From Hanoi to Saigon: Vietnam Culinary Discovery | Authentic Tour – 14 Days

Start/End: Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh city
Visit: Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hai Phong – Lan Ha bay – Hoi An – Hue – Ho Chi Minh city – Tay Ninh – Ben Tre
Duration: 14 Days
Travel style: Most popular, Good food, Family
Category: Private tour
Tour schedule: Daily departure
Tour guide in: English, Français, Español, Deutsch, Italiano

Day 1,Hanoi35km – 0.75hr
Welcome to Hanoi
Landing at the Noi Bai airport, you are welcomed by professional tour guide and driver at the pickup lobby. Enjoy 45-minute driving to the city center (Hanoi Old Quarter) with city’s briefing information about the most visited spots, culture, traffic and cuisine….Arrive in your hotel, check in and have a rest.

Note: Hotel check in time at 14.00

Included:
English speaking guide
Private transportation
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Hanoi Boutique Hotel(Deluxe Room)
7 Ngo Gach street, Hoan Kiem district, Ha Noi City, Vietnam
https://www.hanoiboutiquehotel.vn

Day 2,Hanoi
Visiting the Temple of literature, Tran Quoc Pagoda treasure, Hoa Lo Prison museum and enjoying amazing street food
8:00 AM: Get Pick up by tour guide to the Tran Quoc Buddhism pagoda. It dates back to the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Ly Nam De Dynasty. Take a leisurely walk on a romantic road, crossing West Lake before heading to the Temple of Literature which is best known as the first National University and a World Heritage site.

Continue to the Hoa Lo Prison museum (Hanoi Hilton) which presents Vietnam’s history while the French ruled and the war between Vietnam and the USA.

Travel back to your hotel or the Old Quarter for a rest. At 4:00 PM, your expert guide will escort you for a street food tour.

Enjoy a walk to the Hoan Kiem Lake – the heart of the city. Turn into a small alley Bao Khanh. Your first experience is Banh Cuon. A thin steamed rice flour pancakes filled with minced pork and cloud ear mushrooms served with nuoc cham (a fish-sauce based dipping sauce), fried shallots and fresh herbs. You have an opportunity to make yourself a cake.

After passing the Hanoi Cathedral, built by the French in 1884, we come to Hang Manh Street. The street is famous for Bun Cha Dac Kim. Minced pork and slices of pork belly are grilled over hot coals and served with fish sauce, tangy vinegar, sugar and lime which, when combined, creates a sort of barbecue soup that is eaten with rice vermicelli and fresh herbs. Accompanied by deep-fried spring rolls, this calorie rich dish is served with garlic and chilies on the side for an extra kick.

Hanoi street food tour is not perfectly complete without having a Banh Mi. It is what local people call a fusion sandwich as it originated from the French colonialism days. There are so many banh mi shops but we stop at Banh Mi 25 that is a very cozy homemade shop.

Next stop is Pho (rice noodle soup). Almost all international tourists coming to Vietnam want a chance to enjoy a bowl of Pho in its birthplace, Hanoi. A fragrant rice noodle soup served with fresh herbs that have become popular all over the world. There are two popular variations: pho ga (with chicken) and pho bo (with beef). We highly recommend you try Pho Suong, it is located in a small alley where Hanoians often come for beef noodle soup.

Start by eating and ending with a drink. Walk to Hidden Gem Coffee – a unique home where discarded materials are used not only to protect the environment but also be revived in new artistic values. Enjoy local drinks (egg coffee, honey ginger tea, lemongrass tea or a local beer bottle) before coming back to hotel.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, D
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Hanoi Boutique Hotel(Deluxe Room)
7 Ngo Gach street, Hoan Kiem district, Ha Noi City, Vietnam
https://www.hanoiboutiquehotel.vn

Day 3,Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Hanoi100km – 2h
Biking to Thung La temple and then a boat trip in Van Long Nature Reserve, embroidering experience
8:00 AM: Transfer from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, driving through the picturesque countryside of the Red River Delta, painted by rice and vegetable fields. After a 1.5 hour drive, you will arrive in Van Long where you will meet a typical 3-generation rural family. Be welcomed to their home with a cup of tea and learn about their idyllic local lifestyles through intimate conversation.

Take a 15km bike ride (optional) or walk through the villages. A journey along the dyke will offer you gorgeous landscapes of rice fields, a river and limestone mountains. There are several stops for you to take beautiful photos or encounter the locals then walk to discover Thung La temple, dating back to the 11th century. Meet Mr Tuong, the temple guardian, and enjoy an authentic conversation as well as a 20 minute drum show.

Later, take a sampan boat trip along the stream and among the limestone mountains to discover the beauty of Van Long nature reserve. If lucky, you might get to see white monkeys and egrets on the cliffs. After the boat trip, visit an embroidery village and take part in an embroidery course under the instruction of local craftswoman, Mrs Lam. She will proudly explain the techniques of her traditional craft. This will be a good opportunity for you to practice on fabric like a real craftsman.

End of the day, transfer back to your hotel in Hanoi.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Boat: Van Long
Private transportation
Entrance fees
Bike: Ninh Binh
Leisure: Thung La temple music
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Hanoi Boutique Hotel(Deluxe Room)
7 Ngo Gach street, Hoan Kiem district, Ha Noi City, Vietnam
https://www.hanoiboutiquehotel.vn

Day 4,Hanoi – Hai Phong – Lan Ha bay140km – 2.5h
Cruising from Halong to Lan Ha bay, swimming & kayaking, cooking class
9:00 AM: Pick up at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter). Enjoy two and a half hour drive from Hanoi to Lan Ha Bay on the national highway No5B. Your journey will pass the series of villages and rice fields in the Red River Delta. Have a stop for drink and restroom. Continue driving to the harbor around noon, get warmly welcome at cruise reception.

12:30: You will be taken aboard our support vessel and travel from the wharf via the bay to board our luxurious craft, Peony Cruises. Welcome fresh drinks, cold towels and a special lunch of fresh food and an assortment of appetizing delicacies will be served. You will be enchanted when decadently dining on our luxury junk. Life just doesn’t get better than this! We then set sail for Lan Ha Bay – A member of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays.

15:30: We will visit the Dark and Bright Cave – famous for the pristine natural beauty and poetic, attractive seascape of Lan Ha Bay. Here you will take some photos of the romantic, lyrical local see-sights. This is also the best time for tourists to enjoy bamboo boat and swimming – which is an interesting activity to discover the truest beauty of the limestone mountains and the blue sky of LanHa Bay. Afterwards, visitors immerse in the emerald green water of LanHa Bay with exciting swimming activities or enjoy mini pool with jacuzzi on Peony Cruise.

17:30: Return to Peony Cruise. Enjoy sunset party on Lan Ha Bay. It is an ideal time for photography enthusiasts to capture the stunning moment of sunset at Lan Ha Bay.

19:30: Enjoy a romantic dinner at the restaurant on Peony Cruise.

21:00: Enjoy the nightlife of the bay from the top deck. Immerse yourself in music, enjoying a glass of cocktail from the bar, watching famous films and relaxing on the cruise. Otherwise, you can fish squid with the sailors or simply relax in the room and watch the bay from the balcony.

Overnight on the cruise.

Included:
Shuttle bus: Hanoi – Hai Phong (Got)
English speaking guide (on board)
Meal: B, L, D
Entrance fees
Kayak: Halong
Leisure: Squid fishing,Beach swimming
Cooking class: Halong (on board)
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Peony Cruise – 2D1N(Deluxe Balcony Cabin)
5/33B Pham Ngu Lao street, Hoan Kiem district, Ha Noi City, Vietnam
Website: http://www.peonycruises.com

Day 5,Hai Phong – Lan Ha bay – Hoi An
Exploring Trung Trang Cave, visiting Cat Ba National park, Transferring back to Hanoi for a flight to Danang, Hoi An
6:30-7:30: Breakfast is served at Peony Cruise Cruise restaurant.

8:00: Cruise will arrival Frog Pond area, in here you have kayaking and free to relax in the four-season mini pool on Lan Ha Bay – A silk ribbon made from green mountains, blue seas and diverse fauna and flora.

9:30: Checking out of the room. Then the lunch in the restaurant is ready for you, pay the extra fee (if any) at the reception while traveling to the port. Kindly needed to pay for the costs in charge of the front desk (if any) while traveling to the port.

11:15 – 11:30: Disembark and move back the port.

11h30 – 11h45: You are at Tuan Chau International Marina Station

Welcome by driver at the harbor then enjoy 2 and a half hour travel back to Hanoi on the new highway No5B crossing the Red River Delta and villages. Drop off at your hotel (in the Hanoi Old Quarter).

Private driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby (Hanoi Old Quarter) for about 45 minutes to Noi Bai airport (international or domestic hall according to your request). Thanks for the visit to our city.

Note: International flights require you to be at the airport 3 hours and domestic is 2 hours before departure time.

Landing at Da Nang airport you are welcomed by professional tour guide and driver at the pickup lobby.

On the about 30 – 45 minute driving from the airport to your accommodation, your tour guide will introduce you about the city’s highlights and share the experiences of eating and drinking, traffic, culture….

Drive along the beautiful coastline to your hotel, check in and relax.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Private transportation
Entrance fees
Leisure: Morning Tai Chi
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Flight :VN181 (HAN – DAD)/ 16:30 – 17:50 – Vietnam Airlines – Economy / 06 tickets
Phu Thinh Boutique Resort & Spa(Deluxe Room)
488 Cua Dai road, Hoi An city, Quang Nam , Vietnam
http://www.phuthinhhotels.com

Day 6,Hoi An
Full day to visit Hoi An city tour
9:00 AM: Pick up from hotel for Hoi An excursion. Hoi An used to be one of the most typical South-East Asian trading ports dating from the 15th to the 19th century and the Old Town is still well-preserved. The exchanged cultures is displayed on many historic buildings, religion, daily business and enriched by the authentic lifestyle of local inhabitants.

First stop is Cam Pho – one of the oldest communal houses in Hoi An. It was built in the shape of Chinese character means the country for worshipping and trading business and cultural exchange between locality and Chinese, Japanese traders. A non-touristic destination makes your visit more enjoyable and enriched by learning Japanese tea-ceremony or making toys from coconut leafs with local expert.

Leisurely walk to the Hoi An city’s symbol – the Chua Cau or the Japanese Covered Bridge, built in the 17th century to allow the Japanese quarter to be accessible from the Chinese neighborhoods. The bridge’s original style has been carefully preserved for the last 400 years.

Continue walking through the town, immersing into local life and stop at Quan Thang ancient house – one of the most authentic old houses in Hoi An with the lively and fine architecture and sculptures were made by craftsmen of famous Kim Bong carpentry village in the oriental style. The house offers a good look of Hoi An family’s daily life.

Enrich your tour by visit Phuc Kien or Fujian Assembly Hall, built since 17th century, is the gathering place for residents, traders and visitors from a specific area in China called Fujian. It is also a religious site to honor the deity Thien Hau. Spend a visit, you will admire the colorful fountains in the courtyard, the ornate gates surrounding the property and the beautiful carved dragons in the main room.

Finally we go to explore Hoian center market where is the best place to see the local daily life. Situated on the riverside, the large market is packed with stalls where you easily find a huge variety of food at extremely cheap prices. There is also a great fresh vegetable, meat and fish market which is worth visiting.

Rest of the day you are free to discover city or travel back to hotel. End of services.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Phu Thinh Boutique Resort & Spa(Deluxe Room)
488 Cua Dai road, Hoi An city, Quang Nam , Vietnam
http://www.phuthinhhotels.com

Day 7,Hoi An
Enjoying cooking Class: Farming experiences, local market, traditional cuisine cooking and boat trip
Welcome at the Hai Café (98 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An) rendezvous point (Transfer from hotel to meeting point on your own). After briefing, cycle to Tra Que village. We suggest you visit the vegetable garden where the villagers work according to the traditional method. Here, you will find and choose the coriander and fresh mint to prepare your dishes before drinking the local herbs.

Then, you will go to a local market with the list of spices you need, select the local ingredients such as star anise, cardamom, sesame rice papers, banana flowers and return to Red Bridge Restaurant. You will have a chance to refresh before starting the cooking class. Accompanied by the cooks of Red Bridge, you will learn how to make traditional Vietnamese cuisine, using local ingredients to prepare 4 famous dishes including the famous national dish, Pho. After the cooking class, you can taste the dishes you prepared yourselves. Later, you will enjoy a half hour cruise on Thu Bon River back to Hoi An town center. Today’s activities end at around 14:30 PM.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Boat: Thu Bon river
Bike: Hoi An
Cooking class: Hoi An
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Phu Thinh Boutique Resort & Spa(Deluxe Room)
488 Cua Dai road, Hoi An city, Quang Nam , Vietnam
http://www.phuthinhhotels.com

Day 8,Hoi An – Hue125km – 3h
Travelling to Hue, visiting Cham sculpture museum, Hai Van Pass, Thien Mu Pagoda and Hue citadel
8:00 AM: Pick up from hotel then travel to Hue by passing Da Nang along the sea road. Once you arrive in Da Nang, stop to visit the Cham Museum which preserves the most important Cham culture collections in the world. Then, walk to My Khe beach where you can enjoy the view of giant Goodness of Mercy statues in the Linh Ung Pagoda. Take photos of fishermen by the beach then continue driving along the coastline to Hue ancient capital. Make a stop at top of the Hai Van pass to enjoy the breathtaking view of the ocean.

Arrival in Hue, enjoy lunch then visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Hue, dating back to 1601. This is the spiritual highlight of the city and well known for its majestic octagon tower and beautiful view of the Perfume River.

Keep your tour visit the most important sites in city – Hue Citadel, the only vestige symbol for what was once the imperial city of Vietnam. It is inspired by the fortification of Vauban. The city is composed of three parts: Kinh Thanh (the Capital city), Hoang Thanh (the Imperial city) and Cam Thanh (the Forbidden City). The most beautiful sites in Hue are concentrated in this area including the flag tower, the South gate, the palace of supreme Harmony, the Dynasty temple area and the settlement area.

End of the day, check in hotel and enjoy stay in ancient capital.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Rosaleen Boutique Hotel(Deluxe Room)
36 Chu Van An street, Hue city, Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
http://www.rosaleenhotel.com

Day 9,Hue20km – 0.5h
Full day to Explore Hue, Boat trip Huong river, Ming Mang’s tomb, Thuy Bieu village.
Transfer from hotel to visit the Emperor Minh Mang’s tomb, an architectural masterpiece that harmoniously highlights the nature and imperial religious works. The tomb was planned during Minh Mang’s reign (1820–40) but built by his successor, Thieu Tri with the effort of ten thousand workers and artisans.

Continue your trip, take a boat along Huong River (or Perfume River) to Thuy Bieu Village, admire the picturesque landscapes on both sides. After 1 hour, we arrive to Thuy Bieu, well-known for its divine grapefruit trees where you can take a bike around the village under the shade of the grapefruit trees and enjoy their pleasant perfume aroma and the harvested straw. The peaceful atmosphere is in every corner of the village. Then, visit a temple dedicated to the village protector, a traditional garden house built several centuries ago. This is a wonderful opportunity to stop for great photos and interact with the villagers working in the gardens and vegetable fields which should not be missed.

Join in cooking class with Hue’s specialties selected then have lunch in village then transfer back to city in the afternoon. Tour end around 3:00 PM

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Boat: Thuy Bieu – Minh Mang
Private transportation
Entrance fees
Bike: Thuy Bieu
Cooking class: Thuy Bieu
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Rosaleen Boutique Hotel(Deluxe Room)
36 Chu Van An street, Hue city, Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
http://www.rosaleenhotel.com

Day 10,Hue – Ho Chi Minh city
From Hue to Ho Chi Minh City, craft beer discovery by vespa in the evening
In the morning, free & easy at hotel or discover city in your own way. Private driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby (in Hue city center) for about 30 minutes to Phu Bai airport for your flight. Thanks for the visit to our city.

Note: Domestic flight requires you to be at the airport 1.5 hours before departure time.

Landing at the Tan Son Nhat airport, you are welcomed by professional tour guide and driver at the pickup lobby. On the 30-minute driving from the airport to the city center, your tour guide will introduce you about the highlights of the city, and share the experiences of eating and drinking, traffic, culture….

On arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Note: Hotel check in time at 14.00

In the evening, adventurous discover city and its famous craft beer by vespa. Start from hotel, you will be escorted by local driver on our vintage Vespas. Explore new breweries in Saigon are taking flavor to the next level with local Vietnamese essences at four fascinatingly different places!

All the beers have been carefully selected by each Master Brewer. Especially for this Vespa Adventures, so you can get a taste of the broad range of flavors of the impressively growing craft beer scene in this vibrant city.

Our tour will share knowledge, story and the actual brewing process with unique ingredients & flavors, so you can fully appreciate the taste of their creations.

Our scope goes from independent brewers still producing small batches of beer at home, to the most famous brands of craft beer and cider in town, Apart from multiple tastings of the best beers, each place also offers a variety of delicious and elaborate food pairings include gourmet tapas and some Vietnamese inspired bites.

After an interesting evening, we drive back to your hotel.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B
Private transportation
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Flight :VN1373 (HUI – SGN)/ 13:15 – 14:45 – Vietnam Airlines – Economy / 06 tickets
Elios Hotel(Senior Superior Room)
233 Pham Ngu Lao street, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
http://www.elioshotel.vn

Day 11,Ho Chi Minh city
Discovering Saigon city with the best highlights: Independence palace, Binh Tay market, China town, Quan Am pagoda and Fito Museum of traditional medicine
9:00 AM: Pick up from your hotel to the Independence Palace, once used as the home – office of the Presidents of South Vietnam. Our visit includes the North Vietnamese tank which effectively attacked the palace in 1975 to bring the controversial Vietnam War to an end and the five-story palace with its rooms have been preserved in their late 1960s, 1970s style and a bunker basement.

