Foodie adventure in Vietnam and Thailand

THROUGH THIS FOODIE ADVENTURE IN VIETNAM AND THAILAND, YOU WILL DISCOVER

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi – Hanoi street food tour (D)

Welcome to Hanoi, capital of Vietnam and the start city of your Foodie Journey!

After refreshing, this afternoon your guide will take you on a foodie adventure, sampling street food in the Hanoi’s Old Quarter. It’s a great opportunity to try all those delicious foods you see but still wondering what are they?! Start your Hanoi street food tour at Bia Hoi corners with fresh beer in silver kegs to try the local brew, a draft beer that traces its roots to Eastern Europe taste. Do as the locals do, take a seat on a stool and enjoy a freshly brewed Bia Hoi glass while watching the world go by.

Continue as your guide points out a range of tasty noodles, Banh Xeo, breads stuffed with barbecued pork and herbs. At night the sidewalks are packed with locals swing on stools, amongst cauldrons and steaming pots. These small pop up food stalls are a nightly feature only and would vanish into dark alleyways during the day. End the night with a cup of traditional Vietnamese coffee in one of the Hanoi’s hidden cafe parlor.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2 : Hanoi cooking class – Afternoon city tour (B, L)

Head to the famous Chau Long. Walk through rows of stalls selling everything from a farmed spring onion to grounded turmeric flour. Hanoi is city of markets – all kinds. Take the sights, sounds and smells of this market make it the best way to the Hanoi authenticity. Your expert guide will show you different herbs, vegetables and spices that make Vietnamese cuisine so unique.

Next, at Hanoi Cooking Centre, have a tea and meet your instructor who is an experienced chef, also a cookbook author to learn about the fresh herbs, spices, how to use those before putting your knowledge and hands into to the task. Once you have followed the instruction and prepared the dish, it’s time to enjoy some of your creation result along with a well-deserved drink of a beer or glass of wine. Do not forget to take a recipe to assist your memory just in case you confuse when you get home!

In afternoon, embark on a cyclo ride – the city’s oldest mode of transportation – for the city highlights discovery. As your driver weaves around, you start from the Old Quarter’s streets, passing through colonial French area, shop cum houses to The Hanoi citadel’s Northern Gate.

Next, drive pass a beautiful remnant of the French and Catholic Church of Cua Bac. Then, head to Quan Thanh, a temple built in 11th century for Taoism’s most principle saint. End your day with a visit to the 6th century Tran Quoc Pagoda by the West Lake. This is truly one of city highlights.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3 : Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)

Depart from Hanoi and travel by road to the Tuan Chau Island pier in Halong Bay. Set off on you boat cruise, where you’ll be pampered in style and comfort whilst meandering through the towering limestone cliffs and emerald green waters of Halong Bay. Stop to explore the inner workings of a cave and discover the bizarrely shaped stalagmite and stalactite formations there. Take part in a professional cooking demonstration before indulging in a luxurious dinner in the dining hall. Spend the rest of the evening as you’d like: watch a movie in the dining area, relax on the deck with a cocktail, or go squid fishing under the cover of night.

Overnight on board in Halong Bay.

Day 4 : Halong Bay – Hanoi – Flight to Danang – Hoi An (B, L)

Rise with the sun and practice the ancient art of Tai Chi on the sundeck while taking in majestic views of the surrounding bay and the cool sea breeze. Wrap up your experience with a visit to Titop island for swimming and an incredible view over the Bay from the mountain. This incredible open grotto offers the chance to see stalactites up close with the light of the morning sun. Spend your last few hours drifting through the bay as you enjoy a scrumptious brunch buffet en route to the main port, and then onwards to Hanoi, arriving mid-afternoon.

You will be directly transferred to the airport to take flight to Danang. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 5 : Hoi An city tour (B, L)

After breakfast, meet you guide and embark on an interesting and insightful tour of Hoi An. Visit the town’s highlights and learn about its history.

Once when it was a trading port, Hoi An welcomed international merchants from China, Holland, Japan, France and Portugal. Today Hoi An is famous for its beautifully restored architecture of the ancient houses, pagodas and temples scattered amidst homemade silk shops and art galleries. Having peaceful and charming pedestrian streets Hoi An is the Vietnam’s most pleasure place to walk around and discover.

