Vietnam: A Culinary Adventure from Hanoi to SaigonVietnam: A Culinary Adventure from Hanoi to Saigon

We’ll start the day with a stroll along Hoan Kiem Lake, a prime destination for early morning joggers, tai chi practitioners, and more. If you’re feeling a little grumpy or groggy from the jet lag, you might benefit from partaking in some lakeside laughter yoga. Later, we’ll stop into a local cafe to learn how to make egg coffee, a sweet, frothy, and distinctly Hanoian beverage made of egg yolk and condensed milk. With some caffeine in the system, we’ll wind through the maze-like alleyways of the Old Quarter, pausing for our first slurp of pho, followed by a hands-on class for making bun cha (pork belly meatballs), and a meal at one of the city’s iconic courtyard restaurants, nestled in a French villa. Between bites, we’ll be learning about Vietnam and the many wars it has endured—meeting with a former fighter pilot and talking with former PBS host and journalist Nguyen Qui Duc. In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a cyclo tour, our driver pedaling us through the sights and sounds of Hanoi.

This morning, we’ll drive southwest, snaking through suburbs, villages, rice fields, and rolling farmland en route to the Mai Chau River Valley. We’ll stop to visit a local hill tribe here in the valley, and learn about the community’s farming practices. For lunch, we’ll prepare a regional dish under the guidance of our hosts. In the afternoon, we’ll venture deeper into the valley, pausing to stop in and say hi at a local school before ending the day at a nearby village.

We’ll start the day with a rousing walk through the local hill tribes market.  Afterward, exploring the making of handicrafts in a Thai hill tribe village, learning about the production of traditional silk and cotton textiles, and also rice wine made there. We'll then return to Noi Bai Airport and hop on a short flight to the old imperial capital of Hue. Arguably the most beautiful city in the country, it was the capital from which Vietnamese emperors ruled the country until French colonization in the late 1800s. After a full day of travel, we’ll stay put and dine in the scenic countryside setting of our hotel. 

Hue is known for its iconic royal tombs: seven imperial structures adorned with intricate carvings. We’ll visit the tombs of Tu Duc, the longest-reigning monarch of the Nguyen Dynasty, and Khai Dịnh, whose intricate, if not flamboyant, tomb took over a decade to construct. After, we’ll board a dragon boat back to Hue, where we’ll visit a Buddhist monastery and the vast imperial citadel, modeled after Beijing’s Forbidden City. Of course, we’ll be doing all of this while steadily snacking—munching on some of the world’s most savory banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches), visiting the local market of Dong Ba, and trying an assortment of treats, including me xung, an addictive sugary sesame snack.

After lunch, spend some free time this afternoon relaxing at our atmospheric guest house in the countryside or exploring attractions in Hue on your own, such as the Dong Ba Market. 

This evening, we’ll meet up for drinks and views from a rooftop lounge before digging into some distinctive Hue dishes in a Mandarin-style wooden home hosted by a royal ancestor.

We’re hitting the road early and heading to Hoi An! This is one of Vietnam’s most scenic routes. It’ll be a full day on the road, but we’ll pause at local farms, relics from the French and American Vietnam Wars, and, if we’re lucky, a local spot that makes nuoc mam, the highly addictive, oh-so-pungent Vietnamese fish sauce made from concentrated fish brine. With fish on our minds (and possibly our breath), we’ll arrive at our destination. Only 80-odd miles from Hue, Hoi An feels like a separate world from its northern cousin. We’ll spend our first night exploring its distinct architecture, charming coastal city life, and unique cuisine, sampling dishes like savory cao lau soup and delicate white rose dumplings. Tonight, we’ll board a ferry to an island to dine at one of the best restaurants in the country.

