Savor Vietnam 13 Days

Have breakfast at hotel before taking part in a cooking class at a local family in Hanoi. You will go to the market with the chef and buy necessary ingredients, while learning more about the art of traditional Vietnamese cuisine. After that, cook your own dishes under instruction of the local family, then enjoy your delicious D.I.Y. dishes with the family. In the afternoon, visit the impressive Museum of Ethnology, filled with many exhibits, photographs and real houses which were inhabited by some of the ethnic minorities of Vietnam. Then visit the renowned St. Joseph’s Cathedral and enjoy an one hour rickshaw trip around Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Old Quarters. At eventide, enjoy a Water Puppet performance show before having your own dinner. Spend the night at hotel in Hanoi.

After having breakfast, you will depart for Ninh Binh, one of the most famous historical and tourism destinations in Vietnam for its long history and impressive limestone peaks. Upon arrival, visit the two King temples of Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh dating from the 10th century, then take a sampan cruise to discover the natural-reserved Van Long “Nature Reserve”, visit the natural-crafted karsts and take part in some fishing activities. Have lunch with the locals in Van Long. In the afternoon, go cycling around Van Long and enjoy its fabulous scenery. After that, return to homestay for the next cooking class. Have dinner with your own dishes with the locals and stay overnight at homestay.

Have breakfast at hotel. You will take a new road to Ha long through vast rice fields of the Red River Delta. Arrive in Hai Phong, visit a flower market, a fish market, Du Hang temple and Hang Kenh Communal House. Have lunch at local restaurant. After that, Depart to Halong through the fabulous scenery, arrive in Halong bay, check in hotel and take your free time. Have your own dinner and stay overnight in Halong.

Have breakfast at hotel before transferring to Halong Bay, then get on board for a 5-hour cruise in a beautiful wooden boat to visit the most beautiful and magnificent Sung Sot Cave. You may also swim in a quiet and beautiful bay. Have lunch on boat with excellent seafood menu. Back to the pier and return to Hanoi. On the way back, you will visit But Thap pagoda which is known as the cradle of Buddhism in Vietnam, and as the most beautiful and the oldest pagoda in the region. Have dinner on your own and stay overnight at hotel in Hanoi.

After breakfast at hotel, visit some of the popular tourism destinations of the capital, including Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, traditional houses on stilt inside the Presidential Palace, the revered One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Quan Thanh Temple… then go for a walk along the shore of West Lake to visit Tran Quoc Pagoda. Have lunch at local restaurant before transferring to Noi Bai Domestic Airport for the flight to Hue. Upon arrival at Hue Airport, you will be met by our guide before transferring to hotel. Take your free time and stay overnight in Hue.

Have breakfast at hotel before visiting Tu Duc Emperor’s Tomb and Tu Hieu pagoda. Then you will visit Hue Imperial, including places such as Tu Cam Thanh, Hoang Thanh, etc… then visit Dong Ba Market – the biggest market in Hue, before having lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the pier for a riverside cruise on Perfume River (Sông-Hương). During the cruise, you will have a stop at Thien Mu pagoda, the magnificent architecture founded in the 17th century and Minh Mang King’s Tomb. At eventide, have your own dinner and stay overnight in Hue.

After breakfast at hotel, depart for Hoian through the well-known and stunning 1A Highway. During transition, you may stop at the top of Hai Van Pass for a panoramic view over Danang and its surrounding areas, or take some pictures at Lang Co Beach. After passing through Danang, visit the Cham Museum, and then continue the tour to Hoian – recognized by UNESCO as one of the World Cultural Heritages in 1999. Upon arrival. have lunch at local restaurant, and walk in Hoian through charming streets or swim at Cua Dai beach late. Have your own dinner and stay overnight in Hoian.

After breakfast at hotel, visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, Chinese Fukien temple, Phung Hung ancient house and Hoian Central Market. Have lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, have a small tour around the local market to buy necessary ingredients for your cooking class. Next, you will learn about the Central cuisine and its differences between that of the Northern and Southern Vietnam at local restaurant. After having finished the class. have dinner with your own dishes and stay overnight in Hoian.

Have breakfast at hotel, then take a free walk within the small streets in Hoian with many tailor-made clothing shops for souvenirs. After that, transfer to Danang Airport for the flight to Saigon. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by our local guide before transferring to hotel for a check-in and having lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit some of the most historical sites of the city: Central Post Office with Romanesque art and French-style, the Presidential Palace, the renowned Notre Dame Cathedral, Cho Lon, Thien Hau Pagoda… Later, take a walk through the rue Catina (also known as Dong Khoi Street) to discover the remains of old colonial buildings. Have your own dinner and stay overnight at hotel in Saigon.

Have Breakfast at hotel. Next, depart for Cu Chi to visit the bonsai, herbs and vegetables garden. Then the chef will show you the menu of cooking class and explain the ingredients and how to make these dishes in the South. After that, you can make these dishes by yourself. Enjoy Lunch with dishes prepared by you. In the Afternoon, go on excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels which locate 30 km northwest away from Ho Chi Minh City, this highly complex system of tunnels with 250 km long connecting the northern part of Ho Chi Minh City with Ho Chi Minh Trail. The Trail was dug by day and night by the locals and Viet Cong during the war against the French and then against the Americans. After exploring the tunnel, you will be imbued with the living conditions of the Viet Cong. Go Back to Saigon in the late afternoon. Have your own dinner and stay overnight at hotel in Saigon.

Have breakfast at hotel before departing for Cai Be. You will take a boat trip from here to discover the beautiful Cai Be floating market with local people selling, buying, trading goods and products from their boats. Go to the local village to visit many orchards, rice paper making factories, or observe the process of making crisped rice, etc…..and discover the daily activities of the local people. Have lunch at local restaurant on the Tien river. In the afternoon, go walking or cycling through the village, visit the orchards or taste tropical fruits… for your leisure time. At the end of the day, take part in your final cooking class, learning more about the uniqueness of the Southern Vietnam cuisine, especially in the Western region. Have dinner and stay overnight in bungalow.

Have breakfast at the lodge before an early return to Cai Be floating market by speedboat where the locals come to trade various local products. Then, visit a Vietnamese coconut popcorn handmade factory and freshwater fish farms or esavor some local tropical fruits. Have lunch with the local people, then return to Saigon and transfer directly to the airport for your departure flight. Tour ends.