Compare Vietnam: Saigon, Central Highlands, Coast and Hanoi by Myths and Mountains vs Flavors Of Vietnam - Vietnam Food Tour In 12 Days by Realistic Asia

Day 1: Arrive Saigon. Cyclo Ride And Ben Thanh Market

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Saigon or Caravelle

You will arrive in Ho Chi Minh City or Saigon, and transfer to your hotel.

Built on the site of an ancient Khmer settlement and an outpost for early pioneers in the 14th century, Ho Chi Minh City did not begin to come into its own until the early 17th century. The derivation of the  name, Saigon, is somewhat vague and centers around its water location. Some say that Saigon comes from the Annamese word Thay Ngon, meaning a highly populated area near a dammed river. Others claim that Sai Con is a transcription of the Khmer word Prei Kor or The Kapok Tree Forest. In any case, the city is fast regaining its reputation as one of Asia’s most vibrant cities. The tree lined boulevards and French colonial architecture hearken to the city’s recent past, while the bustling markets, changing infrastructure and dynamism of the people look to the future.

In the afternoon, you will meet in the lobby and go for a cyclo ride in the city, ending up at the Ben Thanh Market. You can explore the market and then have a welcome dinner outside with the locals.

Day 2: Visit Saigon and Cu Chi Tunnels

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Grand Hotel Saigon or Caravelle

This morning, you will tour some of the important parts of Ho Chi Minh City. You can stop at the Reunification Palace, the former palace of President Thieu and his predecessors. Today this building is a museum and venue for official receptions. Inside you can visit the private rooms of the president, the “War Room” from where the South Vietnamese forces were controlled, and, most poignantly, the room where the North Vietnamese army finally took control in 1975. Nearby are the Post Office and the Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1877 and 1883 and one of the city’s major landmarks. Neo-Romanesque in form, Notre Dame is the major seat of the Catholic religion in modern Vietnam.

In the afternoon, you can venture outside the city to the Cu Chi Tunnels, one of the few remaining monuments to the Vietnam War. Beneath the ground lie 200 km of tunnels, dug by hand and inhabited by the forces of the Viet Cong during the conflict, which ended in 1975. At its peak, prior to the Tet offensive, the tunnel complex was base to almost 10,000 troops. To this day, it remains one of the most powerful examples of how the war was fought.

Day 3: Drive Dalat and Explore Town

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Da Lat Du Parc or Ana Mandara Villas Dalat

Rising early, you have about a 4-hour drive towards Lam Dong Province through “Borri Country,” once the home of Jesuit missionaries. Your destination is “The City of Love,” Dalat, a favorite holiday resort for Vietnamese as well as the French. With evergreen forests, waterfalls, beautiful lakes, the country’s best flower gardens, and delicious fresh produce, Dalat has always provided a welcome respite from the heat of the lowlands.

When you arrive, you can have lunch in the market, and then begin to explore the town. You can visit some of the crafts, see the cathedral, walk down to the water and visit the home of Bao Dai, the last of the Nguyen Emperors.

Day 4: Dalat – Valley of Love, Convent, University, Pagodas

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Da Lat Du Parc or Ana Mandara Villas Dalat

Today, you can continue to explore Dalat, visiting its gardens, waterfalls, Valley of Love, convent, university and key pagodas.

Day 5: Drive Buon Me Thuot. Visit Lac Lake and enjoy Gong Show

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Ban Me Hotel

After breakfast, you have a full day’s drive to Buon Me Thuot, the provincial capital of Dac Lac Province, and the site of the last battle of the Vietnam War in March 1975. Along the way, you will visit some of the hill tribe people, stopping in Lak Lake around lunch time. Here you can ride elephants in a M’Nong village and take a dugout canoe ride on Lak Lake.   The area’s villagers welcome all visitors with local dancing – a gong show Q and an invitation to sample the local homebrewed rice wine. Be prepared and you might want to bring some salt, a gift prized by the villagers. The gong culture has been recognized by UNESCO as one of mankind’s most notable cultures.

From Lak Lake, you will continue on to Buon Me Thuot for dinner and the night.

