Flavor of Vietnam
Hanoi - Ha Long - Hoi An - Hue - Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh
Tour Code: VNPK-120
Duration: 11 days
$ Price: $$$$
Latest Reviews
“….we were a little nervous of the first time visiting Vietnam but after reading many excellent reviews about Camellia Tours Vietnam and we decided to go for it. Everything was fantastic and went exactly as planned. Our tour guides were prompt, very informative and friendly. We came away with a whole new perspective of the country. We not only visited many beautiful and interesting sites but also enjoyed variety of delicious culinary in each destination. It was a great decision and highly recommend this travel agent to everyone…..”
BRIEF ITINERARY
Date | Destinations | Activities |
---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive Hanoi | Arrive Hanoi, check-in hotel, free at your leisure, overnight in Hanoi |
Day 2 | Hanoi City Tour | Go on half day Hanoi city tour, prepare and cook true northern Vietnamese cuisine |
Day 3 | Hanoi – Halong Bay | Leave Hanoi for Halong, embark on board and enjoy 2 days 1 night on board |
Day 4 | Halong Bay – Da Nang – Hoi An | Enjoy the fresh morning on the Bay, disembark and then transfer back Hanoi for the flight to Danang |
Day 5 | Ho An – Tra Que Cooking Class | Head to Tra Que, learn about the central Vietnamese cuisine, overnight in Hoi Anhe airport for the onward flight |
Day 6 | Hoi An Free Day | Free at your leisure to discover Hoi An by walking tour, optional visit to local fish market or relax on the beach |
Day 7 | Hoi An – Hue | Depart for Hue, visit Cham Museum and overnight in Hue |
Day 8 | Hue Sightseeing | Enjoy classic Hue breakfast of Bun Bo Hue, embark on imperial city tour and overnight in Hue |
Day 9 | Hue – Ho Chi Minh city | Transfer to Ho Chi Minh City, visit the historic places and enjoy the lively local street by night |
Day 10 | Ho Chi Minh city – Mekong Delta | Head to Ben Tre for Mekong Delta trip, observe people’s daily life and get back Ho Chi Minh for overnight |
Day 11 | Ho Chi Minh – Departure | Transfer to the airport for the flight |
FULL ITINERARY
ActivitiesArrive Hanoi, check-in hotel, free at your leisure, overnight in Hanoi
Meal
IncludedHotel in Hanoi, ground transportation, tour guide
Right after landing on Noi Bai Airport, Camellia Tours Vietnam’s tour guide will pick you up and then transfer to the hotel for check in. The rest of the day is free at your leisure. Optional to discover some old Hanoian favorites,your first introduction to Vietnam’s lively culinary scene comes in the form of Bia Hoi (brewed beer). This is a foamy, light beer made fresh each day and served in basic, open-walled ‘brew halls’. Take up a brightly coloured plastic chair and sip your tasty brew. Banana flower salad (nom hoa chuoi), barbecued chicken (ga nuong) and fried rice (com rang) are common dishes on the menu. Overnight in Hanoi.
ActivitiesGo on half day Hanoi city tour, prepare and cook true northern Vietnamese cuisine
MealB/L/D
IncludedHotel in Old Quarter, ground transportation, guide, sightseeing ticket
Following a traditional breakfast of pho, a dish that originates in Hanoi and is designed to awaken the senses and prepare you for the day, go on city tour to mausoleum of the historic figure and father of modern Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh (viewed from outside), and visit the former president’s house on stilts where he lived from 1958 to 1969. His former home illustrates the modesty of this Vietnamese revolutionary. Continue to visit the small but iconic One Pillar pagoda. Then, explore the Temple of Literature. In 1076 Quoc Tu Giam – Vietnam’s first university also referred to as Van Mieu, was established within a temple to educate Vietnam’s royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. The university functioned for an incredible 700 years and its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s past.
