Example Itinerary

A Vietnamese Culinary Journey

Duration
14 days / 13 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Cuisine
Destinations
Vietnam

Loosen your belt and get ready for the culinary treat of a lifetime! This 14-day Vietnamese Culinary Journey itinerary is more than just a delight for your tastebuds. Visit Saigon, Mui Ne, Hoi An, Hue and Hanoi for a full exploration of beautiful Vietnam. Chat with locals and enjoy Vietnam’s unique culture and cuisine. Learn about the Vietnam War from within the country where it took place. Try savory dishes unique to each region of Vietnam.Take your experience home to your friends and family as you learn to cook the exotic dishes yourself!

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Culinary Arts: Learn how to cook quintessential Vietnamese dishes in Saigon under the guidance of a top chef.
  • Diverse Dining: Experiences for the taste buds include a vegetarian meal prepared by monks, dinner with a family in their Hue home, as well as fine dining in some of the country's most critically-acclaimed restaurants.
  • Catch of the Day: The fishing town of Mui Ne is renowned for its fresh seafood. Watch the fishermen at work, then select dinner from the live tanks at a local restaurant.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Map

Saigon

Arrive in Vietnam’s largest city - Saigon. You are met by your driver at the airport, where you will be transferred to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day exploring the city. Enjoy the shopping the city is so well-known for - wander along the boutique-lined Dong Khoi Street looking for one-of-a-kind finds. Relax and take it easy as the next day you will enjoy a full tour of the city.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: This elegant property is centrally located, mere steps from heritage museums, iconic landmarks, charming cafes, and contemporary art galleries.

Design: The Reverie’s over the top lavish design makes an attention-grabbing statement in a rapidly developing city.

Food: The Reverie brings world-class fare to the plate, serving artful culinary work, from casual to sophisticated, that caters to all diners.

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The Reverie Saigon Preferred Hotel

Day 2

Map

Saigon

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel. After breakfast, your guide will show you the city. Pay a visit to the famous sights of the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Reunification Palace, the War Remnants Museum and the Post Office. Check out and sample Vietnamese local snacks at the Ben Thanh Market and the Bin Tay Market in Chinatown. Stock up on unusual goods at the Binh Tay Market, the city’s main wholesale center. Savor a delicious, local market lunch. That evening, peruse the Ben Thanh night market - which has a completely different atmosphere from the market during the day. There are tons of fresh dishes to choose from at the several food stalls.

Saigon
Saigon

Day 3

Map

Saigon

Learn to cook authentic Vietnamese food yourself! Your friends and family at home will be impressed with your skills after you take a Saigon cooking class. You will tour a local market with your chef, who will show you the ingredients you will be using. You will learn how to cook three different Vietnamese dishes - after which you have the reward of eating your scrumptious creations. This evening, enjoy an incredible street food tour like the locals do - from the back of a scooter!

Day 4

Map

Mui Ne

After breakfast at the hotel, you will take either a drive or a train to Mui Ne - the resort capital of Vietnam, around 4 hours' drive from Saigon. The coastal town became a hotspot in 1995, after travelers came to the city for an incredible view of the total solar eclipse. Enjoy relaxing by the crystal blue water of the South China Sea. Stay at a beachside resort of your choice.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Just outside Vietnam’s largest fishing port, Phan Thiet, on the southeast coast, the hotel is secluded and peaceful, with excellent transfer services from Ho Chi Minh City airport.

Service: The welcoming and friendly team of staff speak a range of languages and are on hand 24 hours a day to offer first-class service befitting of a five-star resort.

Relaxation: Comprised of just 46 suites and set along a private beach, plus the addition of a calming oasis provided by the comprehensive spa, the Azerai Ke Ga Bay is the perfect place to unwind, looking out to the ocean.

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Azerai Ke Ga Bay Preferred Hotel
About

Set in the perfect location, right on the beach in charming Mui Ne, the Anantara is in close proximity to local activities, while being perfectly secluded and relaxing. Guests can visit the nearby attractions of Mui Ne’s pleasant fishing village, fish sauce factory, ancient Cham towers, or spend an exciting day on the beach with a range of watersports available.

If our Preferred Hotel is unavailable, this accommodation is a reliable alternative and has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 5

Map

Mui Ne

After a lavish breakfast, walk up to the Mui Ne fishing village. Watch as the local fishers pull in the morning’s fresh catch. Wander through the busy market. Next, go see the stunning Red Sand Dunes, White Sand Dunes and Lotus Lake. That evening, enjoy dinner at the popular Cay Bang Seafood restaurant. You get to pick your dinner live from the restaurant’s many tanks!

Mui Ne
Mui Ne

Day 6

Map

Mui Ne

After breakfast, unwind seaside. Go for a swim and soak in the sun’s warm rays. Around lunchtime, make your way to the Mui Ne Cooking School. This laid back beachside school will teach you the secrets of the local specialties. After cooking, relish your own creations for lunch! Enjoy the rest of the day in a food-coma-induced haze by the sea.

Day 7

Map

Saigon

Spend the morning relaxing before checking out of your hotel to return to Saigon by car or train. That afternoon, spend the day wandering through Saigon, revisiting your favorite memorials or markets from your tour earlier in the trip. Next, your driver will take you to the best Saigon seafood restaurant - Hong Hai. Hong Hai has a wide variety of fresh seafood cooked in the traditional Nha Trang Style. 

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: This elegant property is centrally located, mere steps from heritage museums, iconic landmarks, charming cafes, and contemporary art galleries.

