Vietnam
Embark on an in-depth exploration of the culinary offerings of one of the most unique destinations in Southeast Asia.
Cooking and eating are at the very heart of understanding Vietnamese culture, history and tradition. The word “eat,” translated to ăn in Vietnamese, is incorporated into words for everyday tasks like “speaking” (ăn nói) and “living (ăn ở), proving just how intertwined food is with life. As Luke Nguyen puts it in his book My Vietnam, “For Vietnamese people, food is our life; we are forever eating, cooking and talking about food. Food is communication – food is culture.”
As in many other aspects of Vietnamese culture, cuisine has a strong focus on creating balance – the yin and yang, the sweet and sour, the crunchy and soft – and combining these elements creates a feast for the senses.
On your trip, enjoy this diverse and delicious cuisine and see for yourself the differences from region to region. Have some early morning pho and tea street side from your blue plastic chair as Hanoi comes to life, a late night bánh mì in Hội An, an imperial-style dinner in Huế, or perhaps some cơm tấm from a stall in a market in Saigon.
Day 1 — Hanoi
Fast-track airport assistance through immigration. Private transfer to hotel for 3 nights. Welcome dinner with your guide.
Day 2 — Hanoi
Breakfast at a local food stall followed by a full day of flexible city touring with your private guide and driver while sampling various dishes and street food along the way.
Day 3 — Countryside Excursion
Morning excursion with private guide and driver for a village visit and lunch with a local family. Afternoon market visit.
Day 4 — Hanoi to Hạ Long Bay
Private transfer to Ha Long Bay for an overnight cruise. Welcome lunch followed by afternoon activities.
Day 5 — Hạ Long Bay to Hội An
Private transfer from Ha Long to airport. Flight to Hanoi. Arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights. Evening at leisure.
Day 6 — Hội An
Full day of flexible touring with your private guide and driver. Highlights include a local market and sampling local street food along the way.
Day 7 — Hội An
Half-day excursion with private guide and driver to nearby fishing village. Lunch with a local family, and afternoon at leisure.
Day 8 — Hội An to Huế
Morning market visit and cooking class with private chef. Afternoon private transfer to hotel in Huế for a two-night stay. Traditional dinner hosted by a local artist in her home.
Day 9 — Huế
Breakfast at a local food stall followed by a full day of flexible touring with your private guide and driver. Highlights include local village known for noodles and sampling local street food along the way.
Day 10 — Huế to Saigon
Morning transfer to airport for flight to Saigon. Afternoon city and culinary touring with your private guide and driver.
Day 11 — Mekong Delta
Morning transfer to the Mekong Delta with your private guide and driver. Full day of touring. Overnight in Can Tho.
Day 12 — Mekong Delta to Saigon
Morning floating market visit with your private guide. Private transfer to hotel in Saigon, lunch at local restaurant en route, and evening at leisure.
Day 13 — Departure
Private transfer to airport for international departure.
Hanoi – Sofitel Metropole
Hue – La Residence
Ho Chi Minh City – Park Hyatt Saigon
Can Tho – Victoria Can Tho
