Vietnam Real Food Adventure
Tour Description
Day 1: Hanoi
Sip, slurp and crunch your way through Vietnam, experiencing one of the freshest and most fragrant cuisines on the planet. From pho and ancient buildings in Hanoi, banh khoai and imperial citadels in Hue, banh xeo and lantern-lit streets in Hoi An and banh canh and pulsating markets in Ho Chi Minh City, experience Vietnam’s cuisine and discover its tightly woven place within this culture. Drink in cafes and beer halls that sprawl out over city streets, buy fruit from wicker baskets draped over a vendor’s shoulders and sit at market stalls as aromatic noodle soups are whipped up in front of you. Experience all of Vietnam’s iconic sights, spend time cooking some of the country’s top dishes and get a true taste of Vietnam on this food focused adventure.
Itinerary
Day 1: Hanoi
Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins in the country’s capital – Hanoi. If you arrive early, maybe grab a delicious Vietnamese coffee (typically served with condensed milk or, for the more adventurous, egg)! Meet your group and leader for a welcome meeting at 5 pm, then head out for your first introduction to Vietnam’s lively culinary scene. Your leader will take you on a street food tour around the streets, as the sun goes down and the city comes alive at night. Maybe try bun cha (a grilled pork and noodle dish loved in Hanoi) or lau (Vietnamese hot pot). Thinking of arriving a few days early to explore the majestic Northern Vietnam? Then check out our Ninh Binh Mini Adventure (TVAN) -for an off-the-beaten path discovery of Pu Long and Ninh Binh. Or you can try our Hiking In Sapa (TVAG) – for a big doze of dramatic mountain landscapes, crisp fresh air and colorful hilltribes.
Day 2: Halong Bay
This morning, hit the road for the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay. The harbour, with approximately 2000 limestone islands rising from the turquoise waters of Bac Bo Gulf, spans an area of about 1500 square km and is dotted with beaches and grottos. When you arrive, you’ll set sail on the emerald-green waters, gliding between limestone karsts to take in the incredible scenery from the best outlook of them all – the water! Then, you’ll explore Surprise Cave, one of the most striking caves in the bay. In the afternoon, you’ll return to your boat and enjoy a delicious feast prepared by an onboard chef. Tonight’s stay is something special as you’ll be sleeping on the traditional boat, letting the water lull you to sleep and really taking in the beauty of the surrounding bay.
Day 3: Overnight train
If you’re an early riser, you might like to wake up for sunrise this morning, watching the bay come alive. Perhaps organise an optional kayak experience to see the limestone karsts from a new perspective. Tonight, you’ll head back to Hanoi and board an overnight train bound for Hue. Perhaps grab some snacks today for the train, then settle in and play some cards with your group or watch the scenery pass you by from the window.
Day 4: Hue
Arrive in Hue this morning – Vietnam’s former royal capital – and enjoy a local breakfast of bun bo hue (a spiced beef noodle soup). The food here is influenced by its imperial heritage (small dishes and a focus on aesthetic presentation) and Buddhism, reflected in the many vegetarian restaurants. After leaving your luggage at your hotel, embark on a tour of the city’s imperial monuments from the back of a motorbike. Stop past Thien Mu Pagoda – an active Buddhist monastery since 1601, where you’ll see a car that belonged to Thich Quang Duc, the worldly famous self-immolating monk of the 1963 protests. After some time exploring, it’s time to eat! You’ll enjoy a plant-based Buddhist meal specially prepared by a chef and descendant of the royal family, in the garden of their family home. After, visit the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc and enjoy some free time this evening. You may like to ask your leader for the best place to try imperial street specialties for dinner tonight like banh hue (rice flour cakes stuffed with shrimp, pork and spices).
Day 5: Hoi An
This morning you’ll go to a local coffee house where three generations of Hue locals are living together. Admire the traditional house and gardens before meeting your host, Mr Khoa. Learn about his passion for coffee with a demonstration of how to make Hue’s traditional salt coffee, from the bean roasting process to the secret ingredients. Maybe even have a go at making it yourself! After, visit the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City before heading south by bus through coastal rice paddies and the mountainous Hai Van Pass to Hoi An. This beautifully restored city retains the feel of centuries past and tonight, you’ll head to the Old Centre – a UNESCO World Heritage site full of colourful streets, heritage buildings and specialty shops. Try Cao Lau (a local noodle dish) with your group tonight, then head out among the lanterns for a nighttime orientation walk with your leader.
