Day 01 Day 02 Day 03 Day 04 Day 05 Day 06 Day 07 Day 08 Day 09 Day 10 Day 01 - Arrive in Hanoi via flight With ochre-colored colonial buildings, tree-lined boulevards and scenic lakes, Hanoi is full of charm. Its history is tied to French colonialism and the architecture, cuisine and local culture still bear evidence of the French influence. Embark the comfortable vehicle for transferring (approx. 60mins) to your hotel in downtown of the city, check-in and spend the remainder of the day at leisure. Day 02 - Hanoi Today, take the street food tour with an overview of local ingredients by visiting a local food market with a gastronomy expert, walk down some small alleys and bustling streets and savor some of Hanoi’s specialties. Finish the trip dining at a local restaurant which is set up like a local food market selling specialties from each region in Vietnam. In the afternoon, start the tour at the lotus shaped One Pillar Pagoda, resting on a single stone pillar emerging from the water and the Temple of Literature, the first University for the sons of mandarins, for an overview about Hanoian culture and ancient Vietnamese architecture. Then enjoy an hour cyclo ride through the Old Quarter, one of Vietnam’s most lively and unusual places, where you can buy anything from a gravestone to silk pajamas.Cap off the day with a show at the water puppet theater - a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes of rural life and episodes of national history. Day 03 - Hanoi In the morning, depart for a 45 minute drive to a local village which is famous for making their traditional Chung cake (square glutinous rice cake) which is a Vietnamese traditional dish most commonly found included with meals during Vietnamese Lunar New Year. You can even try and make your own creation. In the evening, visit the house of a musician couple for a home-cooked dinner and get idea of the important role food at home plays in Vietnam, share with them your life experiences. Then, enjoy a musical performance by your hosts. Day 04 - Hanoi / Hue via flight Take the morning flight to Hue. In the afternoon, visit the Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO listed site. You will appreciate the magnificent architecture and gardens while your guide explains about the events and the intrigue of the former royal court. Then, embark on a half-hour boat trip on the picturesque Perfume River to visit Thien Mu pagoda, Hue’s best-preserved religious monument. This evening, enjoy home hosted dinner at Tha Om restored royal home, a harmony of nature and royal architecture. Day 05 - Hue Salt Rice, one of the most opulent and symbolic dishes in the former Imperial capital of Hue. There are up to nine kinds of salt such as from sesame, lemongrass, galingale, shrimp and processed by frying, steaming and braising. Talk to a Gastronomy artisan who was born and grew up in a Royal family, to understand her effort to search and preserve recipes. And have chance to enjoy this delicacy at her private home! Afternoon, visit the elaborate Khai Dinh Royal Tomb. Its architecture and atmosphere showcase elements of eastern art and western designs. Day 06 - Hue / Hoi An Morning, depart Hue for Hoi An (approx. 2,5 hours) with a stop at the Lang Co Fishing Village located on a sand dune line for a photo opportunity. Continue the scenic drive over the Hai Van Pass (Ocean Clouds Pass), the summit of which presents a spectacular panoramic view of the central coastline. This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour around Hoi An Ancient Town. Visit the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge; the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with outstanding wood carvings; and the colorful market with stalls brimming with local specialties including silk, which can be turned into fashionable garments within a day or two. Day 07 - Hoi An Meet the Chef and visit to Tra Que organic village, and walk through the gardens where local farmers work their fields using the traditional methods of hundreds of years ago. Pick fresh saw-tooth coriander and Vietnamese mint for your cooking lesson later today, before trying a special herbal drink at a local home. Use the freshest ingredients and traditional Vietnamese utensils for your private hands-on cooking class that to prepare four famous dishes, including the national dish “Pho”. After class, take the chance to savour the dishes you have prepared. Day 08 - Hoi An / Danang / Saigon via flight Transfer (approx. 45mins) to Danang Airport for flight to Saigon. Have a lunch at the modern Wrap & Roll restaurant where you will experience various types of local “market style” food that can be wrapped and rolled by yourself. Then, visit to the former Presidential Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office. Stroll along Dong Khoi street, or Rue Catinat as it was known in the time of the French occupation, to discover some of the beautiful French colonial buildings built in the late 19th and early 20th century. Discover what this thriving and exciting metropolis can offer in terms of street food, all from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter. Day 09 - A day trip to Mekong Delta Depart early in the morning from Saigon and head two hours to the southwest. Along the way, notice lush rice paddies and fruit farms emerging alongside the highway. Then, board a charming wooden boat to enjoy countryside scenery and river life. Then stretch your legs a bit and hop on a bicycle for a short ride of about 7km along narrow village lanes, past fruit orchards and local cottage industries. Locals will often greet you with a hello or “xin chao” as you pedal by. Walk through the sleepy village and have a home-hosted lunch of Mekong Delta specialties. Day 10 - Saigon departure via flight Check-out of your hotel no later than 12:00 noon and transfer (approx. 30mins) to the airport for your onward flight to next destination or returns your home.