VIETNAM CULINARY ODYSSEY11 Days/09 Nights (Hanoi - Halong - Hue - Hoi An - Saigon - Mekong Delta)

Although this trip is brief, it captures the multi-aspects of Vietnamese cuisine. Not only will you have hands-on cooking experiences, but you will also have the opportunity to taste all kinds of Vietnamese food, from imperial cuisine, to home-style cooking. Vietnamese food is the blending of many world-known cuisines such as Chinese, and French, but what makes it different is the way the Vietnamese season with fresh spices and FISH SAUCE. They are the SECRET! So, let us make your trip more flavor experience.

only $1489.00only $1489.00

Day 1: Departure USA

Day 2: Arrival in Hanoi (D)

Day 3: Hanoi city tour (B,L)

Your tour begins with an overnight flight to Vietnam (with check-in either late evening one day before or early this morning). Lose a day en route as your cross the International Dateline.

Upon arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you will be warmly greeting by your tour guide and transferred to your hotel. Tonight, you will enjoy a special traditional North Vietnamese welcome buffet dinner at the famous Sen Restaurant. Overnight in Hanoi. Nikko Hotel or similar

Today is a full day tour of Hanoi beginning with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, the

One Pillar pagoda, the Temple of Literature plus the Fine Arts Museum (private docent tour of the museum lacquer painting collection). In the afternoon, you will continue your tour with a visit to the world-famous Ethnology Museum. Then you will have cyclo ride around Hanoi's old quarter after which you will enjoy a performance at the world-famous Water Puppet show. The rest of evening is free time. Why not enjoy an optional local specialty in a typical Hanoi restaurant?

08:30 Departure from Hanoi to Halong, enjoy a scenic drive through Red River Delta.

11:30 Upon arrival at Halong you will be transferred by tender to Deluxe Indochina Sails Junk, enjoy a welcome cocktail.

12:30 Depart to Halong Bay, start cruise and check-in cabins while enjoying lunch onboard.

15.00 Visit Cua Van Fishing Village by tender & visit Bat Cave by rowing a sampan or kayak.

16.30 Transfer by tender from boat to Soi Sim Beach for swimming or relaxing.

18.50 Arrive by boat at Luon Bo Area & anchor for overnight.

19.00 Enjoy dinner onboard

21.00 Happy Hour, “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” on junk bar.

Day 4: Hanoi - Halong (B, L,D)

Tour included:- Private air-conditioned vehicle- Local English speaking guide in each city- Superior First class accommodations

based on Twin/Double sharing- Meals (excluding drinks) as specified

program: 9 breakfasts;8 lunches; 6 dinners

- Boat fee & sightseeing admission fees as specified, on a private basis

- Cooking class fees - Water puppet show ticket & Pedal Cab

fee in Hanoi- Government taxes and services charges- Economy domestic airfares and taxes - Bottled drinking water on day tour- Welcome gift

Package tour price : US$ 1489.00/PAX

21.30 Evening Activities: enjoy classical movie or play board games with fellow passengers.

You can relax with onboard beauty services or join squid fishing with crew. Overnight on board Indochina Sails Junk.

06.00 Optional meditation and Yoga session on sundeck

07.00 Depart by boat to Surprise cave (Sung Sot)

07.20 Arrive by boat at Surprise cave – choose from optional tour program: visit a famous cave or enjoy swimming, kayaking or relaxing with the beauty services offered onboard

07.30 Transfer by tender to Surprise cave (Hang Sung Sot), go swimming or kayaking.

08.30 Return transfer by tender to boat

08.30 International Breakfast Set Menu or Buffet

09.45 Depart by boat to Bai Chay – Continue cruise

10.15 Check-out cabins

11.15 Arrive by boat at Bai Chay/ Halong

11.20 Transfer by tender from boat.

11:30 Drive back to Hanoi for lunch, then transfer to Noi Bai airport for late afternoon flight to Hue. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel. Overnight in Hue.

