TASTE OF VIETNAM (14 days)

Main Info

A trip back through time to the most significant cultural places of Vietnam. With only short interruptions, Hanoi has been the capital for almost 1000 years. In contrast to the bustling and progressive Saigon, Hanoi has stayed a city with a unique atmosphere and a touch of French charm. Between these two opposites, there lies not only a distance of 1500 kilometers but also a wonderful and diverse country that we will discover along with important spots such as the Imperial City of Hue, Danang and Hoi An. Up to 1945, almost 150 years in total, Hue was Vietnam’s capital. In this period the last imperial dynasty was in power. The Nguyen Dynasty erected the citadel with the “Forbidden City” and splendid imperial tombs, true “park gardens of death”. With full intent, this tour is set up to allow more time than the usual package tour to discover and experience the country and its people.

Departure	Noi Bai International Airport
Departure Time	Scheduled time
Tour code:	VRT – CULINARY 02
Tour duration	14 days
Tour type	Private
Included	* Accommodation sharing a twin or double room. * All transport and transfer with new 13-seat Mercedes * Breakfast and Lunches in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available * Fully escorted English speaking tour guide at the places * All entrance fee and permission * Domestic flight tickets, including domestic airport taxes.
Excluded	* International flight tickets and airport tax * Visas and visa fee * Drinks and other meals * Gratuities and personal expenses * Camera fees (if any) * Insurance

TOUR COST per Person (in US $)

All inclusive in Twin or Double Room / Meal (Daily Breakfast and Lunch)

	2 pax	3 pax	4 pax	6 pax	8 pax	Single Supplemental
Budget	2380	2290	2100	2010	1900	460
Superior	3030	2720	2500	2290	2190	780
Deluxe	3730	3540	3350	3160	3050	1550

Tour category

Budget
Particularly suitable for uncomplicated tourists with low requirements

Accomodation	Guesthouses and 2-Star Hotels, clean rooms w. window, A/C and bathroom
Transportation	Private 16-Seat Minivan (Mercedes)
Train	Soft berth, 4-bed compartment w. A/C (Ratraco Train to Lao Cai)
Boat trip	Private Boat

Superior
Particularly suitable for tourists with high requirements

Accomodation	3 and 4-Star Hotels (International Standard)
Transportation	Private 16-Seat Minivan (Mercedes)
Train	Soft berth, 4-bed compartment w. A/C (Livitrans to Lao Cai)
Boat trip	Private boat

Deluxe
Particularly suitable for sophisticated tourists

Accomodation	4-Star Hotels (5-Star Hotels extra charge) or best Hotel on site
Transportation	Private 16-Seat Minivan (Mercedes)
Train	Soft berth, 4-bed compartment w. A/C (Victoria Train to Lao Cai)
Boat trip	Private Boat

THE TASTE OF VIETNAM – 14 DAYS

Vietnam is famous for its lively, fresh flavors and artfully composed meals and cuisine, Vietnamese food and cooking is the true ‘light cuisine’ of Asia. Vietnam has plenty of fresh herbs and greens, delicate soups, stir-fries and grilled foods served with rice or Vietnamese noodles which made up the mainstays of the Vietnamese cooking. Vietnamese beloved sweets for snacks or desserts are often based on fresh fruits in Vietnam. In Vietnam cooking, you hardly find any dish have added fats in Vietnam cooking. While the Vietnam cooking relies on fresh vegetables, subtle seasonings and rice, Vietnamese cooking also reflects Chinese and French influences and has numerous regional differences in Vietnam. The south of Vietnam is famous for its fresh seafood while the North of Vietnam is famous for heartier meals with beef in Vietnam Cooking. In central Vietnam, around the ancient royal capital of Hue in Vietnam, the food may contain influences of the former court cooks in Vietnam. As in many of the neighboring countries, a Vietnamese meal is rarely divided into courses in Vietnam. In Vietnam cooking, all the food is served at once and shared from common dishes. In Vietnam, meals are anchored by rice and sometimes noodle. In Vietnam, most meals include a soup, a stir-fry and another main dish of Vietnam cooking. Like the Chinese, the Vietnamese eat from a bowl with chopsticks. Vietnam cooking is generally not as rich or heavy. Vietnamese cooking often include pork, beef and chicken but in small quantities. In Vietnam, vegetables are often left raw, especially in the south of Vietnam, to act as a fresh contrast to the spicy cooked meat in Vietnam.

