The day begins with a guided boat trip on Perfume River to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest and most beautiful pagodas in Hue. Next, visit the magnificent Imperial Citadel, listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. Here, visit the Imperial City and Forbidden City, the majestic home of previous Emperors. Enjoy exploring the various palaces, ornate halls, libraries, residences, colleges and other landmarks.
Next, leave the hustle and bustle of the city and head to Thanh Toan village, a settlement founded in 1741 by military officials under King Le Thanh Tong. The village is home to many historical shrines and ancestral houses of local families. Stop at Thanh Toan eco restaurant for a welcome drink and cooking class with our chef. Learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese special foods. After the lesson, enjoy what you have cooked for lunch!
After lunch, visit the ancient national heritage bridge "Thanh Toan Bridge" and an agriculture tools museum, a unique community museum in Vietnam where you'll find farming and fishing tools together with many interesting stories of rural village life.
The last stop of this tour will be Khai Dinh tomb - a visual representation of the decline of Vietnamese culture during the colonial era. Unlike Hue’s other tombs, the grandiose concrete structure, built between 1920 and 1931, is a synthesis of Vietnamese and European elements.
The tour ends at your hotel.
Morning class: 9am – 1pm
Afternoon class: 4pm – 7pm
You will be picked up at your hotel and decide which local market to visit with the chef. You will stroll around and visit food sections with their wide selection of herbs, vegetables, meat and sea food, which gets you closer to the simple daily life. It will be also fascinating to observe and learn how to choose and buy the best quality of the fresh food from numerous food stalls in the market.
With the help of the chef, you will know how to buy ingredients for your cooking lesson, including herbs and spices, which play an important role in Vietnamese food. After the lesson, you should be able to go back home to prepare and cook Vietnamese dishes all by yourself.
Cooking Demonstration:
Your cooking lesson with us is guaranteed to be educational and memorable. You will be confident to set up an elaborate dinner party for your friends and family back home.
You will learn how to marinade with spices and decorate dishes with carrot flowers, lemon grass stems, banana leaves and curved chili. You will learn to make the authentic magical sauce made from fish sauce, water, sugar, lime, chili, garlic and herb.
Then you can enjoy your meal featuring what-you-have-cooked. The chef will taste the meals you have cooked and and give rewards to the best dish.
As you leave, you will be awarded a little gift and all of the recipes from your Hanoi cooking class.
Menu of cooking class for reference (this menu is subject to change without prior notice):
Option 1:
Nem Ran (Hanoi spring rolls)
Cha Ca Hanoi (Grilled fish Hanoi style)
Com Nau Tom (Rice cooked with shrimp)
Che (Sweet potato with ginger pudding, a kind of dessert)
Option 2:
Nem Cuon Tom Thit (Fresh spring rolls with shrimp and meat)
GaNuong la Chanh (Grilled chicken on skewers with lemon leaf)
Ca boc la sen hap (Steamed fish wrapped in lotus leaf with tamarind juice)
Che long Nhan (Dry longan pudding)
Vietnamese foods are very different from North to South. This short cooking class in Hoi An will give you some ideas of simple, delicious recipes that can be prepared easily at home.
ITINERARY
Picked-up by our driver at your hotel and transfer to the cooking class. Together with a cook assistant we will have an opportunity to visit Hoian’s colorful market and enjoy amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy area and intermingle with the local sellers to buy some ingredients used for the cooking class. Later the cook will present to us how to prepare some Hoian well-known dishes. After cooking, we will eventually have a dinner with local delicious foods, of which some have been prepared by ourselves.
Hanoi, as the capital city of Vietnam and a cultural hub of Northern Vietnam, is appealing the most talented cooks from every corner of the city. Learning from them can give you a fresh feeling of tasting genuine Vietnamese dishes, proudly prepared by yourself.
ITINERARY
You will be picked up by the driver at your hotel and transferred to the cooking class (the exact pick-up time will be advised upon reconfirmation). Let‟s visit an exciting local market for food ingredients with your assistants from the restaurant before coming back to the restaurant, where you’ll learn how to prepare traditional Vietnamese dishes with professional chef. With 1000 year of history, Hanoi has so many secret receipts, which is considered as their heritage and kept for generations. You will eventually enjoy a delicious Vietnamese meal, all by yourself! Transfer back to the hotel at the end of the service.
Embark on a family-friendly 10-day tour of Vietnam, designed to create unforgettable memories for travelers of all ages. Start in Ho Chi Minh City, where kids and adults alike can explore the fascinating Cu Chi Tunnels, learning about Vietnam’s wartime history. Dive into the peaceful Mekong Delta, with fun activities like boat rides, cycling through villages, making coconut candy, and visiting a bee farm—perfect for curious young explorers.
Fly to the charming town of Hoi An, where your family can enjoy hands-on experiences like cooking classes, lantern-making workshops, and cycling through lush vegetable gardens. Spend quality time together cruising through the serene coconut forests on basket boats, a unique and exciting activity for children.
In Hanoi, experience the city’s culture with a Jeep tour and a guided food tour that introduces your family to authentic Vietnamese flavors. Finally, cap off your adventure with a two-day luxury cruise in Ha Long Bay, exploring caves, kayaking, and enjoying family-friendly activities in one of the world’s most stunning natural settings.
This 10-day Vietnam itinerary offers the perfect mix of relaxation, education, and adventure, making it an ideal vacation for families seeking meaningful experiences and quality bonding time.