Day 01: Hanoi Arrival
Upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, you will be welcomed and met by our local tour guide before transferring to the hotel, then take a rest or have a short travel around the capital. Have a welcome dinner at a local restaurant before staying the night in Hanoi.

Day 02: Hanoi
In the morning, take a short walk to a local food market—the typical market that supplies food for the daily meals and demands of local people. For breakfast, savor a hot and delicious bowl of “Pho bo” (noodle with beef) at Pho Bat Dan or Pho Bo Hang Dong—the famous and typical Northern Vietnam Pho vendor. After that, visit the nearby Ba Ngoan noodle factory to observe the process of making pho noodles with no chemical additives, then continue your walking tour around the Old Quarter as our guide proceeds to introduce you to some of the signature local dishes, such as Banh Cuon (steamed rice pancake rolled with minced pork and mushroom) or Cha Ca La Vong. You may also enjoy some coffee in the local coffee shop and later, enjoy lunch with “Bun cha” (vermicelli with grilled pork) at Bun Cha Dac Kim Duong Thanh. In the afternoon, take your time to visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, etc… Then have dinner at Anh Tuyet Restaurant before staying overnight in Hanoi.

Day 03: Hanoi Cooking Class and Hanoi City Tour
Have breakfast at the hotel, and then you will take a cooking class at La Verticale with Mr. Didier Corlou:
Class 1: Traditional cooking
Schedule: 09:30 am to 13:00 pm
09:30 – 10:00 am: Meet the chef at La Verticale, followed by a market visit
10:15 – 13:00 pm: Demonstrate and taste 5 dishes

Menu:
– Vietnamese banana flower salad
– Hanoi nems (deep-fried spring rolls)
– Grilled chicken with lemon leaves
– Bun cha
– Sautéed pumpkin branches
In the afternoon, take a half-day city tour in Hanoi, including the Ethnology Museum and Water Puppet Show. Have dinner at Cha Ca La Vong and stay overnight in Hanoi.

Day 04: Hanoi – Tay Phuong Pagoda – Duong Lam
In the morning, take a daytime excursion to the Red River Delta before transferring to Tay Phuong Pagoda, one of the ten most beautiful pagodas in Vietnam. Next, take a 45-minute bike ride in the rural area around Pagoda through many green rice fields and local villages, as well as having chances to discover the local daily life and activities along the banks of the Red River Delta. After that, go back to our bus for another visit to the ancient village of Duong Lam, which is called “Hoian of the Red River Delta” as it still preserves many traditional houses, then visit the Communal House in Mong Phu hamlet—a typical Northern Vietnam village with its nice architecture. You may also visit a local tofu factory before enjoying lunch with a local family, as the house owner explains the processes of making “tuong,” a special black sauce made from soybean and special sticky rice. After that, go back to Hanoi, have dinner at Indochina Restaurant, and stay overnight in Hanoi.

Day 05: Hanoi – Halong Bay – Overnight on boat
12h00 – 12h30: Embark on the traditional wooden junk, followed by a short cruise briefing.
13h00 – 15h30: Savor a delectable lunch as you cruise among the limestone islands.
15h30 – 16h30: Kayak among the hidden areas of the bay, around the Bo Nau Cave area. Return to the junk.
16h30 – 17h30: Cruise to Soi Sim Island. You can enjoy swimming and relaxing on the beach of Soi Sim or climb up to the peak of the island for a panoramic view of Halong Bay.
17:30: Cruise back to the main boat for a shower. Relax or take photos as the sun sets.
19h00: Enjoy dinner as you meet and greet with other guests. You can either fish for squid or just get on the deck to enjoy the gentle and refreshing night breezes. Stay overnight on a junk.

