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Vietnam Culinary Discovery Tour - 11 Days

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Tour code: ASW-ST-CK01

Duration: 11 days

Destination: Hanoi / Halong Bay / Hoi An / Saigon / Mekong Delta / Cu Chi Tunnels

US$ 0 per person

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Just as Vietnamese cuisine is all about yin and yang, this trip is well-balanced. Experience guided tours through local markets, test your skills in cooking classes, and enjoy lavish meals at some of the country’s best restaurants.

trip highlight
  • Welcome Dinner with traditional Vietnamese music will give you a first taste of Vietnamese cuisine and their culture
  • Half-day cooking course at Hanoi Cooking Center and a short trip to the nearby Chau Long Market
  • Enjoy a cooking demonstration on the sundeck of Halong Bay's cruise
  • Full day cooking tour in Hoi An, learning to cook some of the best Vietnamese dishes
  • Half-day cooking class at  Vietnam Cookery Center in Saigon and visit Cu Chi tunnels

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Day 1: Arrive Hanoi

Meal: Dinner

 

Hanoi, the country's capital has just celebrated its 1000 year anniversary. The city owns a long history, cultural richness and hospitality, which can be seen plenty charming facade, temples, pagodas and street insights. Hanoi is without doubt, one of Asia's most beautiful cities.

Upon your arrival at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi, we will meet you with the Welcoming Board and then escort you to your hotel. We leave the rest of the day to you to relax from a long flight.

Evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner with traditional Vietnamese music will give you a first taste of Vietnamese cuisine and their culture.

Stay overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Cooking class – City tour & Evening Hanoi street food tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

You will be picked up around 8.00am and driven to the Hanoi Cooking Centre for an half-day cooking course. The centre is the best place in Hanoi to gain a hands-on understanding of Vietnamese cuisine, and its long-time expatriate owner has written many cook books about Vietnam’s best-known dishes. Sip a welcome tea on arrival, as your chef and guide explains the basics about the dishes you’re about to make. Walk to nearby Chau Long Market and stroll among hundreds of stalls selling everything from pumpkins to silkworms. Take in all the smells, and pause for photographs with the vendors!

Then it’s hands-on as you return to the centre and learn how to make a traditional dish. You also have the option to purchase many of the tools and spices used during the class. Enjoy your lunch with your own cooked dishes.

This afternoon, you will take a guided tour to visit Ho Chi Minh House on stilts, Ho Chi Minh Museum and the famous One Pillar Pagoda which is built of wood on a single stone pillar 1.25 m in diameter. After that, continue to visit the Temple of Literature (Vietnamese name is Quoc Tu Giam) – The Vietnam’s first University, which which was built in 1070 in honor of Confucius, his followers and Chu Van An, a moral figure in Vietnamese education.

In the evening, sample Hanoi specialties in a street-food tour of its old quarter. Feast on a Vietnamese-style BBQ, and stop at a street famous for serving gas beer, or “bia hoi,” the famous local brew. Finish a day with a stop at the city’s most famous ice-cream parlour, and return to your hotel by about 8pm.

Stay overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi – Halong – Cooking demonstration on cruise.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

This morning we depart to Halong Bay. After a 3,5 hour drive through the Red River Delta with a stop on the way. We board our boat by the time we arrive Halong Bay, enjoy a welcome drink followed by a special lunch on board while cruising to through a maze of islands .We also disembark the boat to climb up a mountain to visit a beautiful limestone cave before anchoring in a tranquil cove for swimming.

Evening, cooking demonstration will be on the sundeck. Let's see how to make the fresh/fried spring rolls and mix fish-sauce. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 4: Halong – Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

 

We will be waken up by a dawn chorus then join with the others for the Taichi Class on sundeck. Breakfast will be served before cruising to a floating village where we start kayaking to the hidden lagoons. Brunch on board before heading back to the pier then drive back to Ha Noi for overnight stay.

Day 5: Hanoi – Danang – Hoian

things to do in hoi anMeals: Breakfast and Lunch

 

After breakfast, transfer to airport to take a flight to Hoi An Ancient Town, an UNESCO World Heritage site. On arrival, pick up and transfer to visit Cham Museum and Marble Mountain in Da Nang before drive to Hoi An and spend the afternoon for a walking tour around this enchanting port town of Hoi an, follow the narrow lanes lined with centuries-old houses influenced by Chinese, Japanese, French and European architectures and visit its numerous places of interest: the 400-year old Japanese Covered Bridge, the Phuc Kien Assembly Halls, the Tan Ky old house, the local market…

Around the town you can see numerous art galleries and tailor shops. You are also free to get some made-to-order clothes if you like.

