Combine your passions for travel and cuisine on this journey to discover the rich history, vibrant culture and mysteries behind the famous dishes of the Vietnamese people. Enjoy street food paradise in Hanoi, take a cooking class on a Ha long Bay boat, follow a chef to explore the essence of the cuisine in Hoi An and Hue. Discover Ho Chi Minh city and the delicate environment of the Mekong Delta
Upon your arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, our local guide and driver will greet you at the pickup area and transfer you to your hotel in the city center (District 1). The drive takes approximately 60 minutes.
After arriving at the hotel, you'll check in* and have the rest of the day free to relax or explore at your leisure.
Notes: Hotel check-in time is at 2:00 PM. Early check-in is subject to hotel availability and may incur an additional fee.
9:00 AM: Pick up from your hotel to the Independence Palace, once used as the home - office of the Presidents of South Vietnam. Our visit includes the North Vietnamese tank which effectively attacked the palace in 1975 to bring the controversial Vietnam War to an end and the five-story palace with its rooms have been preserved in their late 1960s, 1970s style and a bunker basement.
Countinue by a leisurely waking tour. Heading to the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, originally built between 1863 and 1880, evidently reflects the French colonist influences. It’s a picturesque spot in the city.
Toward to Nguyen Hue walking street, walk to the unmissable city's famous landmark. The Saigon Central Post Office is a stunning building, designed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel. It is an actually working post office with beautiful indoor decorations.
Pick up by car then short drive to have a visit to Binh Tay Market, located in Saigon’s Chinatown area with hundreds of stalls, the biggest market in city actually contributes a hub for many of Saigon’s demands including clothing, souvenir and food items. There is also a food court where visitors can sample local delicacies and street food.
Continue visit Quan Am Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in city and dedicated to Guan Yin, elements of Taoism, and the folk worship of the "Queen of Heaven".
Finally visit the Traditional Medicine Museum (FITO) where the medicinal herb recipes, magic potions and special antique tools are preserved.
End of the day, drop you back to hotel
8:00 AM: Tour guide and driver welcome you at your hotel for your transfer to Ben Tre, a beautiful region in the Mekong Delta River, famous for making coconut candy. Arrive at Hung Vuong pier, take a boat trip on Ben Tre River to discover the daily local life. Continue your boat trip on a canal to Nhon Thanh Village. This will be an opportunity to taste the fresh fruits.
Take a bike ride (or Tuk tuk) on a small path through the villages and enjoy views of the coconut ranges, rice fields and vegetable gardens. A lunch of elephant ear fish is served in the village. A short walk will help you to discover the local life in depth. This is followed by a boat ride on the small canal shaded by the wild palm trees.
Transfer back to Saigon in the late afternoon.
8:00 AM: Leave from your hotel to visit the most striking place in the history of the Vietnam War, the Cu Chi Tunnels.
Cu Chi is a real underground city made up of a large network of tunnels covering an area of over 250km long where the Viet Cong conducted the war of resistance against American troops. All of the tunnels were dug over a period of twenty years using only pickaxes and shovels. The tour includes special entering some part of tunnels. You will also have a chance to visit Ben Duoc memorial temple nearby but far less touristic built in 1993 in memory of the Vietnamese killed at Cu Chi.
Continue to visit one of the most sacred attractions in Vietnam - the Cao Dai Temple. Caodaism is a uniquely Vietnamese religion that is influenced by elements of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and even Roman Catholicism. On a visit, you can attend the midday mass.
Have lunch at local restaurant then transfer back to your hotel. Have a rest before vespa tour at night.
6:00 PM: Start from hotel, you will be escorted by local driver on our vintage Vespas. Explore new breweries in Saigon are taking flavor to the next level with local Vietnamese essences at four fascinatingly different places!
All the beers have been carefully selected by each Master Brewer. Especially for this Vespa Adventures, so you can get a taste of the broad range of flavors of the impressively growing craft beer scene in this vibrant city.
Our tour will share knowledge, story and the actual brewing process with unique ingredients & flavors, so you can fully appreciate the taste of their creations.
Our scope goes from independent brewers still producing small batches of beer at home, to the most famous brands of craft beer and cider in town, Apart from multiple tastings of the best beers, each place also offers a variety of delicious and elaborate food pairings include gourmet tapas and some Vietnamese inspired bites.
After an interesting evening, we drive back to your hotel.
