Southeast Asian Culinary Tour of the North and South
What to expect on this itinerary
Southeast Asia and its intricacies are flawlessly explored during this 7-day culinary tour through Thailand and Vietnam. Trace the roots of fabled dishes, meet the master chefs behind the country’s coveted haute cuisine, and dip into the history of these breathtaking regions on exclusive tours. Explore the distinctive flavors and cuisine of each region and city.
Customizable Itinerary
Bangkok – Southern Thai Dishes
Bangkok is a flourishing metropolis that features towering skyscrapers, massive LED advertisements, and kitted-out supercars. You will have the luxury of experiencing Thailand’s culinary scene once you have landed, transferred to your accommodation, and unpacked your belongings. You will then be collected by your guide and food specialist for a tour of Bangkok’s cuisine, beginning with a stop at a local market. In the evening, you will have the opportunity to dine at a sought-after night market, where chefs work tirelessly into the evening to serve up traditional meals.
What's Included:
Bangkok – Bangkok’s Delightful Cuisine
Chiang Mai – Dining with an Ethnic Hill Tribe
Chiang Mai – Farm-to-Table Feast
Hanoi – The Capital of Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City – A Taste of Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh City – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Explore the street food scene of Bangkok on a guided tour to coveted establishments and stalls
- Dabble in the bustling food scene of Bangkok with a tour to an authentic night market with beloved diners
- Partake in a food tour of Bangkok’s top-rated restaurants and meet the master chefs of the restaurants
- Retreat to an ethnic hill tribe of Chiang Mai to uncover traditional customs and tuck into their timeless
- Delight in a farm-to-table meal at a venerated Chiang Mai agricultural restaurant
- Witness the spectacular architecture and delve into culturally influenced delicacies of the Ba Dinh District of Hanoi
- Delve into the world of Vietnamese cuisine with a behind-the-scenes culinary tour with Michelin-starred meals and top-tier establishments
- Indulge in traditional breakfasts under the tented markets of Ho Chi Minh City
Detailed Description
Southeast Asia is comprised of many dynamic cities, each with their own distinctive cuisine. On this handcrafted tour, you will visit a few iconic culinary destinations in the region to discern the qualities of the varying flavor profiles of Southeast Asian cuisine. During your stay, you will tuck into the timeless dishes that are served at landmarked eateries, where modest culinary classics form a staple of the local culture. Afterward, you will have the opportunity to experience the contrast on a tour of the most elite dining establishments throughout the city.
The culinary scene in northern Thailand is very different from that of southern Thailand. After Phuket, you will transfer to the thriving city of Chiang Mai. From visiting an ethnic hill tribe, where tradition underpins every facet of their lifestyle, to partaking in a gourmet farm-to-table feast, you will indulge in the nuanced flavors of northern Thai cuisine before continuing your journey to Vietnam.
Vietnam’s culinary culture is rooted in recipes that have been handed down between generations. With a brief stop at the buzzing capital of Hanoi to kick off your gastronomic endeavors, you will delight in northern Vietnamese cuisine with some cultural adventures to iconic heritage sites mixed in along the way.
To conclude your culinary excursion to Vietnam and Southeast Asia, you will transfer to Ho Chi Minh City. You will have one day that is dedicated to exploring the finest Vietnamese cuisine at venerated restaurants and another morning that will be designed to bring out the best in Vietnamese street food.
Starting Price
$2,600 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 1051 reviews
Zicasso’s travel specialist and the team were very responsive and helpful throughout the planning process and while on our trip. They made everything easy for us by arranging all transfers, filling out all paperwork for us, and selecting beautiful and high-end choices for every aspect of our travel, from hotel choices to drivers to guides. Everyone was exceptional and professional, and we had no issues. Our trip was stress-free and we felt very supported along the way. We would highly recommend this group for your family trip!
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If you are looking for a travel agency that truly delivers, I can’t recommend Zicasso’s travel company enough. They were a huge help in creating our itinerary and the entire trip ended up being very good value.
What really stood out was the great communication and the fantastic local support we received while in Vietnam and Cambodia. It made a world of difference having local experts available to ensure everything ran smoothly. We had a wonderful experience and would highly recommend them to everyone!
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Zicasso’s travel specialist and all the local tour guides were gracious and knowledgeable.
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With the exception of a problem at the hotel in Hong Kong, all scheduling by Zicasso's travel company was superb. The guides were quite good, and extremely accommodating and knowledgeable.
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Zicasso’s travel specialist was a great resource in assisting us plan a trip to Thailand. We decided "last minute" (February) to plan a trip to Thailand in March and although it was a very short timeline, the travel specialist jumped into action and created several possible itineraries. We had a call so he could better understand our goals and with only a few tweaks, we signed off on a 12-day plan and off we went.
He is very personable and has experience living and traveling in the region, so he could speak first-hand on some of the recommendations. He was very thorough in helping us think through all the details; ie., packing, transportation, guides, drivers, money exchange, battery packs, passports, etc., etc. We did have a few questions while we were in Thailand and he was responsive to our queries.
The local guides and drivers in Thailand were all very good and we totally appreciated having that level of support, which was a first for us. It set a new level of travel for my husband and me. We would definitely work with Zicasso and the travel company for future travel. Thanks for the opportunity.
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To our travel specialist,
We would like to thank you for putting such an amazing trip together for us.
Your hotel choices were spot-on! We were happy to be by the river in Bangkok.
In Hanoi, our guide was a walking Wikipedia. He adjusted our schedule to a perfect spot to see the train upon my request. The signature cruise on a lovely boat was a highlight of the trip.
Our guide in Ho Chi Minh City was great in communication. She reached out on WhatsApp before our arrival. We enjoyed the Happy Buddha and canoe experience.
The tunnel tour was very disappointing. We seemed very rushed and we listened to other tour guides for information. Lunch was at 10.45am and we arrived at the airport five hours before departure.
Our guide in Bangkok was so compassionate. She taught us about offerings and the lotus. The river location was perfect for us.
Our guide in Chiang Mai was very soft-spoken and gave us a fabulous tour. She wanted us to experience the “northern food!"
The elephant sanctuary you chose was perfect, with just the right amount of time.
In Phuket, we were not picked up by our assigned driver. Our guide was there with a driver. She was helpful in the airport upon our return to Hong Kong.
This was an amazing trip for both of us!
Thank you so much!
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