Stay overnight in Hoi An.

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Day 6: Hoian full day cooking tour

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

 

Cooking class in Hoi An is the great way to understand the culture of this ancient town. A full- day cooking class at The Red Bridge Restaurant & Cooking School will teach you from start to finish of 4 famous Vietnamese dishes including ‘Beef Noodle Soup (Pho) & Clay Pot Fish with Dill (Cha Ca). The tour is a fun and interesting way to learn about the local food. Visit Tra Que organic herb gardens, purchase ingredients at the local village market, 3 hours of in-depth hands on cooking, lunch, and return trip to Hoi An by boat.

Stay overnight in Hoi an.

Day 7: Hoian free at leisure

Meal: Breakfast

 

Enjoy your whole free day at hotel for swimming and sunbathing or choose optional diving tour at Cham Island or fishing tour or farming tour in Hoi An town .

Stay overnight in Hoi An

Day 8: Hoian – Danang – Saigon city tour

ho chi minh city Notre Dame CathedralMeal: Breakfast

 

Morning, pick up and transfer to the airport for a flight to Ho Chi Minh (other name: Saigon) is Vietnam's largest and most populated city. It is the heart of the country's commerce and the centre of culture. Ho Chi Minh City is an impressive mix of the ancient and the modern. It features ancient pagodas and temples alongside old wooden shops that sell merchandise such as silk and spices.

Afternoon, visit Reunification Palace formerly known as Independence Palace, built on the site of the former Norodom Palace, is a landmark in Ho Chi Minh City.

ho chi minh city War Remnants MuseumNext stop is the War Remnants Museum, operated by the Vietnamese government, an incipient form of museum opened on September 4, 1975, as the "Exhibition House for US and Puppet Crimes, located in the premises of the former United States Information Agency building. Continue to visit City Hall, Ho Chi Minh Monument and Central Post Office which was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the early 20th century. Right nearby, you can see Notre Dame Cathedral, a magnificent building located in the heart of the city and was established by French colonists.

Stay overnight in Saigon.

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Day 9: Saigon half day cooking & Cu Chi tunnel tour

what to eat in hoi anMeals: Breakfast and Lunch

 

Morning cooking lesson at the Vietnam Cookery Center : the hands-on cooking course is conducted by a professional chef and translated by a MC who will explain the teaching of the chef and talk about the history and culture of Vietnamese cuisine. The lesson includes a market visit and lunch.

In the afternoon, continue our trip to visit the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, an incredible underground tunnel network constructed by Vietnamese resistance fighters during the long struggle for independence. It was an underground city with living areas, kitchens, storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, command centers. In places, it was housed up to 10,000 people who virtually lived underground for years.... getting married, giving birth.  Drive back Saigon for stay overnight.

Day 10: Full day Mekong delta tour

mekong delta cai rang floating marketMeals: Breakfast and Lunch

 

Travel to Vinh Long, a province located in the Mekong River Delta of southern Vietnam. Upon arrival, take a boat trip to explore the colorful Cai Be floating market, where you can observe all of busy trading activities of local traders with several kinds of agricultural product from one boat to another. You then continue the cruise to a local factory to visit and learn how pop rice, pop corn, rice paper and coconut candies are made. You also have an opportunity to taste these products served with hot green tea. Returning to the boat for an excursion to Dong Hoa Hiep Island and discover the beautiful and peaceful sceneries together with the typical life of the region along the Mekong River.

Drive back Saigon in the afternoon and check in hotel for the rest. Stay overnight in Saigon.

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Day 11: Departure Saigon

Meal: Breakfast 

 

Free time for shopping before transfer to the airport for flight back home.

It’s time to say goodbye, we thank you for travelling with us and warmly welcome you to come again.

Services end.

