Culture & Cuisine of Vietnam

Fly to Hanoi.

Arrive in Hanoi and drive to the Silk Path Hanoi Hotel. Spend the day at leisure. Tonight enjoy a traditional Vietnamese dinner as a welcome to the country. (D)

• Hotel Description

Travel to Halong Bay and board the Red Dragon Junk boat. Enjoy lunch while cruising through the Bay via the stunning limestone formations. Explore Then Canh Son Cave and cruise further to Hon Co Island to enjoy time to swim or kayak. Return to the junk for dinner and overnight onboard in a quiet part of the Bay. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

This morning rise early for sunrise and a coffee in the beautiful Bay. Cruise to the Cong Da area of the bay and explore the well hidden Thien Canh Son Cave, one of hundreds in the area. Enjoy an early buffet lunch on the journey back to the harbour. Disembark and return to Hanoi. (B)

• Hotel Description

Today enjoy a city tour to the highlights of Hanoi. This includes the Ho Chi Minh Complex, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and the Temple of Literature. After a cyclo ride through the bustling Old Quarter, take time out for a Vietnamese coffee on the banks of Hoan Kiem Lake. This evening enjoy a culinary adventure in Hanoi's bustling street food scene - a great opportunity to try all those weird and wonderful foods you see but just aren’t sure what they are! (B,D)

Depart Hanoi and fly to Hue. Drive to the Saigon Morin Hotel followed by lunch at a local restaurant specialising in traditional Hue dishes. Follow this with a tour of Hue including the Royal Citadel, Forbidden City and Hue Royal Museum. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

This morning drive via the Hai Van Pass, or "Pass of the Clouds", to Da Nang. Visit the interesting Cham Museum, home to a range of Cham artifacts. Continue to Hoi An and the Palm Garden Beach Resort and Spa. Day at leisure. (B)

• Hotel Description

Today enjoy a cookery class. Start with a visit to the school's herb gardens and enjoy an informal cooking lesson. Learn the secrets of popular Hoi An specialities such as Cao Lau and Mi Quang. After cooking the dishes sit down with fellow chefs and enjoy the fruits of your labours. (B,L)

Today is at leisure to relax or explore Hoi An - why not hire a bicycle from the hotel and head into the old town for a spot of lunch? (B)

Take a flight this morning from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City and drive to the Liberty Central Saigon Centre Hotel. This afternoon is free at leisure to explore the city. (B)

• Hotel Description

Depart this morning to the Mekong Delta, or 'land of nine dragons'. Board a small boat and explore the waterways of the Mekong Delta which is well known for rice and other crop production. Stop at a homemade coconut processing plant and see how coconuts are turned into sweets, oil and the fibres into woven mats later sold in the market. Take a stroll to a local village and watch mat weavers at work before jumping on the deltas version of a tuk-tuk and journey to the pier. Board a traditional teak boat and cruise downriver while enjoying a cookery demonstration followed by a three course sumptious lunch. End the day in Can Tho. (B,L,D)

Enjoy an early breakfast and explore the floating markets of Can Tho. Watch the spectacle of hundreds of boats gathering to sell their wares before returning to Ho Chi Minh City and the Liberty Central Hotel. (B,L)

This morning head out of the city to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels complex, a must for any visit to Vietnam. Explore the maze of tunnels and learn about the ingenious way the Vietcong created man-traps out of easily available forest materials. The afternoon is at leisure but this evening enjoy a farewell dinner at a local Saigon restaurant - end the trip on a real high! (B,D)

Transfer to the airport for flight back to the UK. (B)