Day 6: Hoi An
Today, you’ll really get to know Hoi An – first, your leader will take you on a walk around the Ancient Town. Then, you’ll discover Reaching Out Tea House – a non-government organisation that supports the local deaf and mute community by providing employment and vocational training. While here, you’ll sip delicious teas in total silence – a tranquil experience you won’t soon forget. After a little time to relax, you’ll get ready for a cooking class with a local chef this afternoon. You’ll be escorted to a local market to shop for fresh ingredients, then you’ll go through a culinary journey with hands-on demonstrations. Your local chef will even share the stories behind the yin and yang elements, unveiling the secret of home-cooked Vietnamese meals.
Day 7: Overnight train Danang to Nha Trang
Enjoy a free day in Hoi An to explore at your own pace. Maybe relax at the hotel pool or go for a bike ride in the nearby rice fields. You can stroll around Hoi An’s Old Centre for some last minute shopping – you’ll have your hotel room for the whole day, before driving to Danang along the coast. Maybe visit the beach for a while before boarding an overnight train bound for Nha Trang.
Day 8: Nha Trang
Arrive in Nha Trang this morning at around 10 am, then have some breakfast. After checking into your hotel, maybe stroll around the city, visit the Po Nagar Cham Towers or head to the Tran Phu Bridge for scenic views of the city and coastline. This afternoon, you’ll meet back up with your group for a seafood dinner – a local speciality in Nha Trang.
Day 9: Ho Chi Minh City
Leave Nha Trang this morning and drive on to Ho Chi Minh City, once known as Saigon. Stop for lunch along the way, then when you arrive, take a walking tour to get a feel for the city’s fascinating blend of old and new, East and West. You’ll notice a strong French influence here, which means excellent coffee and baguettes! Stop past the General Post Office, then take a guided walk around one of Vietnam’s most pulsing markets – Ben Thanh. This is the perfect place to pick up any last-minute snacks, cooking utensils, ingredients or presents for friends and family. Try the world famous crispy pork belly Bahn mi, then visit the War Remnants Museum to learn about the city’s sobering past.
Day 10: Mekong Delta
After breakfast this morning, kiss Ho Chi Minh City goodbye and make your way to the Mekong Delta. The delta is known as ‘Vietnam’s rice bowl’ for its abundance of rice paddies, fruit and flower orchards. When you arrive, you’ll hit the water and cruise up this mighty river, stopping at tropical fruit gardens and local cottage industries to sample honey, coconut candy and fruit, right at the source. Enjoy being paddled slowly along the quieter backwaters in a sampan – one of the most common forms of transport in these parts. Continue to your homestay for this evening. Meet your hosts and take some time to wander the garden, relax or lend a hand with dinner preparations. Enjoy a southern Vietnamese feast on the wide veranda overlooking the garden as the sun goes down.
Day 11: Ho Chi Minh City
Enjoy the freshest fruit of the Mekong Delta for breakfast, then head to Cai Be for a hands-on cooking class with a local chef. Enjoy the tranquil setting and the spice garden as you learn some contemporary twists on traditional Vietnamese dishes with your passionate chef. Sit down and enjoy the delicious feast you’ve prepared over lunch and then enjoy a free afternoon to continue your explorations. Tonight, you might like to get together with your group and toast to a great trip over a farewell dinner.
Day 12: Ho Chi Minh City .
