Taste of Vietnam, Vietnam food Tour and culinary vacation by Explorient

PERFECT FOR:

  • Food Lovers & Culinary Enthusiasts
  • Travelers who enjoy nature & culture
  • First time travelers to Vietnam or Southeast Asia
  • Those seeking a unique luxury vacation experience
  • Active Travelers

A Private Luxury Foodies Tour of Vietnam – Hanoi, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta

11 Days / 10 Nights – Tour Code (VNC) – Land Only – Daily departure

Designed for the avid foodie and discerning traveler who demand only the best, this extraordinary culinary tour features a luxurious, tantalizing and cultural-inspiring vacation experience of Vietnam like no other. This epicurean adventure boasts a myriad of spectacular sights, exotic culture, Asia’s finest hotels, mouth-watering cuisines plus a chance to bring home Vietnam’s best-kept culinary secrets by taking part in some fun-filled hands-on cooking led by each region’s top chefs.

Your introduction to Vietnam begins with Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, a city of lakes, shaded boulevards and sidewalk cafes where charm and sophistication fill the air. With narrow alleyways lined with shop-houses, art galleries and food stalls, the Old Quarters is as an enchanting place to wander for the visitor and local alike. After touring the city’s “must-sees”, we go off-the-beaten-path and dive into Hanoi’s deep-rooted food culture visiting local markets and sampling street fares in hidden alleys and local hangouts. Then, melt away any remaining stress on board a luxury Junk cruising Halong Bay’s stunning seascape dotted with thousands of karst towers amid emerald waters.

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Vietnam Foodies Tour, Hanoi, Hoi An, Saigon

TOUR INCLUDES:

  • 10 nights luxury hotel & Cruise accommodations per itinerary
  • All domestic flights within Vietnam
  • Hotel Breakfasts Daily
  • Meticulously crafted meals at select dining venues (food only)
  • Two Vietnamese Culinary Lessons per itinerary
  • Private Tour: Sightseeing & Transfers by private car, driver and Professional Guides

HANOI (3 nights)

  • 3 nights at Sofitel Metropole Legend Hotel
  • Private Cooking lesson at Hanoi Cooking Center with market visit
  • Private sightseeing & “Food Tour” per itinerary

HALONG BAY (1 night)

  • 1 night on board the Paradise Elegance Cruise
  • Daily Shore Excursions
  • Gourmet meals on board

HOI AN (3 nights)

  • 3 nights at Hotel Royal Hoi An by MGallery
  • Private afternoon cooking lesson at Vy’s Market Restaurant with market visit
  • Private sightseeing including tour of Hoi An Town by Cyclo and a countryside tour by bicycle

HO CHI MINH CITY (3 nights)

  • 3 nights at Hotel Des Arts Saigon | Intercontinental Asiana Hotel
  • Extensive private sightseeing including Saigon city tour, Cu Chi Tunnels and excursion to Mekong Delta
  • Saigon Night Foodies Tour
  • Uncommon “Dining in the Dark” Experience at Noir Restaurant
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Vietnamese Cuisine
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Local Fruit Vendor, Ho Chi Minh City
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Old Town, Hoi An

 

Day 1 Arrive Hanoi
Upon arrival in Hanoi, transfer to your hotel

Day 2 Hanoi
Today’s visits include the One Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th century constructed of wood on a single stone pillar; Hoan Kiem Lake a beautiful lake located in the heart of Hanoi; Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (closed Mondays & Fridays and from September – November), the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh; The Opera House, Temple of literature and the Old Quarters, a colorful marketplace where one can buy anything from herbal medicines to silk garments to gold jewelry. Afterwards, proceed to NghiTam Street and Yen Phu road in Tay Ho district to sample local Vietnamese favorites such as Pho (soup noodles), Banh Cuon (steamed rice rolls), coffee and other mouth watering street fares. Visit the Frog market in Nghi Tam Street before returning to your hotel. This evening, enjoy dinner at Ngong Villa Restaurant located in the heart of Hanoi. (B,L,D)