Enjoy lunch at a typical restaurant to taste Hanoi food before afternoon trip to take part in a hands-on cooking class in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter also known as the ‘36 streets’. Visit a neighborhood ‘wet’ market to learn about Vietnamese ingredients before proceeding to the home of a true Hanoian who learned her culinary skills from her grandmother, a former chef who once served the French elite, in the 1930’s. After visiting a local market to buy the day’s ingredients, learn how to prepare and cook true northern Vietnamese cuisine before sitting down to enjoy a delectable meal. Overnight in Hanoi.
ActivitiesLeave Hanoi for Halong, embark on board and enjoy 2 days 1 night on board
MealB/L/D
IncludedPrivate cabin on board, ground transportation, guide, sightseeing ticket
Following breakfast, travel by private minibus to the spectacular World Heritage-listed site of Halong Bay. Halong Bay is a secluded harbour with 2,000 limestone islands rising from the turquoise waters of Tonkin Gulf. This is one of Vietnam’s most scenic regions. It spans an area of about 1,500 square kilometres and is dotted with innumerable beaches and grottoes that were created over thousands of years by waves and wind. Spend the night on one of the traditional boats on the bay. There is a chef on board who will guide you how to make some Vietnamese food and observe the fish villages on the bay.
ActivitiesEnjoy the fresh morning on the Bay, disembark and then transfer back Hanoi for the flight to Danang
MealB/L/D
IncludedAccommodation, ground transportation, tour guide, sightseeing ticket
Enjoy your fresh morning in the middle of the bay, the sun rises on Halong in the morning and breakfast is served (brunch on some boats) while the vessels cruises slowly through the magnificent rock formations and back towards port. Disembark and transfer to Hanoi airport for your flight to Danang.
ActivitiesHead to Tra Que, learn about the central Vietnamese cuisine, overnight in Hoi Anhe airport for the onward flight
MealBreakfast/ Lunch
IncludedAccommodation, ground transportation, guide, entrance fee
Today you will learn about central Vietnamese cuisine and how to prepare it using its signature vegetables, herbs and spices. Start with a guided bicycle tour of the herb gardens of Tra Que Village. At the local market you’ll be introduced to a wealth of produce. After purchasing some ingredients, head back to Hoi An for a hands-on lesson in some classic central Vietnamese dishes. You’ll also pick up some cooking and cutting techniques that will put you in good stead to recreate these dishes at home. Then of course it’s time to feast on your creations. The rest of today is free for you to pick up any made-to-measure items, and then try more delicious food in one of Hoi An’s many acclaimed restaurants for dinner. Overnight in Hoi An.
ActivitiesFree at your leisure to discover Hoi An by walking tour, optional visit to local fish market or relax on the beach
MealBreakfast
IncludedHotel in Hoi An, ground transportation, tour guide, entrance fee
Enjoy a free day to relax, shop or simply stroll around to take in the delightful ambience. The Japanese and Chinese heritage of the town is apparent in many cute old buildings; and the canals, bridges and pagodas make for a tranquil atmosphere. Many travelers call this town their favorite spot in Vietnam. If the weather’s fine, perhaps hit the local beach for a swim (a great way to get there is by bicycle, which you can hire in town). For those who like to start the day nice and early, there is an optional visit to a local fish market. In the evening, perhaps enjoy some seafood by the water, or jump on a boat to enjoy a barbecue feast on a nearby island.
ActivitiesDepart for Hue, visit Cham Museum and overnight in Hue
MealBreakfast
IncludedAccommodation, ground transportation, tour guide, entrance fee
Today, drive through Danang and climb over the Pass of Ocean Clouds and drop down to the wonderfully photogenic fishing village of Lang Co before visiting the Cham Museum, which contains the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world. Arrive Hue, check in hotel, go to Dong Ba market and enjoy an exclusive private dinner at the lovely garden house. And overnight in Hue.
ActivitiesEnjoy classic Hue breakfast of Bun Bo Hue, embark on imperial city tour and overnight in Hue
MealBreakfast
IncludedHotel in Hue, ground transportation, tour guide, sightseeing ticket
Hue is Vietnam’s former royal capital and its cuisine is considered by many Vietnamese as the best in the country. The food is influenced by its imperial heritage (small dishes and a focus on aesthetic presentation) and its strong Buddhist heritage (reflected in the high proportion of vegetarian restaurants in the area). Enjoy a classic Hue breakfast of bun bo Hue, a popular Vietnamese soup containing rice vermicelli (bun) and beef (bo).
