VB046: VIETNAMESE COOKING (11 Days / 10 Nights)

Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival 

Your guide will meet you on arrival at Noi Bai Airport and transfer you to your hotel. Visit the highlights of Hanoi: the Museum of Ethnology (the largest and most beautiful in Hanoi); the Temple of Literature, built in the 11th century as ‘s first university; Tran Quoc Pagoda; Hoan Kiem Lake; Ngoc Son Temple and a walk through the famous “36 streets” of the old city. After dinner at a local restaurant, you will have a golden chance to see Water Puppet performances in the evening. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi Cooking and Sightseeing Tours (B)

Morning cooking class: Today’s class begins with a walk, accompanied by the Chef of the Spices Garden Restaurant, to the local market, where participants get a chance to learn all about Vietnamese ingredients. After that, everyone rolls up their sleeves in the kitchen to prepare a proper Vietnamese meal. After the class lunch will be served in the Spices Garden Vietnamese Restaurant to sample all the different dishes prepared during the class. Overnight at hotel in Hanoi City.

Day 3:   Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L, D)

After breakfast , you will be picked up from your hotel for the 3 hour drive through the Red River   Delta and green rice fields to Halong City. On arrival in Halong City we transfer to a refurbished wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Halong Bay, giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage site. Enjoy your seafood lunch while cruising around fishing villages, Stone Dog Island, Incense Burner Islet and Fighting Cock Islet. You will have a golden opportunity to visit two of the most beautiful caves in Halong Bay, called Heaven Palace and Wooden Stakes Caves. Back to Halong Wharf for the return to Hanoi, with a visit to a ceramics village on the way. Dinner at a local restaurant.  Overnight in Hanoi

Day 4:   Halong – Hue (B, L)

After breakfast, continue your exploration of Halong Bay by kayak. Paddle from Luon Cave toward Man’s Head Island and Tortoise Island (kayaking time around 1 to 2 hours).After an early lunch, return to Halong wharf and transfer to Hanoi. Transfer to Noi Bai airport for domestic flight to Hue (one hour flight). Overnight in Hue.

Day 5:   Hue Sightseeing

After breakfast, take a boat trip along the Perfume River. Visit Minh Mang tomb, Thien Mu Pagoda, and Hon Chien temple. Explore the Imperial City and the Relict Museum. Enjoy a walk by the Perfume River and visit Dong Ba market. Overnight at hotel.

Day 6:    Hue – Lang Co Beach – Danang – Hoi An

After breakfast, go to Danang city. On the way stop in Lang Co, the village of the fishermen, and enjoy swimming on the beach. Visit Hai Van Pass, the Cham Art Museum, and Marble Mountain. After the lunch, depart for Hoi An. Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Tan Ky Old House, the Chinese Assembly Hall, Phuc Kien Pagoda, Hoi An Museum and the market. Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Day 7: Hoi An – Cooking tour(B,L).

Following breakfast at your hotel, visit Hoi An’s colourful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy place. We will have the opportunity to interact with local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking class later. We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy. On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and ’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours; the Red Bridge chefs first demonstrate each dish before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we sit down and eat what we have cooked. Bring your swimsuit and after the cooking tour has finished, relax and enjoy free use of the school’s new 20 metre swimming pool. Your lunch is included at the cooking centre and you can also enjoy a show of traditional arts there. Overnight in Hoi An

Day 8: Hoi An – Saigon (B)

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport for flight to Sai Gon. On arrival, transfer directly to your hotel Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport and transfer to your hotel. City tour to Notre Dame Cathedral,  the History Museum, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, the Grand Theatre, Notre Dame and Center Post Office. Enjoy busy Saigon city life. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 9: Cooking Class in Sai Gon Cookery Center  ( B,L)

After breakfast. Morning cooking lesson at the Vietnam Cookery Center: the hands-on cooking course is conducted by a professional chef who will explain the teaching of the chef and talk about the history and culture of Vietnamese cuisine. The lesson includes a market visit and lunch. Then. you will have free time for shopping. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 10: Saigon – Cu Chi Tunnels ( B,L)

After breakfast, visit Cu Chi Tunnels, the network of underground tunnels famous in the American War. Back in Saigon, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, before visiting Thong Nhat Conference Hall (formerly Independence Palace), the War Museum or Historical Museum and Chinatown. Then enjoy a Water Puppet show followed by dinner ata local restaurant.  Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 11: Departure (B)

Free time in the morning for discovering Ho Chi Minh City’s handicraft and lacquer ware workshops before transfer to the airport for departure