VIETNAM CHEF 12 DAYS

After breakfast, there will be a group meeting in the hotel foyer. Say farewell to the cycling group. Depart hotel for Hanoi city tour. You will visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, which includes his former residence, Presidential Palace, and One Pillar Pagoda. You will have a tea break at a local Tea House, where you will listen to the Vietnamese Tea Culture and then visit the Temple of Literature – the first University of Vietnam.

Lunch at KOTO, a non-profit restaurant where trainees practise the skills that they have learnt in classes at the training centre. They interact with customers and practise their English and work as a team to develop their hospitality skills and increase their confidence.

In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour in the Hanoi Old quarter. There are thousand things to see, smell and feel. Then you will be transferred to the Hoa Sua Vocational Training School which is a non-profit organisation for disadvantaged youth. The cooking teachers will bring their excellent cooking skills to you in a fun environment. We will take a tour around the school, meet and talk with the kids before starting our cooking class.

We will learn how to cook the following Vietnamese dishes:

1. Lotus root and shrimp salad 2. Fresh spring rolls with shrimp and pork 3. Char-grilled pork balls with rice noodle 4. Sweetened lotus seed doughnuts Finally we will have dinner enjoying the delicious food prepared in the cooking class.

Free you time at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

Breakfast at hotel. We depart for Ha Long city (170 km), approximately three hours away to visit Halong bay (a World Natural Heritage site and a New World’s wonder). Halong bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes with 1969 islets. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves, other support floating villages of fishermen. You have chance of observing scenic country side of Vietnam dominated by enormous lush rice field.

Upon arrival. Check-in between 11:30 - 12:00 at the boat port. Enjoy a refreshing “Welcome cocktail” upon check-in on the sun deck. Enjoy your lunch as the vessel sails to Halong Bay passing the Fighting cocks islet, the Elephant leg islet, the Castle islet, the Soi Sim Island. Arrive at Surprise grotto - one of the most famous grotto in the entire Halong, we will visit the cave by Tender. After taking a lot of photos and admire the beauty of the cave we will visit the fishing village by local rowing boat (1 hour) with the opportunity to interact with fishermen who have been living in the bay for almost three generations then we return to the vessel for free time at your leisure. You can swim in the clear emerald waters, soak up the sun over a cool beer on the top deck sun lounge or try your hand at some kayaking (your account) amongst the huge limestone outcrops that surround us. We retire to the junk and relax on the top deck and enjoy a refreshing drink from the bar. Enjoy and learn the Vietnamese cooking demonstration on the sundeck. Your delicious seafood dinner will be served at the restaurant. Stay overnight on cruise for a more in-depth experience.

(The itinerary above may be changed depending on the cruise we choose and weather permitting).

Greet the day with a morning Tai Chi exercise with an opportunity to view the sunrise over the bay. Sitting on the upper desk we can enjoy the breath - taking beauty of the rocky islands rising from the crystal-clear water of the bay. We can hear the birds singing, cicadas chirping ashore and the gentle lapping of the waves against our boat, the perfect soundtrack to accompany the fresh air and gentle breeze.

International brunch buffet served in the restaurant. Check-out on board and disembarkation at boat port. Our tour guide and driver will pick you up then transfer to airport to take a short domestic flight to Da Nang (01 hour).

Upon arrival Da Nang airport, you are welcome and then be transferred to Hoian ancient town (35km). Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Hoian.

Breakfast at hotel. Your cooking class teacher Duc Tram will take you on a food adventure in his now decade old Mango Rooms’ restaurant. The cooking class starts first thing in the morning at the food markets, where Chef Duc will select ingredients for the days’ lesson. The fish market, its incredible diversity of specimens (and overwhelming smell!), is always a hive of activity. Straight from the market into the kitchen where you will learn to make some of Chef Duc’s signature dishes, such as Lust in Translation: tuna rolls double layered with nori and rice paper sheets served crispy and topped with yogurt, passion fruit, and mint; Pearl of Vietnam Sea, large prawns battered Japanese- Vietnamese Style tossed in with onion, green bell pepper, garlic, and butter.

Following the class, sit down to enjoy your creations.

Afternoon. We will enjoy Amazing Sunset Cocktail cruise on Thu Bon river. Admire a glorious sunset while enjoying cocktails with family and friends. A perfect way to start the evening. The sun is low in the sky and the wind is gentle. Excellent calm water cruising. A complimentary cocktail is served upon boarding, having some snack and setting the scene for the unforgettable evening ahead. On board, we also served food with set menus and A la carte menu, so you can order your dinner.

Free your time to relax or discover the hidden charm of Hoian town.

This is a free day !

We suggest heading into town and experiencing the 18th C merchants’ houses; rent a bike and ride down to the beach; buy silk and inspect the local handicrafts and galleries.

Breakfast at hotel. We leave Hoian to Hue (145km). On the way, you’ll have a brief look at the remarkable Hindu statuary in the Cham museum - One of the largest collection of Cham sculpture and artwork in the world. The museum is officially known as the Museum of Champa Sculpture. We will explore a nearby stone-cutting craft village.

Lunch will be in the traditional Garden House of Y Thao. Set in a lush green garden near the Citadel, it is a charming and beautiful ancient house filled with collectibles.

We continue to visit Imperial Citadel. The citadel reflects the pomp and ceremony of the dynastic rulers as well as the scars of war, both ancient and modern. We will be taken by cyclo through Dai Noi ‘Old City’ to Tinh Tam Lake, where the Emperors used to go for relaxation; full of lotus flowers in Summer there are many local style coffee shops around the lake where university students come to study.

Dinner at Les Jardin De Carambole. Free you time at leisure. Overnight in Hue.

Breakfast at hotel. This morning an excursion boat trip along the romantic Perfume river carries us through a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes, where Hue’s best known religious sites are located. We will visit Thien Mu pagoda - one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious work ship in Hue. We continue to visit the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes. This impressive landmark reflects the beautiful architecture, intricate decor and mysterious statues. Afterwards we take a short drive though the rolling hill to see the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc - One of the most beautifully designed complexes among the tombs of the Nguyen dynasty. Embedded in a lush pine forest, this tomb is the final resting place of Emperor Tu Duc (1848-83) who had the longest reign of all emperors of the Nguyen dynasty.

Experience first hand the unique cuisine style of Hue via a cooking class that introduces you to the smaller, more spicy portions that emerged as part of the diet demanded by the aristocrats of the area. The class will be conducted in the beautiful Tha Om Garden House.

The sightseeing continues with a walk to the bustling Dong Ba market - fantastic to wander boulevards, verdant parks and ochre buildings that retain an old-world around. It sells all manner of items and is a lively place to spend a couple charm, Dong Ba is also famous for the best conical hats in Vietnam.

Free your time at leisure and overnight in Hue.

Straight after breakfast we all transfer to Phu Bai airport for the morning flight to Saigon. A guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel.

This afternoon a city tour will take you to the Reunification Hall. Few buildings in Vietnam more strongly distil the intense history of the country over the past two hundred years. Occupied by the French, then the Japanese, by the King of South Vietnam and since 1975 by the Communist Regime that still rules the country, the Reunification Hall is a fascinating building to visit.We will visit the War Remnant Museum, Old Post Office, the Notre Dame Cathedral.

In the evening experience the buzz of Ho Chi Minh City like a local, from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter. Stops include a traditional quan where locals congregate for their evening meal of street food, and a Vietnamese-style coffee shop. The evening will conclude at a club listening to acoustic music. This tour runs in the evenings from approximately 1800-2200.

Free you time at leisure. Overnight in Saigon.

Breakfast at hotel. Journey south to the Mekong delta, known as the ‘rice bowl of Vietnam’, and spend a full day exploring one of Vietnam’s most fertile regions and the main cultivation area of rice and tropical fruits.

Our tour will take you by bicycle through quaint villages, along countless canals and alongside emerald green rice fields. We will stop to visit traditional craft workshops and cruise along a tributary of the Mekong by boat. We will stop at a fruit farm run by a war veteran who will welcome us into his home, tell stories and let us enjoy the orchard.

Lunch is at a beautifully preserved century old colonial family home where we will enjoy cuisine unique to the Mekong Delta. En-route we will visit traditional manufacturers of turmeric spring roll paper and roof thatching made from the water palm tree. We will return back to Saigon city.

Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Saigon.

Pick up at your hotel and transfer to the Vietnam Cookery Centre. Be welcomed by the Chef, the MC and other school staff. The MC will share with you some anecdotes about the evolution of the Cuisine and the Culinary Art of Vietnam throughout the years. He will also detail the roots of the Cuisine prevailing in each of the three main regions of Vietnam; explain the set up of an original Vietnamese kitchen, the traditions, the Etiquette and the historical influences on Vietnamese food. After preparing the first part of the food you will have time to enjoy it. Have a short break before the class continues and you get hands-on the second part. The menu varies depending on the day of the week and classes last three hours, after which you will be given a 5-recipe manual with what you learn during the day and a class certificate.

We drive to Cu Chi district, 50 km to the northwest of Saigon city. The incredible underground network in Cu Chi stretched over 200 kilometers and became legendary during the American war. The extensive tunnels have been specially constructed with living areas, storage facilities, weapon factories, filed hospitals, command canter, plus accommodation. Upon arrival to the Cu Chi tunnels, watch a short introductory video showing how they were constructed, then spend the next hour exploring the maze of tunnels, you will even have a chance to crawl through the tunnels. Also on display are various mantraps, the remains of an American tank and numerous bomb craters made by 500 pound bombs dropped by B52 bombers. For those interested there's even the opportunity to fire off rounds from an AK47 or MK16 at the nearby rifle range.

Enjoy your farewell dinner on Bon Sai Cruise, cruise along Saigon river, enjoy your dishes and listening to traditional folk music, sing and dance. Ywill have relaxation-time to catch the over view of the city, people working at Saigon port. Along both sides of the river are mansions, life of the civilians…Overnight in Saigon.

Breakfast at hotel. Free your time to discover Saigon streets or shopping at Ben Thanh market - the symbol of Ho Chi Minh city until you are transferred to the Tan Son Nhat airport for your departure flight.