Then embark on our tour of the city’s imperial monuments. On the back of a motorbike (or in a car if you would rather), start your tour of Hue by visiting Thien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery since 1601. Here you’ll see a car that belonged to one of the self-immolating monks of the 1963 protests. Continue to take a dragon boat cruise on the Perfume River (approximately 40 minutes) and then visit the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc before heading back to Hue. This evening, try imperial street specialties like banh hue (rice flour cakes stuffed with shrimp, pork and spices).
ActivitiesTransfer to Ho Chi Minh City, visit the historic places and enjoy the lively local street by night
MealBreakfast
IncludedAccommodation, ground transportation, tour guide, sightseeing ticket
Today transfer to the airport for the short flight to Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 1 hour). Take a guided tour to get a feel for the city’s frenetic, fascinating blend of old and new, East and West. Go to visit the Reunification Hall, formerly known as the Presidential Palace it was towards this modern building that North Vietnamese tanks seized on the morning of April 30 1975, as Saigon fell. This fascinating building is filled with history still fresh in the minds of many.
From there stroll (your vehicle will be available at all times) to the major sights of colonial Ho Chi Minh City: the Old Saigon Post Office, Dong Khoi Street (formerly Rue Catinat), Continental Hotel, Opera House and City Hall. After this historical visit continue to the War Remnants Museum where exhibition halls display imagery of both the French and ‘American’ wars. Continue to the Jade Emperor Pagoda located on the fringes of district 1. Dating from 1909 and built by Cantonese Buddhists this quiet oasis was designed using feng shui principals showcasing ornate statues and effigies. After having experienced the frenzy of Saigon by day, discover the lively local streets by night. Join local people and enjoy an authentic Vietnamese evening.
ActivitiesHead to Ben Tre for Mekong Delta trip, observe people’s daily life and get back Ho Chi Minh for overnight
MealB/L/D
IncludedAccommodation. private ground transportation, tour guide, entrance fee
Depart from your hotel and head to the delta town of Ben Tre, the starting point of your tour. Board a small boat to begin touring a region known as Vietnam’s rice bowl. The country is among the world’s top rice exporters, and the Mekong’s climate allows farmers to produce two or even three rice crops per year. The other major export is seafood, especially shrimp and catfish.
Your boat arrives at an artisanal factory where workers process coconuts by separating their oil, flesh and husks to be used in products like matting and candy. Learn how it all works! Then you will transfer a converted rice barge, to continue your cruise along the Mekong River. Here you can join in a demonstration of Vietnamese cooking before enjoying a sumptuous three-course lunch of Mekong specialties like claypot! After lunch take in the river scenery as you return to Ben Tre and then on back to Ho Chi Minh City.
ActivitiesTransfer to the airport for the flight
MealBreakfast
IncludedGround transportation, tour guide
Your Flavor of Vietnam Culinary Holiday is coming to the end. Time permitting, you can wander in the Ben Thanh market for shopping or some souvenir then transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
HOTELS AND RESORTS
1.405 Reviews | 2 of 544 hotels in Hanoi
A peaceful hotel with a homely feel, The La Siesta hotel & Spa is the newest boutique hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter…
75 Reviews | 5 of 40 Tours in Cat B
Cruise offers: 3 day 2 night cruise trip, 2 day 1 night cruise trip, 14 luxury private cabins, full meals on board or local restaurant, cooking class, massage and spa, excursions.
743 Reviews | 6 of 102 hotels in Hoi An
Hotel offers: Great location, very spacious room, friendly staff, great breakfast, good facilities & services, swimming pool and free internet.
1.031 Reviews | 46 of 369 hotels in Ho Chi Minh
Hotel offers: central location, luxurious boutique and leisure, buffet breakfast, meeting room, clean and specious room, tour desks, free wifi, fitness center and spa.
FLIGHT SCHEDULE
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