What's Included:
  • 9 nights at centrally located & well selected Comfort hotels (3 star-hotel). 
    [Superior (4 star-hotel), Luxury (5- star hotel), High-end (best of the best hotel) properties are also available upon request ] 
  • 1 night on board in Halong bay 
  • 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches & 3 dinners 
  • Cooking classes and entrance fee and sightseeing fee as listed in the itinerary
  • Experienced English speaking tour guide (other languages upon request) 
  • All relevant transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicles
  •    Private boat in the Mekong delta
  •    Visa pre-approval letter (complimentary)
  •    Drinking water & tissue and Asianway's gifts (complimentary) 
  • Local taxes & Service charge
What's Excluded:
  • Domestic flight tickets with airport tax  ( see reference below)
  • Visa stamp fee (required upon arrival)
  • All drink and meals do not listed in itinerary.
  • Peak season or Public holidays surcharge if any 
  • Insurance, gratuities and personal expenses.
  • Tipping for guide, driver and hotel bell boys, etc.

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Service Details During The Trip

We’ll immerse you in the diverse cultures of Vietnam by showcasing the unique local flavors. And with the perfect balance of included sightseeing and free time, you can customize your dream vacation with the things you have always wanted to do.


  • Private Local Tour Guide You will have legally licensed local tour guide in each destination, from welcome and farewell you at the airport. Your guide will guide, help, assist and taking care of you in order to make your tour worry-free. The good guide for you means we arrange the right guide. Asianwaytravel.com will arrange tour guide base on the feature of the itinerary and consists of the group, to maximize your experiences in traveling.

  • Private Drivers & Vehicle Safety is first priority for transportation. A well maintained good condition car with legal business licensed and an experienced driver to make sure you are in safe hands. To maximize your comfort and joyful experience with driving service, cold drinking water, cold towel and soft drink are provided in the car.

private

  • Local Flavor Meals Don’t worry about meals; we select both restaurants and menus for you. Asianwaytravel.com will select clean and good environment restaurants for our customer. Menu is also carefully selected by us to ensure you try different food every meal.
    We will recommend and arrange local cuisine since it is part of the cultural experience while traveling. We also recommend dinners are free on your own so you can choose your favorite food by yourself under necessary assistance of your local guide.

  • Well-Selected Hotels Comfort and good value is our priority for choosing hotels for our customers. Comfort of mattress and bedding, joyful decoration style, user friendly facilities, good service and good breakfast!

meals

Travel Visa

Most countries in South East Asia require you to obtain a visa. Please check carefully with your travel specialist regarding specific visa requirements for each country you plan to visit as the legislation does change frequently. Thailand offers a free visa on arrival to most nationalities. Other countries including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar offer a “visa-on-arrival” service which requires you to pay a fee at the airport, or you may prefer to obtain this in advance through the relevant embassy or a visa agent. For visa-on-arrival in Vietnam, you must submit some paperwork before you arrive.

This is an option to get your visa for Vietnam instead of getting visa at the Vietnam consulate in your country.


  • Step 1: Provide us your application details
     • Your full name (as exactly seen on your passport)
     • Your gender
     • Your date of birth
     • Your nationality
     • Your passport number
     • Your passport expiration dates ( valid for at least 6 months)
     • Date of arrival ( dd/mm/yy)
     • Date of exit (dd/mm/yy)
     • Arrival airport
  • Step 2: Process your visa information into a visa application
    We will contact you for reviewing your visa information and then submit your application on your behalf to Vietnam Immigration department and follow other procedures pursuant to the regulations of Immigration department to get Visa approval letter granted by Immigration department.

visa

Step 3: Send the visa approval letter via email to you after 2 working days
After we obtain the visa approval letter from the Immigration department for you, we will forward you a scanned copy of it by email (Your visa information then have been recorded to the Visa system of the Vietnam Immigration department).

Step 4: Get your visa stamp on your arrival
Just print the approval letter out, prepare 2 passport sized photos and an amount of USD for stamping fee ($45 for single entry visa; $65 for 1 month multiple entry visa and $95 for 3 multiple entry visa). Put all above mentioned things along with your passport in a package, then show them to Immigration officer at Vietnam arrival airports.

Upon arrival at Vietnam’s airport, expect a simple form to fill in (or you can download here to fill beforehand), present the visa approval letter, passport, photos to the Immigration officer inside the counter and look for a place to hear your name be called to get the passport back and pay for the stamping fee. The actual process takes around 15 minutes without hassle or trouble.

What are the differences between this process and getting visa at Vietnam embassies?
It is only applicable for those who travel to Vietnam by air. You only need fill out the visa application form online instead of visiting the Vietnam embassies or sending documents to Embassies over by post.The online visa application does not require sending your passport away.You get a visa approval letter issued by Vietnam Immigration Department indicating that you are allowed to enter Vietnam and have your visa stamped upon arrival at one of Vietnam international airports.

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