Itinerary
Vietnam Food
and Culture Insider
10 day
Adventure
May 18-28, 2008-luxury-10
nights/11 days
$3,095 per person
(double
occupancy, single supplement $825)
Experience,
enjoy and learn about the Vietnamese culture with a special focus on the food
and cooking with tour leaders
Daniel Hoyer and
Kim Phuong Nguyen. This
10-night adventure begins in the south in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) with a visit
to the Mekong Delta, often referred to as the rice bowl of Vietnam, where we
will visit Phuong's family and see a slice of life far from the usual tourist
routes. We then fly north to the historic Hue, the Imperial City and
former seat of many ruling dynasties. Continuing north, we will fly to the
national capital city of Hanoi with a 2-day excursion to Bac Ha and Sa Pa to
interact with the Ethnic Minority hill tribes of that region near the Chinese
border. We finish in Hanoi again to take flights home or to enjoy an
extended stay in Vietnam or some of the neighboring countries. There will be
market visits, cooking classes and demonstrations with local Vietnamese cooks,
visits to museums, pagodas and temples, great shopping, opportunities to get to
know the local people and, of course, excellent eating. This trip includes many
of the highlights of the 15-day program but is shortened to 10 days to
accommodate those with limited time.
This is a luxury comfort level trip with excellent hotels and safe, comfortable,
air-conditioned transportation. You will have the benefit of two dedicated
guides in Daniel and Phuong along with the support of local guides in most
locations and Phuong's husband, Marny, an experienced Vietnam traveler.
Although this is a food centric tour, you do not have to be an accomplished cook
or even a "foodie" to enjoy it. We use food as a window into the culture
and help guide you into memorable dining experiences. This is not school,
and you will not be in classes everyday, but you may end up learning a lot.
This is a vacation that provides a life experience and gives you an opportunity
to visit and participate in things that you may not be able to easily access on
your own. Daniel and Phuong have both been to all of the locations on the
trip and have selected hotels, restaurants, guides and other services based on
their own personal experiences and have developed this itinerary to be fun,
meaningful and unique. .
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Itinerary
The following itinerary is correct at time of posting. The actual
trip may differ slightly. Occasionally, our itineraries change as we make
improvements that stem from past travelers' comments or to take advantage of
opportunities that present after the itinerary is published and during the trip
itself. Daniel will advise you of any changes at the initial group
meeting.
Printable PDF
version of this itinerary
Day 1 Sunday, May 18-Saigon arrival
Meet at the airport and transfer to the beautifully
restored, Majestic Hotel, oozing with historic French colonial character.
We will be staying in Colonial Poolside Deluxe rooms. Afternoon off
to rest, take a massage or we will accompany you while you explore central
Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) on foot. Welcome dinner at Luong Son
(Bo Tung Xeo), one of our favorite restaurants with charcoal grills right at the
table to grill your own dinner. Overnight in Saigon
Meals-1, D
Day 2 Monday, May 19-Saigon
Breakfast at the hotel followed by a market tour and
cooking class at Dzoan Restaurant, owned by celebrity chef Miss Nguyen
Dzoan Cam Van and operated by her son Khai, who is the executive chef
and who will be our instructor. You will learn some of the basics of
Vietnamese cooking and prepare lunch under the guidance of Chef Khai, a creative
master chef in his own right, setting new trends in modern Vietnamese cooking.
Free late afternoon for wandering about town, shopping, sightseeing, a nap,
catching up on email, etc. Dinner at Lang Nuong Nam Bo
Restaurant, for a feast of grilled Vietnamese specialties.
Meals-3, B,L,D
Day 3 Tuesday, May 20-Mekong Delta/Saigon
Breakfast at
the hotel followed by an all day tour to the countryside in Ben Tre province in
the Mekong Delta; a three to three and a half hour drive. We will go to
Phuong’s family home far from the typical tour routes. You can watch her
family prepare lunch for us and see how the average Vietnamese family cooks and
eats. This is rural and rustic. There is clean water but no toilet.
You will see what very few tourists see – the daily life of rural Vietnamese
families and we will get to see some of the work that the
Vietnam Project
has accomplished, giving you a first-hand look at what can be done for less
fortunate people in this area. Return to Saigon for an independent dinner
(option for a street food crawl with Daniel and Khai).
Meals-2, B,L
Day 4 Wednesday, May 21-Saigon to Hue
Breakfast at the hotel (or join Daniel for Pho, the
national breakfast of Vietnam). Free morning for independent sightseeing
tours of Saigon including the former US embassy site, Reunification Hall, Old
post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, various pagodas and temples and the many
colorful waterfronts around the city, (Phuong and Marny will be available if you
want company); or an optional visit to Binh Tay, the big market in Cho
Lon (Chinatown) with Daniel. After lunch at Ngon Restaurant, a
unique concept, where you are seated in the lush garden courtyard of a restored
French villa and you can order from dozens of street food vendors who have their
kitchens set up in the streets surrounding the villa, we will transfer to the
airport for an afternoon flight to Hue, the historic Imperial City alongside the
Perfume River. Check in at the elegant Saigon-Morin Hotel built by the
French Morin brothers in the late 19th century, near the Perfume
River.
