SUMMARY

Chop, slice and chomp your way through the diverse flavours of South East Asia on this mouth-watering Real Food Adventure into Vietnam and Cambodia. Vietnam’s prized cuisine is bursting with fresh, spicy and complex flavours, while across the border, Cambodia’s food is humble, oft unexplored, and no less delicious. Drink in cafes and beer halls that sprawl out over city streets, buy fruit from wicker baskets draped over a vendor’s shoulders and sit at market stalls as aromatic noodle soups are whipped up in front of you. From a sunset cruise on Halong Bay and a cycle past herb farms near Hoi An to discovering the French influence of Phnom Penh and meeting charming local communities at Preah Dak, these South East Asian powerhouses will fill you with great food and even more memorable experiences.

TOTAL DURATION : 19 Days

GROUP SIZE : MIN 1 MAX 12

TOUR ITINERARY AND DATES

START : Hanoi

END : Siem Reap

COUNTRIES VISITED : Cambodia,Vietnam

Validity : 01 JAN 2024 To 30 APR 2024

Day :1

Location : Hanoi

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins in the country’s capital of Hanoi. You’ll meet your group and leader for an important welcome meeting at 6 pm and then head out for your first introduction to Vietnam’s lively culinary scene. Your leader will take you to a local restaurant for your first group dinner this evening where you might like to take the chance to sink your teeth into bun cha, a grilled pork and noodle dish that’s loved in Hanoi.

Day :2

Location : Hanoi

After breakfast this morning, head out for a guided tour of Chau Long Market. Here, you’ll get a real taste for local life and learn about the secret ingredients and flavours of northern Vietnamese cuisine. Our hot tip – be sure to sample the local coffee, typically served with condensed milk, or for the more adventurous, egg! You’ll also get the chance to tuck into some of Hanoi's renowned street food specialties, with your local leader guiding you (and your tastebuds) in the right direction. Once you've filled up on traditional Vietnamese street eats, the afternoon and evening are yours to spend however you wish. Perhaps, make your way to the Old Quarter to explore the lively back streets or discover some of Hanoi’s historical sites like One Pillar Pagoda in the Ba Dinh district.

Day :3

Location : Halong Bay

This morning, hit the road for the spectacular World Heritage-listed site of Halong Bay. The harbour, with approximately 2000 limestone islands rising from the turquoise waters of Bac Bo Gulf, spans an area of about 1500 square kilometres and is dotted with beaches and grottos. On arrival, you’ll set sail on the emerald-green waters, gliding between limestone karsts to take in the incredible scenery from the best outlook of them all - on the water. Then, you’ll explore Surprise Cave, one of the most striking caves in Halong Bay, covering an area of more than 12,000 square meters. In the afternoon, you’ll return to your boat and enjoy a delicious feast prepared by an onboard chef. Tonight’s stay is something special as you’ll be sleeping on the traditional boat, letting the water lull you to sleep and really taking in the beauty of the surrounding bay.

Day :4

Location : Overnight train

You’d be forgiven for thinking you were still dreaming when you wake up on the bay this morning. If you’re an early riser, you might like to organise an optional kayak experience before you head back to Hanoi this morning. On arrival back in Hanoi, you’ll board an overnight train bound for Hue. Although conditions are basic, overnight trains are a rewarding experience. It's an efficient way to travel long distances and a great way to get a sense of the country. Most trains have a dining carriage serving simple food, but we recommend asking your leader for advice on which local salty and sweet snacks to stock up on, prior to departure.

Day :5

Location : Hue

Welcome to Hue. This city is Vietnam’s former royal capital, and its cuisine is considered by many Vietnamese as the best in the country. The food is influenced by its imperial heritage (small dishes and a focus on aesthetic presentation) and its strong Buddhist heritage, reflected in the high proportion of vegetarian restaurants in the area. After leaving your luggage at your hotel, embark on a tour of the city’s imperial monuments from the back of a motorbike. Stop past Thien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery since 1601, where you'll see a car that belonged to one of the self-immolating monks of the 1963 protests. After some time exploring, it's time to eat! You’ll enjoy a plant-based Buddhist meal specially prepared for you by a chef who is the descendant of the royal family, in the garden of their beautiful family home. After a delightful meal, you’ll finish your day of sightseeing with a visit to the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. Then, the evening is free for your own food adventure. Perhaps ask your leader for the best place to try imperial street specialties like banh hue (rice flour cakes stuffed with shrimp, pork and spices).

Day :6

Location : Hoi An

After a local breakfast of bun bo hue – a spiced beef noodle soup – it’s time to taste an unusual Vietnamese coffee. Stop by a coffeehouse where three generations live together in a traditional home with a beautiful garden. Our passionate host will share his talents with you - from selecting the beans and roasting them to his special recipe for a salted coffee. With a caffeinated pep in your step, visit the Imperial Citadel, which includes the Forbidden Purple City. The latter was almost totally destroyed during the Vietnam War's Tet Offensive, but the foliage-covered ruins are still atmospheric, and the gaping holes left by bombs give an idea of the destruction wreaked upon the country during the war. Head south by bus through coastal rice paddies and traverse the mountainous Hai Van Pass to Hoi An. This beautifully restored city retains the feel of centuries past, making it the sort of place that grows on you the more you explore it. After some time to settle into your hotel, you’ll make your way to a special beachside restaurant for a seafood hotpot dinner with your group. This is a particularly popular meal amongst the locals in Hoi An – dig in!

Day :7

Location : Hoi An

Today, you’ll really get to know Hoi An, with a day filled with authentic experiences. First up, your leader will take you on an orientation walk around the Ancient Town. Then, you’ll discover Reaching Out Tea House, a non-government organisation that supports the local deaf and mute community by providing employment and vocational training. The peace and quiet of this café stands in stark contrast to the bustling streets outside. While here, you’ll sip delicious teas in total silence – a tranquil experience you won’t soon forget. After a little time to relax, you’ll get ready for a cooking class with a local chef this afternoon. You’ll be escorted to a local market to shop for fresh ingredients and then taken through a culinary journey with hands-on demonstrations. Your local chef will even share the stories behind the yin and yang elements, unveiling the secret of home-cooked Vietnamese meals. Feast on your delicious creations, dishes that highlight the cooking of the Pho Hoi people.

Day :8

Location : Hoi An

Today is free for you to explore Hoi An at your leisure and of course your leader can recommend the best food and activities. For early risers, take the opportunity to visit the Hoi An fish markets – they are at their most vibrant in the mornings. Afterwards, if the weather's fine, perhaps hit the local beach for a swim (a great way to get there is by bicycle, which you can hire in town). In the evening, you could enjoy some seafood by the water, or jump on a boat for a barbecue feast on a nearby island.

Day :9

Location : Ho Chi Minh City

Take a short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival, take part in a cooking class where you'll learn some contemporary twists on traditional Vietnamese dishes with a passionate chef. Sit down and enjoy the delicious feast you've prepared over lunch. Afterwards, get a feel for the city's frenetic, fascinating blend of old and new, East and West. Visit the War Remnants Museum and view the GPO and Notre Dame Cathedral. Your leader will have some great rooftop bars and restaurants to recommend for you tonight.

Day :10

Location : Mekong Delta

After breakfast this morning, kiss Ho Chi Minh City goodbye as we make our way to the Mekong Delta. The delta is known as ‘Vietnam’s rice bowl’ for its abundance of rice paddies, fruit and flower orchards. Once you arrive, you’ll hit the water and cruise up this mighty river, stopping at tropical fruit gardens and local cottage industries to sample honey, coconut candy and fruit, right at the source. Enjoy being paddled slowly along the quieter backwaters in a sampan, one of the most common forms of transport in these parts. Continue to your homestay for this evening. Meet your hosts and take some time to wander the garden, relax or lend a hand with dinner preparations. Enjoy a southern Vietnamese feast on the wide veranda overlooking the garden as the sun goes down.

Day :11

Location : Ho Chi Minh City

Visit a local market after breakfast before boarding the boat back to Vinh Long to return to Ho Chi Minh City by bus. The juiciest and crunchiest pork belly banh mi awaits you for lunch today, followed by an exploration of one of Vietnam’s most pulsing markets, Ben Thanh. This is the perfect place to pick up any last-minute snacks, cooking utensils, ingredients, or presents for friends and family. The rest of the day is at your leisure. You may like to enjoy a final Vietnamese meal with your new friends, slurping up all your new favourite dishes one last time.

Day :12

Location : Phnom Penh

Check out of your hotel this morning and transfer to the airport for an unaccompanied flight to Phnom Penh. The flight will take around 50 minutes, after which you'll be met by another transfer driver who will take you to your hotel. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your new leader and fellow travellers. The Cambodian cooking pot combines an eclectic mix of local and international influences and has a flavour all its own. Kick off this food adventure with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant after your meeting. Later, maybe go for a drink or stroll along the famous Sisowath Quay.

