Vietnam Cooking Tour (#107)

Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival (no meals), car only no guide!

Our driver welcomes you at the Noi Bai airport and then be transferred (no guide) to your hotel in the center of city.
Rest of time is free at leisure.
Hanoi:  a city between the rivers, built from lowland. Hanoi has many scenic lakes and sometime is called “city of lakes”. Among its lakes, the most famous are Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, Halair Lake, Bay Mau Lake…As the capital of Vietnam for almost a thousand years, Hanoi is considered to be the cultural centre of Vietnam, where every dynasty has left behind their imprint. Even though some relics have not survived through wars and time, the city still has many interesting cultural and historic monuments for visitors and residents alike…
Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi – Full day sightseeing (B)

Breakfast at hotel.
8.30 am: your tour guide welcomes you at hotel, enjoy a full day city tour starting with Ho Chi Minh Complex (Monday & Friday close) which includes Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum – the final resting place of the beloved national hero, Uncle Ho. Then we visit the President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house where he lived off and on from 1958 to 1969. You’ll also go to the Ho Chi Minh Museum where you can learn about this remarkable man and what he did for Vietnam and the region. Next, you’ll visit the One Pillar Pagoda which is actually a group of structures that collectively make up a pagoda built over the water in the middle of a square lake. Then we visit the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam and  Ethnology Museum: dedicated to Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups. The beautiful West Lake and the History Museum with an excellent collection of artifacts illustrating the Vietnamese history are also highlight of our trip. Visit these sights before continuing to the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong Bay, no escort guide from Hanoi, guide on junk/cruise

Breakfast at hotel

PROGRAM WITH GLORY CRUISE  
7.30: Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi. Drive to Halong City through the paddy fields in the Red River Delta.
12.00 – 13.00: Arrive in Tuan Chau Wharf – Breaking and taking photo at Glory Legend Private Lounge
13.00 – 15.30: Check in and enjoy Welcome Drink, receive cruise brief and safety instruction by crew member and  Cruise Manager
Start cruising. Enjoy set menu lunch while cruising to magnificent Halong Bay – Bai Tu Long Bay, admire the fascinating formations on the way. You will have opportunity to see the famous rocks such as: Perfume Rock, Fighting Cock, Lonely Rock, Saddle Rock…. before arrives to “Vung Viêng” village.
15.30 – 17.30:Visit “Vung Viêng” village by a rustic – row boat, meet the local people who will help you row the boat for sightseeing. Enjoy quiet space and fresh air, you will feel truly relaxing.
17.30 – 19.30: Back to the boat and free time for relaxing

Option Massage service available. Please book with Cruise Manager directly (please see massage menu)
Cooking class on sundeck – How to make spring rolls. Then enjoy spring rolls you make together and Happy Hour (buy one drink, get one free). It is time for chatting and relaxing.
19.30 – 23.00: Deluxe Vietnamese Dinner will be served

Evening activities include: Leisure time for chatting around the bar, watching many sorts of Vietnam cultural films, relaxing and spending a romantic night on Glory Legend Cruises’ music, reading magazines in room and dining room.
Passengers may also try their luck with squid fishing on the boat.

Option Massage service available. Please book with Cruise Manager directly (please see massage menu)

PROGRAM WITH PELICAN CRUISE
7.30: Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi. Drive to Halong City through the paddy fields in the Red River Delta
Stopover at Hai Duong province for refreshment about 20 – 30 minutes
12.00 – 13.00: Arrive in Tuan Chau Wharf – Breaking and taking photo at Pelican Privateb Lounge
Transfer by tender to the boat
13.00 – 15.30: Check in and enjoy Welcome Drink, receive cruise brief and safety instruction by crew member and  Cruise Manager
Start cruising. Enjoy buffet lunch while cruising to magnificent Halong Bay – Bai Tu Long Bay, admire the fascinating formations on the way. You will have opportunity to see the famous such as: Perfume Rock, Fighting Cock, Lonely Rock, Saddle Rock…. before arrives to “Vung Viêng” village.
15.30 – 17.30: Visit “Vung Viêng” village by a rustic – row boat, meet the local people who will help you row the boat for sightseeing. Enjoy quiet space and fresh air, you will feel truly relaxing.
Free optional swimming and kayaking around many small and big islands at emerald Bai Tu Long water.
17.30 – 19.30: Back to the boat and free time for relax

Option Massage service available. Please book with Cruise Manager directly (please see massage menu)
Cooking class on sundeck – How to make Vietnamese spring rolls. Then enjoy the spring rolls you make together and Happy Hour (buy one drink, get one free). It is time for chatting and relaxing.
19.30 – 23.00: Deluxe Vietnamese Dinner will be served

PROGRAM WITH STARLIGHT  CRUISE
08:00 -08:30: Pick up from your hotel in Hanoi to Ha Long Bay. Check in Oriental Sails JSC’s private waiting hall – The Oriental Sails Lounge in Hong Gai Tourist Wharf.

