Vietnam Theme Tour Culinary Discovery 8 Days/ 7 Nights

Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital since the 11th century, is a fascinating city where ancient traditions harmoniously blend with French colonial charm. With its tree-lined boulevards, peaceful lakes, historic temples, and bustling Old Quarter, Hanoi captivates visitors with its unique character and quiet elegance.

Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, you will be greeted by our driver and transferred to your hotel in the city center. After checking in, enjoy some free time to relax, refresh, or explore the neighborhood at your own pace. You may stroll along shaded streets, observe the rhythm of local life, or simply rest after your flight.

In the evening, savor a welcome dinner at the renowned Ngon Restaurant, one of Hanoi’s most beloved culinary spots. Here, you’ll enjoy a wide selection of Vietnamese specialties from all three regions—prepared in traditional styles and served in a charming, heritage-inspired setting. It’s the perfect introduction to Vietnam’s diverse and flavorful cuisine.

After dinner, return to your hotel for a restful night.

Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, visit the Literature Temple and Quoc Tu Giam - Vietnam's first University constructed in 1070. Its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a relaxing glimpse into Vietnam’s past. Discover the Old Quarter of Hanoi by cycle. This fascinating are of narrow alleys and shop houses is also called “36 streets”.

Then, we enjoy the street food tour from 11.30 a.m to 2.30 p.m. The tour begins with an introduction to the local food scene over a hearty bowl of pho; noodle soup, the quintessential Hanoi street food. Then it is off to a bustling local market where your chef will demystify the local produce, and encourage you to taste some of its most exotic ingredients. A further 5 venues are included in the tour and all travel between venus is by taxi or on foot, the tour lasts for 3.5 hours and finishes with a typical Vietnamese ca phe, or che (Vietnamese tea) and local sweets. Your chef and guide will also share some of their favourite eating and shopping secrets in Ha Noi for you to explore furth. Followed by a Water puppet show- the unique Traditional Art in the North of Vietnam. Dinner with “Cha Ca La Vong”, the Hanoi speciality food with attracting people all over the world and The MSNBC News listed in guide book named “10 places to see before you die”. Overnight in Hanoi.

After breakfast, depart Hanoi for the scenic drive to Ha Long Bay, passing through the fertile farmlands and peaceful villages of the Red River Delta. Upon arrival, board your traditional wooden junk and begin cruising into the heart of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As the boat glides across emerald waters, you’ll be surrounded by thousands of towering limestone karst formations—each uniquely shaped by centuries of wind and waves. Local legend says these islands were created by dragons descending from the heavens, carving the bay with their tails.

Enjoy a freshly prepared seafood lunch on board before continuing your journey deeper into the bay. Depending on the weather, you’ll have time to swim in the calm waters, relax on the sundeck, or join optional activities offered by the cruise.

As evening falls, savor a delicious dinner while taking in the peaceful atmosphere of the bay. Spend the night on deck under a canopy of stars or retreat to your cozy cabin. This overnight cruise promises a magical experience and is undoubtedly one of the highlights of any trip to Vietnam.

Overnight on board.

Begin your morning in the most breathtaking way—a Tai Chi session on the sun deck, as the first rays of sunlight gently illuminate Halong Bay. The peaceful early hours offer a magical view of limestone peaks emerging from the soft morning mist, creating an unforgettable start to your day.

After breakfast, board a smaller boat to explore Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave, one of Halong Bay’s most impressive caverns. Walk through vast chambers filled with extraordinary stalactites and stalagmites, and enjoy panoramic viewpoints that showcase the bay’s stunning natural beauty.

Return to your cruise for one last journey past Halong’s iconic karst formations. As the boat leisurely sails back toward the harbor, enjoy a delicious buffet brunch featuring a mix of Vietnamese and international dishes.

Upon arrival at the dock, your driver will take you back to Hanoi Airport for your flight to Danang. From Danang, continue with a private transfer to the charming ancient town of Hoi An.

This evening, delight in a cultural dining experience at Fullmoon Restaurant, housed within a beautifully preserved 300-year-old wooden home. With rustic décor reflecting the pastoral charm of old Hoi An, the restaurant offers a warm atmosphere to enjoy authentic Vietnamese dishes that showcase the region’s distinct culinary heritage.

After dinner, check in to your hotel and enjoy the peaceful ambiance of Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An.

We start the day (8am) with a welcome drink at Hai Café – our meeting point.

Travel by minivan (10 mins) to Tra Que Organic Village, and walk through the market gardens where local farmers work their fields using the traditional methods of hundreds of years ago - no electrical machinery here. We pick fresh saw-tooth coriander and Vietnamese mint for our cooking lesson later, before trying a special herbal drink at a local home.

To the local village market and with shopping list in hand we purchase a range of local ingredients, including star anise, cardamom, sesame rice paper, water spinach and banana flower.

Arriving at Red Bridge Cooking School we have a chance to freshen up before beginning our class. Working together with our Red Bridge Chef we learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food from scratch. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional Vietnamese utensils (still in use today) we cook 4 famous dishes, including the national dish ‘Pho’.

After the class we sit down and a chance to savour the dishes we have prepared. Leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River back to central Hoi An.

Dinner at a local Hoi An Restaurant. Hoi An’s niest one with a lush landscaped garden in a wonderful riverside French colonial house. Free at leisure and explore Hoi An night on your own way. Overnight in Hoi An.

Take a journey through the enchanting streets of Hoi An ancient town with their numerous art and crafts shops and tailors. The town's heritage is quite multicultural, the architecture a fusion of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European influences. You will visit a traditional ancient house, the Hoi An Museum, and a Chinese Assembly Hall. Also visit the town's emblem, the Japanese Covered Bridge, which was originally built in the mid 16th century and which, along with the numerous Chinese assembly halls, helps to give Hoi An a cosmopolitan feel.

After lunch, check out from Hoi An and depart for Ho Chi Minh city, still called Saigon by local people. Dinner while cruising on Saigon River. Overnight in Saigon.

Start with a walk along Dong Khoi Street and visit the most prominent French colonial structures in the city centre including the Municipal Theatre, City Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office with its ochre and white walls, dark wood and painted maps showing telecommunications in late 19th century Indochina making it one of the best preserved colonial style buildings in Asia. You will then travel to the site of the impressive Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum. Continue to Red Door Deco where you can find luxurious and second-to-none gifts for your friends and relatives or something as a decoration for your house or workplace. After lunch at a nice restaurant, we have a short leisure before joining a cooking class where you can learn the secrets of local Cuisine with our English speaking Vietnamese Chef. The emphasis is on seasonal traditional food which both tastes and looks delicious but is simple to prepare and recreate at home.

For a warm and fun ambiance, participants cook all together with our Chef but everyone has their own material and ingredients for a better understanding of cooking techniques. You will use Vietnamese kitchenware to cook and enjoy a tasty 3 courses meal. To end on a sweet touch, we will take care to complete this meal with a delicious seasonal dessert.

During the class you can just concentrate on the pleasure of discovering and cooking, we will gladly provide you all detailed recipes at the end. Overnight in Saigon.

Enjoy your final morning in vibrant Ho Chi Minh City at a leisurely pace. After breakfast at the hotel, take some time to relax, pack your belongings, or explore the neighborhood one last time—perhaps picking up a few souvenirs or enjoying a final cup of Vietnamese coffee.

At the scheduled time, our driver will meet you at the hotel lobby for a private transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport. We recommend arriving at least 3 hours before your international flight.

Your journey with us ends here.

Thank you for traveling with us, and we wish you a safe and pleasant flight home.