Day :13

Location : Kampot

Before you leave Phnom Penh this morning, confront Cambodia's tragic past on a guided tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, in a former high school that served as the notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21) for the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975 to 1979. See the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, which represent the tragic legacy of the Khmer Rouge. After, you’ll drive south by private vehicle, towards Kampot – one of Cambodia's most attractive old towns. Famous for its pepper, Kampot supplied most French restaurants for many years during colonial rule. Today, the region is also renowned for its durian (a spiky, pungent fruit that you’ll either love or hate). Tonight, maybe ask your leader about the sunset river cruises here and watch the gorgeous nightly display of colour, looking out for the resident fireflies.

Day :14

Location : Kampot

This morning you’ll have breakfast at Epic Café – a social enterprise that provides employment for local people living with disabilities. After, visit the salt fields which stretch across much of Kampot’s coastline. After learning a bit about the salt production here, head to Phnom Chhngok – a Hindu cave temple built in the 7th century, dedicated to Shiva. Then it’s onto the Kampot Pepper Project. Grown in Cambodia for centuries, Kampot pepper is considered the world’s finest. Today, pepper is also seen as an important symbol of Cambodian regeneration. You’ll taste some pepper ice cream here before heading to Kep Beach for lunch – the nearby Kep markets serve fresh crab cooked to perfection – and eat on the pier overlooking the ocean. After lunch, walk along the coastline and explore the old oceanfront buildings. Kep was once Cambodia's most popular and prestigious beach town, but the Khmer Rouge destroyed many of Kep's mansions and villas. The ghostly remains now stand as a silent reminder.

Day :15

Location : Phnom Penh

If you’re a morning person, you might like to rise early and see the fishing boats arrive at the port with their daily catch. Then, maybe find a good spot for breakfast and enjoy a leisurely morning. After, you’ll return to Phnom Penh. When you arrive, meet with a passionate chef for a guided tour of the markets, learning about the building blocks of Khmer cuisine. Enjoy a hands-on cooking class and master Khmer staples such as samlor machou yuon (sour soup with fresh fish and tamarind) or bok svay (pounded green mango salad, usually served with dried fish or prawns). Feast on your creations over dinner.

Day :16

Location : Battambang

Travel by private bus to Battambang (pronounced battambong)– Cambodia's second-largest city. Battambang is a pretty riverside town of French influence, friendly Khmer people and beautifully preserved colonial architecture. The city is famous for its many statues of animals and divinities that decorate the streets and buildings. It also lacks the traffic of Phnom Penh and the visitor numbers of Siem Reap, so it’s a great place to get a real slice of Cambodia. Your leader can recommend activities for your free afternoon. Perhaps join a local Battambang foodie for a home-cooked meal, tasting local dishes such as amok, Khmer curry and fried spicy chicken with homemade rice noodles.

Day :17

Location : Siem Reap

Take a bicycle ride into the countryside. The ride is easy and takes mostly shady roads through local villages. Along the way, stop to experience rice paper making, fruit drying and preparation, production of the famous prahok (fish paste) and rice wine making at local homes. Finish up at the best Kralan (sticky rice in bamboo) stall in the district. After, you’ll head to Siem Reap via private vehicle. When you arrive, head out for a street food tour with your local leader, tasting local dishes such as grilled fish or spicy fried chicken. Enjoy the atmosphere along the riverbank as the sun goes down, then head to a cocktail class and tasting. As you taste local liqueurs and snacks made with Cambodian herbs, mango and ginger, you’ll also learn how to make three popular cocktails. Later, maybe ask your leader for the spots to keep the party going.

Day :18

Location : Siem Reap

After, head to the village of Preah Dak for a traditional breakfast of homemade num banh chok (a popular Khmer noodle dish). This village is famous for its lifestyle, language, spirituality, culture and of course, its food! You’ll see how the local families make the noodles as their ancestors made them, learn about this dish’s history and then end your experience with some seasonal fruits. Then it's time to explore more of the Angkor complex, built between the 9th and 13th centuries when the Khmer Empire was the pre-eminent influence in South East Asia. See the Bayon temple and the jungle-covered Ta Prohm. In the evening, enjoy a final dinner at a plant-based restaurant celebrating contemporary flavours. Using fresh produce from their own gardens, you’ll tuck into dishes like grilled eggplant, creamy pumpkin soup, vegetable curry and homemade lime pie.

Day :19

Location : Siem Reap

Your adventure comes to an end this morning. There are no activities planned for today and you’re free to leave at any time. If you’re keen to continue your exploration of the Angkor complex, please speak with your leader about extending the length of your access pass.