Cyclo (pedi cab) ride across the river for a
guided visit of the Citadel, the former, walled-in, imperial city.
Dinner at Paradise Garden restaurant.
Meals-3, B, L, D
Day 5 Thursday, May 22- Hue
Breakfast at the hotel. Boat trip on the lovely
perfume river with a local guide to visit the Thien Mu Pagoda, and the tomb of
Emperor Tu Duc. Our driver will then pick us up and we will pass through
the picturesque countryside surrounding Hue, full of rice and vegetable fields
and small villages, including a stop for lunch. Late afternoon cooking
class with Miss Huy, a chef recognized for her expertise in Hue Royal Cuisine,
where we will prepare some of the dishes Hue is famous for and then enjoy the
fruits of our labors with a multi-course dinner. OR Dinner at the
Folksong restaurant with some of our local Vietnamese friends.
(Depending on Ms. Huy’s availability)
Meals-3, B, L, D
Day 6 Friday, May 23-Hue to Hanoi
Optional visit to the Dong Ba Market with Daniel.
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for our flight to the historic
old city of Ha Noi, the nation’s capital. Transfer to the luxurious
Melia Hotel, in Ha Noi’s central district. Lunch at Highway 4
Restaurant (recently featured on Andrew Zimmern’s Discovery Channel show),
where they serve northern Vietnamese and indigenous specialties. The late
afternoon is free for you to go sightseeing or to relax, shop, etc. In the
evening we will take a cyclo ride through the old merchant district and the on
to the Season’s of Hanoi Restaurant situated in a historic French Villa
and serving great Vietnamese cooking
Meals-3, B, L, D
Day 7 Saturday, May 24-Hanoi to Loa Cai
Optional early morning stroll with Daniel through the
markets and narrow streets of the Old Quarter to interact with the people of Ha
Noi and view the produce of the area. Breakfast at the hotel.
Cooking class at the Hoa Sua Cooking Training School, where we will learn
about the cooking of the north and enjoy the lunch we have prepared. Late
afternoon water puppet show Dinner at Le Tonkin Restaurant.
We will then be picked up and transferred to the train station to board the
Tulico Express luxury sleeper coach for the trip to Loa Cai, on the
Chinese border. The train has secure, 4-person, air-conditioned, sleeping
compartments with comfortable foam mattress beds.
Meals-3, B, L, D
Day 8 Sunday, May 25-Bac Ha to Sapa
Upon our early-morning arrival in Loa Cai, we will
have breakfast and then our local guide will drive us to Bac Ha for the
fabulous Sunday market. There you will see a number of the Ethnic Minority
groups, dressed in the colorful clothing that represents each groups’ and
villages’ unique style, as they gather to purchase or sell local handicrafts,
food, animals, tools and other essentials of daily life. The market is
also a social event for the people, many who live in remote mountain communities
and walk for hours to attend this market. Lunch in Bac Ha and then we will
take an approximately 2 hour drive back through Loa Cai and on to Sapa on the
hillsides overlooking the Muong Hoa river valley and surrounded by
Minority villages and terraced rice paddies, with a view of Fan Si Pan,
Vietnam’s highest mountain. Check in at the Victoria Sapa Hotel.
Dinner at the hotel.
Meals-3, B, L, D
Day 9 Monday, May 26- Sapa to the night train back to Hanoi
Breakfast at the hotel. Market visit and guided
walking tour of the Sapa area including the Ham Rong Mountain Park, the
French-built Sapa Church, and Cat Cat H’mong village, where you
will observe the way of life of this ethnic minority group. Lunch
included. Shopping opportunities will abound. We will then drive to
a Red Dao village to observe their culture, a cooking demonstration and to
interact with the local villagers. In the afternoon, we will have a little more
time for last-minute shopping in Sapa or a snack before we depart at 6 pm to Loa
Cai to catch the 9 pm sleeper train back to Ha Noi. There will be time for
dinner at one of the many restaurants surrounding the train station before we
board.
Overnight on the train
Meals-3, B, L, D
Day 10 Tuesday, May 27- Hanoi
Early Morning arrival in Hanoi. Early check in
at Hotel Melia. After breakfast and a chance to clean up and
change, there will be a guided tour of the city (lunch included) in air
conditioned vehicles. We will visit the Temple of Literature, The Museum
of Ethnography, the Ho Chi Minh museum, his mausoleum, the stilt house from
which he conducted much of the American War, and Ba Dinh Square, where he
delivered the Declaration of Independence (much like ours) in 1945 and other
sites as time and inclination permit. Dinner at Le Tonkin Restaurant.