With no activities planned for today, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you wish to spend more time in Ho Chi Minh City, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Departure Dates
| Start Date | End Date | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 19, 2025 | Oct 30, 2025 | $3,145.50 | |
| Oct 26, 2025 | Nov 6, 2025 | $4,130.00 | |
| Nov 9, 2025 | Nov 20, 2025 | $3,384.00 | |
| Nov 16, 2025 | Nov 27, 2025 | $3,771.00 | |
| Nov 30, 2025 | Dec 11, 2025 | $2,502.50 | |
| Dec 7, 2025 | Dec 18, 2025 | $3,860.00 | |
| Dec 21, 2025 | Jan 1, 2026 | $3,850.00 | |
| Jan 4, 2026 | Jan 15, 2026 | $3,710.00 | |
| Jan 11, 2026 | Jan 22, 2026 | $3,570.00 | |
| Jan 18, 2026 | Jan 29, 2026 | $4,105.00 | |
| Feb 1, 2026 | Feb 12, 2026 | $3,520.00 | |
| Feb 15, 2026 | Feb 26, 2026 | $3,405.00 | |
| Feb 22, 2026 | Mar 5, 2026 | $3,305.00 | |
| Mar 1, 2026 | Mar 12, 2026 | $3,505.00 | |
| Mar 8, 2026 | Mar 19, 2026 | $3,505.00 | |
| Mar 22, 2026 | Apr 2, 2026 | $3,570.00 | |
| Mar 29, 2026 | Apr 9, 2026 | $3,570.00 | |
| Apr 5, 2026 | Apr 16, 2026 | $3,570.00 | |
| Apr 19, 2026 | Apr 30, 2026 | $3,505.00 | |
| Apr 26, 2026 | May 7, 2026 | $3,405.00 | |
| May 10, 2026 | May 21, 2026 | $3,305.00 | |
| May 24, 2026 | Jun 4, 2026 | $3,305.00 | |
| Jun 21, 2026 | Jul 2, 2026 | $3,305.00 | |
| Jul 26, 2026 | Aug 6, 2026 | $3,305.00 | |
| Aug 16, 2026 | Aug 27, 2026 | $3,305.00 | |
| Sep 6, 2026 | Sep 17, 2026 | $3,305.00 | |
| Sep 20, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | $3,305.00 | |
| Oct 4, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | $3,305.00 | |
| Oct 18, 2026 | Oct 29, 2026 | $3,405.00 | |
| Oct 25, 2026 | Nov 5, 2026 | $3,405.00 | |
| Nov 8, 2026 | Nov 19, 2026 | $3,505.00 | |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Nov 26, 2026 | $3,570.00 | |
| Nov 22, 2026 | Dec 3, 2026 | $3,570.00 | |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Dec 10, 2026 | $3,505.00 | |
| Dec 13, 2026 | Dec 24, 2026 | $3,305.00 | |
| Dec 20, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | $3,405.00 | |
| Dec 27, 2026 | Jan 7, 2027 | $3,505.00 | |
| Jan 3, 2027 | Jan 14, 2027 | $3,575.00 | |
| Jan 17, 2027 | Jan 28, 2027 | $3,680.00 | |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Feb 11, 2027 | $3,680.00 | |
| Feb 14, 2027 | Feb 25, 2027 | $3,680.00 | |
| Feb 21, 2027 | Mar 4, 2027 | $3,575.00 | |
| Feb 28, 2027 | Mar 11, 2027 | $3,575.00 | |
| Mar 7, 2027 | Mar 18, 2027 | $3,680.00 | |
| Mar 21, 2027 | Apr 1, 2027 | $3,750.00 | |
| Mar 28, 2027 | Apr 8, 2027 | $3,750.00 | |
| Apr 4, 2027 | Apr 15, 2027 | $3,750.00 | |
| Apr 18, 2027 | Apr 29, 2027 | $3,680.00 | |
| Apr 25, 2027 | May 6, 2027 | $3,575.00 | |
| May 9, 2027 | May 20, 2027 | $3,470.00 | |
| May 23, 2027 | Jun 3, 2027 | $3,470.00 | |
| Jun 6, 2027 | Jun 17, 2027 | $3,470.00 | |
| Jun 20, 2027 | Jul 1, 2027 | $3,470.00 | |
| Jul 11, 2027 | Jul 22, 2027 | $3,470.00 | |
| Jul 25, 2027 | Aug 5, 2027 | $3,470.00 | |
| Aug 15, 2027 | Aug 26, 2027 | $3,470.00 | |
| Sep 5, 2027 | Sep 16, 2027 | $3,470.00 | |
| Sep 19, 2027 | Sep 30, 2027 | $3,470.00 | |
| Oct 3, 2027 | Oct 14, 2027 | $3,470.00 | |
| Oct 17, 2027 | Oct 28, 2027 | $3,575.00 | |
| Oct 24, 2027 | Nov 4, 2027 | $3,750.00 | |
| Nov 7, 2027 | Nov 18, 2027 | $3,750.00 | |
| Nov 14, 2027 | Nov 25, 2027 | $3,750.00 | |
| Nov 21, 2027 | Dec 2, 2027 | $3,750.00 | |
| Nov 28, 2027 | Dec 9, 2027 | $3,680.00 | |
| Dec 12, 2027 | Dec 23, 2027 | $3,575.00 | |
| Dec 19, 2027 | Dec 30, 2027 | $3,575.00 | |
| Dec 26, 2027 | Jan 6, 2028 | $3,680.00 |