Secrets
of Vietnamese kitchen
Day
1: Arrival in Hanoi (D)
Upon arrival in Hanoi, you will clear customs and immigration,
and be met by our tour operator and head to hotel in Hanoi.
After relaxing and a brief lunch, you will take a charming
cyclo ride around the city.
Perhaps the most interesting area you will visit is the Old
Quarter. Here many tiny streets join to sell a huge diversity
of products.
You spend some time visiting several of the most respected
galleries, meeting with the owners and artists.
After your ride, you will return to the hotel and prepare
for dinner. Before you eat, there will be a short, informal
talk on Vietnamese mythology and how it is presented in different
forms of Folk Art. The welcome dinner will be in the restaurant.
Overnight at hotel in Hanoi.
Day
2:Half Day Hanoi City Tour & Cooking Lessons (B) (L) (D)
This
morning you will have your first cooking lesson. The experience
starts with a walk, accompanied by the Chef of the Spices
Garden Restaurant at the Sofitel Metrople hotel, to the local
market, where you get a chance to learn all about Vietnamese
ingredients. A cooking demonstration will follow, which takes
place directly in the kitchen and where everyone has the chance
to get involved. After the class lunch will be served in the
Spices Garden Vietnamese Restaurant to sample all the different
dishes prepared during the demonstration.
Cooking schedule:
10.00 a.m.: Proceed to the market
11.00 a.m.: Cooking demonstration
12.30 p.m.: Lunch
After
lunch, you will begin to tour Hanoi, accompanied by your guide.
Your route will take you past the granite and concrete mausoleum
where Ho Chi Minh lies in state and the government buildings
to the Museum of Fine Arts. Here you will have one of the
country�s most famous artists as your guide. In front of the
museum is the Temple of Literature, called �Le Pagoda des
Corbeaux� by the French because of the huge flocks of crows
gathering in the mango trees near the entrance. It is here
that Vietnam�s first university was founded. Leaving the museum,
you will walk around Hoan Kiem Lake in the middle of the city
passing the One Pillar Pagoda, built in 1049 by Emperor Ly
Thanh Tong to celebrate the birth of his only son, and Ho
Chi Minh�s house, given him by the people of the country in
thanks for his leadership. Overnight at the hotel.
Day
3:Hanoi - Ha Long Bay � Hanoi (B) (L) (D)
Head out of Hanoi to Ha Long Bay, recognized as a World Heritage
Site by UNESCO. Board a boat for a 5 hour cruise to explore
the mystery and beauty of Ha Long Bay, where among the approximately
1500 square miles of water, sprout numerous limestone islets
and strangely shaped rock sculptures. The name, Ha Long, or
�Descending Dragon� evokes memories of the many dragon legends
that are part of Vietnam's long history and the mystical belief
in yang, the dragon energy and Ying, the mountain energy.
Enjoy a leisurely boat trip through the bay stopping to explore
some of the many islands, caves and grottoes. Return to Hanoi
following a lunch on board of freshly caught seafood. Visit
to Dong Trieu pottery village on the way back to Hanoi. Evening
is at leisure. Overnight at the hotel.
Day
4:Hanoi � Hue (B) (L) (D)
Catch an early morning flight south to Hue, the imperial city
of the Nguyen Kings. Your home for the next two nights is
the Huong Giang Hotel, overlooking the Perfume River. The
lobby of the Huong Giang is quite ornate and reminiscent of
an Imperial assembly hall, and your rooms will overlook the
Perfume River. After checking in and dropping your bags at
the hotel, you can begin to explore the city.
In the afternoon, you can head into town by cyclo to visit
the market and the ancient Royal Citadel, constructed in 1805
and the greatest legacy of the Nguyen emperors. If time permits,
you might want to walk back to the hotel along the river,
passing the book and card sellers. Overnight in the Huong
Giang Hotel.
Day
5:Cooking Lesson for Vietnamese Royal Cuisine (B) (L) (D)
Today
you will learn how to cook some of the most famous Vietnamese
Royal foods such as Phoenix Spring Rolls (Nem Phuong) and
one of the most traditional Hue foods: Mussels with Rice (Com
Hen). All of the lessons and practice will be done in the
best kitchen in Hue. Spring rolls are called Nem Ran by northerners
and Cha Gio in Hue and the south. Although it ranks among
Vietnam's specialty dishes, Nem Ran is very easy to prepare.