Meals-3, B, L, D
Departure Day-Wednesday, May 28
Breakfast at the hotel followed by transfers to the
airport for flights home
You may also extend your stay in Han Noi or fly
back to Saigon for an extended stay or head to the nearby countries of Laos,
Cambodia or Thailand. We are happy to make recommendations for extended
stays and additional tour options
Meals-1, B
Information in this
itinerary has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith, however, it
is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client
and
Well Eaten Path-Chef’s Tours.
Trip Information and
Tips
Travel
style
FUN, relaxed (most of
the time), educational, with luxury accommodations and minimal hardships.
Group size
Minimum 8, Maximum 16
Accommodation
8 nights luxury
accommodations in Saigon, Hue, Hanoi and Sapa, 2 nights on the Tulico Express
luxury sleeper train from Hanoi to Sapa and return.
Transport
Vans, domestic air
flights, taxis, cyclos/motorbikes (optional), walking, trains.
Physical
rating-This
is a relatively undemanding trip. There will be some moderate walking.
Temperatures in Vietnam can become fairly hot and the humidity is usually high.
All of our accommodations and most transportation are air conditioned; however,
you should be prepared for tropical heat.
Culture shock rating-
The hotels used in
this trip are top-notch, luxury hotels with a high level of service and
amenities. The emphasis of the trip is primarily on food, cooking and culture,
and there may be a wide range of food encountered. Every effort is made to
ensure that meals are taken in known quality establishments but occasionally the
group will be eating “pot luck”. There will be opportunities to try unfamiliar
foods and beverages. Some areas will have limited English speaking; however an
interpreter is usually available The tour also includes some opportunity
to pursue individual interests.
Local Payment
- Allow
USD $200 per person for the local payment.
This will be collected by Daniel at the start of the trip and is included in the
total quoted cost of the trip. The local payment is to facilitate the
payment of fees for the tour that often are in cash.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance
including emergency medical repatriation coverage is required. You
will not be permitted to participate in the trip until evidence of medical
travel insurance has been shown to Daniel. (Trip interruption coverage in
conjunction with the medical is recommended and usually may be combined
for minimal additional cost.)
Health
Please contact your
doctor for up-to-date information and prescriptions for vaccinations,
anti-malarial requirements (not usually necessary) and any reasonably
foreseeable illnesses while traveling in Vietnam. We recommend that you carry a
simple First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements (including a
spare pair of glasses). Please be aware that at times we are in remote areas and
away from medical facilities during this trip, and for legal reasons our guides
are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets,
antibiotics, etc. Please ensure that you are adequately prepared.
Spending money
Personal Spending
Money
How much you take is obviously a personal matter. If you intend to purchase many
souvenirs or if you enjoy a couple of extra glasses of wine or beer with meals,
we would recommend that you take more than the daily average estimate. Credit
cards and debit cards are very useful for cash advances. Visa cards are the most
widely accepted cards. While ATMs are widely available in the major cities,
there are no guarantees that your credit or debit cards will actually work in
Vietnam. Check with your bank. You should be aware that to purchase products or
services on a credit card a fee of 5%-10% may apply. Do not rely on credit or
debit cards as your only source of money. A combination of US dollars cash
(clean, unmarked bills), traveler’s checks and cards is best. Always take more
rather than less, as you don't want to spoil the trip by constantly feeling
short of funds.
Tipping
There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the
local guides or service industry personnel. You may do this individually, or
Daniel will be happy to collect the money and tip as a group. Tipping is
strictly optional. All guide services, hotel personnel, drivers, etc.,
are paid a gratuity for their contracted services, and
Well Eaten Path-Chef’s Tours
pays at or above the going
rate for services, however, there may be circumstances where extra service or
assistance was required, or when outstanding services were rendered. A
little generosity can go a long way in creating good will!
Optional Tipping
suggestions:
(US dollar bills are ok for
tipping but US coins are practically worthless. If tipping less than a dollar
you should use Vietnam Dong.) $1 US = 16,000 Vietnam Dong (approximately)
·
Hotel rooms 15-20,000
VD per person per night for room cleaning, etc.
·
Bell person 15-20,000
VD for luggage assistance per person
·
Taxi rides
independent of the group -10% of the fare
·
Cooking instruction
(classes and demos) 30-60,000 VD/person to the local instructor
·
Independent tour
guides and interpreters- as you see fit (35-70,000 VD/person per day for an
interesting and helpful guide is nice)
·
Driver- 10-25,000
VD/person per day
Budget
Meals not
included - $25-75 USD per person (depending on your choices)
Snacks and beverages $75-200
USD depending on your personal habits. (All provided meals come with a beverage,
sometimes this is beer or wine, if desired; if you want additional drinks you
should budget for that. The hotels often provide bottled drinking water,
but water away from the hotel must be purchased.
Tips- nothing required, I
would bring between $75-175 USD to cover the optional contingencies.
Local Payment - $200/person
US (part of quoted tour price)
Note on Paying
Locally: Most of our tours involve a local payment. