Vietnam Gourmet Trail

  • listen folk song
  • street food
  • sapa market
  • cooking class
  • flower market
  • cooking class
  • saigon street food

Description

Vietnam is owner of breathtaking natural wonders, including the majestic mountains, sparkling beaches and lush fields. Not only that, it is also home of genuine hospitality, and culturally rich history. The Vietnam Gourmet 14 days takes you off-the-beaten trail of UNESCO world heritage wonders of Ha Long Bay - Hue Citadel - Hoi An town, bring you to discover the unseen world of Vietnam gastronomy, explore exceptional culture and local lifestyle through markets outing, meeting and eat with friendly people, staying in boutique style hotels/resorts. Every day is a travel like a local!

Contact us to creat your own trip from the sample holiday

Day 1 Hanoi Arrival - Welcome dinner - Magnificent Ca Tru music

Welcome on your arrival at the airport to transfer you to hotel. Check in hotel for tour briefing and relax. You will indulge Hanoifs soul with welcome dinner at typical local restaurant that is wide range menu with authentic Hanoi food and take part in a very small World Heritage Intangible Ca Tru concert held in an ancient house in the old quarter of Hanoi. A nice sleep will definitely come to you after the incredible experience.

Summary:
Transportation: Car
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared room at hotel in Hanoi

Day 2 Explore & taste Hanoi like a local - Night train to Sapa

Today, you will discover reality Hanois beauty; both cant miss attractions and offbeat.
After breakfast at local restaurant, among friendly locals, you will discover some of the city’s highlights, including French Quarter, the Old Quarter; Ho Chi Minh Complex, Literature of Temple, Women museum Besides, you will have chance tasting the street food from vendors and sidewalk stalls, chatting with friendly locals. Especially, visit unique bridge market making your day even more unforgettable. Have bath and dinner before heading to Hanoi Railway station for night train to Sapa.

 Summary:
Transportation: Car & train  
Meals: Breakfast; Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Overnight in 4berths shared cabin on night train

Day 3 Lao Cai Railway station arrival - Breakfast like local - Colorful hill-tribe market outing

Arrival Lao Cai Train station about 6.30, breakfast at local restaurant then drive to hill tribes market - the market will be flexible due to schedule. Indulge yourself into the bustle atmosphere of Dzao and Flower Hmong tribes. The open-air markets seem be simple but really meaningful to the local people. Let’s try some food challenge with H’Mong specialties at market.

The market scheduled
Tuesday:Coc Ly Market
Wednesday:Cao Son Market
Thursday:Lung Khau Nhin market
Saturday: Can Cau Market.
Sunday: Bac Ha Market or Muong Hum Market

We arrival Sapa in the afternoon, take a rest then stroll in local Sapa market, buy some ingredient for our dinner. We celebrate first day in Sap with its specialties.

Summary:
Transportation: Car
Meals: Breakfast; Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared room at hotel in Sap town

Day 4 Sapa off-road trek - Lunch with ethnic people in village - Night train back Hanoi

After breakfast, we start light trek to Cat Cat village, admire breathtaking mountainous landscapes, a nice waterfall, an old French dynamo and see Black H’mong tribe in their traditional dress. We will pass through rice paddy terraced fields, rain forest under the protection of Hoang Lien National Park to Y Linh Ho village. We will have awesome lunch with Black H’mong people at their village before climb up the main road to return Sap town.

Take your time for shopping then head to Lao Cai Railway station. Have bath and dinner before embark the night train, ride back Hanoi.

Summary:
Transportation: Car & Night train
Meals: Breakfast; Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: 4berths shared cabin on night train.

Day 5 Hanoi arrival - Flower night market - Ha Long Bay Cruise - Seafood BBQ

Arrival Hanoi around 5:30am, transfer to visit Flower Night Market - that organized from 2am to 6:30am. Indulge yourself to Hanoi lifestyle and beauty with tranquility parks where local people doing Tai Chi exercise and marvelous sunrise from West Lake. Have yummy breakfast at local restaurant.

