The food of Vietnam is filled with depth, from rich and hardy beef broth to stunningly bright coriander and lime zest. On this custom tailored tour through the highlights of the urban and rural landscape you will taste your way through the regional cuisine, where the herbaceous ginger or sweet shrimp can be mixed with luscious jackfruit or vibrant carrots. From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, explore the sites with more than just your eyes by experiencing the true flavors of Vietnam.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Opening Tastes
Welcome to the vibrant city of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam and home to the eclectic mixture of serene landscape and energetic cityscape. The beauty of the city isn’t just along its streets but around its ponds and beneath the dangling trees. You see the iconic image of people riding bicycles with woven baskets overflowing with oranges and their conical hats protecting them from the sun. The skyline can be seen mirrored in the lake, undulating like the mountains in the countryside.
You are met at the airport by your private transfer and soon you are able to relax within the comforts of your hotel. The scent of fresh chili and garlic are alluring in the evening as you are taken to a local restaurant for your first flavors of authentic Vietnam, specifically a regional treat. Between the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake you can find Cau Go Restaurant with a sensational view of the water and elegant décor, where the flavors are ready for you to try, each new taste offering a modern twist.
What's Included:
Day 2
Take a Bite
Day 3
The Mouthwatering Bay
Day 4
Coffee on the Rocks
Day 5
A Taste of the Imperial
Day 6
Along the Central Lines
Day 7
Remarkable Flavors
Day 8
Southern Bound
Day 9
Early to Sunnyside
Day 10
Endless Flavors of Vietnam
Trip Highlights
- Experience the depth of flavors within various regions of Vietnam through cooking classes
- Witness the remarkable combination of serene greenery and modern architecture in Hanoi
- Traverse the immaculate waters of Ha Long Bay, filled with tremendous limestone karsts
- Discover the provincial charm within the Old City of Hoi An
- Explore the sensational Imperial City of Hue and the grandeur of the Tomb of Emperor Minh Mang
Detailed Description
Your exploration of Vietnam is more than just a venture of the temples and museums but is a discovery of the culture through the tastes of a landscape. On this 10-day culinary tour you will experience the diverse flavors that have evolved with the regional cuisine, whether within restaurants or cooking classes, giving you an intense immersion into what brings the country together while also illuminating the differences within individual tastes. From city to countryside and back again you will indulge in the wondrous cuisine, the fabulous culture, the deep history, and you will find yourself hungry for more.
Your culinary adventure begins with your arrival in Hanoi. The city is celebrated as a fabulous blend of modernity wrapped around the peaceful respites of nature and tradition. Your first full day in the capital city will bring you into the markets, following your chef and guide through the food scene, into the kitchen, and back out to discover the unique highlights of the city. The next day you will come to Ha Long Bay where the immaculate water brushes against the sand and displays the remarkable nature rising from the surface of the sea within the surrounding islands. In Hue you will enjoy another cooking demonstration to taste the differences and similarities of the regional cuisine followed by a visit to the Imperial City which continues to awe visitors with its luxurious and vast complex.
The following day you will find yourself in Danang visiting the Cham Museum and relaxing along China Beach before continuing onward to Hoi An. The flavors of the central region are yours to define and compare with a cooking class before traversing the charming streets of the city that surround the delicate trickle of the central river. Your final days bring you to Ho Chi Minh City, once the capital of Southern Vietnam and an example of the modernism that urges the country into the future. Visiting the central market and picking out your ingredients with your guide and chef allows you another chance to taste and test the differences of the cuisine from north to south before visiting the Reunification Palace and more. Your final day will carry you home with the exquisite flavors of Vietnam lingering in your memories.
Starting Price
$3,000 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
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.84 stars based on 587 reviews.
Reviewed By Nancy H.
Reviewed By Frederique C.
Reviewed By Ed K.
Reviewed By sindey L.
Reviewed By Matthew W.
Reviewed By Carol S.