Our driver will pick you up from the lobby of your hotel in Ho Chi Minh city center (district 1) and take you to Tan Son Nhat airport. The drive takes approximately 45-60 minutes, whether you're heading to the international or domestic terminal, depending on your needs.
Notes:Hotel check out is before 12:00 PM. Late check-out is subject to hotel availability and may incur an additional fee. For international flights, it's recommended to arrive at the airport 3 hours before departure, and for domestic flights, 2 hours before.
Upon your arrival at Da Nang Airport, our local guide and driver will greet you and transfer you to your accommodation in Da Nang, a journey of approximately 30 minutes. Once you reach your hotel, you’ll have the rest of the day to relax and enjoy at your leisure.
Notes: Hotel check-in is available from 2:00 PM. Early check-in is subject to availability and may incur an additional charge.
In the afternoon, have a city walking tour. Start by visit Cam Pho - one of the oldest communal houses in Hoi An. It was built in the shape of Chinese character means the country for worshipping and trading business and cultural exchange between locality and Chinese, Japanese traders.
Leisurely walk to the Hoi An city’s symbol - the Chua Cau or the Japanese Covered Bridge, built in the 17th century to allow the Japanese quarter to be accessible from the Chinese neighborhoods. The bridge’s original style has been carefully preserved for the last 400 years.
Immersing into the life of town, walk through the town to Quan Thang ancient house - one of the most authentic old houses in Hoi An with the lively and fine architecture and sculptures were made by craftsmen of famous Kim Bong carpentry village in the oriental style. The house offers a good look of Hoi An family's daily life.
Finally visit Phuc Kien or Fujian Assembly Hall, built since 17th century, is the gathering place for residents, traders and visitors from a specific area in China called Fujian. It is also a religious site to honor the deity Thien Hau. Spend a visit, you will admire the colorful fountains in the courtyard, the ornate gates surrounding the property and the beautiful carved dragons in the main room.
End of the day, transfer back to your hotel or you can free to explore Hoian at night.
Welcome at the Hai Café (98 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An) rendezvous point (Transfer from hotel to meeting point on your own). After briefing, cycle to Tra Que village. We suggest you visit the vegetable garden where the villagers work according to the traditional method. Here, you will find and choose the coriander and fresh mint to prepare your dishes before drinking the local herbs.
Then, you will go to a local market with the list of spices you need, select the local ingredients such as star anise, cardamom, sesame rice papers, banana flowers and return to Red Bridge Restaurant. You will have a chance to refresh before starting the cooking class. Accompanied by the cooks of Red Bridge, you will learn how to make traditional Vietnamese cuisine, using local ingredients to prepare 4 famous dishes including the famous national dish, Pho. After the cooking class, you can taste the dishes you prepared yourselves. Later, you will enjoy a half hour cruise on Thu Bon River back to Hoi An town center. Today's activities end at around 14:30 PM.
8:00 AM: Pick up from hotel then travel to Hue by passing Da Nang along the sea road. Once you arrive in Da Nang, stop to visit the Cham Museum which preserves the most important Cham culture collections in the world. Then, walk to My Khe beach where you can enjoy the view of giant Goodness of Mercy statues in the Linh Ung Pagoda. Take photos of fishermen by the beach then continue driving along the coastline to Hue ancient capital. Make a stop at top of the Hai Van pass to enjoy the breathtaking view of the ocean.
Arrival in Hue, enjoy lunch then visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hue, dating back to 1601. This is the spiritual highlight of the city and well known for its majestic octagon tower and beautiful view of the Perfume River.
Keep your tour visit the most important sites in city - Hue Citadel, the only vestige symbol for what was once the imperial city of Vietnam. It is inspired by the fortification of Vauban. The city is composed of three parts: Kinh Thanh (the Capital city), Hoang Thanh (the Imperial city) and Cam Thanh (the Forbidden City). The most beautiful sites in Hue are concentrated in this area including the flag tower, the South gate, the palace of supreme Harmony, the Dynasty temple area and the settlement area.
End of the day, check in hotel and enjoy stay in ancient capital.
Transfer from hotel to visit the Emperor Minh Mang's tomb, an architectural masterpiece that harmoniously highlights the nature and imperial religious works. The tomb was planned during Minh Mang’s reign (1820–40) but built by his successor, Thieu Tri with the effort of ten thousand workers and artisans.