Ride to Ha Long Bay to enjoy fresh seafood as well as explore spectacular and amazing Natural World Heritage. Embark the traditional junk to explore gorgeous Ha Long bay - an exotic bay, owned thousands of limestone islets with countless spectacular shapes, sparkling caves, emerald water adorned sails...multiple activities is waiting for you, such as kayaking, swimming, floating village visiting, sunset beach cocktail or food taste in sundeck… Then, end your day with delicious seafood dinner on board.

Summary:
Transportation: Car
Meals: Breakfast; Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Private en-suite cabin on junk

Day 6 Ha Long bay more cruise - Amazing cave discovery - Hanoi street food dinner 

Enjoy a light breakfast then visit Amazing cave - beautiful natural treasure. Hidden inside the cave brings great view from the top for Halong Bay.

Bruch is served on board while cruise toward habour. We arrive charming Hanoi in afternoon. Then, end your day with authentic Hanoi street food for dinner.

Summary:
Transportation: Car & motorbike
Meals: Brunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared room at hotel in Hanoi

Day 7 Hanoi departure - Hue arrival - Welcome royal-style dinner

Morning today is your free time to do some shopping or whatever you choose. Your guide will meet you again in the afternoon for departure to Hue. Arrive in Hue, you will be transferred to hotel. We then have welcome dinner with royal famous food in ancient-style local restaurant.

Summary:
Transportation: Car & flight
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared room at hotel in Hue

Day 8 Historic Hue explore - Learn to cook with local

Today, it’s time to explore Hue culture and its cuisine. Your morning will start by strolling in local market then be filled with fun & friendly cooking class with traditional Hue women. You will learn how to cook 3 delicious Hue dishes and enjoy local secret. After the class ends, your afternoon is time to visit ancient Hue citadel, tombs and peaceful Perfume River cruise. In evening, you will be free at Hue night market for a dinner and maybe some local shopping.

Summary:

Transportation: Car
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Twin shared room at hotel in Hue

Day 9 Hue departure - Da Nang stopover - Hoi An sunset dining cruise

Hoi an, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, considers the most wanted visiting in Vietnam. Today, we will travel in our private van to Hoi An via scenic Cloudy Pass, Lang Co Beach, Marble Mountain... The route proud as the most beautiful scenery in Vietnam with the majestic mountains on one side and other is the sparkling blue sea.  

We arrive at theluxurious boutique resort in the afternoon. Then, end your day with amazing sunset cruise in Thu Bon River.

Summary:
Transportation: Car
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared at boutique resort in Hoi An
Dining cruise from 17:30 - 19:30

Day 10 Learn to cook like local - Explore cultural Hoi An.

Take the morning to master your Vietnam cooking with talent chef. You will visit the traditional herb village, learn how to do farm work following traditional methods of hundreds of years ago. Of course, we will collect some specialties ingredients for our cooking. You will learn how to using the freshest ingredients and traditional Vietnamese utensils and cook four Vietnam traditional dishes.Sit down, talking with chef while feast the dishes you have cooked. After the class ends, your afternoon is free to explore the ancient Hoi An Town and shopping.

Summary:
Transportation: Bike
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Twin shared at boutique resort in Hoi An 
Cooking class with garden visiting: 08:00 - 13:30

Day 11 Hoi An departure - Eat with local in Ho Chi Minh City

You will be free to shopping and exploring until transfer to Da Nang airport to catch flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Your guide will welcome you on arrival the airport to escort you to hotel. Then, it is time to sit back, relax and get ready for our cozy dinner with local family. You will help our local host prepare your dinner and experience a local’s cooking techniques. Your highlight of time life will definitely find here, among very friendly people.

