Vietnam Real Food Adventure
12 days
from Melia Hanoi to Binh Minh
From
$ 2035
Duration12 days
Travel to Vietnam and savour its culture and cuisine from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. Chop, slice and eat your way through Vietnam, experiencing one of the freshest and most fragrant cuisines on the planet. From pho and ancient buildings in Hanoi, banh khoai and imperial citadels in Hue, banh xeo and lantern-lit streets in Hoi An and banh canh and pulsating markets in Ho Chi Minh City, experience Vietnam’s cuisine and its tightly woven place within its culture. Drink in cafes and beer halls that sprawl out over city streets, buy fruit from wicker baskets draped over a vendor’s shoulders and sit at market stalls as aromatic noodle soups are whipped up in front of you. Experience all of Vietnam’s iconic sights, spend time cooking some of the country’s top dishes and get a true taste of Vietnam on this delectable Real Food Adventure.
This tour is operated by
-
Duration: 12 daysService level: Standard
-
Starts in: Melia HanoiPhysical Grading: Light
-
Ends in: Binh MinhAges: 15+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi
Start place: Melia Hanoi
Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins with a Welcome Meeting at 6pm on Day 1. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be confirming your insurance details at this meeting, so please ensure you have these to provide to your leader. Next head out for your first introduction to Vietnam’s lively culinary scene. Stop at a family-owned restaurant and savour a bowl of noodles with an unexpected secret ingredient! After dinner enjoy a bia hoi. This foamy, light beer is made fresh each day and served in basic, open-walled ‘brew halls’. Take up a brightly coloured plastic chair and sip your tasty brew.
Meals: D
Day 2: Hanoi
Start the day with a traditional breakfast of pho, a dish that originates in Hanoi, designed to awaken the senses and prepare you for the day. Then it's time for a guided tour of Chau Long Market, where you will learn all about the ingredients and flavours of northern Vietnamese cuisine. We will sample the local coffee, typically served with condensed milk - or for the more adventurous - egg! Tuck into some of Hanoi's renowned street food specialties and finish at a hidden tea house, learning about Vietnamese tea traditions from a true master.
In the evening, get hands on learning to prepare northern Vietnamese dishes. Discover some old Hanoian favorites like caramel pork as well as some lesser known dishes from the highlands. Enjoy the fruits of your labour for dinner.
In the evening, get hands on learning to prepare northern Vietnamese dishes. Discover some old Hanoian favorites like caramel pork as well as some lesser known dishes from the highlands. Enjoy the fruits of your labour for dinner.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Halong Bay
Travel by private minibus to the spectacular World Heritage-listed site of Halong Bay (approximately 4 hours). Set sail on emerald-green waters, gliding between limestone karsts and soaking in the old-world tranquillity. Halong Bay is a secluded harbour with 2,000 limestone islands rising from the turquoise waters of Bac Bo Gulf. It spans an area of about 1,500 square kilometres and is dotted with innumerable beaches and grottos that were created over thousands of years by waves and wind. Visit one of the lesser known caves, then return to your vessel late in the afternoon and enjoy a delicious feast exquisitely prepared by an onboard chef.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Overnight train
Take a bus back to Hanoi (approximately 3.5 hours), then board an overnight train bound for Hue (approximately 12 hours). Although conditions are basic, overnight trains are a rewarding experience. It's an efficient way to travel long distances and a great way to get a sense of the country.
Most trains have a dining carriage serving simple food, but some travellers take the opportunity to stock up on fresh bread, cheese and fruit prior to departure.
Most trains have a dining carriage serving simple food, but some travellers take the opportunity to stock up on fresh bread, cheese and fruit prior to departure.
Meals: B
Day 5: Hue
Hue is Vietnam’s former royal capital and its cuisine is considered by many Vietnamese as the best in the country. The food is influenced by its imperial heritage (small dishes and a focus on aesthetic presentation) and its strong Buddhist heritage, reflected in the high proportion of vegetarian restaurants in the area. On arrival, enjoy a classic breakfast of bun bo Hue, a popular Vietnamese soup containing rice vermicelli (bun) and beef (bo). After checking in at your hotel, embark on a tour of the city’s imperial monuments on the back of a motorbike (or in a car if you would rather). Stop past Thien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery since 1601. Here you'll see a car that belonged to one of the self-immolating monks of the 1963 protests. A dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River (approximately 40 minutes) will be followed by a special lunch stop for a vegetarian Buddhist meal at a pagoda, finishing with a visit to the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. The evening is free for your own food adventure. Perhaps ask your leader for the best place to try imperial street specialties like banh hue (rice flour cakes stuffed with shrimp, pork and spices).
