Culinary Tour of Vietnam
June 6 - 17, 2011
February 7 - 18, 2012

"A TASTE OF VIETNAM” - CULINARY TOUR

This 12 day tour visits Vietnam’s most interesting and historical cities, and combines lectures on the history and culture of Vietnamese cuisine with hands-on cooking demonstrations by some of the best chefs of Vietnam.

Vietnamese cuisine takes into consideration the demands for freshness of ingredients, the artful mingling of flavors, the deftness of presentation, and the simplicity of technique. Much of its complexity comes from the use of fresh herbs and aromatic spices.

This tour you will experience some of Vietnam’s greatest gastronomic delights, not only at the cooking demonstrations, but also in some of Vietnam’s best hotels and restaurant. This tour will also introduce you to the foods the ordinary Vietnamese eat, visits to local markets, and non-touristy places like the local pho shop.

Vietnam has three culinary regions, the North, the Central Part, and the South.

Northern Vietnam has long been influenced by its proximity to China. The north is also the only part of Vietnam that has four seasons, and therefore many dishes are only available during the season. The food in North tends to be milder and lighter than the other parts of Vietnam.

The Central Part of Vietnam claims to have the most culturally authentic food of the country, heavily influenced by the Imperial court cuisine of Hue. The food is usually spicy and well seasoned.

The southern cuisine is the most varied. It has incorporated the influences of Cambodia, and Thailand, with a style distinctly its own. It is more tropical, spicier and at times sweeter than the northern food.

In addition to savoring the bounty of Vietnam, the tour provides luxurious hotels and resort, as well as showing the sublime beauty of Vietnam’s natural setting.

DAY 1: HO CHI MINH CITY
Arrive at Tan Son Nhat Airport and transfer to the chic May Boutique Hotel. There will a group meeting at 5 PM at the hotel for welcome drinks and the tour orientation session. After that , dinner will be at the fashionable Indochine restaurant for fine and authentic central Vietnam fare.

DAY 2: HO CHI MINH CITY
After a light breakfast at the hotel, we will enjoy a bowl of pho at one of Saigon’s popular pho shops. This will be followed by visit to the Ben Thanh Market and the numerous food vendors. In the afternoon, we will visit the new restaurant of Doan Cam Van, famous for her cooking show on television in Vietnam, for a cooking demonstration and tasting of dipping sauces. Dinner will be at the well known Ngoc Suong Seafood Restaurant.

DAY 3: HO CHI MINH CITY
Breakfast will be at the hotel, followed by a visit to the Vietnam Cookery Center. The activities at the center include a tour to a local outdoor food market (the way Vietnam shops), a demonstration of preparing various dishes, with hands-on participation and lunch. The afternoon is free. There is also the option to join a short city tour, with a visit to the Reunification Palace. The evening will conclude with a sunset dinner on a wooden dragon boat on the Saigon River.

DAY 4: HO CHI MINH CITY to NHA TRANG
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel you will be transported to Tan Son Nhat Airport for your flight to Nha Trang. Upon arrival at Nha Trang Airport you will have a 45 minute scenic drive along the coast line to the best boutique resort in Vietnam, the Ana Mandara. The afternoon is free for walking on the beach or relaxing at one of the two swimming pools at the resort. Dinner will be at the Ana Mandara.

DAY 5: NHA TRANG
After breakfast, the Ana Mandara Executive Chef will take us on a three hour tour of three markets, beginning with the riverside fish market. For lunch will be able to join locals at the Lac Canh Restaurant where we will have the chance to grill marinated beef and oversized prawns on our own individual charcoal grills. The afternoon is free for relaxation at the Ana Mandara or to visit their famous spa. Dinner will be at the Ana Mandara.

DAY 6: NHA TRANG to HOI AN
After breakfast we will take an early flight from Nha Trang to Danang and transfer to the Vinh Hung Riverside Resort in the picturesque town of Hoi An, about 30 kilometers south of Danang. Hoi An ranks as the best preserved port of a bygone era of Southeast Asia, and listed as World Heritage Site. The grid of narrow river front streets is renowned for its Chinese and French architecture and is now dotted with art galleries and made-to-order tailor shops. The afternoon is reserved for browsing and shopping. Dinner will be at Brothers Café.

DAY 7: HOI AN
Breakfast will be at the resort, followed by a short walk to the Hai Café where will meet for the trip to the Red Bridge Cooking School. The school is located about a 30 minute boat ride outside of Hoi An. The cooking demonstrations are done in an outdoor garden setting on the edge of the river and we will basically learn to prepare our own lunch. Upon returning to Hoi An by boat early afternoon, there will plenty of time for more browsing and shopping. Dinner will be at Ms. Vy’s Cargo Restaurant and will include a cooking demonstration by Ms. Vy, a third-generation restaurateur and food mandarin.

DAY 8: HOI AN to HUE After breakfast we will take the motor coach to the imperial city of Hue. The route takes us over one of the most scenic sites, towering Hai Van Pass, with spectacular views of Danang City and Lang Co Beach. Lunch will be at the Lang Co Beach Resort. In Hue we will check into the oriental style Huong Giang Resort and Spa on the banks of the Perfume River. The evening will give a you unique experience by participating in the royal dinner event at the resort.

DAY 9: HUE
The specialty of Hue is Bun Bo Hue, which we will enjoy for breakfast, followed by a cyclo ride to the Citadel and the Forbidden City. From there we will proceed to the Thien Mu Pagoda. Lunch will be served on a private boat that will also take us to one of burial palaces of the Nguyen Dynasty, Emperor Ming Mang. Dinner consisting of Hue’s imperial haute cuisine will be served by Madam Ha, at her candlelit Tinh Gia Vien Garden Restaurant, accompanied by Vietnam classical music. Madam, or Chef Ha draws on her heritage as a descendent of the royal family, as well as her culinary training.

DAY 10: HUE TO HANOI
We will catch an early flight from Hue to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. On the way from the airport to our hotel, we will have lunch at Sen Restaurant on Westlake, a favorite of the locals and self-service. After we check into the Moevenpick Hanoi Hotel, we will enjoy a city tour with visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his residence, the one pillar pagoda and the Old Quarters. Dinner will be at Cha Ca La Vong.

DAY 11: HANOI
After breakfast we will visit the Old Hanoi Restaurant and Cooking School, and after being taken on a tour of the local market, we will have hands-on participation in creating a few Vietnamese classical dishes, which are then served to us at lunch. Early afternoon we will catch Hanoi’s traditional Water Puppet Show, followed by strolling and shopping at the Old Quarters. Our Farewell Dinner will be at Nam Phuong Restaurant.

DAY 12: DEPARTURE
After breakfast we will transport you to the airport for your flight home

If you like to extend your stay in Vietnam we offer a wonderful optional tour to Sapa and the Victoria Resort Hotel in the Tonkinese Alps and marvelous Halong Bay

Hotels:

Ho Chi Minh City - May Hotel
Nha Trang - Ana Mandara Resort
Hoi An - Vinh Hung Riverside Resort
Hue - Huong Giang Resort and Spa
Hanoi - Moevenpick Hanoi Hotel


All rooms are deluxe or above

Tour Cost: $2895 per person, double occupancy
Single Room Supplement: $1100