GOURMET VIETNAM
Vietnam Tours - Vietnam Classic
| Trip code: VET.CL-02 Type of trip: Private Trip Duration: 9 Days Starting: Saigon, Vietnam Finishing: Hanoi, Vietnam Destinations: Saigon - Mekong - Danang - Hoian - Hanoi |
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BRIEF ITINERARY:
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DAY 1: SAIGON ARRIVAL |
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DAY 2: SAIGON COOKING CLASS |
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DAY 3: SAIGON - MEKONG DELTA |
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DAY 4: MEKONG DELTA - SAIGON |
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DAY 5: SAIGON - DANANG - HOI AN |
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DAY 6: HOI AN COOKING CLASS |
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DAY 7: HOI AN - DANANG - HANOI |
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DAY 8: HANOI COOKING AND SIGHTSEEING TOURS |
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DAY 9: HANOI – HALONG BAY DAY TRIP |
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DAY 10: HANOI DEPARTURE |
DETAILED ITINERARY:
Upon arrival to Ho Chi Minh city airport, our guide will welcome you after clearing custom, transfer you to the hotel for check in. Welcome dinner in a fine restaurant hosted by Explorient Travel .
The rest of the day you are free at leisure.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
Day 2: Saigon Cooking Class (Breakfast, 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.
Afternoon excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels : Cu Chi was an important base during the American War, because of its strategic location. The Vietcong built a 200km long network of tunnels connecting command posts, hospitals, shelters, and weapon factories. Dug out by hand tools without the use of cement, this amazing network was only recently opened to tourists.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
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Day 3: Saigon - Mekong Delta (Breakfast, Lunch)
Leave your hotel at 7.30 for a 3-hour drive to Cai Be with stop en route at Trung Luong Bonsai garden for a tea break. Upon arrival, board a motorized boat to visit the popcorn cake, rice paper making family before visiting the lively floating market of Cai Be. Then continue by boat towards Vinh Long province to see the diverse fish traps in order to learn a kind of lazy fishing. After cruising along small shady canals, we step ashore and take a chance to watch a typical and interesting music show of the Mekong cultural life. Lunch is at the home/ bonsai garden.
Afternoon, take a walk for about half an hour to enjoy the rural peaceful atmosphere of the countryside life, on the way we can also stop en route to learn more about fruit trees. Continue by boat to visit the brick and pottery factories. Back in the car at about 3 pm to drive to Can Tho. On arrival in the capital city of the Mekong Delta, do a walking city tour, including the local evening market to take photos of the busy trading activities before checking in the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel in Can Tho
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
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Day 4: Mekong Delta - Saigon (Breakfast)
Early morning board for a 3-hour cruise to Cai Rang and Phong Dien, 2 big floating markets with stops at a Bun Tau noodle factory and a short trek before arriving at a rice-husking mill. You can even try passing one of the many fragile monkey bridges along the canals photo shot. At the floating markets, you will discover a typical way of displaying and advertising farm products of local people gathering on the Mekong river to trade their goods. Drive back to Saigon with a lunch stop at My Tho.
Accommodation: Hotel in Saigon
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Saigon - Danang - Hoi An (Breakfast)
Morning transfer to the airport to take flight to Danang. Pick up upon arrival to Danang. Visit the fascinating Cham Museum, famous China Beach and the Marble Mountains en route to charming Hoi An. Known as Faifo to early Western traders, it was one of South East Asia's major international ports and today it still retains that special old-world feel. Enjoy a walking tour through the Old Quarter and try some of the local specialties. Hoi An is also famous for its large number of tailor shops, so if you want to have a new wardrobe made up, this is the time to do it.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Hoi An Cooking Class (Breakfast, Lunch)
We will meet at Hai Scout Cafe in the Old town of Hoian. Our first stop is Hoi An's colorful market to experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy.
On arrival, we have a chance to explore the cooking school's herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An's and Vietnam's well-known dishes. The cooking class is an interesting and fun way to learn about the local cuisine - the class runs for about an hour and 15 minutes, and includes demonstrations from the school's chefs as well as the chance for us to help prepare some dishes. Included in the demonstration is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration).
