VIETNAM LUXURY CULINARY 8 DAYS

After buffet breakfast at the hotel we will depart Saigon and travel to Cai Be to board the Bassac at midday for your overnight trip through the delta to Can Tho.

Lunch will be served as the Bassac sets sail along her route. The Bassac will slip into the Cho Lách canal, in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the river traffic, situated between markets and churches, a unique opportunity for a glimpse of the very varied life of the people on the banks as well as on the water. Next we will visit a village on the banks of river Mang Thit, an opportunity to appreciate the way of life and hospitality of the local inhabitants. Back onboard and the rest of the afternoon is spent on the deck enjoying the sunset. The crew will serve dinner while the Bassac is cruising Mang Thit river. The Bassac sets anchor just downstream from the little Tra On floating market, for the night.

Enjoy sunrise on the Mekong river.

We start today with a visit to Cai Rang floating markets. After breakfast we will disembark the Basaac Cruise at Can tho and travel onto My Tho. A short trip through the canals on the island near Ben Tre in a sampan will lead us to our restaurant for lunch. Return drive to Saigon in the afternoon for our early evening flight from Saigon to Danang.

Upon arrival at Danang we will be transferred to the beautiful Anantara Hoi An resort, located in the colourful colonial capital and UNESCO listed riverfront town of Hoi An.

Tonight we will travel by cyclo to Mai Fish restaurant for dinner. The latest restaurant from Duc and the crew from Latino/Vietnamese fusion restaurants Mango Rooms and Mango Mango, Mai Fish opened in late-2012 as a nod to the owner’s Vietnamese heritage.

Free you time at leisure. Overnight in Hoian.

8:00 am: We travel by bicycle to the tiger market.

Breakfast of Cao Lau (Hoi An’s most famous noodle dish) en route to the market. Perhaps the most famous of all Hoi An’s dishes is cao lau. A tangle of noodles, pork and herbs, a symphony of texture and flavours, this seemingly simple dish adds up to so much more than the sum of its parts. The chewy smoked noodles that are central to this dish are argued by some to have been influenced by vendors wishing to fulfil the longing of Japanese traders missing their home-style dishes. Cao lau noodles are, nonetheless, a breed unto themselves, their toothsome chewiness allegedly deriving from the addition of lye to water drawn from an ancient Cham well located just outside Hoi An. Noodles made with water from any other sauce are just not the real deal. Enliven with a dollop of Hoi An’s equally famous chilli sauce and let your taste buds delight!

Once at the market, we’ll have an opportunity to see the fantastic array of produce available and to try some different snacks and fruits. Cycle back to the Old Town to enjoy a walking tour. We’ll give the bikes a break for a bit and wander through the Old Town on foot. Along the way you’ll be immersed in the incredible ancient architecture, have an opportunity to visit a few of the temples and pagodas that form such an integral part of Hoi An and, of course, we’ll find plenty of snacks along the way! With delicious dishes such as grilled pork rice rolls, soft tofu with ginger syrup, Hoi An chicken rice and traditional Vietnamese sweets called su se (dough made from sticky rice flour wrapped around coconut and palm sugar, wrapped in banana leaf and steamed!).

Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Hoian.

After buffet breakfast at the hotel we will travel to the countryside of Hoi An where we will stroll through Tra Que Organic Village, joining the farmers to learn how they work with the land. Now onto the highly acclaimed Red Bridge Cooking School, discover the school’s herb and vegetable garden before being shown traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food.

Lunch today will consist of the dishes you have created at the delightful riverfront Red Bridge Cooking School including beef noodle soup, clay pot fish with fresh dill, lemongrass shrimp grilled in banana leaves and grilled chicken & banana flower salad. After the class we will board a local river boat and cruise back to the Anantara Hoi An Resort arriving around mid afternoon.

Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Hoian

After buffet breakfast at the hotel enjoy the morning at leisure to collect your tailor made clothing, relax at the spa or join a yoga class. Around midday we will depart the Anantara Hoi An Resort and travel to Danang for our mid afternoon flight to Hanoi.

On arrival we will visit the Temple of Literature, a famous historical and cultural relic before checking into one of Asia’s top historic luxury hotels, French-colonial style Sofitel Metropole. Our hotel is located in the heart of Hanoi city, close to beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake and the tree-lined boulevards of the Old Quarter. We dine at Indochine restaurant this evening, a mix of contemporary and traditional Vietnamese cooking, located in a French villa, this is one of the hottest restaurants in town.

This morning after buffet breakfast at the hotel we will visit Cho Hom market, one of the biggest markets in Hanoi and explore its colourful array of exotic fruits, Asian vegetables, sweet delicacies, meats and elaborate temple offerings. We will then continue onto Hanoi’s charming Old Quarter and wander through the narrow streets lined with traditional style French colonial architecture and take life in at St Josephs Cathedral and peaceful Hoan Kiem Lake. We will finish the Old Quarter tour with a relaxing 30 minute cyclo ride – time to sit back and absorb the energetic street life. Now we continue our tour, this time through the French Quarter which is as an important part of Vietnam’s heritage. We take in the wide tree-lined boulevards, ancient oriental pagodas, twentieth century architecture, French colonialism and Vietnamese Buddhism. Hanoi’s French quarter romances and enchants!

Lunch today will be at Quan An Ngon, The destination for gourmet food lovers. It is situated in a French style colonial villa, surrounded by a peaceful and landscaped courtyard. The courtyard is reminiscent of a traditional country food market, showcasing the spirit of Vietnamese cuisine through the simple and rustic food on offer. The subtle flavours of the food highlight the three regions of Vietnam.

The afternoon is at your leisure to return to the shops, schedule a massage or relax by the hotel pool!Early evening, meet at La Terrasse Du Metropole Bar, inspired by famous Parisian cafés, and be immersed into the heart of Hanoi before heading out for our farewell dinne.

Free your time at leisure. Overnight in Hanoi.

After buffet breakfast at the hotel enjoy your last day at leisure to do some last minute shopping, relax at the spa, visit the one pillared pagoda or soak up and treasure your last magical moments in Hanoi! Say goodbye to Vietnam