Summary:
Transportation: Car & flight
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared at boutique hotel Ho Chi Minh City

Day 12 Explore Ho Chi Minh highlights - Street food eat like local

Today, you’ll explore Ho Chi Minh City from an inside out. Start your day with a local breakfast, tasting a delicious dish, specially designed for breakfast. Then, it’s time to experience Ho Chi Minh’s must-see sites, including museum, Reunification Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, the General Post office, market… We will finish the day with amazing street food trail by scoter - amazing experience is waiting for you.

Summary:
Transportation:  Car & motorbike
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Diner
Accommodation: Twin shared at boutique hotel Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon street food adventure: From 18:30 to 21:00

Day 13 Trip to Mekong Delta -Discover colorful floating market

This trip offersyou a striking opportunity to capture an essence of Mekong Delta: its verdant landscape, friendly people and fantastic cuisine.

Depart from Ho Chi Minh City early to explore colorful Cai Be floating market. You will visit the fisherman village, learn how to catch fish, picking vegetables, and help our local host prepare your seafood dinner. Afternoon walking to visit a coconut candy home manufactory and handicraft families in nearby village. We arrive exciting Ho Chi Minh City late afternoon. Rest of time is yours to do some shopping or whatever you choose.

Summary:
Transportation: Car & Boat
Meals: Breakfast; Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Twin shared room at bungalow

Day 14 Saigon Departure

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then free at your leisure until transfer to the airport for departure

End of service

Includes:

  •  Private transfer (A/C Van & Boat trip)
  • Package 2days - 1night junk cruise in Ha Long Bay.
  • English speaking local guides except on free days
  • Round trip night train Hanoi - Lao Cai - Hanoi
  • Accommodation
  • Cooking classes and demos
  • Dinning cruise
  • Boat trip in Mekong Delta & Perfume River
  • Meals specified in program
  • All domestic air tickets
  • All entrance permission and visiting fees
  •  Bikes
  • Mineral water & Tissue

Excludes:

  • Visa (contact us for Vietnam visa on arrival)
  • Insurance
  • Beverages
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips
  • Any services not mentions in the included portion.

Terms and conditions: 

  • Deposit and Payment:  30% of total invoice should be deposit at the time of booking for guarantee. Final payment is no later than 7days in advance of arrival date.
  • Cancellation: If cancelling less than 15 days, the deposit is non-refundable. After final payment is received a cancellation fee of approximately 75% applies. This percentage may be less depending on the date of cancellation. A cancellation fee of 100% is applicable within 03 days of travel.
  • Pricing: All prices are shown in American dollars and are current at the date of printing this itinerary. If there is a dramatic fluctuation in the exchange rate or the price of services provided, which are beyond the control of Vietnam Food Tour, VFT reserves the right to adjust tour prices accordingly, even though the balance of payment may have been made. This would only happen in unusual circumstances.
  • Itinerary Validity and Content: This itinerary is valid until 31st Oct 2015, unless otherwise specified. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. Vietnam Food Tour shall not be liable for any injury, damage or loss caused by any inaccuracy. Vietnam Food Tour reserves the right to change tour arrangements or accommodations due to safety or security reasons, and will endeavor to provide alternative arrangements of the same standard as that originally booked.
  • Special Requirements: Please advise Vietnam Food Tour of any special requirements such as Special Meals, Medical Requirements etc., as soon as possible. If you get motion sickness, it is imperative that you bring with you motion sickness pills as we travel by coach and boat sometimes in our tour.
  • Travel Insurance: We strongly recommend you organize travel insurance before departure in your country. Insurance covers cancellation fees payable for airline tickets, accommodation, loss of deposit, luggage etc.
  • Clients’ Responsibilities: It is your responsibility to obtain passports, health certificates or other travel documents where required for the tour. It remains your responsibility to ensure that these documents are in order and to meet any additional costs incurred as a result of failure to comply with such requirements. It is also your responsibility to obtain any vaccinations that may be required to travel.



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