Vietnam Essence & Gourmet Tour

Upon your arrival in Ho Chi Minh City today, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional guide and driver and then be transferred to the well-selected hotel. The rest of the day will be free for you to adjust to the time difference or wander around the city on your own.
Warm Tip: As check-in at the hotel is from 14:00, if arriving early, you are advised to store your luggage in the hotel first and then explore the city.

►  Activities & Dinner Suggestion:
If you stay at 4-star Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel:
Located on the Saigon River, the hotel boasts the best sunset and gorgeous night views of the Saigon River. Only a 5-minute walk from the hotel, there is a local Vietnam House Restaurant with a typical Southeast Asian style and its most popular specialties are Fried Crispy Pancake (Banh Xeo) and Fried Spring Roll. Fried Crispy Pancake is a kind of rustic snack in southern Vietnam, made of yellow egg batter topped with fresh shrimps, corn kernels, and diced carrots. It is fried and wrapped with fresh vegetable leaves. Dipping with the special sweet & sour chili sauce, it tastes fresh and delicious.

If you stay at 5-star Hotel Nikko Saigon:
This is one of the most luxurious hotels in Ho Chi Minh City, with two restaurants serving international cuisines. If you want to try more local Vietnamese food, Pho Quynh nearby is a good choice with the signature dish, Beef Rice Noodles. Cooked with fresh beef briskets, rice noodles, onions, greens, and the boiled beef broth, it is one of the locals’ favorites, costing about VND79,000 / USD4. With a glass of freshly squeezed iced juice or beer, it is truly mouth-watering!

Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon - Deluxe Room (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel - Deluxe Room (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, we will drive around 45 kilometers (28 miles) to the Cu Chi Tunnels, a huge subterranean village dug by Viet Cong soldiers during Vietnam War as protections against air raids. The tunnels had been built for about 20 years and extended more than 250 kilometers (155 miles) nearly to the board of Cambodia. Besides the introduction and historical background about the tunnels, you will also hear many extraordinary stories happened during the war from your knowledgeable guide. Upon arrival, you will firstly visit the Cu Chi Tunnels Historical Monument and watch a short video to know the construction, assignments and functions of this underground maze. Part of the tunnels has already been widened to make it accessible to tourists. Therefore, you will have a chance to walk through the tunnels to experience a short time of underground life. Please remember to wear comfortable clothes and shoes.

Today’s lunch will be arranged in Ben Nay restaurant on the way back to Ho Chi Minh City. Your guide will lead you to taste local BBQ & Beef Rice Noodles. Vietnam ranks the third in Asia’s beer consumption and the locals are very fond of drinking beer. Saigon 333 and Bia Saigon are the most popular brands here. You can also try the drinks at your own expense.

After lunch, we will drive back to downtown area and visit the War Remnants Museum to watch the rare exhibits related to the First Indochina War and Vietnam War.

►  Taste Saigon Coffee for a Nice Break
The guide will accompany you to a more than 50-year-old historical café, Phuc Long Coffee & Tea, tasting Vietnam's most famous Saigon Coffee. Founded in 1968, Phuc Long Coffee & Tea has been dedicated to offering the best Vietnamese coffee. The signature drinks Classical Coffee and Lucky Tea are very popular. Sitting in front of the window, sip a cup of coffee while watching the skillful motorcyclists driving on the road.

Then we will head to visit two important landmarks of Ho Chi Minh City: the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. The Notre Dame Cathedral was built by the French in 1877, which is also known as Red Cathedral as it was entirely built with red bricks. In front of the cathedral, there is a statue of Saint Mary, who holds an earth engraved with a cross in her hands and tramples on a poisonous snake on her feet, symbolizing the end of evil and the coming of light, which echoes the sacred idea of the church. The Central Post Office, built in the late 19th century, displays maps of Vietnam from different periods. In addition to the maps, the gothic architectural style and the ornate interior will also bring you a beautiful visual enjoyment. After the sightseeing trip, we will drive you back to hotel, or if you want to explore local street food night market, we can also drop you off there, and finally you need to return to hotel by yourself.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon - Deluxe Room (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel - Deluxe Room (4 stars) or similar

In the morning, your guide and driver will take you to get rid of the busy life of Ho Chi Minh City and drive to Ben Tre to start a Mekong Delta tour with a strong exotic flavor. Upon arrival at Hung Vuong Pier, embark on a private boat and enjoy the amazing idyllic scenery through a cruise along the Ham Luong River while savoring a glass of coconut juice. Midway through, you'll see many different kinds of boats sailing on the river and the locals exchanging goods onboard, you'll also drop by fruit orchards, a coconut candy factory and brick workshops to glimpse the unique local lifestyle. Then walk to visit a local family, where the hospitable villagers will show you how they make sedge mats and treat you to homemade tea and fresh tropical fruits. After the visit, explore picturesque villages by Xe Loi, a three-wheel motorized cart, or a bicycle for around 20 minutes.