Continue by a leisurely waking tour. Heading to the Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, originally built between 1863 and 1880, evidently reflects the French colonist influences. It’s a picturesque spot in the city.

Toward to Nguyen Hue walking street, walk to the unmissable city’s famous landmark. The Saigon Central Post Office is a stunning building, designed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel. It is an actually working post office with beautiful indoor decorations.

Pick up by car then short drive to have a visit to Binh Tay Market, located in Saigon’s Chinatown area with hundreds of stalls, the biggest market in city actually contributes a hub for many of Saigon’s demands including clothing, souvenir and food items. There is also a food court where visitors can sample local delicacies and street food.

Continue visit Quan Am Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in city and dedicated to Guan Yin, elements of Taoism, and the folk worship of the “Queen of Heaven”.

Finally visit the Traditional Medicine Museum (FITO) where the medicinal herb recipes, magic potions and special antique tools are preserved.

End of the day, drop you back to hotel

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Elios Hotel(Senior Superior Room)
233 Pham Ngu Lao street, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
http://www.elioshotel.vn

Day 12,Ho Chi Minh city – Tay Ninh – Ho Chi Minh city100km – 2.5h
Special excursion to Cu Chi tunnels and then visiting Cao Dai temple.
8:00 AM: Leave from your hotel to visit the most striking place in the history of the Vietnam War, the Cu Chi Tunnels.

Cu Chi is a real underground city made up of a large network of tunnels covering an area of over 250km long where the Viet Cong conducted the war of resistance against American troops. All of the tunnels were dug over a period of twenty years using only pickaxes and shovels. The tour includes special entering some part of tunnels. You will also have a chance to visit Ben Duoc memorial temple nearby but far less touristic built in 1993 in memory of the Vietnamese killed at Cu Chi.

Continue to visit one of the most sacred attractions in Vietnam – the Cao Dai Temple. Caodaism is a uniquely Vietnamese religion that is influenced by elements of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism and even Roman Catholicism. On a visit, you can attend the midday mass.

Have lunch at local restaurant then transfer back to hotel in the afternoon.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Private transportation
Entrance fees
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Elios Hotel(Senior Superior Room)
233 Pham Ngu Lao street, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
http://www.elioshotel.vn

Day 13,Ho Chi Minh city – Ben Tre – Ho Chi Minh city110km – 2.5h
Travelling to Mekong, enjoy boat trip, biking, interacting with local people in Ben Tre
8:00 AM: Tour guide and driver welcome you at your hotel for your transfer to Ben Tre, a beautiful region in the Mekong Delta River, famous for making coconut candy. Arrive at Hung Vuong pier, take a boat trip on Ben Tre River to discover the daily local life. Continue your boat trip on a canal to Nhon Thanh Village. This will be an opportunity to taste the fresh fruits.

Take a bike ride (or Tuk tuk) on a small path through the villages and enjoy views of the coconut ranges, rice fields and vegetable gardens. A lunch of elephant ear fish is served in the village. A short walk will help you to discover the local life in depth. This is followed by a boat ride on the small canal shaded by the wild palm trees. For those who wish to ride a bike, you can go to Mr Sau Khanh’s house to admire his collection of ancient objects. Then, continue riding through the rice fields and meet the locals.

Transfer back to Saigon in the late afternoon.

Included:
English speaking guide
Meal: B, L
Boat: Ben Tre
Private transportation
Bike: Ben Tre
02 bottles of water/pax/day
Elios Hotel(Senior Superior Room)
233 Pham Ngu Lao street, district 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
http://www.elioshotel.vn

Day 14,Ho Chi Minh city10km – 0.5hr
Transferring to airport for flights to next destinations
Private driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby for about 30 minutes to Tan Son Nhat airport (international or domestic hall according to your request). Thanks for the visit to our city.

Note: International flights require you to be at the airport 3 hours and domestic is 2 hours before departure time.

In the rush hour (07:00 – 08:30 AM and 16:30 – 18:30 PM), it takes around 1 hour from city center to Tan Son Nhat airport.

Included:
Meal: B
Private transportation
02 bottles of water/pax/day