Tuc includes a visit to a local market, learning about Vietnamese culinary culture, hands-on cooking with a Vietnamese chef, and enjoying the meal you prepare.
4. What can I expect during the boat cruise to Cai Be Floating Market? During the boat cruise, you’ll witness the bustling Cai Be Floating Market, visit Tan Phong Island, Mr Nam On, and participate in a local cooking class.
5. What transportation is provided for the tour from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue? Transportation from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue is provided via a flight.
6. What are the key attractions included in the guided tour of Hanoi? The guided tour of Hanoi includes visits to the Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Tran Quoc Pagoda, and free time to explore the Old Quarter.
7. What activities are available during the Dragon Legend Cruise in Ha Long Bay? During the Dragon Legend Cruise, you can visit Thien Canh Son Cave, enjoy swimming and kayaking at Hon Co Island, and relax at Tra San Mineral Seawater Pool.