LIFETIME VIETNAM HOLIDAY – 12 DAYS

Arrive in to Ho Chi Minh City, still referred to by some as ‘Saigon’, and get ready to experience the exquisite cuisine of Vietnam. As you take an orientation tour, soak in the wonders of the colonial buildings and vibrant boulevards. Enjoy the flavors of southern Vietnamese cuisine tonight at dinner before returning to your luxury hotel.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Let the cooking begin!  Begin your culinary discovery of Vietnam with a specially-led cooking class with a local chef who will take you through the local market first to shop for fresh ingredients. Then head back to their house for a hands-on demonstration which will help you gain insight into the diversity of the Vietnamese cuisine. 

After indulging in your creations, take a walk through the quieter neighborhoods of Ho Chi Minh City to discover small markets, winding laneways, and unique buildings.  End your day with a a local style restaurant and one of the city’s most popular eateries.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

PICK UP: 7:30 am – 8:15 am RETURN: 17:30pm

ROUTE: HCMC – My Tho – Ben Tre – HCMC

Highlight: A trip to Mekong Delta to immerse yourself in the natural beauty and the rich culture of the vibrant southern Delta region. Boating down the river to experience the local life, fishing port, fishing floating house, enjoy the local folk song music and seasonal fresh fruit. Itinerary: Leaving the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City and start your trip to depart for My Tho, the town lies on the left side of the Mekong River. Boarding the sampan and cruising down the river around the four beautiful islands known as Dragon, Unicorn, Phoenix and Tortoise islands.

Stop over at Unicorn Island, go walking around country lane and seeing orchards, enjoy tropical fruits, folk song music which performed by the local people. Visit the fruit plantation. Riding a hand-rowed sampan through Thoi Son canal and treat yourself in the beauty of the countryside, visit the family business, visit honey-bee farm, enjoy honey tea and coconut candy workshop. Have lunch at local restaurant. Break time. In the afternoon, time for cycling around the Tan Thach village, meet the local villagers to experience the local daily life in the Mekong delta. Hammock relaxing and enjoy cool breeze for those can’t join the cycling trip. Return to Ho Chi Minh City. End trip.

Tour price includes: A/c van/bus pick up (centrally located hotel), transfer & sightseeing as per program, boat trip in the Mekong delta, English speaking guide (guide speaking other languages upon request), all entrance fees, meals as indicated in the program (L = Lunch)

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Step back in time as you fly from the buzzing, modern city of Ho Chi Minh to take flight to Danang on Vietjet Air (13:00-14:20)

Arrival Danang airport, you will be picked up to Hoian. Despite the passing of 200 years and the ravages of weather and war, the centre of Hoi An remains much the same as it was in its heyday, and a walking tour takes you through the historical vestiges of the town by your own.

Overnight in Hoi An.

This morning you will be introduced to one of Hoi An’s most energetic and up and coming eating establishments, the Mango Rooms.  Meet with Chef Duc Tram who will be your host and teacher for the day, guiding you through Hoi Ans’ bustling markets before leading hands on cooking class in the restaurant kitchen where he will impart the secrets of his signature dishes.  After your morning of cooking, relax at the town’s beach or spend your time browsing for souvenirs in Hoi An’s art galleries and silk shops.

Overnight in Hoi An.

What better way to spend a day than on a food tasting tour.  Today put down the cooking utensils and warm up the taste buds to prepare for an epicurean journey through the cuisines and markets of Hoi An.  Stroll through the wet market and take the opportunity to ask about those ingredients you may not recognize, navigate with your guide through the back streets and alleys of the town where you will taste local foods and learn in more depth about the history and intricacies of Vietnamese food.

Following your tour depart Hoi An for a scenic drive past spectacular beaches to the former imperial capital of Hue.  Not only is this photogenic city graced with the Perfume River and enigmatic emperors’ tombs, but it also home to the ‘Royal Cuisine’. Tonight you will have a chance to sample this famous cuisine this evening within the premises of one of Hue’s unique garden houses.

Overnight in Hue.

Start your day with a cyclo tour to the Old City of Hue.  Continue to a very local market which is rarely visited by tourists.   As you wander through the aisles abundant with fresh produce, learn more about these local ingredients that are infused in to the region’s foods.  Explore the rich culture of Hue with visits to the elaborate mausoleums of the Nguyen Emperor, the Imperial Citadel and iconic pagodas and tombs of the former Emperors of Hue.

For lunch try some Hue specialty food at Huynh Anh Kim Long. Frequented only by the locals and serving banh uot, a steamed rice pancake stuffed with delicate, finely chopped pork and bun thi nuong which is a rice noodle dish served with grilled meat. At the end of the afternoon head back to your hotel.

Overnight in Hue.

After breakfast, you will take flight to the country’s capital on Vietjet Air (11:40 – 12:55)

Arrival Hanoi, you will be transfer to hotel for checking in. After that, At 14:00/ 18.00, our tour guide will welcome you at your hotel lobby, then start the tour to Hanoi Old Quarter “36 streets” to visit some famous and specialized- food families or stalls/ local restaurants, shops where they run their business everyday, certainly you will watch and taste some particular dishes, we can customize vegetarian or special food too.

Special thing that tour guide would like to introduce some popular authentic food in lovely mini restaurants (not luxury restaurants) where you feel comfortable to sit down and enjoy some favorite dishes and nice drinks too.

It’s interesting to hear from tour guide about the history of the old quarter in Hanoi, it is thousand years old and today retains much of the old flavor that made the area special in earlier times, each street was the exclusive domain of one trade (guilds) so there are whole streets of blacksmiths, silver shops, paper shops, headstone makers and more. Originally there were just 36 streets in the old quarter but today there are more than 50 streets.