Day 06: Halong – Hanoi – Da Nang – Hoi An by flight
06h30 – 07h00: Start your day with Tai Chi exercises or participate in a photo hunting challenge.
07h30 – 08h30: Have breakfast as the sun rises.
08h30 – 09h30: Explore the amazing Sung Sot Cave—the nicest cave in Halong Bay.
09h30: Return to the boat. Freshen up before checking out of your cabin.
09h30 – 10h30: Continue cruising to explore the Bay with Ba Hang fishing village, Dog Islet, etc...
10h30 – 11h30: While going back to the harbor, watch the cooking demonstration before enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch.
12h00 – 12h30: Disembark and visit Tho Ha—the famous village of terracotta products before the 20th century—before transferring to Noi Bai Domestic Airport for the flight to Danang. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to Hoi An for a check-in at the hotel. Have lunch and stay overnight in Hoi An.

Day 07: Hoi An
In the morning, we will take you to a very impressive and busy fish market near Hoi An. The market is for wholesale orders of fish and certain seafood, with only fresh and newly harvestedones. Later, go back to Hoi An for breakfast at Cao Lau Restaurant before visiting the nearby Tra Que herb village—a big source of supplying organic herbs for Hoi An. You will interact with the local farmers and learn more about certain types of herbs and how to grow them. Visit a local handmade bread factory before going to Morning Glory restaurant for a cooking class.
Cooking Class:
You will start with a one-hour market tour to learn about Vietnamese ingredients & how to choose fresh foods, along with a special introduction to the art of Vietnamese gastronomy, vegetables, herbs & spices...

The cooking class includes learning cooking & cutting techniques & how to use a Vietnamese vegetable grater & knife. Later, you will get to cook by yourself under instruction by the chef with the dishes below (can be changed daily):
1. Fresh Spring Rolls & Shrimp
2. Green Papaya Salad
3. Grilled tuna in banana leaves
4. Crispy Pancake
In the afternoon, take a walking trip to the ancient town of Hoi An. Visit the ancient Fukien assembly hall, the Japanese covered bridge, and the ancient Tan Ky house. In the evening, have dinner with some of the most famous and popular local dishes in Hoi An, such as Com Ga (Chicken Rice) and Cao Lau, then stay the night in Hoi An.

Day 08: Hoi An
In the morning, you may choose to discover Hoi An, go shopping, or just relax in the hotel before having lunch, then depart for the cyclo trip to Cam Nam Village. The cyclo will take you from the town to Cam Nam Bridge before travelling along the banks of the Thu Bon River, during which you can take photos along the journey, then cycle through the local villages of Cam Nam—an untouched area by tourism with very friendly and hospitable local people—before ending at the small green canal covered by water coconut trees. After the trip, embark on the boat and take a cruise along the Thu Bon River for a rare glimpse of the local daily life along the river, such as fishing and farming… then come back to Hoi An during sunset. Have dinner at Cargo Restaurant and stay overnight in Hoi An.

Day 09: Hoi An – Da Nang – Saigon by flight
In the morning, you will be transferred to Danang Airport for the flight to Saigon. Upon arrival, you will take a tour of the former Residential Palace, the renowned Notre Dame Cathedral, and the Central Post Office after checking in for the hotel, then have lunch at Indochina Restaurant. During the afternoon, visit Cho Lon—the biggest wholesale market in Saigon—for souvenirs and Thien Hau Pagoda—where you can see hundreds of local people come to worship for their health, luck, and happiness. Have dinner at Ngon Restaurant before staying overnight in Saigon.

Day 10: Saigon – Cooking Class – Departure (B.L)
Have breakfast at the hotel before participating in a special cooking class with the Vietnam Cookery Center. A one-hour mini tour to the spectacular Ben Thanh market is included before the class, during which will be the time for you to learn more about the classic Vietnamese products, from fruits and vegetables to meats and seafood, along with learning how to differentiate certain Vietnamese ingredients and their usage in daily life. After the mini tour, head to the Vietnam Cookery Center for your upcoming special cooking sessions with the chefs. 
     

Menu (selected daily):
– Salad, one local soup, braised fish or pork
Enjoy your self-prepared food with other visitors and the chefs. In the afternoon, take your free time for shopping or to discover Saigon on your own. Stay overnight in Saigon until transitioning to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for the departure flight. The tour ends (check-out time is at 12h00).