Day 6: Visit town, museum and villages

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Ban Me Hotel

There are said to be about 31 different ethnic groups in Dac Lac, each with their own traditional dress and customs. The area is also known for its big game hunting, although new conservation laws have brought this practice to a close.  Before venturing out into the villages, you will stop at the ethnic museum in town, with its collection of everything from models of houses to clothes to musical instruments to games popular with the local people.

After the museum, you can visit some of the villages in the area. Some of the villages are known for elephant hunting and taming, some for weaving and other arts. The societies vary from matrilineal and matrilocal among the Rha De to patrilinear. In Ako Village, you can see some of the Ede traditional brocades being woven.

In Dra Sap are the biggest and most beautiful waterfalls in Daklak Province, located in a jungle setting. Late in the day, you will return to Buon Me Thuot and walk through the local market.

Day 7: Drive Pleiku and visit villages

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Hoang Anh Gia Lai Hotel

Leaving Buon Me Thuot, you will drive on to Pleiku. Crossing the Nha Rong pass is truly a cultural experience. Along the way are coffee plantations and the stilt houses of the Central Highland’s largest ethnic group, the Gia Rai. These people stubbornly resisted the colonization of the French and, later, the town of Plei Me saw the first North Vietnamese battle of the Vietnam War in 1965. Domestic elephants are kept by many of the villages, and there are even sites where one can find   elephant   fossils   dating   back   to   the   Neolithic and Paleolithic ages. We will follow the Tun River over a pass and down into the small market town of Pleiku.

In the afternoon, you will visit a Giarai Village. The Giarai are animists, believing that demons are an integral part of creation.  They build their villages in the form of a square, with a communal house for all and the society is matrilineal.

Here you can meet the local musician, stroll around the village to get a sense of the traditional culture and customs, and visit the graveyard. Here you can learn about the wooden statures and the unique burial philosophy behind them. When you are spending time with the musician, you can experiment with the goong, the local instrument of the highlands.

When ready, you will return to Pleiku for the night.

Day 8: Drive Kon Tum via Plei Phun. Visit Orphanage, Church and villages

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kontom Indochine Hotel

After breakfast, you drive to Kon Tum, stopping at Plei Phun Village. Here you can explore the differences between the Bahnar and the Jarai or Gia Rai. The ancestors of the present day Gia Rai arrived on the coast during the first centuries AD, and belong to the Malay Polynesian language group. Villages comprise about 50 homes built around a nga rong or communal house. Families are matriarchal and girls take the lead in choosing their husbands. Hunters, fishermen, and gatherers, the Gia Rai also cultivate fruit trees, rice, beans and other cereals. The animist world of the Gia Rai is peopled by yang or genies of the mountains, water, villages, homes, and other facets of their lives. Two of the most fascinating aspects of the Gia Rai are their graveyards, with their intriguing statues and the watering spring place.

You continue on to Kon Tum, about 30 miles farther. Here you will have lunch. Once in Kon Tum you can begin to do a bit of sightseeing.  During the war, Kon

Tum was the site of massive bombing by American BQ52s and was basically levelled by the bombings and the fighting that occurred between NVA and ARVN troops in 1972. The town is also inhabited by some colorful ethnic groups – Sedeng, Jarai, Bahnar and Rengao. Today you can visit the beautiful wooden Catholic Church, the seminary, and the Orphanage of Vinh Son.

Crossing the amazing suspension bridge, you will visit the villages of Pleitonghia and Konhngokotu. Late in the afternoon, you will return to Kon Tum for the night.

Day 9: Hike to villages and overnight or return to Kon Tum

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Local Village or Kontom Indochine Hotel

After driving to the suspension bridge, you will do a bit of hiking to two other villages – Kon Jori and Kon Kotu. From here you will walk along the Dakbla riverbank to a hanging bridge. Lunch will be a picnic on the Dakbla riverbank.  The length of the walk will depend on you.

After lunch, you will take a wooden boat along the Dakbla River to Kon Ko Tu Village.

Option A: Spend the night

Here you will spend the night. In the evening, you can attend a performance of local ethnic dances, songs and music – the Cong Chieng Show. You can also sip the local wine drink out of a jar through pipes.

Option B: Return to Kon Tum

If you prefer not to spend the night, you can take the boat back and return to Kon Tum and your hotel for the night.