Meals: B, L
Day 6: Hoi An
Start your day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel, which includes the Forbidden Purple City. The latter was almost totally destroyed during the Vietnam War's Tet Offensive, but the foliage-covered ruins are still atmospheric and the gaping holes left by bombs give an idea of the destruction wreaked upon the country during the war. Head south by bus through coastal rice paddies and traverse the mountainous Hai Van Pass, to Hoi An (approximately 4 hours). The beautifully restored Hoi An retains the feel of centuries past, making it the sort of place that grows on you the more you explore it. Take the chance to indulge in some shopping and perhaps have some clothes tailored. There's a great array of original paintings, handcrafted woodwork, ceramics, embroidery, lanterns and fabrics on display. On arrival, your leader will take you on an orientation walk around the Ancient Town. In the evening check out one of Hoi An's fabulous restaurants or pull up a plastic chair at a communal table alongside locals and learn how to make one of central Vietnam’s most celebrated dishes, banh xeo.
Meals: B
Day 7: Hoi An
Start your day with a guided bicycle tour of the extensive herb gardens that lie on the outskirts of town, followed by a trip to a rustic food market. This is a great place to pick up knives and other Vietnamese cooking gadgets. Head back to Hoi An for a hands-on cooking class in classic central Vietnamese dishes, followed by lunch.
The rest of the afternoon is free for your own exploration.
The rest of the afternoon is free for your own exploration.
Meals: B, L
Day 8: Hoi An
For early risers, take the opportunity to visit the Hoi An fish markets They are at their most vibrant in the mornings. In the later afternoon, be welcomed into the home of a local family for lunch where you will learn to prepare My Quang (Quang noodle), a specialty of this city. Afterwards, if the weather's fine, perhaps hit the local beach for a swim (a great way to get there is by bicycle, which you can hire in town). In the evening, perhaps enjoy some seafood by the water, or jump on a boat for a barbecue feast on a nearby island.
Meals: B, L
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City
Take the short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 1 hour). Take a guided tour to get a feel for the city's frenetic, fascinating blend of old and new, East and West. You will notice a strong French influence in Ho Chi Minh City, which means excellent coffee and baguettes. Stop past the War Museum, GPO and Notre Dame Cathedral, finishing up at one of Vietnam’s most pulsing markets, Ben Thanh. This is the perfect place to pick up any last-minute snacks, cooking utensils, ingredients, or presents for friends and family. Tonight take part in a cooking class where you'll learn some contemporary twists on traditional Vietnamese dishes with a passionate chef. Sit down and enjoy the delicious feast you've prepared over dinner.
Meals: B, D
Day 10: Mekong Delta
Take a private bus out to the Mekong Delta (approximately 2–3 hours), then cruise up this mighty river on a sampan (traditional boat), one of the most common forms of transportation in these parts. Glide past farms and orchards, to your guesthouse, set alongside a family home. Meet your hosts and take some time to wander the garden, relax or lend a hand with dinner preparations. Enjoy a southern Vietnamese feast on the wide verandah overlooking the garden as the sun goes down.
Meals: B, D
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City
For those who fancy an early morning cycle, join your hosts on a ride to the nearby village market, then return to Ho Chi Minh City by bus. The rest of your day is at your leisure. Perhaps sample some of the delights on offer at KOTO cafe. This is an inspiring initiative that helps support the area’s street kids by offering them training in hospitality. If you've got energy left in the evening, head out to enjoy a final Vietnamese meal with your new friends.
Meals: B
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City
Your trip comes to an end this morning. You're free to depart the accommodation at any time.
End place: Binh Minh
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Hanoi - Cooking Class, Northern Vietnamese
- Hanoi - Teahouse visit
- Hanoi - Chau Long Market, Food & Coffee Tasting
- Halong Bay - Overnight boat cruise with seafood lunch and dinner
- Hue - Motorbike trip including lunch
- Hue - Perfume River cruise
- Hue - Royal tomb
- Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda
- Hue - Imperial Citadel
- Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
- Hoi An - Herb Garden Bicycle Tour & Cooking Class, Central Vietnamese
- Hoi An - Cooking Class, Central Vietnamese
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
- HCMC - City tour
- HCMC - Ben Thanh market
- Ho Chi Minh City - Cooking Class with Local Chef
- Mekong Delta - Homestay & Home Cooked Meal
-
Transport
Plane, Private Vehicle, Taxi, Overnight sleeper train -
Accommodation
Hotel (8 nights), Homestay (1 night), Overnight Boat (1 night), Overnight Sleeper Train (1 night)