Countinue your trip, take a boat along Huong River (or Perfume River) to Thuy Bieu Village, admire the picturesque landscapes on both sides. After 1 hour, we arrive to Thuy Bieu, well-known for its divine grapefruit trees where you can take a bike around the village under the shade of the grapefruit trees and enjoy their pleasant perfume aroma and the harvested straw. The peaceful atmosphere is in every corner of the village. Then, visit a temple dedicated to the village protector, a traditional garden house built several centuries ago. This is a wonderful opportunity to stop for great photos and interact with the villagers working in the gardens and vegetable fields which should not be missed.
Join in cooking class with Hue's specialties selected then have lunch in village then transfer back to city in the afternoon. Tour end around 3:00 PM
Our driver will pick you up from the lobby of your hotel in Hue City and take you to Phu Bai Airport. The drive takes approximately 45-60 minutes, whether you're heading to the international or domestic terminal, depending on your needs.
Notes: Hotel check out is before 12:00 PM. Late check-out is subject to hotel availability and may incur an additional fee. For international flights, it's recommended to arrive at the airport 3 hours before departure, and for domestic flights, 2 hours before.
Upon your arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you’ll be greeted by our guide and driver at the pickup lobby. You’ll then enjoy a 45-minute drive to the heart of Hanoi, passing over the Red River, where you can catch a glimpse of the city’s unique architecture and its famously bustling traffic. Once you arrive in the Old Quarter, the driver will drop you off at your hotel.
Notes: Hotel check-in time is at 2:00 PM. Early check-in is subject to hotel availability and may incur an additional fee.
4:00 PM: Get Pick up by tour guide from hotel. Enjoy a walk to the Hoan Kiem Lake – the heart of the city. Turn into a small alley Bao Khanh. Your first experience is Banh Cuon. A thin steamed rice flour pancakes filled with minced pork and cloud ear mushrooms served with nuoc cham (a fish-sauce based dipping sauce), fried shallots and fresh herbs. You have an opportunity to make yourself a cake.
After passing the Hanoi Cathedral, built by the French in 1884, we come to Hang Manh Street. The street is famous for Bun Cha Dac Kim. Minced pork and slices of pork belly are grilled over hot coals and served with fish sauce, tangy vinegar, sugar and lime which, when combined, creates a sort of barbecue soup that is eaten with rice vermicelli and fresh herbs. Accompanied by deep-fried spring rolls, this calorie rich dish is served with garlic and chilies on the side for an extra kick.
Hanoi street food tour is not perfectly complete without having a Banh Mi. It is what local people call a fusion sandwich as it originated from the French colonialism days. There are so many banh mi shops but we stop at Banh Mi 25 that is a very cozy homemade shop.
Next stop is Pho (rice noodle soup). Almost all international tourists coming to Vietnam want a chance to enjoy a bowl of Pho in its birthplace, Hanoi. A fragrant rice noodle soup served with fresh herbs that have become popular all over the world. There are two popular variations: pho ga (with chicken) and pho bo (with beef). We highly recommend you try Pho Suong, it is located in a small alley where Hanoians often come for beef noodle soup.
Start by eating and ending with a drink. Walk to Hidden Gem Coffee - a unique home where discarded materials are used not only to protect the environment but also be revived in new artistic values. Enjoy local drinks (egg coffee, honey ginger tea, lemongrass tea or a local beer bottle) before coming back to hotel.
9:00 AM: Get Pick up by tour guide to the Temple of Literature which was built under the Ly dynasty in 11th century for worshipping Confucius and teaching Royal children. Enjoy a walk in the garden to the city’s symbol Khue Van Cac. You will then visit the World Heritage "stone steles” which shows the name of outstanding students. Continue to explore the Quoc Tu Giam which is considered as the first national university of Vietnam.
Next stop at the Ethnology Museum (closed every Monday) which offers a deep insight into Vietnamese culture through traditional costumes, tools, musical instruments and traditional houses of many ethnic groups. To fully explore this interesting museum, it takes you around two hours.
In the after noon you visit the French Quarter – it is a “little Paris” in Hanoi with tree-lined boulevards, government head offices and a big square. Visit (outside) Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum before having a leisurely walk in the botanical gardens to visit the Presidential Palace, Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts where he used to live and work. Towards the unique One – pillar pagoda which is one of the city’s symbols. It takes us from 1 to 2 hours to explore this complex, depending on the number of traveler.
