Real Food Tour Of Vietnam
This 12day delectable Real Food Tour will give you a true taste of this country. Chop, slice and eat your way through Vietnam, experiencing one of the freshest and most fragrant cuisines in the world. From Pho (considered to be the National dish) and the ancient buildings in Hanoi, Banh khoai and imperial citadels in Hue, Banh xeo and lantern-lit streets in Hoi An and banh canh and pulsating markets in Ho Chi Minh City, experience Vietnam’s cuisine and its tightly woven place within the culture. Drink in cafes and beer halls that sprawl out over city streets, buy fruit from wicker baskets draped over a vendor’s shoulders and sit at market stalls as aromatic noodle soups are whipped up in front of you. Experience all of Vietnam’s iconic sights as well as cooking some of the country’s top dishes.
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Day 1 – International outbound flight - Hanoi
Today begin your adventure by boarding your international outbound flight to Vietnam.
Your adventure begins with an important welcome meeting. After your briefing, head out for your first introduction to Vietnam’s lively culinary scene. Stop at a family-owned restaurant and savour a bowl of noodles with an unexpected secret ingredient! After dinner enjoy a bia hoi. This foamy, light beer is made fresh each day and served in basic, open-walled ‘brew halls’. Pull up a chair and sip your tasty brew.
Accommodation
Meals Included
Day 2 – Hanoi
Start the day with a traditional breakfast of pho – a dish that originates in Hanoi – designed to awaken the senses and prepare you for the day. Join your leader on a city tour and tuck into some of Hanoi's renowned street food specialities before heading to a hidden tea house, learning about Vietnamese tea traditions from a true master. Afterwards, visit a local Xo community where an expert winemaker will lead a tasting of local Vietnamese varieties. You’ll walk down alleyways lined with French colonial architecture, passing by artist collectives, pottery workshops and back-alley fashion houses – you’re in the true heart of Hanoi now. Once arrived, head down into the basement of a 100-year-old French villa and into the world of Xo Liquid – alcohol made of rice wine. Your expert winemaker will take you through his story and explain to you the process of making this traditional product – the knowledge and care for his craft is infectious. After your special wine experience, visit a traditional Vietnamese house, where you’ll be greeted by a local family and enjoy a meal which showcases fresh produce and regional vegetarian cuisine.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Hanoi - Hidden Tea House visit & tasting
- Hanoi - Master Winemaker visit & tasting
- Hanoi - Xo Community visit
Meals Included
Day 3 – Halong Bay
Travel approximately 4 hours by private vehicle to the spectacular World Heritage-listed site of Halong Bay. Set sail on emerald-green waters, gliding between limestone karsts and soaking in the old-world tranquillity. Halong Bay is a secluded harbour with 2000 limestone islands rising from the turquoise waters of Bac Bo Gulf. It spans an area of about 1500 square kilometres and is dotted with beaches and grottos created over thousands of years by waves and wind. Visit one of the lesser-known caves, then return to your vessel late in the afternoon and enjoy a delicious feast prepared by an onboard chef.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Halong Bay - Overnight boat cruise with seafood lunch and dinner
Meals Included
Special Information
It is recommended to pack a smaller overnight bag to take to Halong Bay for ease of boarding and disembarking. You can store your main luggage in Hanoi for tonight.
Swimming in the bay from the boats is banned by the local authority. Kayaking is restricted to designated zones within the bay.
There are increasing restrictions on the number of boats permitted to stay overnight in Halong Bay, which can sometimes result in a shortage of available vessels. To ensure all travellers continue to enjoy the experience of a night on the water, occasionally you will stay on a larger boat (with approximately 12 cabins) and share your boat with another group. In this instance, the route taken and inclusions on board will remain the same.
Day 4 – Overnight Train
Take a bus back to Hanoi (approximately 3.5 hours), then board an overnight train bound for Hue (approximately 12 hours). Although conditions are basic, overnight trains are a rewarding experience. It's an efficient way to travel long distances and a great way to get a sense of the country. Most trains have a dining carriage serving simple food, but some travellers take an opportunity beforehand to stock up on fresh bread, cheese and fruit prior to departure.
Accommodation
- Overnight sleeper train (1 night)
Meals Included
Special Information
Sleeper trains typically have four-berth compartments (occasionally six-berth, depending on seasonal variations and group configuration) with bench seats that convert into sleeping bunks. A sheet, pillow and blanket are provided, although some travellers prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. Passengers of different genders may sometimes be required to share a compartment and there will be occasions where you'll be sharing with local travellers or travellers who are not part of your group.
Day 5 – Hue
Hue is Vietnam’s former royal capital and its cuisine is considered by many Vietnamese as the best in the country. The food is influenced by its imperial heritage (small dishes and a focus on aesthetic presentation) and its strong Buddhist heritage, reflected in the high proportion of vegetarian restaurants in the area. On arrival, enjoy a classic breakfast of bun bo Hue – a popular Vietnamese soup containing rice vermicelli (bun) and beef (bo). After checking in at your hotel, embark on a tour of the city’s imperial monuments on the back of a motorbike! Stop past Thien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery since 1601. Here you'll see a car that belonged to one of the self-immolating monks of the 1963 protests. A dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River (approximately 40 minutes) will be followed by a special lunch stop for a vegetarian Buddhist meal at a pagoda, finishing with a visit to the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. The evening is free for your own food adventure. Perhaps ask your leader for the best place to try imperial street specialities like banh hue (rice flour cakes stuffed with shrimp, pork and spices).
