CULINARY DELIGHTS OF VIETNAM (12days)
SAIGON/ MEKONG DELTA/ DANANG/ HOI AN/ HUE/ HANOI/ HALONG BAY
Introduction
T
he cuisine of Vietnam is unique; it embraces freshness, balances of tastes, and subtle variations in flavor like nowhere else in the region. Your journey through Vietnam will be an introduction to the culture of one of the world’s lesser-known fine cuisines, learning an appreciation for its flavors not unlike a connoisseurship for premium wines. What you’ll learn is how to distinguish between the three main schools of Vietnamese cooking—the austere, masterfully composed dishes of the North; the spicy imperial tasting dishes of the Center; and the sweet cosmopolitan recipes of the South with its profusion of herbs and tropical flavors. Welcome to a journey of exquisite tastes through a region of exotic locales. Learn to distinguish between the three main schools of Vietnamese cooking on a journey of exquisite tastes through a region of exotic locales. The transformative energy of Saigon is obvious from the moment you arrive. Take your first Vietnamese culinary experience at one of the best restaurants in the city, embarking the following morning on a market exploration through the expansive wholesale flower
market, local produce wholesalers, and the museum of local traditional medicines. Take lunch at a central Vietnamese restaurant before visiting some of central Saigon’s older lanes, including the antiques markets and Fine Arts Museum, a restored masterpiece of Sino-French architecture. Ride on the back of a Vespa scooter through the less-visited districts where the best genuine local cuisine is found at selected streetside snack stalls. Depart the hub of the Vietnamese south in Saigon and head out into the riverside towns of the Me-
kong, seen from the comfort of the Victoria boat, styled as a private sampan. Drop by local villages at the water’s edge and visit floating markets, a hive of boats laden with colorful pyramids of tropical fruit. Visit local cottage industries creating such delicacies as puffed rice and coconut candy before dining on Mekong folk cuisine at a colonial-style villa. Lift off from frenetic Saigon bound for Hoi An, a riverside town suspended in a former era. You’ll be heading for the hidden lanes and alleyways where unique shophouse storefronts, historic markets and homesteads recall the glories of the past. Dine at Morning Glory Restaurant serving a modern interpretation of local Hoianese street food. On the following day, experience the soul of Hoi An from the vantage of its signature cuisine on a market tour
and cooking class. Relax on the gorgeous beaches nearby or take a leisurely saunter through Hoi An’s galleries and silk tailors. Say farewell to Hoi An as you depart in your private transfer heading for the ancient Vietnamese imperial capital of Hue, stopping by the Cham museum along the way, home to fine stone carvings. You’ll also see the Marble Mountain area. Hue is the home of Vietnam’s classical cuisine, and you’ll meet many of the most authentic Hue dishes over lunch once you arrive before settling into your new luxury residence and heading out to explore the town. Visit the Purple Forbidden City, once the seat of Vietnamese imperial power, and take a relaxed cyclo tour through the old city area of Dai Noi out to Tinh Tam Lake, the favorite resting places of the emperors themselves. The evening meal will be a feast of imperial delights. Visit the Celestial Lady pagoda before a brunch spent uncovering more of Hue’s specialty dishes at a local restaurant specializing in banh uot, a steamed rice pancake, and delicious rice noodles with grilled meat. Take a trip out to Bao La Village, engaged in weaving bamboo products for 500 years, and see the precious Thanh Toan ancient covered bridge and the morning markets nearby. Beyond Bao La is the equally historical town of PhuocTich, home to many important old religious structures built by the various Vietnamese ethnicities. Next, fly to the thousand-year capital of Hanoi, the safeguard of Vietnamese culture and the bedrock of its national sovereignty. Get to know Hanoi intimately on a private tour through the capital’s