Day 10: Drive Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa

You have a long drive through some spectacular mountain ranges and along sandy beaches to Hoi An, nestled on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Lunch will be on the way.

Hoi An is nestled on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Before the river silted up, Hoi An was one of the most important trading ports in Southeast Asia, and a center for East West exchange and trade. From the 2nd until the 10th century, Hoi An was one of the principal Cham cities. Over the years, Indian, Dutch, Portuguese, French, Thai, Indonesian, Spanish, American, Japanese, Filipino and Chinese ships docked in Hoi An. In the 19th century, as the result of warfare and environmental changes, Hoi An was replaced by Danang as a major port. Reflecting the diversity of the traders and missionaries that settled in the port (including Alexander of Rhodes), the ancient architecture is a fascinating mix of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese. The rooftops of Hoi An retain a magical old world Oriental feel and are a favorite subject for Vietnamese artists. In the early 1980s Hoi An’s ancient quarters and historical monuments came under the protection and restoration efforts of UNESCO and the Polish government.

Tonight, you will enjoy the luxury of the Victoria Hoi An, located on the beach.

Day 11: Visit My Son and Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa

This morning you will rise early and drive a short distance to the Cham ruins of My Son. The Cham Empire controlled the central coastline of Vietnam from the 4th to the 14th century. It is said that the people came to Vietnam from Indonesia, and brought with them the Hindu religion. They made masterful temples and fortunes trading silk, pearls, and even birds nests. Sadly, the ruins of My Son were badly destroyed during the Vietnam War, but enough of the temples remain to get a good sense of the art and architecture of the period.

After visiting My Son, you will return to Hoi An and tour a bit in the town, walking the Japanese Bridge, visiting the different Chinese Assembly Halls and pagodas and walking the market.

After your walk, you can take a boat ride to one of the islands in the river to see a village of potters. In the evening, you might want to head to Brothers for dinner on your own. The food is extraordinary.

Day 12: Free Day in Hoi An

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa

Today is free to rent bikes, enjoy the beach by your hotel, or wander in Hoi An.

Day 13: Fly Hanoi. Cyclo ride and Water Puppet Show

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel De L’opera or Sofitel Legend Metropole

Rising early, you will fly to Hanoi on VN #1509 (0950/1105), where you will transfer to the Serenade, located in the Old Quarter. After changing clothes and a brief lunch, you will take a cyclo ride around the area.

Hanoi, located at the confluence of the Red and Duong Rivers, has come a long way from the stilt houses of the stone and bronze age dwellers of four and five thousand years ago. Myths link Hanoi’s origins to the center of the earth, visions of soaring dragons, and fears of invasions or fierce winds from the north. Between Chinese power struggles, peasant rebellions, invasions from warring Mongol hordes, the French occupation, and American bombing attacks, the city has undergone and continues to undergo tremendous growth and change. Today’s Hanoi, “the city inside a bend of the Red River,” is a blend of thousand year old temples, tube houses, neo Parisian buildings, and new, modern hotels and office buildings.

After your ride, you will enjoy a charming water puppet show. It may seem touristy, but it is an event that is loved by the locals and tells stories that are intimately part of their culture.

After the performance, you have time to explore the Old Quarter. Here many tiny streets join to sell a huge diversity of products. In the old days, each street bore the name of the product sold – “Shoe Street,” “Noodle Street,” and the like. Today, the streets sometimes sell a variety of items, but often the names are accurate. The Old Quarter also houses some of the most interesting art galleries. You spend some time visiting several of the most respected galleries, meeting with the owners and artists.

Day 14: Tour Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel De Lopera or Sofitel Legend Metropole

A real treat is to rise early before breakfast and walk down to Hoan Kiem Lake. Here you will join the locals in their morning Tai Chi exercises. Returning to the hotel, you will eat breakfast and then take a tour of the city. Your path will take you past the granite and concrete mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh lies in state, and the government buildings. Leaving the museum, you will walk around Hoan Kiem Lake in the middle of the city passing the One Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049 by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong to celebrate the birth of his only son, and Ho Chi Minh’s house, given him by the people of the country in thanks for his leadership. If time permits, you will also visit some of the most important temples of Hanoi. One of the most interesting is the Temple of Literature, called “Le Pagoda des Corbeaux” by the French, because of the huge flocks of crows gathering in the mango trees near the entrance. Built in 1070, the complex consists of five courtyards dedicated to Confucius and the pursuit of Confucian thought and behavior. It is here that Vietnam’s first university was founded. Another fascinating shrine is the Dao Quan Bich Cau Temple, built in the 15th century and dedicated to the military hero Ta Uyen, who fought many battles against Cham. One of the most   beautiful   in   Vietnam, this Taoist  temple contains statues of the her, his wife and son. Nearby is a statue to Lao-Tse, who founded the Taoist faith around 604 BC.

After lunch, you can choose between a visit to the wonderful Ethnic Museum or time in the Art Museum.

This evening, you will have a delicious farewell dinner at one of Hanoi’s finest restaurants.

Day 15: Home

Meals: Breakfast

The day is free until time to transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Day 1: Welcome To Vietnam – Hanoi Arrival

Meals: Breakfast

Your trip begins with your arrival in Vietnam. Your private driver will meet and greet you at the airport. You will be escorted to the hotel by private transportation. Check in to the hotel and get over the jet lag. You can mooch through the streets of the city. Historic charm, architectural marvels, and various products are splashed all over this area. After enjoying the first day yourself and return to the hotel for a relaxing sleep.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Hanoi Cooking Class With Master Chef

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Cooking with instructions and guides from our professional chef Mai, the Master Chef of some 5-star hotels for 15 years as well as a Vietnamese woman having both traditional and modern beauty with profound knowledge of English and tourism.

We will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi at 8:30 am and we will then have a one-hour walk to the local market. You will be fascinated by the sounds of the bustling market as well as the smells of fresh local ingredients there. While you are having a look at the daily life of local people, Chef Mai will show you how locals chose the best raw materials that promise to be a very interesting experience. Next, you will be introduced to some kinds of Vietnamese dishes and explained how to prepare them.

Afterward, you will come to the Chef’s home for your cooking class. When everything is ready, Mrs. Mai will instruct you to cook some Vietnamese traditional dishes. She will also show you how to harmonize between the Vietnamese species and your taste to cook the best foods for you and your family.

Your lunch will be served with what you have self-cooked, along with Vietnamese traditional foods prepared by the Chef.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Hanoi Vespa Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Explore more of Hanoi today in style from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and take you for a ride through the atmospheric streets of the Old Quarter, admiring its famous landmarks such as the Opera House and the narrow Train Street. Head toward Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to see the President's Place, Parliament House, and other government offices while your guide shares stories about the history of Hanoi. Pass Huu Hiep Lake and the crash site of the US plane shot down during the 1972 bombing raids of Hanoi—a poignant reminder of recent history. Then ride along the calm and beautiful West Lake to see the Monument to John McCain.

Your next stop is an idyllic hidden village on an island in the Red River, where you can meet a resident family and learn more about local life. Then it's on to a nearby kumquat farm, where the small trees are grown as a traditional gift for the New Year, symbolizing luck, health, wealth, fertility, and peace. Stop for some famous "egg coffee" at a local coffee shop, then head back to the Old Quarter via the Long Bien Bridge. This magnificent structure was built over a hundred years ago and connects the Hoan Kiem and Long Bien districts. The tour finishes with a hearty lunch at a local restaurant and a transfer back to your hotel.

In the evening, our driver will take you to Ly Club Restaurant - one of the most famous restaurants in Hanoi for dinner.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 4: Hanoi - Ha Long Bay - Overnight On Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

In the morning, check out of the hotel, and get picked up by the Cruise team. Take the most scenic route to reach Halong Bay, taking you across the Red River Delta with emerald green rice paddies stretching for as far as the eyes can see. On arrival at the pier, you will board the cruise and enjoy the fantastic views of limestone rocks and the karst grottoes. Have an utterly delicious seafood lunch and enjoy the time at the sundeck exploring the Bay. The cruise will stop in a secret place where you will spend time kayaking or swimming, so you can explore the karst grottoes closer. Towards the evening, you will return to the boat for an early dinner, followed by some time at leisure. You can optionally attend the activities taking part on the boat or just relax. Overnight on cruise

Note: In case of bad weather (the boat is not allowed to push off or not allowed to overnight in the sea), the Ha Long bay tour could be cancelled without notice. We will consider other replacement tours or a refund based on the specific circumstances.

