Flavors of Vietnam

THROUGH FLAVORS OF VIETNAM TOUR, YOU WILL DISCOVER

Day 1: Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City

On your arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, our guide will welcome you and provide transfer to hotel.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 2: Ho Chi Minh City – Vespa tour (B, L, D)

After breakfast, drive shortly to transfer a local market for the insightful Ho Chi Minh city tour.

Enter a small alleyway of the city to learn about the city residents’ lifestyle and daily activities. Look at the way how they utilize the ground floor for business and shop and all family withdraw upstairs. Visit some of the typical French colonial villas reflecting the architectural blend between traditional element and European touch.

The visits include the city most highlight and historical sites of Museum of War Remnants for an insightful, in depth look into the Vietnam War. There are collections of weaponry and photos in the regard of the two Wars in Vietnam and its bitter consequent. Learn to understand about the war hardship Vietnamese had struggled to gained own independence from foreign countries.

Walk to the Reunification Palace formerly known as the Presidential Palace to see its main gate where a tank from the North Vietnam crashed it down and ended the brutal ten thousand day war.

Set off and stroll along Saigon’s colonial quarter, visit Saigon’s central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Saigon Opera House, Ho Chi Minh City Hall. Moreover understand why this area has been well conserved and continue to dominate the city architectural design.

Stop in a street corner coffee shop and try a local coffee flavor like Vietnamese do, sit squatty like locals do. Return to the hotel and get ready for an exciting Vespa Tour to discover Saigon after dark.

Your Saigon after dark begins at 6 PM. Hop on the back seat of these vintage motorbikes and zip off through Ho Chi Minh City glittering streets in the scene of the city evening life as the offices shutting down and the street lights turning on.

You will soon arrive at Saigon food hub, full of food stall and restaurants to taste a range of dishes of local delicacies. Take some time to relax in a quiet café. At the other place, enjoy the music performance with a drink or take an advantage of an ice cream. Transfer back to the hotel for the night.

Notes:

• The street food is part of the tour; Join in hungry and thirsty!
• Clients will sit behind the Vespas driver to travel from place to place
• Only guides from Vespa team are certified on tour

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 3: Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)

Depart Ho Chi Minh City and drive to Ben Tre in Mekong Delta, “the rice bowl of Vietnam”.

After 2 hours, arrive in Ben Tre Province to board a local style boat and discover the waterway of the Mekong Delta and see the life along the river banks of the Mekong Delta. Visit a local cottage workshop where coconuts are processed for coconut candy, coconut mats, cushions and broom.

Turn into a fruit orchard Uncle Tam, well known in the region, chat to the owner and see how the family has lived their lifestyle in tranquility of the Mekong Delta. Walk through the fruit garden while enjoying some fresh seasonal fruits. Say goodbye to Uncle Tam before a short walk to sampan dock, from here sit back and relax for 30 minute enjoying the water coconut flanked canal to return to the main boat.

After lunch at Ms. Hai home, take 30 minute to relax and embark on a 2 km mini adventure through the peaceful village. Return to the boat and motor onwards to Ben Tre pier. Leaving the boat and drive to Uncle Sau, a fruit garden farmer, who is passionate in findings and collecting antiques like ceramic and statues. Transfer back and arrive in Ho Chi Minh City late afternoon.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City – Flight to Danang – Hoi An (B, D)

Transfer to the airport to board the flight to Danang, central Vietnam. Arrive at Danang airport and drive to Hoi An, the ancient trading port of in Asia, flourished for over 200 years during 17th and 18th centuries.

Drop the suite cases at the hotel and commence on a walking tour. During the interesting guided tour, visit this marvelous town’s traditional house, ancient temple with Chinese Assembly Hall and an iconic Japanese Bridge. At the end, conclude with the colourful market by the river.

A fine dining for lunch will be at Morning Glory Restaurant. Locate in Hoi An’s oldest street, Morning Glory serves best “Street Food” featuring specialties of Hoi An.

Return to the hotel with guide and driver or stay in town to enjoy the afternoon and lantern streets in evening at leisure.