thousandfold streets and alleyways. Wander at will through the old quarter, a Hanoian district that has changed little over the centuries, and ride by cyclo past old landmarks from the French eraEvening meal serving at Home, a must-try venue in a restored 1930’s villa serving Vietnamese cuisine.ver the centuries, and ride by cyclo past old landmarks from the French era.. Spend the next morning on a journey through Hanoi’s side streets, ferreting out the best local ingredients at the Cho Hom or Chau Long markets. Enjoy lakeside snacks and lunch at a classic Bun Cha establishment. Your evening walking tour sets out from the city’s largest covered market, sampling the various delicacies of the local cuisine along the way, including those purely local and others inspired under the cultural influence of the French and Chinese. End the day’s tour with stunning views over HoanKiem Lake enjoying the rare local delicacy, egg coffee. Take a private transfer to Halong Bay, an astonishing natural wonder where almost 2000 gigantic pillars of limestone karsts reach heavenwards from the ocean bed. Cruise to unique villages, vast caves in the rock, limestone islets, and kayak across the turquoise waves. You’ll enjoy your meals on board, a smorgasbord of dishes from throughout the nation served at one of its most inspiring locations. After an awe-inspiring sunrise cruise, your morning taichi demonstration will set the mood for a last soporific jaunt across one of the more picturesque regions of the bay. Back in Hanoi, you may visit museums, galleries, and shopping destinations by arrangement. If desired, your final cuisine experience will be a hands-on cooking class and an optional food tour. The evening’s performance will be either the water puppet theater or some classical inspiration at the Hanoi Opera House. Depart Vietnam the following morning, well-versed in its unique tastes and varied cuisines.
ITINERARY AT GLANCE
Day 1 : Saigon
Private transfer from airport to hotel. Dine at one of the best restaurants in the city.
Day 2 :Saigon
Visit the wholesale flower market, the local produce wholesalers, and the traditional medicines museum. Lunch at central Vietnamese restaurant before visiting antiques market and the Fine Arts Museum. Evening Vespa scooter street food tour.
Day 3 :Mekong Delta
Depart Saigon and head into the Mekong riverside towns. Visit the floating markets, local cottage industries, and dine on folk cuisine at a colonial-style villa. Return to the dock for your connection back to Saigon.
Day 4 :Hoi An
Fly to the ancient town of Hoi An. Explore hidden lanes and alleyways, stopping by the Trade Ceramic Museum, Phung Hung Ancient House, Quan Thang House, restored shop-houses, Chinese temples, and a lantern-making factory before dining on local Hoianese street food.
Day 5 :Hoi An
Hands-on cooking class. Relax on the gorgeous beaches or visi galleries and silk tailors.
Day 6: Hoi An & Hue
Head for Hue via the Cham museum and the Marble Mountain area. Try authentic dishes over lunch before heading out to explore, visiting the Purple Forbidden City and taking a cyclo tour out to Tinh Tam Lake. Have dinner at traditionally-styled garden house venue.
Day 7 :Hue
Enjoy the Celestial Lady Pagoda before a brunch of banh uotand delicious rice noodles with grilled meat. Travel out to Bao La bamboo-weaving village to see Thanh Toan ancient covered bridge and morning markets. Evening spent at leisure.
Day 8 : Hanoi
Transfer to Hanoi, spending a day at leisure. Wander through the aHanoian district that has changed little over the centuries, and ride by cyclo past old landmarks from the French era. Evening meal serving cuisine nouveau based on diverse Vietnamese elements.
Day 9 : Hanoi
Take a journey through Hanoi’s side streets finding best ingredients at the markets, including lakeside snacks and lunch at a Bun Cha establishment. Take an evening walking tour sampling local delicacies and trying the rare egg coffee.
Day 10 :Halong Bay
Transfer to astonishing Halong Bay for luxury cruise around seamounts, floating villages, caves in the rock and limestone islets, with kayaking experience. Enjoy meals on board, a smorgasbord of dishes from throughout the nation.
Day 11: Halong Bay & Hanoi
Sunrise cruise and morning tai-chi demonstration before return to Hanoi. Explore the capital with the flexibility to cover museums, galleries, and shopping destinations. Hands-on cooking class and optional food tour is available. Evening performance at water puppet theater or Hanoi Opera House.
Day 12 :Depart Hanoi
Flight out of Vietnam. This country and its incredible cuisine will always be awaiting your return.