It is very difficult to find some local food stalls and mini restaurants on your own in hidden alleys and sidewalks, certainly the best way to make it easy is joining with us, taking part in this special tour to learn about Vietnamese cuisine, culture, people and language.

After all. Food on Foot Tour will give you an unique experience to try the foods of the local Hanoi people, we ensure the food is handled hygienically and provide a comfortable venue for the tastings. The benefit also goes back to the vendors or restaurants/ families as we buy directly from them.

At 14h30/ 21.00, our tour guide say goodbye to you, and will help you order taxi or show you direction back your hotel..

Overnight in Hanoi.

KOTO COOKING CLASS SCHEDULE

MORNING  – A market tour is available for morning class only

8.30AM Guests arrival in KOTO and be welcomed by KOTO’s staff & trainees

8.30am- 8.45am Vietnamese tea will be served as welcomed drink. KOTO’s chef has a short

briefing about KOTO’s mission, local market, Vietnamese cuisine and cooking

menu.

8.45am- 9.30am Local market tour with street food tasting

9.30am Leave market for KOTO

9.45am- 12.00pm Cooking time, interacting with KOTO’s trainees

Cooking:

– Everyone gather, KOTO chef introduce how to make the food, what

ingredients needed. The participants come back their stations and do the

job, KOTO staffs and trainees stand by to assist at the stations.

– Present KOTO RECIPE NOTE as give-away gift to all customers

– KOTO chef will guide to make/ cook items step by step

– Everyone has their own recipes and ingredients at the station.

– KOTO’s trainees stand by at the station and assist the participants during

the cooking time, two parties could interact and gain cooking experience

together.

Certificate

– Please send KOTO the guest name list to process the Certificate 48

working hours before the cooking date

– Hand over Cooking Class Certificate (by KOTO)

– Take the pictures (optional)

12.00pm- 13.00pm Lunch time: The menu is the participant’s own creation. KOTO’s chef prepare

food enough to serve lunch for group

13.10pm Guest leave KOTO

Complimentary – 1 soft drink or local beer per person, tropical fresh fruit for dessert, full recipe

and Vietnamese tea during the cooking time

AFTERNOON

Complimentary – 1 soft drink or local beer per person, tropical fresh fruit for dessert, full recipe

and Vietnamese tea during the cooking time

3.30pm Guests arrival in KOTO and be welcomed by KOTO’s staff & trainees

3.30pm- 3.45pm Vietnamese tea will be served as welcomed drink. KOTO’s chef has a short

briefing about KOTO’s mission, Vietnamese cuisine and cooking menu.

3.45pm- 5.30pm Cooking time, interacting with KOTO’s trainees

Menu: Choose one menu for all

Cooking:

– Everyone gather, KOTO chef introduce how to make the food, what

ingredients needed. The participants come back their stations and do the

job, KOTO staffs and trainees stand by to assist at the stations.

– Present KOTO RECIPE NOTE as give-away gift to all customers

– KOTO chef will guide to make/ cook items step by step

– Everyone has their own recipes and ingredients at the station.

– KOTO’s trainees stand by at the station and assist the participants during

the cooking time, two parties could interact and gain cooking experience

together.

Certificate

– Please send KOTO the guest name list to process the Certificate 48

working hours before the cooking date

– Hand over Cooking Class Certificate (by KOTO)

– Take the pictures (optional)

5.30pm- 6.30pm Dinner time

– The menu is the participant’s own creation.

– KOTO’s chef prepare food enough to serve dinner for group

6.40pm Guest leave KOTO.

Overnight in Hanoi.

7:30 – 08:30: Our SHUTTLE BUS with tour guide will pick you up at your hotels (Note: This pick-up is just applied for those who use our shuttle bus service)

10h30: Stopover in Hai Duong city  where you can experience our hand-made Vietnamese handicraft products.

12h30: Arrive in Tuan Chau Mayina Pier (Tuan Chau Island). Followed by activities:

+ Boarding FLAMINGO CRUISEs for departure.

+ Welcome drink will be served and cruise briefing, safety instructions, check-in cabins by Cruise Manager.

+ Great lunch is served while cruising passing by islets, through Hoa Cuong floating village.

+ Exploration of Halong Bay passing by Soi Sim Beach, Coconut Three Island. Then arrive in the area of Surprising Cave.

+ Kayaking & swimming or climbing up to the mountain and getting a complete view of Halong Bay at Titov Beach

Halong Bay: Overview

+ Joining our COOKING CLASS on the sun-deck. Let’s see how to make the fresh/fried spring rolls and mix fish-sauce.

+ Enjoy sunset party with fruits and wine.

19:30: Under the magnificent night sky, Our luxury set-menu dinner is served with a variety of Vietnamese and Asian foods.

Evening activities include:

+ Join the SQUID FISHING on boat with our crews. You can enjoy the squid cooked with assistance from our chef.

+ Or Laze yourself with our happy-hour drinks at the bar.

Overnight on Flamingo Cruise.

06:15: Tai Chi class on the Sun-deck.

07:15: Have breakfast with Coffee, tea and Bakeries on board.

08:00: Visit the SURPRISING CAVE (Hang Sung Sot) discovered by the French in 1901. Opened for tourists since 1936, now it is a must-to-see and a symbol for geology value of Halong.

09:30: Check out time. Then relax on the sun-deck or inside the restaurant to enjoy the bay’s scenery.

10h15: Enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch while cruising back to the pier.

12:00: Disembarkation at Tuan Chau Pier. Our car will be at your disposal to pick you up then drive back to Hanoi.

16:00: Arrive in Hanoi. End of the trip!

O/N in Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Today is departure day. Your private car and guide will be at your disposal to enjoy some free time for last purchases or simply relax before your transfer to Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport for onward flight.

End of Trips