Start with a small pagoda named Ba Da quietly located in a small alley - only few steps from the Hanoi Great Cathedral, built by French colonialism since the 19th century. Your tour guide also takes you to typical streets of Hanoi such as Lan Ong Street selling traditional medicine, Lo Ren Street where metal items are produced ... Stop to visit the Dong Xuan central market - the largest in Hanoi. Continue walking to the famous area for night activities and street food - Ta Hien street, where you can see the vibrant streets with a lot of the amazing local foods and drinks. Trying to taste some for an unforgettable experience.
Finally enjoying the water puppet shows that is the unique performances, first appeared in the 11th century. In these shows, the daily life, culture and belief of Vietnamese people are described by puppets on water. The show usually integrates a traditional music performance as well.
Come back to hotel. End of the day
8:00 AM: Transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, driving through the picturesque countryside of the Red River Delta, painted by rice and vegetable fields.
Take a 15km bike ride (optional) or walk through the villages. A journey along the dyke will offer you gorgeous landscapes of rice fields, a river and limestone mountains. There are several stops for you to take beautiful photos or encounter the locals then walk to discover Thung La temple, dating back to the 11th century. Meet Mr Tuong, the temple guardian, and enjoy an authentic conversation as well as a 20 minute drum show.
Later, take a sampan boat trip along the stream and among the limestone mountains to discover the beauty of Van Long nature reserve. If lucky, you might get to see white monkeys and egrets on the cliffs. After the boat trip, visit an embroidery village and take part in an embroidery course under the instruction of local craftswoman, Mrs Lam. She will proudly explain the techniques of her traditional craft. This will be a good opportunity for you to practice on fabric like a real craftsman.
8:00 AM: Pick up at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter). Enjoy three hour drive from Hanoi to Bai Tu Long Bay. Your journey will pass the series of villages and rice fields in the Red River Delta. Have a stop for drink and restroom. Continue your driving, arrive at the harbor around noon, get warmly welcomed at cruise reception.
11:30 - 11:45 AM: Arrive at our waiting lounge at Ha Long International Cruise Port. Take some time to relax while waiting for our captain to complete the registration process. Then, transfer by tender to our boat.
12:00 - 12:15 PM: Enjoy a welcome drink and receive a brief safety briefing about activities onboard before checking into our cabins.
13:00: Indulge in a delicious Vietnamese set menu lunch while leisurely cruising further into Bai Tu Long Bay.
15:00: Arrive at the kayaking area – Cap La Island. Enjoy kayaking through the karst formations and breathtaking scenery, as well as swimming and relaxing.
17:40: Return to the boat and enjoy our Sunset Party as our cruise sails to the overnight anchorage. Attend a Vietnamese cooking demonstration where you can learn to make a simple but delicious Vietnamese dish like Nem Cuon, or try your hand at fruit and vegetable carving.
19:00: Delight in a sumptuous set dinner onboard.
20:30 - 22:00: Enjoy free time to challenge yourself with Vietnamese puzzle games, gather your group/family for a board game, try your luck with squid fishing, or simply relax with a cocktail and soak in the quiet night on the bay.
06:30 AM: Participate in a sunrise Tai Chi session on the sundeck or enjoy the morning view of the stunning bay's landscape with a cup of tea or coffee.
07:00: Breakfast will be served in a Western style to prepare you for another day of exploration.
07:45 AM: Explore the well-hidden Thien Canh Son Cave.
09:00 AM: Return to the boat and enjoy about 30 minutes to freshen up and finish packing.
09:30 AM: Check out.
10:00 AM: Enjoy a traditional Vietnamese lunch on the boat.
10:30 AM: Return to the harbor.
11:15 - 11:30 AM: Disembark at Ha Long Cruise Port.
Welcome by driver at the harbor then enjoy travel back to Hanoi. Have a rest at the middle of the way. Drop off at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter).
Our driver will pick you up from the lobby of your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter and take you to Noi Bai Airport. The drive takes approximately 45 minutes, whether you're heading to the international or domestic terminal, depending on your needs.
Notes: Hotel check out is before 12:00 PM. Late check-out is subject to hotel availability and may incur an additional fee. For international flights, it's recommended to arrive at the airport 3 hours before departure, and for domestic flights, 2 hours before.