Vietnam Cuisine Passion

In general, most cooking classes are half-day classes starting in the morning with a trip to the local market followed by a cooking demonstration and then you will enjoy what you cook. Most of the classes tend to be aimed at casual tourists, rather than serious chefs, and many tend to be cooking demonstrations, rather than classes with individual cooking stations. Please inquire before you book. Also, please keep in mind that some of the smaller, ad-hoc programs may be more flexible to change the menu or request, especially if you arrange your own private lesson for your group.

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Duration: 9 days/8 nights

Tour Code: MVSD09

Price from: US $ 826.00 Pax

Tour Valid: Until April, 2014

Highlights: Saigon - Cu Chi - Mekong Delta- Da Nang - Hoi an - Hanoi

• Day 1 - Saigon Arrival- Welcome dinner

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Dinner

  Arrive at Saigon airport; meet the guide with the welcome signboard. Transfer to hotel for checking in with an orientation tour of Saigon city to have an overview of Saigon. If time permits, dinner at one of the finest local restaurant in Saigon. Free at your own leisure.

  Day 2 - Saigon Cooking Class- Cu Chi Tunnel

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  In the morning, attend the cooking lessons at the Vietnam Cookery Center: the hands-on cooking course is conducted by a professional chef and translated by a MC who will explain the teaching of the chef and talk about the history and culture of Vietnamese cuisine. The lesson includes a market visit and lunch. In the afternoon, excursion to the Cu Chi Tunnels : Cu Chi was an important base during the American War because of its strategic location. The Vietcong built a 200km long network of tunnels connecting command posts, hospitals, shelters, and weapon factories. Dug out by hand tools without the use of cement, this amazing network was only recently opened to tourists.

  Day 3 - Saigon - Mekong Delta

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  Leave your hotel at 7.30 for a 3-hour drive to Cai Be with stop en route at Trung Luong Bonsai garden for a tea break. Upon arrival, board a motorized boat to visit the popcorn cake, rice paper making family before visiting the lively floating market of Cai Be. Then continue by boat towards Vinh Long province to see the diverse fish traps in order to learn a kind of lazy fishing. After cruising along small shady canals, we step ashore and take a look at a typical and interesting music show of the Mekong cultural life. Lunch is at the home/ bonsai garden. In the afternoon, take a walk for about half an hour to enjoy the rural peaceful atmosphere of the countryside life, on the way we can also stop en route to learn more about fruit trees. Continue by boat to visit the brick and pottery factories. Back in the car at about 3 pm to drive to Can Tho. On arrival in the capital city of the Mekong Delta,get the city tour, including the local evening market to take photos of the busy trading activities before checking in the hotel.

  Day 4 - Mekong Delta – Saigon

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  In the early morning, board for a 3-hour cruise to Cai Rang and Phong Dien, 2 big floating markets with stops at a Bun Tau noodle factory and a short trek before arriving at a rice-husking mill. You can even try passing one of the many fragile monkey bridges along the canals photo shot. At the floating markets, you will discover a typical way of displaying and advertising farm products of local people gathering on the Mekong river to trade their goods. Drive back to Saigon with a lunch stop at My Tho. Stay overnight in Sai Gon

  Day 5 - Saigon - Danang - Hoi An

  Place Transport: Car->Airplane
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  In the morning, transfer to the airport to take flight to Danang. Pick up upon arrival to Danang. Visit the fascinating Cham Museum, famous My Khe beach and the Marble Mountains en route to charming Hoi An. Hoi An is known as the Faifo to early Western traders. It was one of South East Asia's major international ports. Nowadays, it still retains that special old-world feel. Enjoy a walking tour through the Old Quarter and try some of the local specialties. Hoi An is also famous for its large number of tailor shops; therefore, if you want to have a new wardrobe made up, this is the time to do it.