Day 3 Hanoi
This morning, take part in a fun-filled Vietnamese Cooking Lesson at Hanoi Cooking Center (Hcc) nestled on the edge of Hanoi’s famous old quarter. Hanoi Cooking Centre offers hands-on cooking classes and short courses in a relaxed atmosphere, designed by chef Tracey Lister, co-author of KOTO – A Culinary Journey Through Vietnam. After a short orientation, take a short walk to the Chau Long Market for a glimpse of various bizarre foods and local delicacies. Upon returning to the cooking school, get ready to enhance your culinary repertoire preparing your multi-course Vietnamese meal led by your expert chef. Return to your hotel and enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure. (B,L)

Day 4 Hanoi / Halong Bay Cruise 
This morning, travel outside Hanoi’s hustle and bustle to UNESCO Halong Bay. Board your traditional junk for a spectacular cruise around UNESCO Halong Bay. Enjoy visits to islands in the bay and a cooking demonstration. Lunch & Dinner are served on board. (B,L,D)

Day 5 Halong Bay Cruise / Hoi An 
For early the riser, a Tai Chi class is offered on the sundeck again to ease mind and muscles as  the boat sets sail Titop Island. If you’re up for it, climb up to the hill top of Titop Island from where you have stunning views over Halong Bay (it is 400 stone steps up which takes about 20 minutes to the top). Return back to the cruise where a full breakfast is served as we sail back to the harbor. Upon disembarkation, transfer for Hanoi airport for your afternoon flight to Danang. Continue to Hoi An and check-in to your hotel for your next 3 nights’ accommodations. This evening, enjoy Dinner at Soul Kitchen. (B)

Day 6  Hoi An
Enjoy a morning tour of Hoi An’s beautiful Old Town. This exquisitely preserved merchant town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Its colorful shophouses and temples reflect a diverse heritage dating back to the 16th and 17th century, when it was a major port for Western, Chinese and Japanese traders. Here, wander through the cobbled streets, past low tile-roofed buildings, the bustling central market and the small harbour where colourfully painted boats are moored. The walking tour will include visits to a private house, where members of the same family have lived continuously for centuries in a traditional setting; to one of the family chapels built by prominent merchants and official families as centres for ancestor worship; and to a typical Chinese-style Pagoda or assembly hall. Continue to Sa Huynh Museum containing exhibits from the earliest period of Hoi An’s history followed by the Japanese Covered Bridge constructed in 1593 by the Japanese community of Hoi. Board a local boat and cruise down the Thu Bon River, enjoying the unspoiled countryside, visiting a local village en-route. Afternoon at leisure to relax and explore Hoi An on your own. (B)

Day 7  Hoi An
This morning, enjoy a bicycle tour to Tra Que Village to learn about botanic, farming and enjoy the nice surroundings of local life at the countryside. The visit will follow with a tour of Vy’s Market Restaurant watching live cooking demonstrations with many food tastings followed by a 2-hour hands on cooking class to prepare your very own Vietnamese lunch. Later, visit a small and cozy coffee shop in the town to learn about Vietnamese coffee culture and the entire process of coffee making, from bean to cup. Sample a variety of house-roasted coffee before returning to your hotel. Enjoy the balance of the afternoon at leisure to shop, relax or further explore charming Hoi An on your own. (B,L)

Day 8 Hoi An /  Ho Chi Minh City
Transfer for your flight to HCM City. Upon arrival, commence a fascinating walking tour of Old Saigon. Visit a thriving local market to see how these bustling and vibrant markets play a major role in the daily lives of Vietnamese people. From here stroll through the colourful back alleyways lined with flower shops and breathe in the aromas of the freshly cut blooms. Pass through another street where mechanics specialise in restoring vintage Vespa scooters. Take in the scenes of local life as you wander these narrow lanes. Stop for a refreshing traditional iced at the oldest coffee shop in Saigon, this old fashioned establishment has a colourful history stretching back over seven decades. Continue the walk through some other back lanes the go along to another famous street filled with shops selling locally-made guitars. This evening, embark on a unique culinary experience at the Noir Restaurant where your dinner will be served in complete darkness. This fascinating “Dining in the Dark” experience boasts a sensory overload where smell, taste, touch and sounds unite to bring you a completely new journey of the senses. (B,D)