12:30 – 13:00: Embark Starlight Cruise. Enjoy welcome drink and get a brief introduction about cruise and safety guidelines. Check-in your cabin.

13:15 – 16:00: Have lunch while cruising in the magnificent Bai Tu Long Bay.

16:00 – 17:00: Visit Thien Canh Son Cave – the most beautiful cave in Bai Tu Long Bay

17:00 – 17:30: Return to Starlight Cruise, Cruising to Cong Do Area, enjoy the sunset and relaxing with Jacuzzi

17:30 – 19:00: Try mini-golf on the top deck or take part in a cooking demonstration and food décor with our Chef. Happy hour with finger food is served.

19:00 – 21:00: Dinner is served. Private dinner is available on request.

21:00 – 22:00: Join squid fishing with the crew, sing karaoke or just laze around, relax in your cabin. Overnight on board at Cong Do Area

Day 4: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi, guide on junk/cruise, no escort guide back Hanoi

PROGRAM WITH GLORY CRUISE (Brunch)
06.00 – 09.00: Taking part in Tai Chi class on the sundeck (duration about 30 minutes)
Coffee, tea and pastries… for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape.
Transfer by tender to Sung Sot Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance. It takes approximately 45 minutes for cave visiting. Return to the boat by tender. Proper shoes are highly recommended.
09.00 – 11.30: Check out and make payment in reception area
Have a set menu brunch while cruising back to the Tuan Chau Wharf. Relax on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as approaching the wharf.
11.30: Transfer by tender to Tuan Chau Wharf. Say goodbye  to the crew
12.00 – 16.30: Return from Halong to Hanoi by shuttle bus
Stop over the middle to visit a traditional workshop
16.30: Arrive in Hanoi.

PROGRAM WITH PELICAN CRUISE (Brunch)
06.00 – 09.00: Taking part in Tai Chi class on the sundeck (duration about 30 minutes)
Coffee, tea and pastries for breakfast are served in the dining room with morning view of bay’s landscape.
Transfer by tender to Sung Sot Cave. Walk up about 100 steps to the cave entrance. It takes approximately 45 minutes for cave visiting. Return to the boat by tender. Proper shoes are highly recommended.
09.00 – 11.30: Check out and make payment in reception area
Have a buffet brunch while cruising back to the Tuan Chau Wharf. Relaxing on the sundeck or in the dining room enjoying the bay scenery as approaching the wharf.
11.30: Transfer by tender to Tuan Chau Wharf. Say goodbye  to the crew
12.00 – 16.30: Return from Halong to Hanoi by shuttle bus
Stop over the middle to visit a traditional workshop
16.30: Arrive in Hanoi.

PROGRAM WITH STARLIGHT CRUISE (Brunch)
06:30 – 7:00: Welcome a new day with amazing dawn on the Legendary Gulf of Tonkin. Refresh your body & soul by a Tai-chi lesson on sundeck.

07:00 – 08:00: Catch morning view of seascapes with a cup of tea or coffee, have breakfast while cruising toward Vung Vieng fishing village.
08:00 – 09:00: You are free to choose one of the below options:

Option 1: Fishing village visit
Those are interested in local daily life: Take a bamboo rowing boat trip (around 45 minutes) around Vung Vieng fishing village – one of the largest fishing villages in Halong Bay to see the life of local fishermen. The village is set in closed lagoon, surrounded by mountains, excellent settings for some good photos.

Option 2: Beach and kayaking
For those who like some water activities and beach. The tender shall take you to Ban Chan beach, where you can enjoy yourself on the beach, swimming or playing volleyball…, or try your hands in some kayaking in the magnificent setting for Halong Bay.
09:00 – 09:30: Return to Starlight Cruise for freshening up and checking out your cabin. Starlight Cruise weighs the anchor to continue roaming around the picturesque route toward Hon Gai harbor.
09:30 – 12:00: Have early lunch.
12:00 Disembark. Cruise ends.