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike (lunch included)
- Hue - Perfume River cruise
- Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
- Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda
Meals Included
Special Information
A large section of today is spent touring the sights on the back of a motorbike. The bikes are great fun and are driven safely by professionals, but alternative transportation can be arranged upon request for those who don’t wish to ride on a motorbike.
The Dragon Boat cruise may not be available during festival periods. In this case, you will travel by land.
The lunch at the pagoda gives an insight into the unique traditions and food of Vietnamese Buddhism and also provides important economic benefits to these institutions, which rely on donations to survive. Due to the high number of travellers visiting Hue, six different monasteries and nunneries provide this lunch, to share the funds and minimise the impact.
Day 6 – Hoi An
Start your day with a visit to the Imperial Citadel, which includes the Forbidden Purple City. The latter was almost totally destroyed during the Vietnam War's Tet Offensive, but the foliage-covered ruins are still atmospheric, and the gaping holes left by bombs give an idea of the destruction wreaked upon the country during the war. Head south by bus through coastal rice paddies and traverse the mountainous Hai Van Pass, stopping en route to see the traditional preparation of My Quang – a Vietnamese noodle dish originating from the Quang Nam Province. The local expert will show you how it is made, then enjoy a tasting with your group. Afterwards, continue to Hoi An (approximately 4 hours, with your lunch stop). This beautifully restored city retains the feel of centuries past, making it the sort of place that grows on you the more you explore it. Take the chance to indulge in some shopping and perhaps have some clothes tailored. There's a great array of original paintings, handcrafted woodwork, ceramics, embroidery, lanterns and fabrics on display. On arrival, your leader will take you on an orientation walk around the Ancient Town. Afterwards is free time to enjoy how you wish, your leader can recommend the best local examples of Vietnamese cuisine.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Hue - Imperial City Full-Day Tour Urban Adventure
- Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
- Hoi An - My Quang noodle demonstration
Optional Activities
- Hoi An Fish Market - Free
Meals Included
Day 7 – Hoi An
Start your day with a walking tour of Hoi An, where you’ll see all of the sights, like the Japanese covered bridge and the Old Town’s maze of alleys. Afterwards, head to a rustic food market and keep your eyes out for some things to buy – this is a great place to pick up knives and other Vietnamese cooking gadgets. In the afternoon, head nearby to a small village called Tra Que – on the edge of Hoi An, it’s named after the vegetables and fragrant herbs gardens that are laid around town and known as a culinary destination. You’ll take a walking tour through the farmland, meet local villagers, then roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking class with a village chef specializing in the cooking of the Pho Hoi people.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
- Hoi An - Tra Que Culinary Village visit
- Hoi An - Tra Que Hands-on cooking class with a local chef
Meals Included
Day 8 – Hoi An
Today is free for you to explore Hoi An at your leisure and of course, your leader can recommend the best food and activities. For early risers, take the opportunity to visit the Hoi An fish markets – they are at their most vibrant in the mornings! Afterwards, if the weather's fine, perhaps hit the local beach for a swim (a great way to get there is by bicycle, which you can hire in town). In the evening, you could enjoy some seafood by the water, or jump on a boat for a barbecue feast on a nearby island.
Accommodation
Meals Included
Day 9 – Ho Chi Minh City
Take the short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 1 hour). Take a guided tour to get a feel for the city's frenetic, fascinating blend of old and new, East and West. You will notice a strong French influence in Ho Chi Minh City, which means excellent coffee and baguettes. Stop past the War Museum, GPO and Notre Dame Cathedral, finishing up at one of Vietnam’s most pulsing markets, Ben Thanh. This is the perfect place to pick up any last-minute snacks, cooking utensils, ingredients, or presents for friends and family. Tonight, take part in a cooking class where you'll learn some contemporary twists on traditional Vietnamese dishes with a passionate chef. Sit down and enjoy the delicious feast you've prepared over dinner.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
- HCMC - City tour
- HCMC - Ben Thanh market
- Ho Chi Minh City - Cooking Class with Local Chef
Meals Included
Day 10 – Mekong Delta
Take a private bus out to the Mekong Delta (approximately 2–3 hours), then cruise up this mighty river on a sampan (traditional boat), one of the most common forms of transportation in these parts. Glide past farms and orchards to your guesthouse, set alongside a family home. Meet your hosts and take some time to wander the garden, relax or lend a hand with dinner preparations. Enjoy a southern Vietnamese feast on the wide verandah overlooking the garden as the sun goes down.
Accommodation
Included Activities
- Mekong Delta - Homestay & Home Cooked Meal
Meals Included
Special Information
At this guesthouse, you'll sleep on a simple camp bed in a dorm-style arrangement. Bedding and mosquito nets are provided. Shared toilet and bathroom facilities are basic, with cold water only.
Day 11 – Ho Chi Minh City
For those who fancy an early morning cycle, join your hosts on a ride to the nearby village market for breakfast supplies for the group, and then enjoy a meal back at the homestay. Afterwards, return to Ho Chi Minh City by bus. The rest of your day is at your leisure. Perhaps sample some of the delights on offer at KOTO cafe. This is an inspiring initiative that helps support the area’s street kids by offering them training in hospitality. If you've got energy left in the evening, head out to enjoy a final Vietnamese meal with your new friends.
Accommodation
Meals Included
Day 12 – Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, your Real Food Tour of Vietnam ends. Depart to the airport for your international return flight back to the UK.
Alternatively, additional accommodation can be arranged to extend your stay in Vietnam.
Meals Included
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