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Day 1 : Arrival
Ha Noi (D)
Warmly welcome at Noi Bai Airport and coach transfer to hotel.
Take a cyclo, the Vietnamese version of the rickshaw to
Indochine Restaurant for an introduction to Vietnamese food. Set
in a beautifully restored French villa, Indochine serves
specialties originating primarily from southern Vietnam . You
will no doubt be introduced to “nuoc mam”, a fermented fish
sauce that compliments most dishes in Vietnam and “cha gio”,
Vietnamese spring rolls. The staff are attired in traditional
costume and musicians perform classical Vietnamese songs.
OVERNIGHT IN HANOI
Day 2 : Hanoi 's Specialties (B,L,D).
Hanoi, the present day capital of Vietnam is a city of
tree-lined boulevards and lakes with a unique blend of French
colonial buildings and Chinese inspired Vietnamese architecture.
A full day to explore this fascinating city takes in the One
Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum, the Temple of Literature,
the Lake of the Restored Sword and the bustling 'Old Quarter',
with its 36 ancient streets. Lunch at “Cha Ca La Vong” serving
seasoned fish. In the evening a visit to a performance of the
famous water puppets is followed by dinner at the Le Tonkin
restaurant, which specializes in superbly prepared northern
Vietnamese cuisine. Northern Vietnamese food has a strong
Chinese influence with stir-fried dishes and less spicy food
popular. Specialties of Hanoi include “Cha Ca” Hanoi and the
ubiquitous noodle and meat soup known as “Pho” which is usually
eaten at pavement food stalls for breakfast. OVERNIGHT IN HANOI
Day 3 : Hanoi - Ha Long bay (B,L,D)
Upon meeting you at your hotel at 8:30 am, we drive to Halong
City, approximately 3 hours away. Once at Halong City you will
board our private boat for a four-hour cruise of this stunning
area, stopping along the way to visit one of the limestone caves
in the area. As we cruise, our boat staff will serve a sumptuous
local seafood lunch. After 4 hours, we cruise back to the harbor
and transfer to your hotel in Halong City. In the evening a
barbecue of local specialties is served. OVERNIGHT IN HA LONG
CITY
Day 4 : Halong - Hue - Spicy Corner (B,L,D)
Return to Hanoi by road with a picnic lunch before transferring
direct to Hanoi Airport for the early afternoon flight to Hue.
(Flight time varies depending on day of week). On arrival in Hue
transfer to the hotel. In the evening, cyclo ride to Tinh Gia
Vien restaurant for dinner. Food in Hue is spicy with
considerable use of chili reflecting its imperial roots is often
presented in carefully displayed small servings, a kind of
Oriental nouvelle cuisine. OVERNIGHT IN HUE
Day 5 : Cooking Class - Boat trip and Royal Banquet
(B,L,D)
In the morning, we follow Mrs. Cuc, the owner of Y Thao Garden
House to Dong Ba central market, where she gives an instruction
on how to choose food for our cooking lesson at 9:30 at Y Thao
Garden House. Lunch is the food we prepare. In the afternoon,
travel by Dragon Boat on the romantically named Perfume River to
Thien Mu pagoda standing on the riverbank with its seven-storey
tower. Transfer by car to the Imperial Citadel from which the
Nguyen emperors once ruled Vietnam. Royal banquet at the Huong
Giang Hotel on the banks of the Perfume River. OVERNIGHT IN HUE
Day 6 : Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An (B,L,D)
In the morning, drive to visit Tu Duc Mausoleum with its
traditional Vietnamese architecture. Leave Hue mid-morning for a
scenic journey on Highway One. The road passes by vivid green
fields of rice and the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of
Lang Co with its blue lagoon and deserted sandy beaches before
climbing over the dramatic Pass of Mountain Clouds. Lang Co is
well known for its fresh seafood restaurants and a lunch of
locally caught shrimps and squid on the edge of the lagoon is a
must. Once over the mountain pass, the road drops down to
Danang. Stop off at Danang to visit the famous Non Nuoc Beach,
once a 'rest and recreation' resort for American servicemen, and
pass by the sacred Marble Mountains whose caves contain dozens
of Buddhist shrines. Arrive at the former trading port of Hoi An
around five in the afternoon. Transfer to hotel and stroll down
to the picturesque river front for a refreshing drink before
dinner at Tam Tam Restaurant, located in a meticulously restored
colonial property and appropriately run by a French expatriate.
OVERNIGHT IN HOI AN
Day 7 : Hoi An - Fusion Cuisine (B,L,D)
During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Hoi An was a
major Asian trading centre and much remains as it was then. A
morning walking tour of the ancient town center takes in former
merchants' houses, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and
the colorful market. For lunch, try the local specialty, “cao
lau”, a delicious soup made with noodles, pork and greens. This
is an original dish found only in Hoi An and made using the
water from the town's ancient well (duly boiled). The afternoon
is free to cycle through rice paddies to the nearby beach, shop
for souvenirs among the antique shops and art galleries or just
sit at a pavement café and soak in the atmosphere of this
friendly little town. For dinner, visit a Hoi An institution,
the White Lantern Restaurant, whose the owner, Ms Vy, dishes up
sumptuous five-course meals featuring Hoi An's unique cuisine.
Expect to sample more Hoi An delicacies like “hoanhthanh” and
“banh vac”. OVERNIGHT IN HOI AN
Day 8 : Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City (B,L,D)
Transfer to Danang Airport after breakfast for the early flight
to Saigon, or Ho Chi Minh City as it is now officially known.
Transfer to hotel on arrival. After a lunch of “pho” on Pasteur
Street, a half day city tour includes the Unification Palace,
Notre Dame Cathedral, the Old Saigon Post Office and Cholon, the
city's lively Chinatown. Dinner at one of HCMC's best-known
restaurants, Vietnam House. The cuisine of the south uses many
herbs and spices and has been influenced by Cambodia, Thailand
and India, among others. Curries using coconut milk are an
example of this influence. The south also has a wide selection
of tropical fruits and vegetables that are not readily available
in the cooler north. OVERNIGHT IN HO CHI MINH CITY
Day 9 : Mekong Delta - Exotic food (B,L,D).
Full-day trip to the watery world of My Tho in the Mekong Delta,
just a couple of hours by road from the hustle and bustle of
HCMC. Take a boat trip along the narrow waterways overhung with
dense vegetation and try exotic fruits in one of the many
orchards. Try the local specialty of Elephant's Ear Fish at a
riverside restaurant. A fascinating glimpse into the daily life
of the people who work, rest and play on the mighty Mekong and
its numerous tributaries. Finally to Indochina Restaurant in
HCMC, where we can enjoy the chef's cooking demonstration in the
restaurant's airy, open-plan kitchen. Dinner at this beautifully
restored colonial villa is the last supper our culinary tour
through Vietnam. OVERNIGHT IN HO CHI MINH CITY.
Day 10 : Departure (B)
The morning is free until transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport for
departure flight. Cam on va chao tam biet
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