In Vietnam, the distinct flavors of Vietnamese food come primarily from mint leaves, coriander, lemon grass, shrimp, fish sauces, star anise, ginger, black pepper, garlic, basil, rice vinegar, sugar, and green onions. Coming to Vietnam, you should not miss Vietnam Spring rolls, grilled fish with Vietnamese rice noodle, rice-rolling cakes or a bowl of Vietnam beef noodle soup. All our Vietnam cooking tours and holidays bring you to the most famous cooking classes in Vietnam. The highlight of our Vietnam cooking tours and holidays is joining our Vietnamese chefs with a visit to the local markets in Vietnam to check out Vietnamese ingredients, vegetables and local products in Vietnam. Our Vietnamese chefs will show you how to choose fresh vegetables and food from markets in Vietnam. Our Vietnam cooking tours and holidays will let you try your hand at cooking your own Vietnamese dishes after picking Vietnamese ingredients with the instructions from our chefs in Vietnam. Our Vietnam Cooking Tours and Holidays also bring you to visit Hanoi in Vietnam, Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, Sapa in Vietnam, Mai Chau in Vietnam and other famous traveling destinations in Vietnam. Join our Vietnam cooking tours and holidays to savor the tastes of Vietnam and discover the secrets of Vietnamese cuisines. Learn about Vietnam cooking and taste a variety of specialties of Vietnam during this Supreme Food Lovers’ Adventure Tour to Vietnam. Learn techniques of Vietnamese cooking from our Vietnamese chefs and cook a Vietnamese meal for your family after Vietnam cooking tours and Holidays in Vietnam.
Savor delicious Vietnamese dishes from North down South is always a wonderful experiences, apart from that we also have chance to experience a hands-on cooking class in different cooking class with variety of recipes. The trip Visit the many highlights of the country such as: Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City. This trip is a great for the food lovers and someone who want to cook their own Vietnamese dishes. Comes and enjoy!

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival (D)

Welcome up on arrival at Hanoi airport by Vietnam Real Travel’s tour guide, your transfer to your hotel. In Hanoi will takes approx one hour. After check in, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy, then we will have Welcome dinner at 7.00pm.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi Cooking & City tour (B, L)

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.
This afternoon you will discover Hanoi.The Ho Chi Minh Complex, where we will spend a couple of hours visiting Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh museum and One Pillar Pagoda. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Temple of Literature, originally built as a temple to Confucius, this is the site of Vietnam's first university and date back to 1070. The temple highlights the importance that the Vietnamese society placed then and now on education, and this tradition still continues today.

Time to dit back and relax as we take a one-hour cyclo ride around the Old Quater. Known as the 36 streets, this bustling area of narrow streets is home to literally thousands of small businesses and shopkeepers. Originally, each of the 36 streets names' were related to the products being sold there, today this is not always the case, but the 36 streets still hold a certain charm.
Before heading back to your hotel, we will have the chance to enjoy the unique Water Puppet show in a theater located on the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake . After the show its time to head by to your hotel. The evening is yours, free to enjoy this exciting city.
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay (B, L,D)

After breakfast we depart for one of Vietnam'most impressive sights, The World Heritage site of Halong Bay.

After arriving in the port town of Halong, we will embark on a junk for our overnight saty on the legendary Halong Bay. This exciting cruise will provide us with a fantastic view of the picturesque scenery made up of some 1,600 limestone islands rising amazingly from the clear and emerald water. The limestone karsts formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. Along the way we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and enjoy a visit to one of the many hidden grottoes located beneath the towering cliffs.
Stay overnight on the Junk Cruise.

Day 4: Halong Bay - Hanoi (Meals : B/L/)

Breakfast is served this morning as we continue to cruise the bay. This morning we will travel by sampan to visit Luon Cave before heading back to our boat for brunch. We will visit Dong Trieu ceramic and pottery village on the way to Hanoi? Arrive in Hanoi at 04:00 pm. Free at leisure.
Overnight in Hanoi

Day 5:Ha Noi – Hue-City tour & boat trip (B,L,D)

Transfer to the Airport this morning for your morning flight to Hue.

Hue is known as an ancient Capital city of many original historical vestiges. There are more than 100 architectural works to be extremely reflected the life of Emperors and Mandarins under Nguyen’s reign. Situated in the middle of hills on the Southern Bank of Perfume River are very beautiful tombs of Nguyen Kings.
Our tour starts with a boat trip along the Perfume River
- Thien Mu Pagoda (The Heavenly Lady pagoda), from here we will have a good view of Perfume River and surroundings.
- Tu Duc King’s tomb, which is one of the most beautiful works of Royal Architecture of the Nguyen Dynasty. The tomb lies in a boundless pine forest.
Overnight in Hue

Day 6: Hue – Cooking class (B, L)

This morning it's all about food! We will have a opportunity to learn from one of Hues best chefs from one of Hues best restaurants Y Thao. Y Thao is situated in an attractive garden filled with ceramics and artworks. At Y Thao they pride themselves on serving Hue specialty dishes using recipes that have been handed down through many years. During our half day cooking class here we will learn some of those long held secrets.