In the morning, you will have a tour of the colorful city market, followed by a vegetarian cooking class at a famous local restaurant. You can enjoy lunch with your own meal. In the afternoon there will be a tour to visit Tu Duc' mausoleum and cruise up the Perfume River to Thien Mu Ancient Temple and Minh Mang royal mausoleum. Tonight you will have Royal Dinner with traditional music show. Overnight in Hue. Camelia Hotel or Similar.

This morning, you will visit the Imperial City and the fabulous Royal Antiques Collection. Lunch will be served at a unique local restaurant with specialties of central Vietnam's food. Afternoon, we drive into Danang (110km). You will enjoy the beautiful landscape on the road through the Hai Van Pass. Panoramic views of the clouds, the sea and the mountains unfold at the scenic Lang Co lagoon. On the way we will stop visit Cham museum and China beach which is a famous spot for American soldiers R&R during the Vietnam War (depending on weather and time). Arrive Hoi An in the late afternoon, check in hotel. Tonight, you will have dinner at a typical Hoi An restaurant. Overnight Hoi An. Hoi An Riverside Resort or Similar.

After breakfast, there will be a tour of Hoi An's colorful market after which we have a boat cruise down Thu Bon River to RED BRIDGE COOKING SCHOOL.

The tour begins with a cup of coffee at Hai Scout Café, our meeting point. Next is our visit to Hoi An's colorful market where you will experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. You will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in

Day 5: Halong - Hanoi - Hue (B,L)

Day 6 : Hue-Vegetar ian cooking (B,L,D)

Day7: Hue- Danang - Hoi An ( B,L,D)

Day 8: Hoi An-Cooking tour (B,L)

the cooking lesson later. You then board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise

(25 minutes) along the Hoi An river to the Red Bridge Cooking School. Upon arrival, we will explore the cooking school's herb and vegetable garden before learning about some of Hoi An's and Viet Nam's well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – the Red Bridge chefs first demonstrate each dish before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration).

Enjoy an afternoon tour of Hoi An which was a trading post of seafaring Chinese, Japanese and Portuguese merchants several centuries ago. The rest of the day is free time enjoying the charming old town Hoi An. Overnight in HoiAn.

In the morning, you have free time until the transfer to the airport for your afternoon flight to Saigon. Upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat Airport you will have a warm welcome from our tour guide and be transferred to city downtown. Ho Chi Minh City (formerly called Saigon) is the largest and most vibrant city in Vietnam, formerly known to the world as Saigon. It is located on the Saigon River; Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's major port and largest city, with an estimated population of over eight million people with an estimated three million motorbikes. You will start city tour with a short walking of the colonial quarter Opera House, Hotel de Ville (City Hall), Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post office, then on to Ben Thanh market. Check in hotel. Tonight you have welcome dinner at INDOCHINA JUNK while cruising on Saigon River. Tonight you will have dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Saigon. Equatorial Hotel or Similar.

We will leave Saigon at 08AM then drive to Cai Be (around 2.5 hours). The program will start with the visit of Cai Be colorful floating market cruising among local barges full of fruits and vegetables. Further, a visit will be done at an ancient Mandarin house dating from the 19th century where you will be greeted by the family. We will proceed to Phu An, an untouched remote area reflecting some of the best sights the Mekong Delta can offer. On the way, an optional stop can be made at local home factories where you can see how rice paste and

Day 9: Hoi An – Saigon/ (B,L,D)

Day 10: Saigon - Mekong delta trip (B,L,D)

rice popcorn are made. A delicious lunch will be served at Le Longanier, a superb Indochina villa located in a lush tropical plantation, by the river. On the river banks, you will observe some very large rice fields while cruising between numerous suspended fishing nets, an ancestral way of fishing in the Mekong Delta. The cruise will end at around 3pm at Phu Nhuan Bridge near Cai Lay. Then we will drive back to Saigon in the late afternoon. Tonight we will have a big farewell dinner at the Royal Court restaurant in the Rex Hotel. Overnight in Saigon.

After breakfast, you will have a little time for last minute shopping or sleeping in until the transfer to the airport for your flight home. Have a safe trip!

Day 11: Saigon Departure (B)

B: Breakfast L: Lunch D: Dinner.

Price based on double occupancy, per person, land only. This promotion is for travel from January until 31 October 2009.