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Saigon - Mekong Delta - Danang- Hoian - Hanoi - Halong
This 9-day tour will let you experience the wonderful food of Vietnam.
Product Details
Day 1 Arrive Saigon .
Arrive at Saigon airport, meet the guide then be transferred to hotel for check in before have an orientation tour of Saigon city.
Historical reminders of Viet Nam's past are abundant here and provide a striking backdrop to the rapid transformation of VietNam today. In Ho Chi Minh city we see charming colonial buildings along historic tree-lined boulevards, explore the Chinatown of Sai Gon and touring this exciting commercial district with its colorful markets as we discover a Chinese pagoda, which is distinctly different from those found in other part of Viet Nam.
Overnight in Saigon .
Day 2: Saigon Cooking Class (B,L)
Morning cooking lesson start at 9am at the Vietnam Cookery Center: the hands-on cooking course is conducted by a professional chef who will explain the history and culture of Vietnamese cuisine. The lesson includes a market visit and lunch. Afternoon take excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels that was an important base during the War, because of its strategic location. The Vietcong built a 200km long network of tunnels connecting command posts, hospitals, shelters, and weapon factories. Dug out by hand- tools without the use of cement, this amazing underground network was only recently opened to tourists.
Overnight in Saigon
Day 3: Saigon - Mekong Delta (B)
Leave your hotel at 8.00am for a 3-hour drive to Cai Be with stop en route at Trung Luong Bonsai garden for a tea break. Upon arrival, board on a motorized boat to visit the rice pancake making family before visiting the lively floating market of Cai Be. Then continue by boat towards Vinh Long province to see the diverse fish traps in order to learn a kind of lazy fishing. After cruising along small shady canals, we step ashore and take a look of the Mekong cultural life. Lunch can be served at the home/ bonsai garden. Afternoon, take a walk for about half an hour to enjoy the rural peaceful atmosphere of the countryside life, on the way we can also stop en route to learn more about fruit trees. Back in the car at about 3 pm to drive to Can Tho. On arrival in the capital city of the Mekong Delta, do a walking city tour, including the local evening market to take photos of the busy trading activities before checking in the hotel.
Overnight in Can Tho.
Day 4: Mekong Delta - Saigon-Danang- Hoian (B)
Early morning board for a 3-hour cruise to Cai Rang and Phong Dien, 2 big floating markets with stops at a Bun Tau noodle factory and a short trek before arriving at a rice-husking mill. You can even try passing one of the many fragile "monkey" (single-bamboo tree) bridges along the canals photo shot. At the floating markets, you will discover a typical way of displaying and advertising farm products of local people gathering on the Mekong river to trade their goods. Drive back to Saigon (with a lunch stop at My Tho) to catch afternoon flight to Danang.
Aiport pick up in Danang then transfer to Hoian for quick tour in Hoian Ancient Town. Known as Faifo to early Western traders, it was one of South East Asia's major international ports and today it still retains that special old-world feel. Enjoy a walking tour through the ancient town and try some of the local specialties. Hoi An is also famous for its large number of tailor shops, so if you want to have a new wardrobe made up, this is the time to do it. Dinner can be served on boat anchoring on river
Overnight in Hoian.
Day 5: Hoi An Cooking Class (B,L)
We start the day (8.45am) with a drink at Hai Scout Cafe as our meeting point.
Visit Hoi An's colourful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy. On arrival, we have a chance to explore the cooking school's herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An's and Vietnam's well-known dishes. The cooking class is an interesting way to learn about the local cuisine - the class runs for about an hour and 15 minutes, and includes demonstrations from the school's chefs as well as the chance for us to help prepare some dishes. Included in the demonstration is a brief introduction to Vietnamese fruit carving (plate decoration). Free at leisure by your own to explore the ancient town of Hoi An or shopping at tailor shops.
Overnight in Hoi An
Day 6: Hoi An - Danang - Hanoi (B)
Morning transfer to Danang airport for flight to Hanoi. Possibly have lunch before check-in hotel in Hanoi. Free at leisure until 3pm, we visit Temple of Literature and tour around the Hanoi City's Old Quarters, then enjoy traditional water puppetry show.
Overnight in Hanoi
Day 7: Hanoi Cooking and Sightseeing Tours (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 visit One of Hanoi's highlights that we should not miss while touring the city are museums. We have a wide choice to discover from the recently opened Ethnology Museum, which presents an insight into the most colorful minority groups, to the Fine Arts museum with Vietnam's many traditional articles. And from the History Museum with rich exhibits covering every era of the country's fascinating history . Overnight in Hanoi.
Day 8: Hanoi - Halong (Cruise on boat) (B,L,D)
Board our traditional Huong Hai Junk in the afternoon and cruise through the middle of Halong Bay while enjoying a seafood lunch served on board. Visit one of the most impressive grottoes and have a swim at a deserted beach. After dinner, stop off in a quite bay for some night fishing before having a peaceful sleep in a comfortable cabin. The Huong Hai resumes its cruise the next day while breakfast is being served. If weather conditions permit, go in a small boat through flooded caves leading to the heart of one island. Enjoy your last meal while the junk cruises slowly back to the pier.
Overnight on boat
Day 9: Hanoi Departure (B,L)
Free at leisure until transferring to the airport to take departure flight for next destination. |