  Day 6 - Hoi An Cooking Class

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch

  We will meet at Hai Scout Cafe in the Old town of Hoi An. Our first stop is Hoi An's colorful market to experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and purchase some of the ingredients to be used in the cooking lessons later. We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so please make sure your camera is handy. On arrival, we will explore the cooking school's herb and vegetable garden, before learning about some of Hoi An's and Vietnam's well-known dishes. The cooking class is an interesting and fun way to learn about the local cuisine - the class runs for about an hour and 15 minutes, including demonstrations from the school's chefs as well as the chance for us to help prepare some dishes. The demonstration is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). Free at leisure by your own to explore the ancient town of Hoi An or shopping at tailor shops.

  Day 7 - Hoi An - Danang - Hanoi

  Place Transport: Car->Airplane
  Meals: Breakfast

  In the morning, we will transfer to Danang airport for flight to Hanoi. After checking in a hotel in Hanoi, we will take 1 hour cyclo trip to visit Hanoi City's old quarters.

  Day 8 - Hanoi Cooking and Sightseeing Tours

  Place Transport: Car
  Meals: Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

  Morning cooking class: Today,the class will begin with a walk, accompanied by the Chef of the Spices Garden Restaurant, to the local market where participants get a chance to learn all about Vietnamese ingredients. After that, everyone rolls up their sleeves in the kitchen to prepare a proper Vietnamese meal. After the class, lunch will be served in the Spices Garden Vietnamese Restaurant to sample all the different dishes prepared during the class. In the afternoon, you will discover Hanoi with an English speaking guide. Part of your tour will include sightseeing by cyclo, a bicycle type taxi, by which you’ll discover the Old Quarter made up of the so called "36 streets," most of which are named after the crafts or merchandise traditionally sold there. You will have dinner at one of the best Hanoi's restaurants. Afterwards, enjoy a performance of a traditional water puppet show. This fantastic art form originated in northern Vietnam and it is best seen in Hanoi. The Municipal Water Puppet Theater is located on the shore of Hoan Kiem Lake.

  Day 9 - Hanoi Departure

  Place Transport: Airplane
  Meals: Breakfast

  Free at leisure until transferring to the airport to take departure flight for next destination.

  The Tour Inclusion:

  - 08 Nights Accommodation in deluxe twin / double room view with daily BKF.

  - Pick-ups and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle as specified in the itinerary above (Please note: pick-ups will be by a guide and driver or, where a guide is not necessary, a driver only. All unaccompanied drivers will be briefed in advance, and will carry a mobile phone to ensure smooth transfer arrangements)

  - Domestic flight tickets: Ho Chi Minh- Da Nang, Da Nang- Hanoi, including domestic airport taxes.

  - Boat cruises as specified in the program

  - The services of experienced English-speaking guides as indicated in the itinerary (please note: guides will be on hand from pick-up until guests' return to their hotel or reaching their destination). Free days or part days will not include the services of a guide unless requested and included in the final itinerary.

  - Where necessary, entry fees for all visits as mentioned in the program

  - Meals (as specified in the itinerary) in the best local restaurants, or picnics where no suitable restaurant is available.

  The Tour Exclusion:

  - International flight tickets and airport tax.

  - Visas

  - Dinners, except as specified above.

  - Drinks, gratuities and personal expenses.

  - Surcharge for peak season (if any) & Other not mentioned in the above detail program.

  Additional Information

  Importance note

  - The itinerary is just a sample of our Vietnam tours; we'll be pleased to design similar programs with dates and itinerary customized to your personal preferences in Tailor Made Tours section. Rates may vary frequently. Please contact us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period and specific touring needs.

  
  

  What to bring ?

  - Sun Block, Wide brim hat, Camera + Film, Comfortable shoes, Rain gear, Warm clothes, original Passport...

  
  

  How to start ?

  - MinMax Travel is a fully escorted tour and best-available all year round; the only thing you need to prepare in advance is the international air-ticket from/to your country.

  
  

  - If you don’t have enough time to complete visa before your departure, we will help you to obtain Vietnam Visa on arrival easily (getting visa at the airport, on your arrival).