Special Interests Travel Culinary Odyssey |
Designed for the food aficionado, and based around the Television programme, Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey, as screened by the BBC, this tour combines Vietnam's cultural, historical and natural sights with ample opportunities to savour its most revered dishes.
HO CHI MINH CITY (3 days) Day 1: Arriving at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City, you'll be met and driven to your hotel, with time to settle in and relax before a welcome dinner. Day 2: After breakfast, your guide will show you around Ho Chi Minh City's highlights, including the Reunification Hall, the Taoist Jade Emperor Temple, and the bustling Ben Than Market, Vietnam's largest and packed with every conceivable commodity, including a vast range of Vietnamese culinary ingredients, and dishes to sample from all over Vietnam. Day 3: Today, you'll try your hand at Vietnamese cooking, with a class at Ho Chi Minh City's Cookery Centre. Firstly, you'll visit a local market, to develop your skills in selecting ingredients and bargaining. After an introduction into Vietnamese culinary culture, you'll prepare dishes under the supervision of an English speaking Vietnamese chef, later enjoying the fruits of your labours for lunch. Your afternoon will be free to wander the city. MEKONG DELTA (2 days) Day 4: In the morning, you'll be driven out from the thrum of the city for a cruise of the Mekong River, visiting fruit orchards and cottage industries. Later, you'll be driven to Can Tho, visiting Munir Ansay Pagoda, before checking in to your hotel. Day 5: After breakfast, you'll take a cruise further into the delta, enjoying the daily rural life unfolding along the riverbank to visit Cai Rang floating market. Later you'll visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, near My Tho, en-route back to Ho Chi Minh City and check-in to your hotel. HUE (2 days) Day 6: Your morning will be free, until your driver arrives to take you to the airport for the short flight to Hue. Upon arrival, you'll visit the Imperial Citadel and Dong Ba market, with the rest of the afternoon at leisure. In the evening, you'll be invited to one of Hue's famous and unique garden houses for a traditional evening meal, prepared by the owner. Day 7: Today, you'll visit Thuan An market and travel by boat to Tam Giang lagoon. Later you'll drive to An Bang to observe the local fish drying process, before returning to Hue for lunch. In the afternoon, you'll visit Thein Mu pagoda and Emperor Minh Mang's opulent tomb. HANOI (2 Days) Day 8: Your time will be your own until you are driven to Hue airport for the short flight to Hanoi and check-in to your hotel. In the afternoon, you'll sample traditional Hanoi street food and Vietnamese coffee, whilst visiting the sights of central Hanoi, including West Lake, Tran Quoc pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple and the Old Quarter. Day 9: Today your guide will accompany you to the Temple of Literature, and Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, stilt house and Museum. You'll have lunch at the famous Cha Ca La Vong restaurant, to try out one of Hanoi's most revered culinary specialities, with the afternoon free at leisure to explore as you please. HA LONG BAY (2 days) Day 10: After an early breakfast you'll visit the spectacular seascape of Ha Long Bay, travelling by boat among its magnificently sculptural rock formations, grottoes and sea-level caves, arriving at Cat Ba Island, and check-in to your hotel. Day 11: Today you'll visit a floating village in the bay to observe the rearing of the local clams, a highly sought after delicacy, widely referred to as Cat Ba Oysters). Later you'll visit Cat Ba market, and after lunch, you'll free to enjoy the beach until your transfer back to Hanoi. HANOI (1 day) Day 12: Following breakfast, your day will be free until your driver arrives to transfer you to Noi Bai airport in good time for your onward or departure flight. Suggestions for extensions: The tour is a 12-day trip, but if you wish to extend your odyssey, you may consider our recommended activities and destinations as follows: Prices (per person in US dollars):
The prices below are based on the hotels listed on the Cambodia Explorer 'Accommodation' page. If you would prefer a different hotel, or hotels, choose your preference, tell us, and we'll send you a modified price within 24 hrs at the latest. At the time of quotation, Haivenu reserves the right to adjust prices to take account of unusual movements in currency markets, hotel and transport costs as a result of inflationary price pressures in oil and other commodity markets. These prices are valid until October 31, 2012. Please note that bank transfer fees are not included. Our prices include:.
Our prices do not include:
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