Consequently, it has long been a preferred food on special
occasions such as Tet and other family festivities. Ingredients
used for Nem Ran comprise of lean minced pork, sea crabs or
unshelled shrimps, two kinds of edible mushroom (Nam Huong
and Moc Nhi), dried onion, duck eggs, pepper, salt and different
kinds of seasoning. All are mixed thoroughly before being
wrapped with transparent rice paper into small rolls. These
rolls are then fried in boiling oil. Phoenix Spring Rolls
are basically like normal ones, but require more delicacy
in presentation, being shaped
like a phoenix.
Steamed
white rice is part of every meal in Vietnam, but only in Hue�s
�mussels with rice� dish is the rice served cold. Hue people,
after deciding that no food should be wasted, have designed
this dish using leftover rice. This dish includes Chinese
vermicelli, bamboo shoots, lean pork meat, and an assortment
of green vegetables (banana leaves, mint, star fruit, etc.).
The broth obtained after boiling the mussels is used to flavor
the rice. Ginger, sesame and chili are also added to the broth.
This dish is very spicy and it is common to see people with
watery eyes and sweaty faces while eating it; nevertheless,
everyone congratulates the cook for such a delicious meal.
Overnight at the Hotel.
Day
6:Hue � Saigon City tour (B) (L) (D) Flight
Today we get morning flight to Saigon. Upon arrival in Saigon,
you head to visit Saigon. Built on the site of an ancient
Khmer settlement and an outpost for early pioneers in the
14th century, Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City) did not
begin to come into its own until the early 17th century. The
derivation of the name, Saigon centers around the waterside
location. Some say the name comes from the Annamese word �Thay
Ngon,� meaning a highly populated area near a dammed river.
Others claim it is a transcription of the Khmer word Prei
Kor or �Kapok Tree Forest.� In any case, the city is fast
regaining its reputation as one of Asia�s most vibrant cities.
The tree-lined boulevards and French colonial architecture
hearkens to the city�s recent past, while the bustling markets,
changing infrastructure and dynamic people look to the future.
You might want to shop in Ben Thanh Market or head over to
Cholon, the Chinese Quarter. Overnight in Saigon
Day
7:Cooking lesson at the Vietnam Cooking Center (B) (L) (D)
In
the last cooking lesson, you will learn some of the best southern
dishes: Caramel Pork, steamed rice in coconut juice and Sour
Fish Soup or �Canh Chua.� Canh Chua originated from the Mekong
Delta, more specifically from Dong Thap Muoi. Canh Chua is
a fish sour soup made with fish from the Mekong River and
the So Dua flower. This dish is mostly served when the So
Dua flower first blossoms at the end of the rainy season.
A feast is organized and the Sour Fish Soup is among the delicious
meals prepared for this event. Sour Fish Soup must be eaten
very hot. It must also be eaten all at one time since
the taste is not the same when it is reheated. Overnight in
the Hotel.
Cooking
schedule:
09.30-10.00 am: Welcome drink and Vietnamese Cookery Art presentation
10:00-11:00 am: Cooking demonstration
11:00 am-12:00 pm: Lunch
(A
cooking handbook, souvenir gift and Certificate of Completion
will be provided after lunch)
Day
8:Depart from Saigon(B)
The day is free at your leisure until the transfer for your
departure from Saigon�s Tan Son Nhat airport
| Rate
in USD per person - Validity Until 31 Dec 2007 (
except for Christmas and New Year ) |
Currency
Converter |
|
-
Number of Persons -
| Class |
2-3 |
4-5 |
6-9 |
Single
Sup |
|
4 stars |
1086 |
935 |
869 |
350 |
|
5 stars |
|
|
|
|
|
Hotels selected in
this trip ( click to see
):
| Cities |
3
stars |
4
stars |
5
stars |
| Hanoi |
|
Sunway
- Club classic room |
|
| Hue |
|
Huong
Giang - Deluxe river side |
|
Saigon |
|
Rex
- Rex suite room |
|
|
Tour
Cost includes:
- Full transportation by private car or bus as tour program
indicated.
- Full meals as indicated ( L, D ) at the local restaurant.
- Breakfast at hotel.
- 2 domestic flights : Hanoi - Hue, Hue - Saigon
- English or French speaking guide
- Entrance fees.
- Cooking fees
- Visit Market fees
- Private Boat trip in Halong Bay, Tiengiang river in Mytho.
- Twin-share accommodation ( AC room)
Tour
Cost excludes:
·
International airport tax in Hanoi at USD 14.00 nett per person
· International
airfare to/from Vietnam
· Personal insurance
· Expenditure of
a personal nature, tips, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry,
emergency transfers & etc.
· Visa to Vietnam
Site Menu
