Trip Snapshot
Highlights
- • Hanoi Pho, egg coffee and Old Quarter street-food rituals
- • Duong Lam heritage feast with clay-pot fish and roasted pork
- • Mai Chau highland spices with White Thai families
- • Hue Bun Bo Hue, royal cuisine and Yin-Yang cooking philosophy
- • Hoi An Cao Lau, Mi Quang, Tra Que herbs and hidden street-food alleys
- • Mekong floating-market breakfast with Hu Tieu and orchard fruit
- • Saigon and southern flavors including Bun Bo Nam Bo, com tam and night food culture
- • Cu Chi farm-to-table finale with adventurous local ingredients
Travel Moments
Selected Vietnam highlights from this journey.
Travel Moments Gallery
9 photos
Itinerary
Touch down in the thousand-year-old capital. Your private driver will whisk you to a charming 4-star boutique hotel in the heart of the Old Quarter. Tonight, the journey begins with a welcome glass of chilled sparkling wine followed by an elegant dinner. Sample Hanoi's "comfort food" - delicate spring rolls and grilled fish - within the walls of a beautifully restored French colonial villa.
Where you go
- Noi Bai Airport
- Hanoi Old Quarter
What you do
- Airport pickup
- Hotel check-in
- Welcome dinner at colonial villa
Meals
- Dinner
Wake up like a local to the sounds of the city. Join our culinary guide for the "Holy Trinity" of Hanoian mornings: a steaming bowl of heirloom Beef Pho at a family-run stall, followed by velvety hand-whisked Egg Coffee. Learn the "secret geometry" of a perfect bowl and the true heart of Hanoi food culture. This evening, stroll through historic streets and taste the most iconic specialties that have shaped Vietnam's culinary tradition.
Where you go
- Hanoi Old Quarter
- Pho Stall
- Street Food Stalls
What you do
- Pho tasting tour
- Egg coffee
- Street food safari
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Begin at the vibrant local market of Duong Lam, where Vietnamese culinary is built on freshness. Beneath a hundred-year-old home, discover the art of Vietnam's culinary heritage cooking: the 10-hour slow-simmering of fish with ginger and soy in traditional clay pots, and the famous Crispy Roasted Pork meticulously hand-turned over a bamboo pole.
Where you go
- Duong Lam Ancient Village
- Red River Delta
What you do
- Market visit
- Heritage cooking demonstration
- 10-hour feast lunch
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Leave the lowlands behind as we wind into the emerald Mai Chau Valley, where landscapes and flavors shift. As the altitude rises, the spice rack changes. Check in and rest at your ecolodge. In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing walk around the villages and get to know the community of The White Thai.
Where you go
- Hanoi
- Mai Chau Valley
What you do
- Scenic drive
- Village walk
- White Thai community visit
Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Spend a refreshing morning cycling along winding village paths through lush forests and emerald rice paddies. Journey to a traditional stilt house where a local White Thai family welcomes you into their home. Join your hosts in the kitchen to prepare lunch, learning to marinate grilled dishes with the signature "Mac Khen" (forest pepper) and "Hat Doi" (wild seeds) to create the distinctive, aromatic flavors of the mountains.
Where you go
- Mai Chau Rice Fields
- White Thai Villages
What you do
- Countryside cycling
- Hosted lunch preparation
- Highland spice cooking
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
A picturesque drive leads you to Ninh Binh, where towering karsts and tranquil waterways set the scene. Following a classic sampan boat journey through the so-called "Halong Bay on Land," sit down to enjoy the region's most celebrated dish: Crisp, Sun-dried Rice paired with Mountain Goat - a delicacy raised naturally on limestone mountains, lean, flavorful, and packed with wild herbs.
Where you go
- Ninh Binh
- Trang An Grottoes
What you do
- Scenic drive
- Sampan boat trip
- Mountain goat specialty lunch
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Step aboard a luxury wooden junk boat as we set sail into the heart of Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This day is dedicated to pure relaxation. Whether you choose to read, practice Tai Chi as the sun dips below the karst peaks, or lose yourself in breathtaking views from your private cabin, the day provides a profound sense of peace surrounded by the timeless grandeur of the Gulf of Tonkin.
Where you go
- Halong Bay
What you do
- Drive to Halong
- Board luxury cruise
- Tai Chi
- Relaxation
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Leaving your cruise around noon, transfer to the airport for your flight south to Hue. Once the imperial capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue welcomes you with quieter traditions including its celebrated culinary heritage. Upon arrival, your private driver escorts you to the hotel. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy - stroll along the Perfume River at sunset or browse local markets.
Where you go
- Halong Bay
- Noi Bai Airport
- Hue
What you do
- Disembark
- Airport transfer
- Flight to Hue
- Perfume River stroll
Meals
- Breakfast
Step into the tranquil setting of a private garden house for an intimate encounter with a chef whose lineage traces directly back to the royal kitchens of the Nguyen Dynasty. Explore the profound philosophy of Yin and Yang in Hue cuisine - where cooling (Yin) and warming (Yang) elements are thoughtfully combined. Learn where vegetables are delicately carved into symbolic phoenixes. In the afternoon, walk the sacred grounds of the Imperial Citadel, including the historic royal kitchens.
Where you go
- Private Garden House
- Imperial Citadel
- Royal Kitchens
What you do
- Yin-Yang cooking masterclass
- Phoenix vegetable carving
- Imperial Citadel tour
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Journey south over the spectacular Hai Van Pass where dramatic scenery meets subtle shifts in cuisine. By sunset, arrive in the lantern-lit UNESCO town of Hoi An, where for over 500 years this historic trading port has served as a crossroads of cultures, spices, and techniques, shaping a richly layered culinary tradition.
Where you go
- Hai Van Pass
- Hoi An Ancient Town
What you do
- Scenic drive over Hai Van Pass
- Transfer to Hoi An
- Evening lantern walk
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Journey into the heart of Hoi An's flavors at the Tra Que Organic Village. What makes these herbs world-renowned is the unique soil enriched exclusively by seaweed from the Co Co River lagoon, imparting an intense aroma to basil, spicy mint, and coriander. Roll up your sleeves and harvest these delicate greens, then head to the iconic Mai Fish restaurant to see those very herbs transformed into a complete "farm-to-table" experience.
Where you go
- Tra Que Organic Village
- Mai Fish Restaurant
What you do
- Herb harvesting
- Organic farming experience
- Farm-to-table lunch at Mai Fish
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
After a morning by the turquoise waters of the beach, your "Culinary Safari" begins just as golden hour settles over the town. Weave through a labyrinth of hidden back alleys away from tourist paths. Make a pilgrimage to the humble stall serving the "World's Best Banh Mi" - famously bestowed by Anthony Bourdain. Continue into secret courtyards to savor the delicate "White Rose" dumplings - translucent pockets of shrimp and pork that resemble blooming flowers.
Where you go
- Hoi An Beach
- Secret Alleyways
- Banh Mi Stall
What you do
- Beach time
- Street food safari
- Banh Mi tasting
- White Rose dumpling tasting
Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Fly to Can Tho, the pulsing heart of the Mekong Delta. The air is thick with the scent of fruit and river water. Enjoy a sunset dinner by the Hau River, sampling the famous "Elephant Ear Fish" - crispy, upright-standing fish wrapped in rice paper with fresh herbs - a true Mekong culinary masterpiece.
Where you go
- Noi Bai Airport
- Can Tho
- Hau River
What you do
- Flight to Can Tho
- Riverside sunset dinner
- Elephant Ear Fish tasting
Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Cycle through the delta, stopping to pluck vibrant rambutan, sweet longan, and "queenly" mangosteen straight from heavy-laden branches. The highlight is a hosted lunch at a welcoming local family home featuring a "Table of Abundance": Elephant Ear Fish fried to golden crisp, Caramelized Pork with Eggs (Thit Kho Trung), Clay-pot Catfish (Ca Kho To), and Giant Freshwater Prawns steamed inside a young coconut.
Where you go
- Mekong Orchards
- Local Family Home
What you do
- Orchard cycling
- Fruit picking
- Hosted family lunch
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
At dawn, experience Cai Rang, the largest floating market in the Mekong Delta. Surrounded by an endless sea of colorful produce and the joyful hum of trade, enjoy a steaming bowl of Hu Tieu (noodle soup) passed boat-to-boat. Immerse yourself in a living showcase of Vietnamese culinary culture found nowhere else. In the afternoon, transfer to Saigon.
Where you go
- Cai Rang Floating Market
- Hau River
What you do
- Floating market visit
- Boat-to-boat Hu Tieu breakfast
- Transfer to Saigon
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
The morning and afternoon are yours to enjoy at your own pace - recharge at the hotel, explore French colonial landmarks, or wander through hidden art galleries. As the sun sets, the "Saigon By Night" journey begins, immersing you in the electric energy of Vietnam's most dynamic metropolis. Dive into the local eating and drinking culture, uncover "speakeasy" bars tucked in secret historic buildings, and end the evening at a glittering Sky Bar with panoramic views.
Where you go
- Saigon
- Sky Bar
What you do
- Free exploration
- Saigon By Night tour
- Speakeasy bars
- Sky Bar visit
Meals
- Breakfast
Head to a lush organic farm in Cu Chi for your final and perhaps most intriguing culinary encounter. Meet the charismatic owner-chef who spent a decade honing his craft in Australia. Learn to prepare "bravery dishes" using exotic local ingredients like crickets and scorpions, balanced with fresh farm-grown vegetables. This is an adventurous expression of Vietnamese culinary creativity and a fitting finale to your pilgrimage.
Where you go
- Cu Chi Organic Farm
What you do
- Organic farm visit
- Exotic cooking class
- Cricket and scorpion tasting
Meals
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Savor one last cup of thick, condensed-milk Vietnamese coffee as you watch the city wake up. Transfer to the airport with a full heart and a deeper understanding of Vietnam's culinary traditions, ending this Vietnam Culinary Pilgrimage.
Where you go
- Saigon
- Tan Son Nhat Airport
What you do
- Final coffee
- Airport transfer
- Departure
Meals
- Breakfast
What Makes This Tour Special
The definitive culinary journey through Vietnam - four distinct culinary worlds, from refined northern tradition to the bold flavors of the Mekong, led by expert culinary guides.
Hotel Options
Inclusions & Exclusions
What's Included
- All accommodation as per tour grade
- Private transportation with A/C
- English-speaking local guide
- Meals as mentioned in itinerary
- All entrance fees & activities
- Airport pickup & drop-off
- 24/7 local support
What's Not Included
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Tips & gratuities
- Visa fees (if applicable)
- Drinks & meals not mentioned
Book This Trip
Send your request and our travel expert will customize the final quote for you.