VIETNAM – CAMBODIA COOKING TOUR

(20 Days 19 Nights)

Code: STS – COOK VNCA

Day 1:  HANOI (D)

Arrival at Noi Bai International Airport, hotel check-in, enjoy a rickshaw ride. Dinner. O/N in Hanoi

Day 2:  HANOI (B/L/D)

Hanoi City tour: Ba Dinh Square, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Residence, One Pillar Pagoda and Temple of Literature (The 1st University of Vietnam), Fine Arts museum, the Old Quarter, water puppet show. O/N in Hanoi

DAY 3: COOKING CLASS IN HANOI (B-L-D)

Join the cooking class at Viet Cuisine Restaurant.  Not just observing but you will actually prepare and cook by yourself under the instruction of the chef from the beginning to the end. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 4: HANOI – HALONG BAY (B-L-D)

Transfer to Halong Bay, a World Natural Heritage site. Check in aboard a deluxe junk and start cruising. Enjoy fabulous seafood, stunning sceneries, and water activities: swimming, kayaking (exclusive), and fishing. Overnight aboard

Day 5: HALONG BAY – HANOI – HUE (B-L-D)

Morning continue the cruise along simply gorgeous sceneries including a very delicious lunch on board. Drive back to Hanoi, flight to Hue, the Former Royal City, a Wold Cultural Heritage. O/N in Hue

Day 6: HUE (B-L-D)

Full day enjoy Hue’s typical features: peaceful, traditional and beautiful.

Activities: enjoy a lovely boat trip on the Perfume River to the beautiful Thien Mu pagoda, Tu Duc tomb, Khai Dinh Tomb. Take an excellent motorbike trip with drivers to interesting traditional villages and beautiful sceneries around Hue. Overnight in Hue

DAY 7: COOKING CLASS IN HUE (B-L-D)

You will enjoy the cooking class at Tinh Gia Vien restaurant, which is known for serving dishes in the traditional style of  Hue’s imperial court. Tinh Gia Vien has a garden oasis, with 185 species of plants and flowers, 400 bonsai trees, and a fabulous misting waterfall. This restaurant is run by Master chef Madame Ton Nu Thi Ha, a member of the royal family. You will learn how to elegantly and colorfully present traditional Hue food, much in the form of animals. Overnight in Hue

Day 8: HUE – HOIAN (B-L-D)

More Hue city tour: visit the Royal Citadel of Hue, Dong Ba market. Take a scenic drive to Hoi An via Danang, stop at the Fine Arts Cham museum and Marble Mountains in Danang. Arrival in Hoian, a very charming ancient town, another World Heritage site in Vietnam, overnight in Hoian.

Day 9: HOIAN (B-L-D)

Morning enjoy a relaxing city walk to more than 200 years-old temples and houses. Enjoy pleasant shopping with much variety, low costs and friendly hosts. Afternoon take a fantastic bicycle ride to explore interesting villages and the beautiful countryside. Overnight in Hoian

DAY 10: COOKING CLASS IN HOI AN  (B-L-D)

Full day enjoy the Cooking Classes in Red Bridge Cooking School with interesting activities of shopping at local market, visiting vegetable gardens, boat ride to the restaurant, hands-on cooking class, and enjoy what you have cooked. Overnight in Hoian

Day 11: HOIAN – MY SON HOLY PLACE  (B-L-D)

Morning excursion to My Son, the former Religious capital of the Cham people, enjoy the scenic landscapes and mysterious Cham arts and architecture. Free time for shopping and relaxation in Hoian

Day 12: HOIAN – HCMC – CU CHI  (B-L-D)

Fight to HCMC. Excursion to the impressive Cu Chi tunnels system, one of the most violent battlefields of the Vietnam War. Enjoy the unique water puppet show. Overnight in HCMC

DAY 13: COOKING CLASS IN HCMC   (B-L-D)

You will join another cooking class at Saigon Culinary Art Center. The program of teaching is emphasized on authentic Vietnamese dishes and the culture of food. Overnight in HCMC.

Day 14: HCMC – MY THO – CAN THO  (B-L-D)

Excursion to My Tho. Visit the colourful Vinh Trang Pagoda. Take a wonderful boat ride on the Mekong River, visiting local houses and workshops of coconut candies, fruit gardens, sampan ride through small canals. Lunch with the Vietnamese Southern style (elephant ear fish, big headed prawn, spring rolls, etc). Transfer to Can Tho

DAY 15: COOKING CLASS IN CAN THO – HCMC  (B-L-D)

Early morning enjoy boat tour to Cai Be floating market. Then come back and join the cooking class at Victoria Hotel. Late afternoon transfer back to HCMC

Day 16: HCMC TOUR  (B-L-D)

Morning city tour, visit China town, Cho Lon market, Thien Hau temple, the Reunification Hall, the War Museum, the Notre Dame Cathedral (1880) and Old Post Office (1886), and the Ben Thanh market.

Afternoon  free time for enjoying shopping, relaxation, spa and massage. Overnight in HCMC

Day 17: HCMC – SIEM REAP  (B-L-D)

Flight to Siem Reap, tour to visit Angkor Wat temple, admire the sunset on Phnom Bakheng temple. Overnight in Siem Reap

Day 18: SIEM REAP  (B-L-D)

Option of early rise to admire the sunrise on Angkor Wat temple. Continue to visit the famous old palaces, Angkor Thom (Bayon – Baphoun, Terrace of Elephant, Phemean Akas, Terrace of Leper king), Taprom Temple.  Boat tour on Tonle Sap lake and visit a handicraft school. Evening enjoy Apsara dance show and  dinner. O/N in Siem Reap

Day 19: SIEM REAP – COOKING CLASS  (B-L-D)

Full day enjoy hands-on cooking class at Le Tiger De Papier with Khmer menu and recipes

Enjoy what you have cooked for lunch. O/N in Siem Reap

Day 20: SIEM REAP – DEPARTURE (B)

Free time till transfer to the airport for departure  

Inclusions:

-         Hotel accommodation with buffet breakfast (based on twin sharing)

-         All meals indicated in the program

-         All ground transport on tour with A/C vehicles, boats, rickshaw, motorbike, 2 domestic flights: HAN-HUE and DAD-SGN, 1 international flight SGN-REP

-         All entrance fees for sightseeing and shows

-         Visa application on arrival in Vietnam

-         Local English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Korean speaking guide

-         Daily cold bottles of water and towels

-         Cooking classes in HAN, HUE, HOIAN, HCMC, CANTHO and SIEM REAP with lunches

Exclusions:

-         International flight tickets to Vietnam and from Siem Reap

-         International airport tax in Siem Reap 525,000 VND/person

-         Personal Insurance

-         Visa fee at the airport on arrival in Vietnam 525,000 VND/pax, in Cambodia 420,000 VND/pax

-         Personal expenses such as meals, drinks, laundry, tips etc.

-         All other accounts not mentioned in the above inclusions.

Exchange Rate : 1 USD = 21,000 VND