Park Hyatt SAIGON
The Nam Hai HOI AN
La Residence Resort & Spa HUE
Sofitel Metropole Hotel HA NOI
Paradise Peak HA LONG BAY
Itinerary In Details Day 1 :Saigon
For centuries the soul of the Vietnamese south, the transformative energy of Saigon is obvious from the moment you arrive. Your private transfer vehicle will ease you into the dizzying traffic bound for your hotel. The ever-present hum of scooter engines, drawing 8.22 million people through the city’s intricate web of lanes in chaotic pulses, seems to lift Saigon’s architecture skyward in a grand orchestral sweep, the old French colonial facades giving way to prisms of soaring skyscrapers and narrow residences packed together like pastel-colored dominos.
You’ll be taken to your luxury hotel to settle in before departing for your first Vietnamese culinary experience at one of the best restaurants in the city. Accommodation in Park Hyatt Saigon
Day 2 : Saigon
Today you will emerge into the magnificent vortex of genuine Saigonese life, starting off in a corner that by its very nature encapsulates the color and vibrancy of this amazing city—the expansive wholesale flower market, where blooms from regions throughout the entire country converge on a labyrinth of alleys and stalls under bright tarpaulins. You’ll have the opportunity to breathe in the scents of each specific flower of note and learn about its use, particularly those connected with the local cuisine. You will graduate from the flower market and pass across to the local produce wholesalers, your first introduction to the proliferation of tropical fruit and vegetables available in Vietnam, as well as textiles, home goods and precious gems. From the market, you will catch an insight into the history of local traditional medicines at the FITO museum, a rare insight into the alchemies that informed Vietnamese cooking practice
throughout the ages. After lunch at a central Vietnamese restaurant serving the delicacies of the ancient Vietnamese imperial capital of Hue, you’ll take a leisurely saunter through some of central Saigon’s older lanes, where the antiques marketers will tempt you with all manner of coins, furniture, carvings, pipes, and so on—some marvelous pieces can be found, but not all are as they seem! Nearby at the Fine Arts Museum, itself a restored masterpiece of Sino-French architecture, you’ll survey the best of local visual creativity, including some superb lacquer works considered definitive of their genre. Your evening will take you a step closer to the local culture on the back of a Vespa scooter, which will whisk you through the less-visited districts where the best genuine local cuisine is found at selected streetside snack stalls. Accommodation in Park Hyatt Saigon
Day 3 : Saigon & Mekong Delta
Depart the hub of the Vietnamese south in Saigon and head out into the riverside towns of the Mekong. The mother of the Vietnamese south, the river is the source of the region’s bounty and biodiversity. It is the heart of the way of life for the river-dwelling people of the region who have lived in these parts for centuries—from the comfort of the Victoria boat, styled as a private sampan, you will see life lived now much as it was generations ago against the scenic backdrop of one of the nation’s most iconic cultural vistas. You will drop by local villages at the water’s edge and visit floating markets with the waterways a hive of boats laden with colorful pyramids of tropical fruit.
Part of the Mekong way of life is the proliferation of local cottage industries, the most famous of which produce all manner of sweets and snacks, from puffed rice to warm, malty coconut candy. After visiting and sampling the delights of the region, you’ll experience the maturity of its folk cuisine at a colonial-style villa in the shade of the palm trees. A soporific cruise after your lunch will return you to the dock for your connection back to Saigon, where you will have your evening at leisure to explore the sights, sounds, and tastes of Ho Chi Minh City in your own style. Accommodation in Park Hyatt Saigon
Day 4 : Hoi An
Lift off from frenetic Saigon following your private transfer to your domestic flight bound for Hoi An, home to a riverside town suspended in a former era. A second private transfer to the new hotel will ground you in this old city, which you will soon explore with a driver and expert guide. This was a trading port in former times; one of the greatest among the seafaring nations of the 17th century. The old covered bridge installed by the Japanese remains the city’s most iconic attraction. You’ll be heading for the hidden lanes and alleyways where unique shophouse storefronts, historic markets and homesteads recall the glories of the past. During your walking tour, you’ll stop by the Trade Ceramic Museum and Phung Hung Ancient House, a masterpiece of fusion architecture that has stood here for over a century. Quan Thang house nearby is two hundred years older still, also replete with Sino-Japanese flourishes. Along the way, make stops at smartly restored shop-houses, Chinese temples and, finally, a lantern-making factory before heading off to dine at Morning Glory Restaurant serving modern
interpretation of local Hoianese street food. Wander under your own instincts for the evening—and whenever you’re hungry, no matter where you end up in the old city, remember to always follow your nose. Accommodation in The Nam Hai
Day 5 :Hoi An
Transcend the tourism and experience the soul of Hoi An from the vantage of its signature cuisine. This unique perspective of the city is uncovered with the assistance of Chef Duc Tram, whose experiences around the world have ultimately brought him to an appreciation of the subtleties of the imperial cookery of his homeland. Duc will lead you through the Hoi An morning markets with expert judgement, selecting the freshest and choicest ingredients—many of which can only be found in this region, including some memorable seafood offerings—before heading out once more into the streets of the old city bound for his Mango Mango cooking class restaurant. The lesson will teach learners how to draw on the inspiration of Hue’s cuisine to form more international creations based on
Duc’s own signature dishes—a tuna roll involving Japanese elements with a passion fruit raita called “Lust in Translation”; a Japanese-Vietnamese battered prawn creation called “Pearl of China Sea”; and a blue fin tuna steak with mango salsa called “Mangnum Opus.” The satisfaction of the morning’s culinary exploration comes when it’s time to sample what you’ve created. After so many sensations during the morning’s activities, the rest of the day is reserved for relaxation on the gorgeous beaches nearby or a leisurely saunter through Hoi An’s galleries and silk tailors. Lunch is included Accommodation in The Nam Hai
Day 6 :Hue
Say farewell to Hoi An as you depart in your private transfer heading for the ancient Vietnamese imperial capital of Hue. You will stop by the Cham museum along the way, home to the finest stone carvings and statues that remain of a culture that is largely lost to history. You’ll also see the Marble Mountain area, a cluster of limestone peaks that form a picturesque sanctuary of Buddhist temples and pagodas. As the former imperial capital, Hue is the home of its classical
cuisine—with the regular lavish feasts for the Vietnamese royalty in an age gone by giving rise to a tradition in cooking that is now popularly respected throughout the country. You’ll meet many of the most authentic Hue dishes over lunch once you arrive, before settling into your new luxury residence and heading out to explore the town. You’ll be visiting one of the country’s most important architectural heritage sites—the Purple Forbidden City, styled after the imperial palace in Beijing, which was once the seat of Vietnamese imperial power. This is a maze of cultural treasures and grand historic halls, the former home of the Nguyen lords embellished with royal flourishes and elegant pagodas. The citadel is far from its pristine state, however, having been significantly damaged during the war era. Following on from the citadel visit, take a relaxed cyclo tour through the old city area of Dai Noi out to Tinh Tam Lake, the favorite resting places of the emperors themselves. You too will enjoy the tranquil scene of the lake blanketed in lotus flowers, perhaps from the table of a streetside café in the university zone. The evening meal will be held at NhaVuon, a traditionally-styled garden house serving further imperial delights. Accommodation in La Residence Resort & Spa
Day 7 :Hue
Hue has a certain mood about it common to ancient seats of empire, and you’ll sense some of that past glory at the Celestial Lady Pagoda that has stood over the Perfume River for more than 400 years. It was erected to fulfill a prophecy made by a mysterious feminine being who, according to local legend, materialized there in gorgeous robes of blue and red to foretell of a leader who would both construct it and then bring wealth to the people of the land. You’ll visit the pagoda before a brunch spent uncovering more of Hue’s specialty dishes at a local restaurant specializing in banh uot, a steamed rice pancake rolled around a fine-chopped pork filling, and delicious rice noodles with grilled meat. This will renew your energies for the trip out to Bao La Village, a town that has been engaged in weaving bamboo products for 500 years, where you’ll see the precious Thanh Toan ancient covered bridge and the morning markets nearby. Beyond Bao La is the equally historical town of Phuoc Tich, home to many important old
religious structures built by the various Vietnamese ethnicities. Your afternoon will represent your last evening in Hue, once again spent at leisure and in the private pursuit of local delicacies. Accommodation in La Residence Resort & Spa
Day 8 : Hanoi
You’ll take a private transfer to the airport for your flight to the thousand-year capital of Hanoi, and then again on arrival to your deluxe hotel. Spend a day at leisure in the safeguard of Vietnamese culture and the bedrock of its national sovereignty, one of its most ancient living towns that still maintains the tranquil atmosphere of its earliest days. It is a microcosm of peace in a location that was once, to Western observers, the very definition of war. Enjoy its poetic soul while you can—if the pace continues unimpeded, by 2025 this will be the world’s fastest-growing city.
You’ll spend the afternoon getting to know Hanoi intimately with your personal expert guide and driver, who will host a private tour for you to make your own connections with the capital’s thousand fold streets and alleyways. Wander at will through the old quarter, a Hanoian district that has changed little over the centuries, and capture a moment of old colonial grandeur as you ride by cyclo past old landmarks from the French era, stopping at crafts markets just as the European settlers would have done in an age gone by. Take your evening meal at Home, a must-try venue in a restored 1930’s villa serving Vietnamese cuisine. Accommodation in Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Day 9 : Hanoi
Spend the morning with chef and cookbook author Daniel Hoyer on a journey through Hanoi’s maze of side streets, ferreting out the best local ingredients at the Cho Hom or Chau Long markets, a fascinating insight into the buying and selling rituals of Vietnamese trade and an open tableau for vibrant, colorful photography. The tour is fully customizable and can include lakeside snacks and lunch with Daniel at a classic Bun Cha establishment. Following an afternoon at leisure, take an evening walking tour setting out from the city’s largest covered market, Dong Xuan, sampling the various delicacies of the local cuisine along the way. Clearly explained in English for maximum insight into the intricacies and traditions of local culture, the tour examines those dishes that are purely local and others inspired under the cultural influence of the French and Chinese. It includes a stroll through the Old Quarter, and ends with one of Hanoi’s best kept secrets—a hidden café with stunning views over the picturesque HoanKiem Lake, serving the rare local delicacy egg coffee. Accommodation in Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Day 10 : Halong Bay
Greet the day with a private transfer to Halong Bay, an astonishing natural wonder where almost 2000 gigantic pillars of limestone karsts reach heavenwards from the ocean bed. Cruise in luxury on vessels shaped like the crimson-sailed junks that have always circumnavigated these seamounts, visiting unique villages, vast caves in the rock, limestone islets, and kayaking across the turquoise waves. This is a day to soak in the luxurious amenities of your five-star cruise vessel just as much as it is to seek the thrill of adventure that the bay inspires in all who come here. Take a quiet drink on deck as you drift gracefully past recognized wonders of the world, and reflect on the majestic geological masterpieces that have sprung forth from the Earth that dwarf the achievements of humankind. You’ll enjoy your meals on board, a smorgasbord of dishes from throughout the nation served at one of its most inspiring locations. Accommodation on Paradise Peak
Day 11 :Halong Bay & Hanoi
After an awe-inspiring sunrise cruise on the bay watching the glow of morning erupt through the mist over the sea, your morning tai-chi demonstration will set the mood for this last soporific jaunt across one of the more picturesque regions of the bay, after which you will be picked up by private car and returned to Hanoi. Your afternoon’s exploration of the capital will give you the flexibility to cover museums, galleries, and shopping destinations selected for your personal itinerary. If desired, your final cuisine experience will be a relaxed, hands-on cooking class with cuisinier and author Tracey Lister, studying the quintessential fare of Hanoi that features an optional food tour along with the class. Your immersion experience will culminate in an evening performance; you may select from the water puppet theater—a fascinating art form unique to Vietnam—or opt instead for some classical inspiration at the Hanoi Opera House. Accommodation in Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Day 12 : Hanoi
The morning at your luxury resort will pass all too quickly, and you will soon be sitting in your private transfer bound for the airport—and an aircraft that will take you onwards out of Vietnam. This country and its incredible cuisine will always be awaiting your return.
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