►  Lunch with Specialty Fish of Mekong River
Lunch will be served in a riverbank restaurant. You will taste Fried Elephant Ear Fish, a traditional dish originating from southern Vietnam. The Elephant Ear Fish can only be found in Mekong River. Marinated with salt and coarse pepper for 15 minutes, coated with flour, dipped in egg mixture, and then wrapped with breadcrumbs evenly, the fish is then deep-fried until golden. The whole fish is crispy and fragrant, and even the fish bones are crispy enough to eat directly.

In the afternoon, enjoy a leisurely trip by sampan along the narrow waterways and sailing back to Ben Tre, where you’ll be driven back to the hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

★ Privilege of Our Guests:
Generally, most agencies arrange a boat trip following the crowded flotilla and touring in the muddy streams to heavily commercialized area near Ho Chi Minh City. While, we are different! We specially arrange for you a trip to the beautiful and simple Ben Tre, which is far away from the noise of the city and the hustle and bustle of the fleet. Taking a unique long-tail boat, you could take in the beauty of the lush coconut groves, float among the endless rice fields, enjoy beautiful idyllic scenery, and taste tropical fruits while discovering the unique plants, fish and birds of the Mekong River.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Nikko Saigon - Deluxe Room (5 stars) or Liberty Central Saigon Riverside Hotel - Deluxe Room (4 stars) or similar

After breakfast, you will be driven to the airport for the flight to Da Nang. On arrival, your local guide and driver will pick you up and then transfer you to Hoi An Ancient Town, which has been listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site since 1999.

►  Taste Top Three Hoi An Dishes
Hoi An is home to a variety of fine restaurants. Your guide will handpick one of the most famous restaurants and lead you to taste three must-try dishes, White Rose, Cao Lau, and Fried Wonton. Hoi An White Rose is a kind of dumpling that has a thin transparent wrapper made of glutinous rice flour and is filled with marinated shrimp. It is steamed and the transparent wrapper just bursts when steaming, like a blooming white rose. Therefore, the locals gave it a very romantic name, White Rose.

After lunch, we will take a Hoi An Walking Tour in the Ancient Town and visit the iconic architecture of Quan Cong Temple, the Assembly Hall of Fujian Chinese Congregation, the Japanese Covered Bridge and Precious Heritage by Rehahn. At night, Hoi An becomes more charming and dazzling, as colorful lanterns illuminate the entire ancient town.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa - Deluxe Balcony Room (5 stars) or Hadana Boutique Resort Hoi An - Deluxe Room (4 stars) or similar

This morning, we will take you to Hue, which is the ancient capital of Vietnam. On the way, you will pass by Hai Van Pass, which was regarded as the most beautiful and scenic road in Vietnam by National Geographic. You will enjoy the spectacular views of a bluish mist shrouding the mountains on one side and magnificent sea view on the other side. Your experienced guide will find the best photo spots and help you get beautiful pictures like postcards in many travel magazines. Please prepare your camera in full charge before starting.

After around 3.5 hours, you will arrive in Hue and check into the hotel. In the afternoon, your guide will lead you to the Imperial City, also called the Citadel, where you can appreciate the luxurious royal palaces of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945). Then we will come to the Tomb of Tu Duc, where Emperor Tu Duc once lived. It combines the mausoleum architecture with the garden landscape harmoniously, achieving a high level of architectural art.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Indochina Palace Hue - Palace Deluxe Room (5 stars) or White Lotus Hotel Hue - Deluxe River View Room (4 stars) or similar

Today we will take a boat trip on the Perfume River to reach the Thien Mu Pagoda. With over 400 years of history, the 7-tier pagoda enshrines a gilded statue of smiling Buddha. Around the pagoda, there are also Fuyuan Tower, Thien Mu ancient courier route, as well as several splendid palaces waiting for you to explore.

★ What Makes Us Different?

Then, we will move on to the Dong Ba Market to have a taste of local specialties, like Banh Beo, shrimp cake, and etc. After spending some leisure time in the market, we will head for the Tomb of Minh Mang, which is the best-preserved imperial mausoleum in Hue with buildings symmetrically distributed along the axis. After that, the driver will take you to the airport for the flight to Hanoi, which is the capital and the second largest city in Vietnam. Upon your arrival, the local guide and driver will pick you up and then transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: May De Ville Lakeside Hanoi - Premier City View Room (5 stars) or La Siesta Classic Ma May, Hanoi (4 stars) or similar

Around 09:00, you will begin your Hanoi Cooking Class Tour (Join in). Your foodie guide will pick you up from your hotel lobby and take you to the local market to learn about some ingredients and get a fascinating glimpse of people’s life there. Then, you will learn how to cook Vietnamese traditional food under the guidance of the professional chefs. Hereunder is a sample menu, which is subject to change with seasons.

