Vietnam voyager

Hanoi arrival, meet and assist by our tour manager, transfer to hotel and rest to get ready for the next day.

Breakfast at hotel. Then, visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum , Stilt House and Museum, One Pillar Pagoda and Temple of Literature. Hoa Lo Prison. Enjoy a performance of the Water Puppets in the evening.

Today travel to the area that is regarded as the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of Vietnam – Halong Bay. Cruise through spectacular scenery whilst enjoying our seafood meal onboard. We spend the night on board the cruise, various programs such as kayaking, visit different caves and swimming in the Bay will be arranged by the cruise company. The next day and after the cruise travel back to Hanoi through the striking rural countryside of the Red River Delta.

Rise early for a lesson in Tai Chi or just to enjoy a hearty breakfast. The boat will make its way back to the port stopping at the Cave of Surprises, full of stalagmites and stalactites. From here, it’s clear sailing back to the main harbour and the return drive to Hanoi. Overnight in Hanoi

Morning flight to Hue. Upon arrival, meet our guide and start a city tour Hue. Hue was Vietnam’s ‘Imperial Capital’, the former home to the Nguyen Dynasty that ruled over the country from 1802 until the last emperor abdicated in 1945. A visit to Hue wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Imperial Citadel which was modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing. The Citadel was the centre piece of the royal empire, a massive moated palace that was extensively damaged during the Vietnam War. This afternoon take a cyclo ride to the Imperial Citadel, continue by coach to Thien Mu pagoda and enjoy a relaxing boat trip on the Perfume River. This evening partake in a cooking class focusing on select local dishes and cuisine originally designed for the Royal Courts of Hue.

Leaving Hue by coach over Hai Van Pass to Hoi An Ancient Town. Stop visiting Marble Mountains and China Beach on the way. Arrive Hoi An, free at leisure. 

Meeting point at (8am) with a welcome drink at Hai Café (98 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An Ancient Town) – our meeting point. Travel by minivan (10 minutes) to Tra Que Organic Village, and walk through the market gardens where local farmers work their fields using the traditional methods of hundreds of years ago - no electrical machinery here. We pick fresh saw-tooth coriander and Vietnamese mint for our cooking lesson later, before trying a special herbal drink at a local home. To the local village market and with shopping list in hand we purchase a range of local ingredients, including star anise, cardamom, sesame rice paper, water spinach and banana flower. Arriving at Red Bridge Cooking School we have a chance to freshen up before beginning our class. Working together with our Red Bridge Chef we learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food from scratch. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional Vietnamese utensils (still in use today) we cook 4 famous dishes, including the national dish ‘Pho’.

After the class we sit down and a chance to savour the dishes we have prepared.

Leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River back to central Hoi An.

Bring your swimsuit and after the cooking tour has finished relax and enjoy free use of our 20 metre swimming pool.

Recipes: - Vegetarians are provided with replacement ingredients.

1. Beef Noodle Soup (Pho)

- includes the making of fresh rice noodles

2. Clay Pot Fish with Fresh Dill (Cha Ca)

3. Lemongrass Shrimp grilled in Banana Leaves (Tom Nuong La Chuoi)

4. Grilled Chicken and Banana Flower Salad (Goi Hoa Chuoi Ga Nuong)

* Lunch includes all of the above meals

Finish at approximately 13.00pm – transfer back to central Hoi An 

Once an influential port on the Silk Road, Hoi An is a rich fusion of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and European styles, its narrow streets retaining a quirky, old world charm. is morning, tour the market to choose fresh ingredients from a colourful array of local produce for your Vietnamese cookery class, where you’ll learn to create a number of local dishes. is a ernoon wander the old streets, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the 200-year old Tan Ky House and the elaborate Japanese Bridge before taking tea at the 'Reaching Out' Tea House, a peaceful place, run by hearing and speech impaired locals, to savour the avours of local produce. e rest of the day is at leisure.

Fly to Saigon. Visit the Presidential Palace, War Remnants Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral, The post office and Ben Thanh market.

Today, you travel to the Mekong River Delta on a day trip to explore the rich culture and lush fluvial landscape. After breakfast, your guide & driver will meet you at your hotel and take you to Cai Be. Start your tour with a visit to Cai Be floating market, cruising among the local barges stuffed-full of fruits and vegetables. Visit some local workshops then enjoy a delicious lunch served at a local house in the cool shade of An Binh Island’s orchards. In the afternoon, take a traditional rowboat and venture deeper into the countryside, floating through narrow canals to enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Stop at a nursery garden to discover how farmers along the delta produce their world famous fruits and vegetables. The cruise ends around 15.00 and our driver will meet you at the dock and take you back to Saigon.

08.00, pick up from your hotel and depart to Tay Ninh to visit the great Cao Dai Temple of the monotheistic religion of Caodaism.

Learn more about the sect and its relationship to Buddhism, Christianity and Confucianism. See the symbolic Left Eye of God and attend the noon ceremony organized by the followers of Cao Dai. After lunch at a local restaurant, drive to the Cu Chi Tunnels and learn more about the labyrinth of underground rooms used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.

Explore the subterranean field hospitals, weapon factories and command centers, and try some of the main food of the Viet Cong with a cassava tasting served with tangy tea.

Return to Ho Chi Minh City around 19:00-19:30 

Check out and free until we transfer you to airport for the departure flight.