This afternoon there will be time to visit the UNESCO listed Citadel and Forbidden Purple City, and then on to Dong Ba Market.
Overnight in Hue

Day 7: Hoi An tour (B, L)

This morning after breakfast we begin our journey to Hoi An. Along the way we will cross Hai Van pass, where you will enjoy magnificent views of China Sea. We will also stop at Lang Co beach for lunch. Also visit the fascinating Cham Museum, the world famous China Beach and Marble Mountain.

Hoi An is characterised by a harmonious blend of Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese influences. After many centeries, Hoi An is still respectful of it's tradition, folk festivals, religious beliefs and it's sophisticated culinary art.

Overnight in Hoi An

Day 8: Hoi An – Cooking class (B, L)

If you have ever been fortunate enough to enjoy one of Hoi An's famous dishes - Cao Lau, you will remember that it's key flavours come from the use of fresh raw vegetables. These vegetables are grown in a nearby small local village called Tra Que. Generations of local farmers have been supplying fresh vegetables to chefs all over Vietnam, and their vegetables are enjoyed by many.

Today we will have the opportunity to spend our day with the villagers of Tra Que, learning not only how they grow their tasty vegetables but also how best to prepare them. After a busy morning, it's time to head for the kitchen, where you will cook several local Vietnamese dishes together with yours hosts. Lunch will be shared with a local family.

Later this afternoon after arriving back in Hoi An, we will travel by boat with the chef from Brother's Cafe to a local market to select the ingredients for our late afternoon cooking lesson. It's then back to the cafe by cyclos where you will prepare three classic Vietnamese dishes. Enjoy dinner after the lesson.
Overnight at hotel in Hoi An.

Day 9: Hoi An - Nha Trang - Mud bath (b, l)

Today we will take an early fight to the beautiful bay of Nha Trang. After a 40 minute drive from the airport, we will check in our hotel.
At 2.00pm after lunch, our driver and guide will take you to the Tha Ba Hot Spring, where you can soak in the warm mud, warm mineral water and then swim in the warm pool, a great way to spend a lazy afternoon.
We return to the hotel at about 5.00pm. Your evening is free to enjoy Nha Trang, one of Vietnams Gems.

Day 10: Nha Trang - Cooking class

Today we will enjoy a trip to the heartland of Nha Trang where we will see how clay-ovens are made, as well as rice paper and noodle making. We will then head to the local market to shop for all of the ingredients needed for our afternoon cooking class. After chopping, grating, slicing, cooking and then eating our creation, we head back to your hotel at about 4.00 pm. This evening is yours, free to enjoy this wonderful seaside town.

Day 11: Nha Trang - Ho Chi Minh & Cu Chi Tunnel (B, L)

After breakfast at your hotel, It's time to transfer to Cam Ranh airport for your flight to HCMC . After check in your hotel, we will have lunch at one of famous local restaurants.

In the afternoon, we will leave Saigon for the Cu Chi tunnels, otherwise known as the "Iron Triangle" or "Iron Land". On our way there we will drive through pleasant countryside; rubber plantations and rice paddies. Before entering the tunnels, we will see a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, followed by an exploration of the maze of tunnels, some of which have been widened to allow tourist access. Also on display are various mantraps and the remains of an American tank as well as numerous bomb craters made by 500lb bombs dropped by B52 bombers. After that we transfer back to Ho Chi Minh city.
Overnight in Sai Gon

Day 12: Ho Chi Minh city – Mekong Delta (B, L)

It's an early start this morning for our 3-hour drive to Cai Be. Our tea break this morning will be at Trung Luong Bonsai Garden. It's then onto a motorised boat to visit the popcorn cake and rice paper making family before visiting the lively floating market of Cai Be. We then continue by boat towards Ving Long province to see the diverse fish traps and learn how the local people have perfected the art of fishing. Travel along small shady canals, stopping at Mekong river island to watch a typical and interesting music show of the Mekong cultural life.
After lunch we continue our journey along river to admire the peaceful and tranquil life of the villagers, and the marvelous natural setting of Mekong Delta region.

On the way back to Ho Chi Minh with stop at Bonsai Garden. Arrival at your hotel in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Sai Gon

Day 13: Ho Chi Minh City tour – Cooking class (B, L)

This morning we have time for just one more cooking lesson. This is held at the Vietnam Cookery Center, Ho Chi Minh City. Their chef will guide us through the colorful and vibrant Ben Thanh market where we will purchase the ingredients needed for today's lesson.
This afternoon tour of HCMCs historic landmarks include the Old Saigon Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, and the former Presidential Palace.We will also visit the War Remnant Museum, where we can see countless artefacts including photographs documenting the war.

End the day with a visit to Ben Thanh market to see the abundance of spices, fruits, and foods used in Vietnamese cooking.

Dinner is on your own arrangement.
Overnight in Sai Gon

Day 14: Ho Chi Minh city – Departure (B)

Our tour ends after breakfast this morning. Free at leisure until transferring to Tan Son Nhat airport for your departing flight.

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TASTE OF VIETNAM (14 days)