The tour journeys through most of the top famous landmarks, Chua Ong Pagoda built in 1653 to honor the Chinese general Quan Cong, Phuc Kien Assembly Hall with the Jinshang Temple which is dedicated to the Goddess of the sea also known as the protector of sailors. Tan Ky House is a 200 year old ancestral house that will bring you a glimpse of the past generations’ lifestyle and finally, stroll across the 17th century covered bridge or Japanese Bride as it was built with the financial fund from Japanese living in town during those former days. This Hoi An’s iconic landmark bridge is even printed on the Vietnamese currency for 100.000 Dong! Take a scenic boat along Thu Bon River before going back to your hotel.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 6 : Hoi An – Cooking class (B, L)

Begin your half-day culinary tour at Vy’s Market Restaurant in downtown Hoi An, one of central Vietnam’s tastiest eateries and cooking schools. Embark on a short boat ride towards a nearby market, and wander through the stalls with a local guide to learn more about the uses of fresh noodles, dried spices and fresh herbs. Grab a taste of some exotic fruits before heading back into town by boat.

Arrive back at Vy’s Market Restaurant and set off on your exploration of a unique interactive dining venue that’s the first of its kind in Vietnam. Get hands-on with the chance to see, smell, taste, touch and interact with countless food making processes. Sample dishes from 10 different food counters, see how rice paper is made from ground rice and water, try out a Bun noodle machine and see how Hoi An’s famous ‘Cao Lau’ noodles are rolled, hand cut and steamed by hand.

After grabbing a few final samples from the food counters, head in for a cooking class with expert local chefs. Get a quick demonstration before rolling up your sleeves and trying your hand at creating the same dishes from scratch. Round up your culinary adventure with a sit-down meal to enjoy your dish, and go home with a copy of the recipes and a Vietnamese cooking utensil as a keepsake.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 7 : Hoi An – Danang – Fly to Saigon – Saigon street food tour  (B, L, D)

Today you will be transferred to the airport to take flight to Ho Chi Minh City.

In Ho Chi Minh City, leave your luggage in hotel before your guide take you visit the Saigon Central Post Office, one of Saigon’s most iconic landmarks with it’s renowned French styled ceiling. Across the street in front of Saigon Post Office is the Notre Dame Cathedral or Saigon Grand Cathedral to most Vietnamese, another iconic landmark of the city.

Your tour continues to the Reunification Palace – the nerve centre of the South, where in 1975 a North Vietnamese tank broke the gates down and put an end to the ten thousand day war. You will also visit the War Remnants Museum.

In evening, with the help of your guide, you will explore the Southern cuisine on a culinary adventure in downtown Saigon. Perch on a stool like a local and taste different weird but wonderful Saigon favourites like Vietnamese rice pancake with coconut milk, banh xeo, try some snail dishes. End the night with a jelly dessert in one of Saigon’s little parlor before returning to your hotel or venturing further for more cosmopolitan nightlife from this city.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Notes:

• This is a part street food tour; all food and drinks are included in the tour
• All clients will sit on the back of Vespas (passenger seat) to travel from place to place
• Guides are certified from Vespa’s Team
• Minimum age of children travel with parents is from 6 years of age

Day 8 : Saigon – Mekong Delta – Ho Chi Minh City (B, L)

At 8 AM, leave Ho Chi Minh City for the township of Cai Be to a boat cruise on the Mekong Queen, this traditionally built riverboat made from bamboo, wood and rattan. During Vietnam’s French colony, these boats were essential means of transport in Mekong River and poor road areas. And even nowadays, they still remain a handy means of reaching the Mekong delta’s isolated island communities.

Meet your Mekong Queen at the Cai Be jetty at 10am, you will be welcomed with cold towels and a refreshing drink while your Mekong Queen sets off for its leisurely cruise on the busy waterways. From your comfort sampan you will observe local life as it plays out on the river sides – the people, the lush green landscapes – while your attentive crew serves you some more tea and fresh fruit. As your boat glides through Bai Be floating market where you will see house cum boats from around regions sell their agricultural products. Stop to visit some of local industries: coconut candy and puffed rice and rice paper. Lunch will be served in a local family restaurant in the middle of a fruitful garden on the island. After that take a short ride across the mighty Mekong River to Vinh Long city where your private transfer is await for you and drive you back to Ho Chi Minh City in late afternoon.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 9 : Saigon – Flight to Bangkok – Bangkok street food tour (B, D)

Your guide will assist you to check in the flight from Ho Chi Minh to Bangkok. Meet with your Thai guide on arrival in the Cosmopolitan city of Bangkok.

