Day 1: Hanoi – Arrival (no meals)
Our guide will welcome you at the airport Noi Bai airport and then be transferred to your hotel in the center of city. 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...You will visit our legend/history about Hoan Kiem lake (the lake of the Restored Sword), our architectural and our way of with small street and its name (Old quarter if time permits). Attend the performance of Water Puppet show - an unique Vietnamese arts.
Overnight in Ha Noi.
Day 2: Hanoi – Fullday tour (B)
Today enjoy a full day city tour starting with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam and the impressive Ethnologic 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
Please note, you may as well visit Uncle Ho in his museum (Mondays and Fridays closed). Most of our clients do not wish, but we leave it open...And not to forget.. Uncle Hoe travels for abt 2 to 3 months yearly to Russia - for a new make over: it might be he won't be residing when you are there...
Day 3 Hanoi – cooking class – Bat Trang pottery village (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.
Back to your hotel. Overnight in Hanoi
Day 4: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay (B/L/D)
NO ESCORT GUIDE FROM HANOI, GUIDE ON BOARD ONLY
08.00am: pick up you at your hotel in Hanoi. Travel to Ha Long city for about 3,5 hour drive.
PROGRAM WITH BAI THO OR HAI LONG TRADITIONAL WOODEN JUNK
13:00: Experience our fresh sea food set lunch while cruising
Heading to Bai Tu Long Bay
15:00: Visiting Vung Vieng floating fishing village
Unique trip by traditional rowing boat to visit one destination with two great sites as Vung Vieng – floating fishing village and Thung Cave (Cao Cave)
16:00: Free to swim at blue and clear sea water
Heading to Ho Đong Tien (Fairy Lake) area to anchorage.
17:30: Enjoy trim class of flowers from fruits and roots
18:30: Relax and enjoy sunset with cocktails.
19:15: Enjoy set fresh sea food dinner
20:30: Film collections.
Overnight on boat
PROGRAM WITH BHAYA CLASSIC CRUISE
12.00 - 12.30 Check-in at Bhaya Café, Halong City. Embark on Bhaya Classic for a Welcome Cocktail followed by a cruise briefing.
13.00 - 15.30 Savor a delicious Vietnamese buffet lunch as Bhaya Classic heads to Bai Tu Long Bay passing the towns of Hon Gai and Cam Pha, Oan Lagoon, Mat Quy (Monster Head) and Am Tich (Teapot) Islets and Vung Vieng fishing village.
15.30 - 17.00 Visit the fishing village by tender (30 minutes each) then return to the vessel for free time at your leisure or join one of the following optional activities: Discover the fishing village by local rowing boat
Kayak into the village or swim near the boat
Optional onboard activities: Sunbathing, traditional massage, etc.;
Trip by tender to an isolated pristine beach for swimming, snorkeling, etc.
17.00 Bhaya Classic cruises through the Bay to its overnight anchorage near Ho Dong Tien.
Happy Hour & Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the Sundeck.
19.30 Sumptious Seafood Set-dinner onboard.
21.00 Retire to your cabin or join the fishing program.
Overnight aboard Bhaya Classic
Day 5: Ha Long Bay – Hanoi - Hue (B)
GUIDE ON BOARD ONLY, NO ESCORT GUIDE BACK HANOI
PROGRAM WITH BAI THO OR HAI LONG TRADITIONAL WOODEN JUNK (B/L)
06:00: Sunrise time
07:30: Breakfast.
08:30: Visit Sung Sot Cave (Cave of Surprise) with English speaking guide
Book and magazines collections
10:30: Transfer to Cua Vang restaurant for set asian lunch
11:00: Enjoy lunch
PROGRAM WITH BHAYA CLASSIC CRUISE (Brunch)
06.15 Start your day with Tai Chi on the Sundeck while complimentary tea & coffee are served.
07.00 Bhaya Classic weighs anchor to cruise through the Bay passing beautiful spots like Trong (Drum), Trinh Nu (Virgin) and Me Cung Caves, Coc Ngoi (Toad) Islet, etc.
08.30 Explore the Surprise Cave (Sung Sot).
09.30 Return to Bhaya Classic. Buffet brunch is served onboard. The vessel cruises leisurely back to harbor.
11.00 Disembark at Bhaya Café
Return to Hanoi by private car, arrive in Hanoi about 16.00 pm then heading to airport for afternoon flight to Hue
Meet on arrival, transfer to hotel for check in
Overnight at hotel
Day 6: Hue – half day cooking class – half day sightseeing (B, L)
Breakfast at your hotel then transfer to the cooking class.
08:30-09:00: Go to the market with the chef
09:00-11:00: Cooking class at Y Thao Garden House for the demonstration and practise of fried spring rolls, grilled beef, the rice cake and banana flower salad
11:00-13:00: Lunch with dishes you have learned at Y Thao Garden Restaurant.
In the afternoon: Take a scenic boat trip on Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda.
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 7: Hue – Da Nang – Hoi An (B)
After breakfast, transfer to Hoi An via the scenic Hai Van Pass, with a stop to view the spectacular panorama of the central coastline, and the Cham Museum, where many sculptures from the ancient Champa Kingdom are displayed. Continue to Hoi An town, recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site because of its unusually well-preserved ancient streets and homes. Transfer and check in to your hotel in late afternoon. After lunch, 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.
Transfer back to your hotel and overnight at the hotel in Hoi An.
Day 8: Hoi An – Cooking class (B, L)
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 9: Hoi An – Da Nang – Sai Gon (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure till transfer to the airport for the flight from Da Nang to Saigon. After pick-up and check-in at the hotel, set out on a city tour of the former capital of French Indochina, once known as Saigon. Historic landmarks include the Old Saigon Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the former Presidential Palace, the War Museum and the ethnic Chinese district of Cholon.
Overnight in Saigon
Day 10: Saigon – 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. And 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 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 Ho Chi Minh with stop at bonsai garden. Arrival at your hotel in the late evening.
Overnight in Saigon
Day 12: Saigon – departure (B)
Breakfast at hotel.
Free at leisure for your own activities before transfer (no guide) to the airport for your departure flight back home.
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