Where to have dinner in Hoi An:

• Mango Rooms offers original taste and creative options. The foods are served with refreshing flavors combine with beautifully attractive presentation in a relaxing atmosphere. Mango Rooms has anchored the mind of many customers.
• Secret garden, one of the finest in Hoi An for traditional Vietnamese food. The destination is highly recommended for its food and location, in a hidden alley in the middle of the town.
• Not far from Japanese Bridge and hide in a quiet street, Mai Fish style is simple but tastefully delicious. Central Vietnam food is highly recommended.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 5: Hoi An cooking class (B, L)

At 8AM, transfer in a minivan to Tra Que organic vegetable village, see how local farmers tend their herbal crops using traditional methods only. Learn about different leaves that used for the cooking class later. Transfer to the local market nearby to buy some of local ingredients, including shallots, cardamom, rice paper, banana flower.

At the Red Bridge Cooking School, be welcomed by the Red Bridge Chef. Enjoy some welcome drink before putting hand in preparing and cooking Vietnamese dishes. After working closely with the chef, sit down and savor your creation of the day, with a glass of wine or two!

From the Red Bridge, tale a 20 minute cruise along the Thu Bon River to Hoi An. Transfer back to central Hoi An arriving approximately 3 PM.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Dau 6: Hoi An – Danang – Flight to Hanoi (B)

In the morning, discover Hoi An with a walking tour. Explore the charming old-world commercial port with narrow streets and traditional houses, old traders’ houses, the famous 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the colorful market with a range of fresh ingredients.

Transfer to Danang and visit the Cham Museum, which contains the most beautiful collection of Cham sculptures in the world. You will then take the flight to Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 7: Hanoi foodie tour (B, L)

Have very light breakfast then with your guide transfer to Hanoi’s downtown. Leave the car and start your Hanoi gourmet tour. Stroll through the bustling streets in the Old Quarter to Thanh Ha market to observe all strange food, hear the interesting story of how Vietnamese prepare and eat their food. This walk is truly authentic Hanoi experience not just for food and cuisine but also lifestyle of the local Hanoian.

After seeing all the local food items, it is time to taste some typical Hanoi delicacies. Walk through a “street food alley” to see all the strange dishes. They may look bizarre but truly they are local delicacies!

Along Hang Than Street, try some bites for ceremonial cakes which is often presented during the engagement ceremony. Follow the guide lead to walk through several streets in the Old Quarter, hop into a jelly shop to try seasonal Che, a favorite refreshing drink of Hanoian in the hot day. Finally, turn into a hidden coffee shop inside a narrow alley. Sip a cup of Vietnamese coffee dripping from an aluminum filter and chat with the guide to know more about Hanoi coffee culture. Return to the hotel for a well earned rest.

Overnight in in Hanoi.

Day 8: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)

Leave the hotel in and drive to Halong Bay. The car scenic journey will take three and half hours to get there through many rice field and small towns along the way through the Red River Delta. Through the car screen, look for locals carrying pigs and chickens or bonsais trees to the local markets. Late in the morning, be welcome onboard and enjoy a tasty lunch. The boat starts to motor toward the center of the UNESCO Heritage Site of Halong Bay.

Partake in some aboard activities (varied on different boats) while take time to enjoy the magnificent view of the Bay from the boat sundeck. Enjoy Happy Hour onboard before the Seafood dinner is served after the sun has set over the limestone towering mountains.

Overnight on Halong Bay boat.

Day 9: Halong Bay – Hanoi (B, L)

Rise early to catch the first sun ray. Attend in an opened air Tai Chi lesson for morning exercise. Enjoy a light breakfast with tea and coffee. Spend the final hours to take the last photos before enjoying the lavish brunch in the view of the bay as the boat motors slowly through the spectacular rock formations unlike another place on earth. Arrive back to the harbor where your driver will transfer you to the airport in Hanoi for your connecting the onward flight.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 10: Hanoi – Departure (B)

Today you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight.

You might be interested in our Essence of Vietnam from North to South, otherwise look for other interesting options in our Vietnam multi-destination tours.