After having some time to relax or out to explore the city’s vibrant streets on the typical Thai’s tuk tuk. Along the way, you will marvel at the food stalls. Turn into small alleys where your Thai street food adventure begins. Similar to Hanoi, the Thai street food stalls also spring out more at night. Randomly, your expert guide will give out his expertise recommendations on what are typical and delicious foods you must try from skewered sausages to fish balls in Thai style. After several spicy bites in the food alley, continue to Saphan Khao Market to taste various styles of fried fish balls before visiting the majestic Wat Pho in the evening, be amazed by the beauty of the temple’s dazzling towers and fascinated at the Reclining Buddha statue. Later in evening, wander around Pak Klong Talat to enjoy Thailand’s largest night flower market. Wrap your night foodie adventure with mango sticky rice – The Trade Mark of Thai food before you hop on a tuk tuk returning your hotel.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 10 : Bangkok – Cooking class (B, L)

After good night sleep, begin your day in Bangkok with leisure walk through old temples area, busy local Chinese businesses downtown in the Bangkok’s China town.

At Bang Pai Thai Cooking school, situated in a traditional Thai house, meet your chef for a culinary learning experience making some of Thailand’s most typical dishes such as Thai Chicken Curry, Tom Yum Kung. After enjoying your own cooking creations, a recipe book will be provided to you each that you can refer later, just in case.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 11 : Bangkok – Damnoen Saduak floating market – Flight to Chiang Mai (B, L)

After an other good night in Bangkok, visit “Maeklong Railway Market” where the train runs through several times in a day. For sure, this will be a thrilling market experience that you won’t soon forget!

Afterwards, head to one another market, this time not on the train tracks but on the river. Damnoen Saduak market is one of the most famous floating markets in Thailand. Take a longtail boat ride and glide along the vibrant boat shops to enjoy the colours, sound of a busy market on waterways. Travel back to Bangkok for your flight to Chiang Mai.

On arrival, transfer to your hotel for short rest before heading out for Chiang Mai unique culinary experience of the Northern region of the Thai Kingdom. Arrive at Chiang Mai’s culinary centre, try the typical Thai curry fish, sticky rice cake. In a small alleyway try refreshing fruit shake.

Wander further to sample some famous Thai noodles and Chiang Mai’s most famous pork skewers, pork trotter with rice and coconut desserts. Afterwards, enjoy another refreshing drink before going back to rest.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Jour 12 : Pantara Elephant farm – Dinner with a local family (B, L, D)

Departing from hotel and drive to Patara Elephant Farm. On arrival, take a briefing about elephant care, learn about the farm management. You then have chance to practice approaching the big friends then take them for morning bath in the river. Afterwards, trek up aboard elephants into primal forest and to a pristine waterfall. Bid farewell to your giant friend before returning back to your hotel in Chiang Mai.

Join in a host family meal for the true, authentic Thai home-cooked meal. Meet the host and together with the family prepare for the meal. A fantastic experience when a visitor and the host turn into friends over cooking mission.

After being filled with delicious food, head back to the hotel in Chiang Mai.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Day 13 : Chiang Mai city tour – Fly to Phuket (B, L)

After a good night and tasty breakfast, meet up with your expert guide and start exploring the charming Chiang Mai. On this tour you will be transfer on tricycle, which have been used as mean of transport in Thailand for more than half century ago, through the colorful narrow streets to Wat Puak Tam. Visist this artisan village to learn about the technique they use to make beautiful brass ornaments, motif decoration items. Your journey continues to Wat Chiang Man, the oldest Buddhist pagoda in Chiang Mai. After wandering around Waroros Market transfer back to the hotel then catch the flight to Phuket.

Upon arrival, meet with your guide and transfer to hotel.

Overnight in Phuket.

Days 14 & 15 : Phuket (B)

Free days at leisure in Phuket.

Overnight in Phuket.

Day 16 : Phuket – Fly to Bangkok – Departure (B)

What starts must finish! It comes to the end of your culinary and foodie adventure! Meet with your guide and transfer to Phuket airport to catch flight to Bangkok.

You might be interested in our Highlights of Vietnam and Cambodia, otherwise look for other interesting options in our Multi-country tours!