Day 1: Arrival - Ha Noi
On arrival at Noi Bai Airport, you are met by our guide and transferred to hotel. The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is a stylish and gracious city that retains an unique old world charm and some Asia's most striking colonial architecture. The many lakes and parks make for relaxing atmosphere. If time permits we enjoy a short cyclo ride through the bustling old quarter streets named after the specific goods once offered for sale at these places. We end up our day with a dinner at the historic Indochine Restaurant in old town for an introduction to Vietnamese food. The staff are attired in traditional costume and musicians perform classical Vietnamese songs. O/N in Hanoi. (D)

Day 2 Hanoi - Cooking class
Today we have a cooking class at the Seasons restaurant. The local chef gives us the orientation of morning activities and assists us in buying some ingredients for our culinary adventures. They are fresh Hue style spring rolls, shrimp paste on sugar cane, fish baked in a clay pot and banana flower salad. The mast chefs executes the final preparation, giving us the time to reflect about the activities and quiz the restaurant manager about "life at a Vietnamese restaurant". We have lunch at this restaurant and drive back to hotel for a short rest. The following programme is a half day city tour. We visit the Presidential Palace , the Ho Chi Minh's house on stilts and the nearby One Pillar Pagoda. The famous Temple of Literature is not to be missed. We see this site before continuing to the peaceful lake of Hoan Kiem. In front of this lake is the water puppet theatre where we will attend a fantastic performance. The extra enjoyment is a dinner at "Cha Ca La Vong" serving seasoned fish. O/N in Hanoi. (B,L,D)

Day 3 : Hanoi - Halong
Heading out of town we make our way to Halong Bay, truly one of Vietnam's most impressive scenic sights. The impressive drive will pass by rice fields and sleepy villages, giving us a chance to see farmers doing their daily works. On arrival in Halong we are welcomed on boat with a refreshing drink and get some instruction on vessel. We settle into a private comfortable cabin and unpack for a two day navigating around Halong Bay. At 13h00 we enjoy a huge lunch served on board and cruise out past the picturesque scenery of islands and see. These limestone karst formations are littered with beaches, grottoes and beautiful caves. En route we will anchor for a leisurely swim in a secluded cove and an enjoyable visit to one of the many hidden grottoes beneath towering cliffs. The perfect way to round off the day is a taste of local wine and an observation of the sunset over the bay. O/N on board. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Halong - Hanoi - Hue
The sailing junks navigating past over 3,000 limestone islands and outcrops jutting out of the clear and emerald water of the bay make for spectacular scene. Today we have breakfast on board and continue our cruise past islands of various shapes and sizes to the hidden Luon Cave. This is a chance to explore this secluded cave by bamboo sampan. At end of the cruise we arrange our luggage and disembark around 11h45. You meet with our waiting driver and travel by roads to Hanoi airport for a short flight to Hue. On arrival you are greeted by our guide and transferred to hotel. The small and quiet city of Hue was once the feudal capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. This delightful town is widely known for magnificent architecture, pagodas and royal tombs laid in many small villages and surrounding hills.. O/N in Hue. (B,L)

Day 5: Hue - Cooking class
The interesting cooking class begins with the riverside Dong Ba Market where we make shopping of ingredients under the guidance of an expert chef. On arrival at Tinh Gia Vien Cooking School we learn some orientation on preparation, cooking, presentation of the dishes before spending our time to cook. The water mouth comes once all foods prepared. We enjoy these dishes and drive back to hotel for a rest. The cooking class is not only activity in Hue. We spend this afternoon seeing the massive citadel which consist of the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This royal residence was all but destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive, however it is still fascinating to walk among the ruins. Close to this masterpiece is Hue Imperial Museum which displays an interesting collections of bronzes, Chinaware, court robes and various emperors personal belongings. O/N in Hue.(B,L)

Day 6: Hue - Danang - Hoi An
The beautiful riverside Thien Mu Pagoda and the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc are not to be missed. We include these in a cruise along the Perfume River. Upon leaving Hue we travel southwards with stopover in Lang Co Beach. The winding road begins as we make our way up the spectacular Hai Van pass. A view from the top of Hai Van pass is one of Vietnam's most impressive panoramic scenes. The next stop is Danang City for an interesting visit to the famous Cham Museum. This structure boasts the largest collection of Cham treasures in Vietnam. We continue south to Hoi An which was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. This evening we have dinner at Hoi An Garden Restaurant and taste a variety of local specialties from simple Cao Lau noodles to seafood preparations. O/N in Hoi An. (B)

Day 7: Hoi An - Cooking class
Today we improve more our culinary skills. The master chef guides us through Hoi An market and assists in buying ingredents for our lession. At the Red Bridge Cooking, the master chef will shows the preparation, cooking demonstration and presentation before we try our hand at cooking some local dishes. This is difficult but very interesting. Once all meals prepared, we can enjoy the dishes. The ancient architecture of Hoi An is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese traditional characters with Chinese and Japanese influence. There are plenty to see in this delightful and tranquil town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tam Ky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda, the vibrant market. We visit these on a walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past. O/N in Hoi An. (B,L)

Day 8: Hoi An - Danang - Ho Chi Minh
The following destination of our trip is Ho Chi Minh City via a short flight from Danang. On arrival you are greeted by our guide and transferred to hotel. A lunch of "Hu Tieu" at a famous eating spots is the perfect way to explore the cuisine of Ho Chi Minh. We enjoy a half day city tour, seeing the Reunification Palace which was the former residence of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Close to the palace is some striking French colonial structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. We follow these with a visit to the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the bustling Ben Thanh Market where anything and everything is for sale! This evening we dinner at the famous restaurant of Mandarine to taste the local cuisine influenced by China, Cambodia, Thailand and India. The south also has a wide selection of tropical fruits and vegetables which are rarely found in northern region. O/N in Ho Chi Minh. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Ho Chi Minh - Cooking class - Cu Chi Tunnels
Upon leaving our hotel we set off on a short drive to the central market. The master chef will teach us how to choose good and fresh ingredients before we continue to the Cookery Center. The cooking lesson begins with the professional master's explaination on origination, culture of Vietnamese cuisine and preparation. They are focusing on how to cook some specialties, use variety of herbs and prepare different sauces. Once completed the course we will master the use of chopsticks , learn the etiquette of a Vietnamese meals and receive a certificate of participation. Today we have an excursion to Cu Chi Tunnels. This incredible underground network was constructed by Vietnamese fighters during the long struggle for independence. The extensive tunnels contained hospitals, schools, command centres plus accommodation. We visit an exposition hall and a widened section of the tunnels to get a feel of the underground life. O/N in Ho Chi Minh. (B,L)

Day 10: Ho Chi Minh - Departure
There is a free time to relax or further explore Ho Chi Minh City. The tour ends after your transfer to Tan San Nhat Airport for departure. (B)