Day 5: Hanoi – cooking class – Bat Trang pottery village – fly to Danang (B, L)

Breakfast at your hotel then transfer to the market with the chef
Today, you will not just only know how to cook but also will understand more about Vietnamese culture through out the course with the short movie demonstrating a traditional Vietnamese kitchen; by explaining the importance of rice and its cultural significance; the different spices, when and how they are used; the market; and of course fish sauce.
After breakfast, transfer to the market with our Chef:
08:00 – 09:00: at the market.
09:00 – 12:00: Cooking class demonstration & practice
12:00 – 13:00: Lunch with dishes that you have learned.
Afternoon, drive to visit Bat Trang Pottery Village – Bat Trang, which translates as ‘bowl-making village’ became famous for its bricks and for its bat dan, a type of bowl popular in the Red River Delta. Bat Trang was so well known that its bricks. The village’s ceramics were finished with five types of glaze: iron brown, blue and white, ivory, moss green, and cracked. The most typical designs, and the ones that are most popular to this day, involve a combination of white and deep cobalt blue. Directly transfer to the airport for afternoon flight to Danang.
Upon arrival, your driver pick-up you from the Danang airport, transfer (no guide) to your hotel in Hoian.
Overnight in Hoian.

Day 6: Hoian – half day cooking class – half day visit Tra Que village (B)

Breakfast at your hotel.
Transfer to your cooking class for half day course.
Start with a drink at Hai Scout Café (98 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An Ancient Town) – the 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 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 lesson runs for about 2 hours – each dish is first demonstrated by the Red Bridge chef’s, before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration).
After the lesson, we sit down and eat exactly what we have cooked.
Recipes
Making fresh Rice paper
Fresh Rice Paper Rolls of Shrimp
Crispy Hoi An Pancakes with Shrimp, Herbs & a Peanut Sauce
Seafood Salad with mixed Vietnamese Herbs served in Half a Pineapple
Vietnamese Eggplant in Clay Pot
Food Decoration – Pineapple Boat, 3 Coloured Flowers & Vietnamese Hand Fan
Meals includes the above foods as well as:
Steamed Ocean Fish on a bed of Freshly Chopped Vegetables (not included in the demonstration)
In the afternoon: enjoy your visit to Tra Que – a charming little village on the edge of Hoi An, the village is named after the sweet scented vegetables that spice up the everyday meals of the Pho Hoi people. Here a new spirit for traditional Hoi An dishes like Cao Lau, Quang noodles, the local ‘Tam huu’ spring roll (made from Tra Que vegetables) and cake with meat (Banh xeo) has been enlivened. Enjoy a cookery class with your host. Experience a day of living and working with the local people in Tra Que vegetable village, in which you will have a chance to discover the daily life of farmers.
Introduction to the history of the village, the cultivation of the vegetables as well as discovering about the use of vegetables in traditional Vietnamese medicine.
You will take a trip around the vegetable garden and join the farmers in preparing the land and fertilizing it with seaweed from the local lake. Continue doing activities such as: raking, sowing, watering greens, picking greens and many more gardening activities.
Back to your hotel. Overnight in Hoian.

Day 7: Hoian – half day visit ancient town – drive to Hue via Hai Van pass (B)

Breakfast at hotel.
In the morning: visit Hoi An town, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site because of its unusually well-preserved ancient streets and homes. Explore the old port town’s narrow cobblestone streets and pay a visit to historic sites including a traditional Chinese trading house, Phuc Kien Pagoda, and the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge.
In the afternoon: Drive to Hue, you travel through Hai Van pass and Lang Co beach: one of the most beautiful beach of Vietnam. Check-in hotel in Hue
Overnight in Hue.

Day 8: Hue – full day visit (B)

Breakfast at hotel.
Take a scenic boat trip on Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda.
After that, you will visit the Imperial Citadel of Hue, King Tu Duc’s tomb (Tu Duc is a king but also a poet, so his mausoleum is a poet garden), King Minh Mang tomb (typical formal oriental style designed).
Overnight at hotel in Hue.