1. Nom Hoa Chuoi (Banana Flower Salad): A special appetizer made with fresh Banana flowers, vegetables, and herbs.
2. Bun Cha (Noodles with Pork BBQ & Dipping Sauce): Rice noodles with flavorsome marinated pork and sweet & sour dipping sauce.
3. Nem (Fried Spring-rolls): Nem and Bun Cha will be the best combination for you to feel the sound of crispy rolls and taste full flavor of fresh meat or tofu, mushrooms, vegetables dipped in sweet & sour sauce.
4. Cafe Trung (Egg Coffee/Chocolate): Egg yolks, condensed milk, honey, make them altogether in creamy custard floating on Vietnamese black coffee/chocolate.

After the cooking class, you will enjoy your own creations and other foods with unique local beer or herb drinks. The Bun Cha was highly commended by Mr. Barack Obama after he enjoyed them.

After lunch, your private guide will pick you up and transfer you to visit the Ba Dinh Square, which is an important venue for rallies and festival activities in Vietnam with extremely rich history. Your guide will lead you to visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House to learn more about Ho Chi Minh, the founder of the Communist Party of Vietnam. After that, you will visit One Pillar Pagoda, which was built on a single stone pillar in the center of a lotus pond. Lots of Buddhist devotees would go there to pray for a good luck in front of the statue of the Goddess of Mercy. Afterwards, you will visit Temple of Literature & National University, which was built in 1070 to commemorate Confucius, a great Chinese ideologist. Here, you will be exposed to Confucianism and have a chance to learn about its thoughts. Later, you will be escorted back to hotel. Or, you can go to the Old Quarter to experience local night life, then make your own way back to hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: May De Ville Lakeside Hanoi - Premier City View Room (5 stars) or La Siesta Classic Ma May, Hanoi (4 stars) or similar

As a geological wonder, Ha Long Bay attracts millions of visitors for its unique beauty of mountains, strange rocks, and limestone cave wonders. After breakfast, you will be picked up and escorted to Ha Long Bay by a 2.5 hours' drive. Along the way, you can enjoy the views of the Red River Delta. A harmonious and beautiful picture of villagers with bamboo hats doing farmland work in endless rice fields will also unfold slowly in front of you.

Upon your arrival at Ha Long Bay Wharf, embark on an elegant cruise with the help of the enthusiastic crew, and your 2-day cruise begins! After settling down, have a hearty lunch onboard and take part in some activities arranged by the cruise.

★ What Makes Us Different
Our travel experts have carefully planned a top itinerary off the beaten track. Based on your preference, you can choose one from two well-selected luxury cruises heading to different bays: the five-star Indochine Cruise and the four-star Signature Royal Cruise. However, please note that the following itinerary is subject to the cruise companies.

The five-star ship, decorated in a classical Vietnamese style with balcony rooms, takes you to explore the less-polluted Lan Ha Bay, where you'll take a kayak or sampan to glide through the archway of the Dark and Bright Cave (Bat Cave) that juts out from the sea, and wonder at magical limestone formations. Then return to the cruise and enjoy a cozy swim in the bay before attending a traditional Vietnamese fruit and vegetable carving class, after which is a delicious dinner. Enrich your evening time by playing cards, Parcheesi board game or a night squid fishing. Or just soak up sea views lit by moonlight.

The western-style four-star ship will set off for the pristine Bai Tu Long Bay, where you’ll proceed to the floating fishing village of Vung Vieng to have a close look at the local community that lives in the middle of sea. When it comes to the dusk, take a traditional Vietnamese cooking class on the cruise ship and enjoy a dinner. In the evening, relax in a self-financed massage onboard if you like.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Indochine Cruise - Junior Suite (5 stars) or Signature Royal Cruise - Junior Suite (4 stars) or similar

Today, you can get up early to join a Tai Chi class onboard and admire a marvelous sunrise on deck over morning tea or coffee and some snacks. Then we will take a rowboat to the nearby small islands for an adventure. If you take the Indochine Cruise, you will visit the Trung Trang Cave on Cat Ba Island, which once served as a secret base - there are used water tanks, conference rooms and operating room to prove it - for the Vietnamese Navy during the Vietnam War. The Signature Royal Cruise will take you to Thien Canh Son Cave that perches high above, where you can enjoy panoramic views of Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay.

Finally, return to the cruise and have brunch. The cruise will sail back to the Tuan Chau Marina at noon, and your guide and driver will wait for you there and then drive you to the Hanoi airport for your departure flight. To catch the flight, please book a domestic flight after 16:00 or an international flight after 17:00. If you need to stay one more night in Hanoi, please contact our travel consultant to tailor this Vietnam package for you. Have a nice journey home!

Meal: Brunch