A Taste of Vietnam - Halong Bay to the Mekong Delta
Overview
Highlights
- Immerse yourself in Vietnam's superb cuisine and explore its iconic cultural highlights
- A culinary and varied journey with foodie moments everyday that connect with the locals' passion for food
- Enjoy Halong Bay cruise, bustling Hanoi and Saigon, charming Hoi An and ancient imperial Hue
What's this trip about?
Itinerary
Arrive in Vietnam's capital, which is famous for its rich culture, bustling life and colonial influences in their centuries-old architecture. Little lakes dotted around the city are encased by busy streets and secret alleyways, which are waiting to be explored. For...
We start this morning like the city's locals - with a steaming bowl of the ubiquitous Pho. Pronounced 'Fuh', this beef and noodle soup is Vietnam's national dish and each region has its own take - with the herbs, noodles and broth differing from north to south. In Han...
One of South East Asia's most spectacular settings, where thousands of limestone islands rise from the jade green waters of the bay like the scales of some great submerged dragon, Ha Long Bay is a World Heritage site of natural majesty. Ha Long translates as the place...
This morning we head into the countryside to explore the more rural side of Vietnam, and to the source of some of the fantastic ingredients we are sampling. We start our day with a family learning how to cook the Ninh Binh dish of com chay, literally translated to 'bu...
After freshening up and taking breakfast at a local hotel, we drive into the majestic Phong Nha National Park - a UNESCO-listed paradise made up of towering limestone karst landscapes, verdant jungle, vast, cavernous caves and a network of underground rivers. We'll bo...
We make our way this morning to the iconic 17th parallel, which formed the border between North and South Vietnam between 1954 after the First Indochina War, until 1976 after the reunification of Vietnam. The De-Militarised Zone formed an approximate 10 kilometre buff...
Once the capital of Vietnam and an inspiration for poets and artists alike for centuries, Hue is divided by the waters of the Perfume River, which separate the city's 19th-century citadel from the suburbs that radiate from the eastern shore. Even today, its easy air o...
We follow the coastal road this morning towards the Truong Son Mountains and the lofty heights of the Hai Van (Sea Cloud) Pass. This scenic region once marked the boundary between Vietnam and the Champa Kingdom to the south and as we reach the pass itself the views be...
The historic, merchant town of Hoi An had become one of the busiest international trading ports of Southeast Asia by the 17th and 18th centuries. First colonised by the Portuguese in the 16th century it still retains its medieval charm today, with many of its old buil...
After a short drive to Danang Airport we fly to Ho Chi Minh City, from where we drive further south to Ben Tre in the Mekong Delta. Surrounded with lush and fertile land the area is home to a patchwork of cottage industries, with the villagers all plying their trade f...
We spend a further morning exploring the delta by boat, visiting one of the bustling local markets where fish, vegetables, exotic fruits and drinks are sold. We'll also likely see an array of colourful exotic fruits not familiar to us, such as rambutan, mangosteen, dr...
We set off this morning to the International Barista School, an institution providing local students with an international accreditation in the art of coffee making. We spend the morning here with one of the expert baristas, who will be explaining the importance of co...
The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Hanoi at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you wou...
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Dates & Availability
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Explore! Reviews & Ratings
Barbara
Feb 2025
A Taste of Vietnam - Halong Bay to the Mekong Delta
A really interesting trip with lots of variety, and several opportunities to help with preparing food, as well as trying the many tasty dishes. Visiting during TET m...
Trusted Customer
Jan 2025
A Taste of Vietnam - Halong Bay to the Mekong Delta
This is a fantastic tour which covers many food experiences as well as culture, history and scenic areas. It is a packed itinerary, but very well organised. The food...
Steven
Dec 2024
A Taste of Vietnam - Halong Bay to the Mekong Delta
This was my first visit to Vietnam and my first experience with Explore. Everything Explore offered was just great - excellent pre-travel advice; knowledgeable and ...
Charles
Dec 2024
A Taste of Vietnam - Halong Bay to the Mekong Delta
Moira and Charlie would like to thank Explore and especially Bac, our tour guide for an amazing food and history tour of Vietnam. This tour has far exceeded our expe...
Trusted Customer
Dec 2024
A Taste of Vietnam - Halong Bay to the Mekong Delta
Our gastronomic trip to Vietnam was excellent. We experienced a very wide range of food and in a wide range of locations. We tried street food in Hanoi and Saigon, a...
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