Day 9: Hue – fly to Saigon – half day visit city (B)

Breakfast at hotel.
Directly transfer to Hue airport to catch flight to Saigon
Upon arrival, your tour guide  welcomes you from the airport.
In this largest city of Vietnam, you will see the hustle and bustle of Vietnamese life everywhere, and there is something invigorating about it all. Contrasting images of the exotic and mundane abound. There are the street markets, where bargains are struck and deals are done; the pavement cafes, where stereo speakers fill the surrounding streets with a melodious thumping beat; and the sleek new cafes and pubs, where tourists chat over beer, pretzels, coffee and croissants. The sweating Chinese businessman chats on his cellular phone, cursing his necktie in the tropical heat.
Enjoy your half day visit to Notre Dame cathedral, former post office, former Presidential Palace or War Museum (if time permit) &  China town with Ben Thanh market
Overnight at hotel in Saigon

Day 10: Saigon – half day Cu Chi tunnels – half day cooking class (B, D)

In the morning: drive from your hotel to Hoc Mon District to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels, which is 70 kilometers North West of down town Ho Chi Minh City. The Cu Chi Tunnel system had been created long time back, from 1948 to assist Viet Minh in the combat with French. It was continuing built over 25 years later. It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers. In places, it was housed up to 10,000 people who virtually lived underground for years…getting married, giving birth. During the American War the entire area of Cu Chi was designated a free fire zone and was heavily bombarded. From 1988, two sections of tunnels have been open for visitors. Be back at your hotel after 4 hours travel & visit
In the afternoon, transfer to the cooking class for your half day course at Saigon Culinary Art center.
14:00-15:00: go to the market with chef
15:00-18:00: cooking class demonstration & practice
Today, you will learn how to cook Vietnamese food, you will learn 5 places inclusive soup, salad, main course, steam rice and desert.
Enjoy your dinner with what you have learned.
Back to your hotel. Overnight in Saigon

Day 11: Saigon – Mekong Delta/ Cai Be floating market – Saigon (B)

Cai Be Floating Market is a famous place in Mekong Delta, here the Tien River forms the border between Tien Giang, Vinh Long and Ben Tre Provinces. Every day, approximately 400 -500 boats filled with fruits, vegetables and other products anchor a long the banks of the river, waiting for traders and customers. The merchandise sold in each boat is hung on a high pole in front of the boat as a sample to attract customers from a distance.
Our car will pick up at your hotel in early morning. Upon arrival at Cai Be, embark a private boat to cruise around Cai Be Floating Market  to see local people being selling, buying, exchanging goods from their boats. Visit local garden and house to see orchard, rice crisped producing process, etc.. Cruise along river to see peaceful tranquil life of villagers, admire marvelous natural natural setting of Mekong Delta region. About 3 pm, the boat will arrival at Vinh Long Market, walking around to explore Vinh Long Market. On the way back to Saigon, stop for a rest a bit. Arrival at your hotel at about 06.00pm.

Note: Cai Be floating market, a nice traditional business way in this Mekong Delta, nowaday has been changed alike city center, but you still can see some small supermarket boat, house boat, fruit boat… as a prove of those locals.
Overnight in Saigon.

Day 12: Saigon – Departure (B), car only no guide!

Free time for shopping or optional visit before transfer (no guide) to Tan Son Nhat Airport for departure.
Ends of trip!

Prices until 31.10.2025
except for Xmas, New Year and festival day

Price is nett per person in US$, a half twin shared basis, tax, service charge included in the party of

USD10–/per person off rate for traveling in summer: May, June, July, August

If your group is more than 7 persons, kindly contact us for costings

Price inclusive

• Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast at hotel mentioned or similar
• Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above (Please note: pick-ups will be by a guide and driver or where a guide is not necessary, a driver only. All unaccompanied drivers will be briefed in advance, and will carry a mobile phone to ensure smooth transfer arrangements)
• Mineral water and wet wipe
• All entrance fees, boat fees
• Overnight junk fees
• Kayak fees (2 persons per kayak)
• Cooking class fees (joint cooking sessions)
• English/French speaking local stationed guide
• Fullboard on junk in Halong Bay
• Meals from cooking class prepared
• Domestic flight tickets: Hanoi – Danang, Hue – Saigon including domestic airport taxes.

Price exlusive

• International flight tickets and airport tax.
• Visas
• Dinners, except as specified above.
• Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.
• Camera fees (if any)
• Diving fees
• Insurance.

ACCOMMODATION CHOICE