Having spent a few days doing lots of eating, we’re going to do some cooking of our own today. This morning, we'll tour the local market at sunrise, just in time to see local fishermen begin selling their catch. Inspired by the sights and smells, we’ll pick out our own ingredients and tote them to a private studio for a hands-on cooking class. After trying our hand at a few dishes, and sampling our creations for lunch, we’ll take a well-earned break. Feel free to stroll through the city. to explore its galleries, temples, and tailoring shops on your own. Tonight we'll enjoy dinner along the waterfront, featuring an array of Hoi An delicacies. 

After a leisurely morning in Hoi An, we’ll depart for the south around midday. It might feel like we’ve hopped a few centuries into the future—or more precisely, to the futuristic Ho Chi Minh City. Also known as Saigon, the city is swarming in an endless sea of scooters (over eight million of them!), battling for space with new luxury sedans. Hidden between gleaming skyscrapers and fast-food chains, however, are alleyways crammed with vendors selling small bowls of soup, grilled meats, sugary sweets, and more. After some serious snacking, we’ll clink glasses atop one of Saigon’s towering skyscrapers overlooking the up-and-coming megalopolis and head to a beloved local restaurant for our farewell dinner. We’ve saved one of the most important cultural experiences here for last—karaoke!

Today, you’ll either head home or continue on our three-day cultural and culinary tour of Cambodia's magnificent Angkor Wat. For those joining for the extension, we'll take a short (1-hour) afternoon flight to Siem Reap, home to both a "bug restaurant" and street spas where adorable, tiny fish nibble on your toes. Much more than just a base for exploring the nearby Angkor temples, Siem Reap boasts vibrant night markets, a renowned street circus, world-class restaurants, and shopping boutiques. This afternoon, we’ll get our first taste of Khmer cuisine in town before heading out during the day to visit the Rolous group, some of the oldest standing temples built by the Khmers.

Today, we’re exploring some of the most enigmatic temples of Angkor, including the famous Ta Prohm. Erected in 1186 AD by King Jayavarman VII, Ta Prohm has long been abandoned, and powerfully reclaimed by nature—strands of silk cotton hang like delicate tentacles and thick fig tree roots strangle the surviving stones of the ancient monastery. Around midday, we’ll visit a local farm to learn about the ingredients, methods, and preparation of classic Khmer dishes like fish amok. After tasting our creations, we’ll wander through the walled city of Angkor Thom until we arrive at Bayon, a colossal, dizzying 12th-century temple erected for Cambodia’s most celebrated king. Gazing up at its 54 towers—each bearing the softly smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion—is an otherworldly experience. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon on your own, exploring local markets or taking a dip in the pool. We'll regroup in the evening for dinner. Following our meal, we'll have the chance to witness a dazzling performance put on by a local street circus troupe.

Nestled in the jungles of Angkor lies one of the site’s most mysterious and quietly alluring marvels. At Kbal Spean, or “Valley of 1,000 Lingas,” water rushes over a series of intricately carved stones. Likely dating back to the 11th or 12th century, the carvings depict a variety of designs, from Hindu deities to circles believed to be phallic symbols of divine power. Once we return from our hike, we’ll visit a temple known as Banteay Srei, or "the citadel of women,” an old moniker meant to suggest that the carvings are too elaborate and fine to have been completed by men. Later, we’ll learn about the longstanding impact of war and genocide on the country, and the many victims of landmines in Cambodia. Then, it's off to a silk farm and cooperative that supports the local village of over 100 people. We’ll take a tour, learn about the production of silk products from cocoon to loom, and even try our hands at weaving. After returning to town for lunch, enjoy a free afternoon on your own; relax at the hotel, take a dip in the pool, or explore the local marketplace. 

Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat is the largest religious building on the planet. The spellbinding structure was once the centerpiece of what is now thought to have been the largest pre-industrial city in the world, with an elaborate water management system connecting at least 620 miles of urban sprawl and over a million inhabitants. This morning, we’ll explore the grounds and check out the delicately carved bas-reliefs, which chronicle eight different Hindu stories. Later, we’ll return to Siem Reap to say farewell to Cambodia while munching on street snacks and a traditional Khmer lunch. With full hearts and bellies, we’ll say our goodbyes. Until our next adventure!