In the afternoon free at leisure by your own to explore the ancient town of Hoi An or shopping at tailor shops.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hoian
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
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Day 7: Hoi An - Danang - Hanoi (Breakfast)
Morning transfer to Danang airport for flight to Hanoi. Upon arriving in Hanoi, our tour guide will meet you at the airport and transfer to your hotel. After check-in hotel in Hanoi we enjoy 1 hour cyclo trip visiting Hanoi City's old quarters.
The rest of the day is time at leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Hanoi Cooking and Sightseeing Tours (Breakfast, Lunch)
Morning cooking class: Today’s class begins with a walk, accompanied by the Chef of the Spices Garden Restaurant, to the local market, where participants get a chance to learn all about Vietnamese ingredients. After that, everyone rolls up their sleeves in the kitchen to prepare a proper Vietnamese meal. After the class lunch will be served in the Spices Garden Vietnamese Restaurant to sample all the different dishes prepared during the class.
This afternoon you will discover Hanoi with an English speaking guide. Part of your tour will include sightseeing by cyclo, a bicycle type taxi, by which you’ll discover the Old Quarter made up of the so called "36 streets," most of which are named after the crafts or merchandise traditionally sold there.
Dinner tonight at another of Hanoi’s fine restaurants. Afterwards enjoy a performance of a traditional water puppet show. This fantastic art form originated in northern Vietnam and is best seen in Hanoi. The Municipal Water Puppet Theater is located on the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
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Day 9: Hanoi - Halong bay day trip (Breakfast, Lunch)
Have breakfast in hotel, 8h00 departure. Enjoy the interesting 3 hour drive to Halong City, along the way you will see rice fields, water buffalo and everyday Vietnamese village life.
Arrive in Halong City and board your private boat for a 4-hour journey. Cruise through the emerald waters between the limestone outcrops and long corridors, visit Dau Go Cave ‘Grotto of the wooden stakes’ where in 1288 one of Vietnam’s most famous Generals, Tran Hung Dao amassed hundreds of stakes deep inside the cave prior to a battle with an invading Mongolian army.
A short walk away visit the newly discovered Thien Cung Cave (‘Grotto of the heavenly palace “), famous for its stalagmites and stalactites the cave has only been opened to the public since 1998.
A seafood lunch will be served on board before journeying back to Halong City where your car will be waiting for you to take you back to Hanoi.
18:30: arrival in Hanoi.
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 10: Hanoi Departure
Free at leisure until transferring to the airport to take departure flight for next destination.
Meals: Breakfast.
PRICE & INCLUSION
This rate is quoted in USD per person, based on Double/Twin occupancy with 3-star hotel standard.Valid until 31.December - 2013
| Group Size | 2 persons | 4 persons | 6 persons | Single Supp* |
| Price / pp | 1,048 | 799 | 697 | 253 |
| Supplements flight: | SAIGON - DANANG: US$ 110 /pax included airport tax |
| DANANG - HANOI: US$ 110 /pax included airport tax |
Price Inclusions:
• All land transportation by private air conditioned vehicles
• Tour arrival and departure airport transfers
• Hotel accommodation on a double or twin-share basic
• Private boat trip sighseeing on Halong bay
• Meals as mention in the program
• Local English speaking guides
• All entrance and sightseeing fees
• Mineral water
• Travel insurance
• Visa approval fee
Price Exclusions:
• All domestic flights
• International airfare and airport tax in & out Vietnam
• Drinks and other meals do not indicate in the program
• Early check-in and late check-out at all hotels
• Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, shopping...)
• Tipping/ Gratuities
• Additional expenses in case of force majeure
Notes:
• All the points of interest are open for visit based on current updating. In case of closing for construction or any reason, we will replace with similar point of interest.
• This Private Journey will depart on your desired date. It can also be taken in reserve starting in Hanoi and finishing in Saigon.
