Today’s tour begins at 08:30 or 15:30. Travel to Chef Ai‘s House for the start of an exciting Hanoi cooking class. Meet with Ms Ai, who is passionate about Vietnamese cuisine, with about 15- year experience and in top 5 of Master Chef Vietnam 2014.

Together, head to the neighbourhood’s wet market, walking distance from her house. See the variety of goods on offer, learning from the chef about their uses in traditional cuisine and purchasing items for the day’s cooking class. As well the marketplace is a fabulous place to observe local ways of life and learn about how Hanoi’s residents shop for fresh produce.

Armed with the necessary ingredients, return to Chef Ai‘s family home. Once in the kitchen, the chef will share the secrets behind North Vietnam’s most popular foods. Using Chef Ai‘s recipes, slice, dice and cook delicious dishes.

Once ready, sit down and feast on the home cooked meal bringing the culinary adventure to a close. (L)

In the morning, check out of the hotel, and get picked up by the Cruise team. Take the most scenic route to reach Halong Bay, taking you across the Red River Delta with emerald green rice paddies stretching for as far as the eyes can see. 

On arrival at the pier, you will board the cruise and enjoy the fantastic views of limestone rocks and the karst grottoes. Have an utterly delicious seafood lunch and enjoy the time at the sundeck exploring the Bay. 

The cruise will stop in a secret place where you will spend time kayaking or swimming, so you can explore the karst grottoes closer. Towards the evening, you will return to the boat for an early dinner, followed by some time at leisure. You can optionally attend the activities taking part on the boat or just relax.

Overnight on cruise

Note: In case of bad weather (the boat is not allowed to push off or not allowed to overnight in the sea), the Ha Long bay tour could be cancelled without notice. We will consider other replacement tours or a refund based on the specific circumstances.

This evening you will explore Hoi An's off-the-beaten-path highlights and taste the most remarkable dishes of this charming town. Your guide will meet you at the hotel and transfer you to a local farming village about 2.5 miles (4 km) from the town center. Here you can learn more about the daily life of the local farmers before getting back to Hoi An and immersing yourself in a foodie's paradise with the flavorful local cuisine. Start your culinary exploration with a selection of well-known local dishes such as white rose dumplings, banh beo (steamed rice cakes), banh nam (rice dumplings) my quang (flavorful rice noodles), Hoi An pancakes, barbeque pork rolls, and the famous banh mi sandwich. Wrap up your food tour with the best Vietnamese coffee before exploring more of Hoi An by night or heading back to your hotel.

Overnight in Hoi An.

Today you'll take a deep dive into Vietnamese history and explore the famous Cu Chi Tunnels, used as a shelter for Vietnamese soldiers during the war. After the 1.5-hour drive to Cu Chi, you'll learn about how the tunnels were constructed and how they helped people survive in the harsh conditions of wartime. Wander the remaining tunnel systems which include the living areas, kitchens, and bedrooms side by side with other martial facilities like storage, weapons factories, field hospitals, and command centers. You'll also spot hidden doors and dangerous traps within the maze-like tunnels. Finish the tour with special tea and cassava (guerilla food during the war) and join your driver for the transfer back to your hotel in Ho Chi Minh.

Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.