Experience the simplicity yet flavorful of the traditional Vietnamese gastronomy as well as the elaborateness of the modern Viet/French fusion where the two come together for a cuisine in a perfect balance of tastes and texture with this brief but complete vacation. Discover how the landscape and climate define the art of cooking in each region:

Taste the sweet & sourness of the tropical fruits in the southern cuisine,

Savor the fragrance of fresh herbs in a country-style meal of the north and

Addict to the hot and spicy dishes of the central.

Hanoi – Halong – Hue – HoiAn – Saigon – Mekong Delta

Day 1 Arrival in Hanoi

Arrive in Noi Bai airport and transfer to your hotel. Stay overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2 Hanoi Culinary tour (B,L)

The highlight of today is to join a culinary class at Highway 4 Restaurant.

08.00: Meet our guide at Highway4 restaurant. Then take a cyclo trip to the Market to purchase ingredients for our cooking class.

09.00: Transfer back to Highway4 restaurant

09.15:  Welcome drinks at Highway4; kit out in chef outfits, receive menu booklets and briefing from your guide about today’s dishes

09.30:  Begin Cooking class

The Mountain Menu:

“Vietnam is famous for a wealth of both meat and seafood dishes in its cuisine. This menu offers a perfectly balanced lunch set.”

    1/ Fresh Imperial Spring Rolls

    2/ Shrimps (or Chicken) sauteed with Cashew Nuts

    3/ Sour Fish Broth

11.30:  Lunch - feast on the dishes you have just prepared and get an introduction to Vietnamese dining style

12.30:  End of the cooking course – select a special gift from the Highway4 range and farewell from our team! 

In the afternoon, your sightseeing tour of Hanoi includes Ho Chi Minh mausoleum complex with Presidential Palace (façade only), Temple of Literature, Opera House and Hoan Kiem Lake. Then continue with a cyclo ride around Hanoi's old quarter, followed by the world-famous Water Puppet show. The evening is free at leisure.

Day 3 Hanoi – Halong (B,L,D)

08:30 Departure from Hanoi to Halong, enjoy a scenic drive along Red River delta

11:30 Arrive in Halong, transfer by tender to the Indochina Sails Junk and enjoy a welcome cocktail

12:30 Depart to Halong Bay. Check-in to your cabin while enjoying your lunch on board
15.00 Visit Cua Van Fishing Village by tender & visit Bat Cave by rowing a sampan or kayak
16.30 Transfer by tender to Soi Sim Beach for swimming or relaxing
18.50 Arrive in Luon Bo Area & anchor overnight
19.00 Enjoy dinner on board – Vietnamese set menu or buffet
21.00 Happy Hour, “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” on junk bar
21.30 Choose from many different evening activities: take yourself back in time with a classic movie, share a board game with your fellow passengers, enjoy the beauty services and or perhaps join the adventure of squid fishing with the crew for some excitement. Overnight on board.

Day 4 Halong – Hanoi – Hue (Brunch)
06.00 Optional meditation and Yoga session on sundeck
07.00 Depart by boat to Surprise cave (Sung Sot)
07.20 Arrive in Surprise cave (Hang Sung sot) – choose from optional tour program: swimming, kayaking at the famous cave, or relax and enjoy the beauty services offered onboard

08.30 Return to boat by tender
08.30 International Breakfast Set Menu or Buffet is served
09.45 Depart by boat to Bai Chay – Continue sailing
10.15 Start check-out
11.15 Arrive in Bai Chay/ Halong
11.20 Transfer to land by tender.

11:30 Drive back to Noi Bai airport for a late afternoon flight to Hue. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel.

Day 5 Hue city tour (B,L)    

After breakfast you start a half- day tour of Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam. The morning tour includes the Imperial Citadel and its Royal Enclosure, the Forbidden Purple city. Then enjoy a boat ride up the Perfume River to Thien Mu, an ancient Buddhist temple and Tu Duc royal tomb. Lunch will be served at Tinh Gia Vien the best vegetarian restaurant in town. Visit Khai Dinh royal tomb in the afternoon. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure.

 Day 6 Hue – Hoian (B,D)

Enjoy the beautiful scenery as we travel over the spectacular the Hai Van Pass. The panoramic views of the clouds, the sea and the mountains unfold at the scenic Lang Co lagoon. Before continue driving to Hoian, a stop in Danang to visit the Cham Sculpture Museum where a variety of ancient and modern sculpted articles are displayed. Arrive in Hoian in the afternoon and after check-in to the resort, we take a city tour of Hoian where you can find traditional architecture, great deals for custom tailoring and artwork. This city used to be a trading post of seafaring Chinese, Japanese and Portuguese merchants several centuries ago. At night, enjoy your dinner at the fabulous Secret Garden, setting in a lovely privileged garden located in the heart of Hoian.

Day 7 Hoian – Culinary tour (B,L)

The cooking tour begins with a cup of coffee at Hai Scout Café, our meeting point, then a visit to Hoian’s colorful market where you experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. You will have the opportunity to meet local sellers and learn about the ingredients that will be used in the cooking lesson. Then aboard the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoian River to the Red Bridge cooking school.

Upon arrival, a stop at the cooking school’s herb and vegetable garden before the cooking class. The lesson which runs about 2 hours, shows you how to make some of Hoian’s and Viet Nam’s well-known dishes. A brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (for plate decoration) is included. Your final product will be your lunch for the day.

“Make your own lunch menu”:

1. Rice paper

2. Fresh Rice Paper Roll of Shrimp

3. Crispy Hoi Pancakes with Shrimp, Herbs, Bean Sprouts & a Peanut Sauce

4. Warm Squid Salad in Half a Pineapple

5. Vietnamese Eggplant in Clay Pot

6. Food Decoration – Pineapple Boat, 3 colored Flowers & Vietnamese Hand Fan

Drive back to Hoian. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to explore the town on your own or relax.

Day 8 Hoian – Saigon (B,D)

The morning is at leisure until transfer to Danang airport for your afternoon flight to Saigon.

Tonight enjoy Dinner on Bonsai Junk with music and entertainment.

Day 9 Saigon – Mekong delta trip (B,L)

Drive to Cai Be (2,5 hours). Take boat trip to visit Cai Be Floating market and locall village with their traditional business of making for living: making poped-rice cake, rice paper and coconut candy. Then we proceed to Binh Hoa Phuoc island to visit Bonsai garden of Mr. 6 Giao. Take a boat ride through small canals and enjoy traditional music. Enjoy lunch with Mekong Delta specialties at Mekong Rest Stop Restaurant. Back to Saigon and overnight in Saigon.

Day 10 Saigon Departure (B)

After breakfast, you will have a little time for last minute shopping or sleeping in until the transfer to the airport for your flight home. Have a safe trip!

B: Breakfast                          L: Lunch                                D: Dinner

Included Features:

Private air-conditioned vehicle

Local English speaking guide in each city

Accommodations based on Twin/Double sharing

Meals (excluding drinks) as specified program

Boat fee & sightseeing fee as specified, on a private basis

Government taxes and services charges

Pedal cab fee in Hanoi

Bottled drinking water on day tour

Cooking class fees

Notes: Have a surcharge for Christmas and New Year.