Vietnam Food Tour and Vespa Exploration

Itinerary

• Day 1: Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City

  Having been formally named Ho Chi Minh City for many years, most people prefer to call it Saigon, as the French name seems to give it a touch of romantic and exotic flavor. Your tasty journey to Vietnam is starting here!

  On arrival, meet your local guide at the airport, take a private transfer to your hotel, and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

  The restaurant of the Reverie Saigon is highly recommended for a nice dinner, with a distinctive ambiance, impeccable service, world-class dishes in different flavors, as well as spectacular city views.

  • Ho Chi Minh City

• Day 2: Saigon City Tour & Vietnamese Lunch

  Get your bearings in Saigon with a morning walking tour to take in remarkably French colonial buildings such as Reunification Palace and Saigon Central Post Office. Afterward, visit the Chinese-influenced Jade Emperor Pagoda and the century-old Ben Thanh Market.

  Later, at Quan An Ngon, a popular restaurant housed in a renovated Vietnamese mansion, you will have an authentic Vietnamese lunch in an exotic setting and try some legendary Vietnamese dishes like Goi Cuon (spring rolls).

  You are then free to relax for a few hours before heading out in the evening on a tasting adventure. Led by your guide, traverse various districts of the city on a vintage Vespa scooter to explore some of the city's most authentic dining spots. Reward your taste buds with a range of local specialties, from seafood to Banh Xeo (pancake) and coffee.

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  • Ho Chi Minh City

• Day 3: Exploration to Mekong Delta with Home-made Lunch

  Leave the bustle of Saigon behind and get to Mekong Delta for a close touch of the daily life of the Mekong people.

  You will drift through small canals along with mangrove trees and coconut jungle, disembark to visit a bee garden for some seasonal fruits and honey, enjoy the home-hosted meal and cooking experience in farmer house Ba Danh by the river, and row boat on shady palm tree canal to Ben Tre River.

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  • Ho Chi Minh City

• Day 4: Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang - Hoi An

  The morning is free at leisure. For lunch, it is suggested to dine at La Cuisine, a French restaurant with its owner and head chef from France and having worked all over the world before opening his restaurant.

  Afterward, get to the airport for your flight to Da Nang and then take a private transfer to the hotel in Hoi An.

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  • Hoi An

• Day 5: Hoi An Old Town & Prime Steak

  Spend the morning strolling through the old town of Hoi An, exploring its alleyways fringed with old shrines, modern art galleries, romantic restaurants and classic teahouses. In case you want a break from the local cuisine, today we recommend the lunch at the Prime Steakhouse, which is said by many Angus steak fans to serve the best steak in Hoi An even in the whole country of Vietnam. This afternoon is yours for relaxation.

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  • Hoi An

• Day 6: Cook Your Favorite Vietnamese Dishes

  Having tasted many Vietnamese dishes, want to cook by yourself? Come and enjoy a cooking class, learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food and gain an in-depth insight into Vietnamese culinary art.

  It is a private hands-on class, which allows you to take a bicycle to the local market in the center of the city, interact with sellers and select necessary ingredients, try your hands under the guidance of the main chef, and finally enjoy your works proudly.

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  • Hoi An

• Day 7: Hoi An, Free Day

  It is a leisure day for you to enjoy the nearby An Bang Beach. Or you may like a short excursion to My Son, a cluster of Hindu temples ruins, 40 km away from Hoi An.

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  • Hoi An

• Day 8: Hoi An - Da Nang - Hanoi

  Move on to Vietnam's capital city this afternoon.

  In search of a dinner place? Consider the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. From the Paris-inspired café La Terrasse to Vietnamese restaurant Spices Garden or Le Beaulieu in the French style, the hotel has everything to make your gastronomic journey more fascinating.

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  • Hanoi

• Day 9: Historic Hanoi & Lotus-Related Lunch

  Start by visiting Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House to delve into the simple life of the great founder of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Facing his humble residence in traditional Vietnamese style is the Presidential Palace, an opulent French building.

  After a short stop at the nearby One Pillar Pagoda, wander through the millennia-old Temple of Literature to admire various pavilions, halls and gardens, and pay respect to Chinese philosopher Confucius.

  The Sente, hidden in an alleyway street and surrounded by many surviving French buildings, is the restaurant for you to enjoy a simple but unique and healthful lunch. Here, you can have your taste buds blossom on a good selection of lotus-related dishes.

  The afternoon is yours to relax at the hotel or get a true sense of Vietnamese artistic vision at the National Fine Arts Museum.

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  • Hanoi

• Day 10: Hanoi - Halong Bay, Overnight Cruise on Halong Bay

  Drive about 3 hours to Halong Bay for an overnight cruise exploring this spectacular seascape. Settle in and enjoy a welcome drink.

  In the afternoon, explore the Vung Vieng floating fishing village by kayaking. If you prefer to relax on the boat, there are also lots to choose from, such as the rooftop sundeck with an open bar, coffee lounge, and sauna.

  As the sunset, discover the secrets of Vietnamese cuisine through the cooking demonstration and then savor delectable Vietnamese dishes prepared by expert chefs.

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  • Halong Bay

• Day 11: Halong Bay - Hanoi

  Wake up yourself with Tai Chi, one of the oldest traditions of East Asia. Relax both mind and body in the gentle flowing movements and take in the stunning sunrise over Halong Bay at the same time.

  After light breakfast, alight for Thien Canh Son Cave. Serval hundreds of stairs up into the cave, you will find yourself in a fantasy world. Giving play to your imagination and creativity, you can liken numerous stalactites and stones in various shapes and sizes to recognizable objects, perhaps a lotus or a baby elephant. Disembark after lunch and get back to Hanoi.

  The remainder of today is at your leisure. You might like to try some of the most authentic eateries on a bespoke street food tour around the historic Old Quarter. Alternatively, cap off your final night with a hearty dinner at a fine restaurant, toasting to your journey through Vietnam.

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  • Hanoi

• Day 12: Hanoi, Departure

  Conclude your Vietnam tour with a hearty breakfast at your hotel and then take the private transfer to the airport for your homebound flight.

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