Day 9 Ho Chi Minh City
Today’s tour brings you to the remarkable Cu Chi Tunnels, an important base during the Vietnam War, due to its strategic location. The Vietcong built a 200km long network of tunnels connecting command posts, hospitals, shelter and weapon factories. Dug out of hard laterite by hand tools without the use of cement, this amazing network was never discovered during the war. Afternoon at leisure. This evening, head to the Ben Thanh market in the early evening, to our meeting point at Pho 2000, and get ready to be fully immersed in the bustling streets of Saigon, and its world-famous street food culture. Hit the streets with your guide and head to the sidewalk stalls most popular with locals. Enjoy this lively and informal atmosphere alongside locals, sampling special dishes and popular local favourites. Try the Vietnamese version of pizza, banh trang nuong, with tasty toppings on grilled rice paper, and the famous banh mi, an airy baguette loaded with a medley of meats, vegetables and spices. Visit Saigon’s walking street, a popular meeting point for Saigon’s youth, then cap off the evening with a cocktail at one of the city’s lively rooftop bars while enjoying panoramic night views of the city below. (B,D)

Day 10 Ho Chi Minh City (Mekong Delta)
Today enjoy an excursion to the Mekong Delta at Cai Be, a small town with an elegant Neo-Romanesque Cathedral at the town center recalling the presence of the French colonialists back in the 19th century. Board the Cai Be Princess to cruise down the Mekong River. Observe river life along the banks and explore a local village in which local families are running age-old cottage industries making traditional treats such as dried longans, rice pancakes and puffed rice candies. Here, mingle with the locals with a chance to sample these local delicacies. Continue the trip across a main flow of the mighty Mekong then follow narrow waterways through peaceful lush green orchards as well as lively scenes well inhabited sections of canals. Disembark at Vinh Long and return to Saigon by vehicle. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. (B,L)

Day 11 Depart Ho Chi Minh City
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departure flight onwards. (B)

****END OF PROGRAM****

2022/23 Price Chart (Prices valid through March 31st, 2023)

Hotel

Twin Sharing Single Supplement
LS HS LS HS
As specified above 5,300 5,525 2,175 2,535
Tour requires minimum of 2 passengers to operate

  • Low Season (LS) May- September
  • High Season (HS) October – April
  • Prices are per person, based on double occupancy
  • Price includes all entrance fees, hotel taxes, domestic airfares and departure taxes per itinerary
  • Holiday surcharges and blackout dates apply between Dec 20 – Jan 10. Contact us for details.
  • Price excludes personal expenses, beverages, gratuities to guides and drivers
  • A visa is required for Vietnam. Not included in package
  • All services are subject to availability at time of reservation

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Two Vietnamese Culinary Lessons
  • Hanoi’s Old Quarters & Night Foodies Tour
  • Overnight Luxury Cruise of Halong Bay
  • Hoi An Countryside Tour by Bicycle
  • Mekong River Cruise on board the Cai Be Princess
  • “Dining in the Dark” at Noir Restaurant
  • Saigon Night Foodies Tour

  Price Starting From:
   $5,300

RELATED TOURS

ACCOMMODATIONS

Sofitel Metropole, Luxury Vietnam Vacations

Hanoi – Sofitel Legend Metropole

Intercontinental Asiana, Vietnam Vacations

HCM City – InterContinental Asiana 

Paradise Elegance, luxury Halong Cruise Tours

Halong Bay – Paradise Elegance Cruise

Hotel Des Arts Saigon, Vietnam Holiday packages

HCM City – Des Arts Saigon Hotel

Hotel Royal Hoi An, Vietnam Vacations

Hoi An – Hotel Royal Hoi An by MGallery

WHAT PRIVATE TOUR MEANS

Explorient

TESTIMONIALS

"“We were so impressed with the countries and the wealth of information the guides provided. I could go on forever and ever about the guides’ willingness to go above and beyond the necessary….Thanks so much for helping us have a great summer vacation!””
Nancy Myers - Pennsylvania
August 2005 (Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand)
"Best trip ever! My husband and I just returned from three glorious weeks in Southeast Asia. We both agree that this was our best trip ever. Kervin's attention to details made our travels easy and seamless. We loved the personal service we received and the activities he included. We can't wait to plan another adventure with Kevin and Explorient!”
Katherine Tedeschi - Massachusetts
January 2019 (Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand)
"“I want to thank you so much for helping me create the perfect itinerary that is perfect for me…Everything was perfect – the hotels, private junk, guides, drivers and all the little details. If I ever book a trip anywhere in Asia again, you can be sure I will give you a call”””
Aileen & Ethel Ong - Canada
2009 - 2019 (Multiple Trips)