Design: The Reverie’s over the top lavish design makes an attention-grabbing statement in a rapidly developing city.

Food: The Reverie brings world-class fare to the plate, serving artful culinary work, from casual to sophisticated, that caters to all diners.

Read More
The Reverie Saigon Preferred Hotel

Day 8

Map

Hoi An

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and catch a flight to Danang. Once you arrive, you will be transferred to the well-preserved, ancient town of Hoi An. Wander through the charming town until evening time, when you have the treat of visiting Mango Rooms. Mango Rooms is a unique dining experience where you can watch the top chef and owner Mr. Duc, cook up an incredible fusion meal. The restaurant’s kitchen is completely open.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Uniqueness: 100 chic, contemporary villas and 3 outstanding pools

Scenic Beauty: Situated on the idyllic China Beach

Culture: Witness tradition and historic architecture in the ancient trading port of Hoi An just 10 minutes away

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Four Seasons Resort the Nam Hai Preferred Hotel
Hoi An & Danang
Hoi An & Danang

Day 9

Map

Hoi An

Familiarize yourself with the stunning UNESCO world heritage site of Hoi An as you enjoy a full tour of the area. Cruise down the Thu Bon river and watch the local fishermen deep in their work. Savor a local lunch at the Central Food Market. Try the traditional Hoi An noodle dish, Cao Lau, along with White Rose wantons and chicken rice. Enjoy a delicious dinner at the elegant Cargo Club. There is a large variety of both local and international dishes sure to fit whatever your stomach and taste buds desire.

Day 10

Map

Hoi An

Now that you’ve sampled many of the local favorites, it’s time to learn to make them yourself! This morning, your cooking class instructor will take you to the local market to show you the ingredients you will be using to cook Hoi An favorites. She will welcome you into her home, where you will learn to cook and then of course, eat local dishes. After sunset, stroll through the charming city and retire at your leisure in your lavish beachside resort.

Day 11

Map

Hue

Feel as though you are traveling back in time as you take the road to Hue, Vietnam’s ancient imperial capital (around 3 hours away). Relax at the luxurious, modern La Residence Hotel & Spa. Next, breathe in the fresh air as you take a cyclo tour of the citadel. Wander through the complex on foot. You will visit the famous sites of Ngo Mon Gate, Supreme Royal Court Palace, 12 Nguyen Kings altars, Forbidden City, Royal Theatre, and the Royal Library. After freshening up at your hotel, enjoy the special cultural experience of dining at a local family’s home. You will enjoy a true Hue-style meal.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: This property is positioned on the bank of the Perfume River, with views over the Imperial Citadel.

History: A former French governor’s residence, this 1930’s art deco building remains a beautiful tribute to Hue’s colonial heritage.

Service: Attentive and professional staff provide round the clock care to guests of Le Residence, befitting its colonial elegance.

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Azerai La Residence, Hue Preferred Hotel
Hue
Hue

Day 12

Map

Hanoi

Around 7:30 this morning, your guide will take you to the fabled Perfume River. Enjoy a boat trip down the gorgeous waterway. Stop by the beautiful Thien Mu Pagoda. The holy atmosphere is a unique cultural experience. Next stop is the King Tombs of Tu Duc. Tu Duc was a beloved poet in the Nguyen Dynasty during the early 19th century. Next, visit a local Buddhist temple to try a vegetarian meal prepared fresh by Monks. Try meditation before your meal to experience a special side of the Buddhist theory. After lunch, visit the local orphanage. Take a Xe Om to visit the outskirts of the town full of rolling hills and lush green paddies. Chat with locals to learn about their everyday life. Hop on a plane to Hanoi, where you’ll be transported to your hotel.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Theatrical Splendor: This glamorous hotel turns a stay into an experience. Over a thousand pieces of operatic memorabilia and thematic interiors ensconce guests in Bill Bensley’s vision of opera’s golden days passed.

Location: Just a mere steps away from the iconic Hanoi Opera House, the Capella Hanoi sits in the prestigious Hoan Kiem quarter, offering guests convenient access to cultural highlights, shopping, and restaurants.

Curated Culture: Capella Hotel Group’s focus on cultural experiences is a cornerstone at each of its properties. From intertwining local culture in the property design to bringing local cuisine to its house restaurant and bar menus, Capella’s Culturists further enhance guests’ stays with complimentary Rituals and Programming curated to furture explore the local culture.

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Capella Hanoi Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

History: The hotel has its own bomb shelter used in the American War (1964-1975).

Relaxation: Enjoy complimentary tai chi and yoga classes.

Food: A wide range of dining choices from seafood and chocolate high tea buffets to French, Italian and Vietnamese cuisine.

Opera: The hotel offers guests complimentary front row tickets to the famous nearby Hanoi Opera House.

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Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Preferred Hotel

Day 13

Map

Hanoi

It’s time to extend your cooking repertoire once again. After breakfast (keep it light!), the local market a visit with your chef who will teach you to select local ingredients. You will learn to cook Northern specialties. Enjoy your own creations for lunch. Your guide will then take you for a half-day walking tour of the city’s charming Old Quarter. For dinner, take a seat at the famous Highway 4 restaurant. If you’re feeling adventurous, try buffalo, snake or locust. You can also sample a potent local rice wine.

Day 14

Map

Departure

After a leisurely breakfast in your hotel, go for a stroll through the city. Stock up on local spices and souvenirs on your last day of your adventure. Grab any last authentic bites at the local market that you can’t find at home. Depart for the airport and your onward flight in the evening.

Why Remote Lands?

Exclusively Asia

With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.

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