Day 5: Sunrise On The Sundeck - Back To Hanoi

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Rise early today to view the sunrise at the wonder of nature with breakfast served in the dining room. A Tai Chi class on the sun deck will awake your mind and muscles.

Then head off to visit the limestone cave full of stalagmites and stalactites. After your exploration return to the boat to check out and enjoy the brunch while the cruise is sailing back to the harbor. Later you will be transferred to your accommodation in Hanoi.

Overnight in Hanoi

Day 6: Travel From Hanoi To Hoi An - Flight Included

Meals: Breakfast

Have breakfast at the hotel, and have free time until our driver will meet you for a transfer to the airport for your next flight to Hoi An. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel. After hotel check-in has some leisure time in Hoi An.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 7: Hoi An Foodie Tour

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

This evening you will explore Hoi An's off-the-beaten-path highlights and taste the most remarkable dishes of this charming town. Your guide will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to a local farming village about 2.5 miles (4 km) from the town center. Here you can learn more about the daily life of the local farmers before getting back to Hoi An and immersing yourself in a foodie's paradise with the flavorful local cuisine. Start your culinary exploration with a selection of well-known local dishes such as white rose dumplings, banh beo (steamed rice cakes), banh nam (rice dumplings) my quang (flavorful rice noodles), Hoi An pancakes, barbeque pork rolls, and the famous bahn mi sandwich. Wrap up your food tour with the best Vietnamese coffee before exploring more of Hoi An by night or heading back to your hotel.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 8: Hoi An Cooking Class At Red Bridge Restaurant

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Meet your guide at the hotel around 8:15 am and start this beautiful day with a welcome drink at Hai Cafe. Then visit Hoi An’s colorful market to experience its amazing sights, sounds, and aromas. Interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later. Next, you'll board a boat for a leisurely cruise along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. On the way, get a close-up view of local river life and keep your camera ready for the many scenic photo-ops. Visit the school's herb garden, then learn about some of Hoi An and Vietnam’s most well-known dishes. The two-hour cooking class starts with Red Bridge chefs demonstrating each dish before you prepare the same dish by yourself. After a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration), you'll sit down for a delicious lunch. Later we will transfer you back to your hotel.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Day 9: Travel From Hoi An To Ho Chi Minh City - Flight Included

Meals: Breakfast

Have breakfast at the hotel, and have free time until our driver will meet you for a transfer to the airport for your next flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel. After hotel check-in has some leisure time in Ho Chi Minh City.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 10: Discover The Vibrant City And Dining With All Five Senses

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Take the morning trip to visit Independence Palace, also known as the Reunification Palace, which was built on the sight of the former Norodom palace. The Independence palace is a widely known landmark of Ho Chi Minh City and was designed by the architect Ngo Viet Thu. Continue seeing beautiful structures from the French Colonial times such as the Notre Dame Cathedral, and the historic Central Post Office. Continue to the remarkable site of the War Remnants Museum the museum has a vast display of both the Indochina wars. Then we will transfer you to the restaurant for Lunch. Return to your hotel.

This evening you'll awaken all five senses and experience a culinary journey through taste, smell, touch, and sound at Noir: Dining in the Dark Saigon. Start with a welcome drink while listening to the restaurant's concept and mission. Proceed to the dining area to savor a unique fine dining experience in the complete darkness as you work your way through an exquisite, multi-course set menu.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 11: Explore The Fantasting Cu Chi Tunnel

Meals: Breakfast

Today you'll take a deep dive into Vietnamese history and explore the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, used as a shelter for Vietnamese soldiers during the war. After the 1.5-hour drive to Cu Chi, you'll learn about how the tunnels were constructed and how they helped people survive in the harsh conditions of wartime. Wander the remaining tunnel systems which include the living areas, kitchens, and bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers. You'll also spot hidden doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels. Finish the tour with special tea and cassava (guerilla food during the war) and join your driver for the transfer back to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Day 12: Time To Say Goodbye - Ho Chi Minh Departure

Meals: Breakfast

Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip. Complete the hotel check-out formalities after which you can free to visit the local markets and buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later, proceed for departure and board your flight back home.

Trip Ends.