Bonjour Vietnam… A Fabulous Food-lover's Tour
11 days from £6,180 for 2024 per person
Bonjour Vietnam is one of Ampersand's Top 10 Winter Sun Trips.
Revel in the French grandeur of Vietnam's colonial past on this comprehensive tour, staying at glorious colonial hotels from start to finish. The focus of this tour is on enjoying Vietnam's world-renowned food, as well as its beautiful art, architecture, stunning landscapes and fascinating history. Travelling from north to south, you'll begin in historical Hanoi, then visit the regal city of Hue, the ancient port of Hoi An, the whimsical hill station of Dalat and ending in the fascinating and pulsing Ho Chi Minh City formerly known as Saigon.
One of the highlights of this itinerary is a special street food tour of Hanoi led by a local food expert, Mr Vu Long, who is the head of the Hanoi Gastronomy Club, editor of Culinary Art magazine and a lecturer at Hanoi University. With Mr Long as your guide, you will stroll around the Thanh Cong market to experience the amazing sights and sounds of the bustling market and see the many food stuffs that are integral to Vietnamese cooking before wandering on to the old quarter streets with its many local street food stalls. Stop at Ly Quoc Su Street to taste pan fried Banh Goi (which is made of rice mashed, pork, and vermicelli) served with vegetables, bean sprouts. Continue on to Hang Manh Street where you will have the chance to taste Bun Cha, which is served with fried Nem filled with pork or sea crab. Walk on to Hang Da market where you can try assorted sweet fried fruits, O Mai. End the excursion at a well-known rustic restaurant- Cha Ca La Vong. There is only one dish; grilled fish served in boneless chunks, smothered in greens and saffron-infused oil - fantastically fresh food, straight from the frying pan onto your plate!
This holiday is purely a suggested itinerary. It can be booked as it is, or alternatively used as a starting point for creating your own perfect tailor-made trip to Vietnam.
If you'd like to see similar tours, take a look at our Ampersand Favourites, as well as our suggested Culinary Tours, Beach Holidays and Family Holidays across Asia.
Itinerary details
11 days from £6,180 for 2024 per person
- Day 1 - The Sofitel Legend Metropole - Hanoi
Arrive in Hanoi and transfer to your hotel. Spend the rest of day at leisure. - Day 2 - The Sofitel Legend Metropole - Hanoi
Enjoy a privately guided street food tour of Hanoi with local food expert, Mr Vu Long. - Day 3 - The Sofitel Legend Metropole - Hanoi
Morning tour of Hao Lo Prison Museum. Afternoon at leisure, evening Water Puppet show. - Day 4 - Azerai La Residence Hotel and Spa - Hue
Morning flight to Hue on arrival transfer to your hotel. Lunch at local restaurant trying the local specialty Bun Bo Hue followed by private guided tour of the Imperial City. - Day 5 - Azerai La Residence Hotel and Spa - Hue
Morning tour of Royal Tombs. Afternoon at leisure. - Day 6 - Four Seasons Nam Hai - Hoi-An
Drive from Hue to Hoi An. Afternoon walking tour of Hoi An, trying local dishes around the pretty town. - Day 7 - Dalat Palace - Dalat
Morning flight to Nha Trang, arrival transfer to hotel in Dalat. - Day 8 - Dalat Palace - Dalat
Morning cycling tour of Xuan Huong Lake and Dalat with a stop at a local restaurant for lunch. - Day 9 - Park Hyatt Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Morning flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Afternoon city sightseeing in the city, and in the evening visit a local restaurant specialising in southern Vietnamese cruise. - Day 10 - Park Hyatt Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)
Morning embark on a cookery course to learn how to cook some mouthwatering Vietnamese dishes. Afternoon at leisure. - Day 11 - In transit.
Morning private guided tour to Cao Dai Temple and Cu Chi Tunnels. Rest of day at leisure. Early evening flight home.
There are no foreign lands. It is the traveller only who is foreign.
Robert Louis Stevenson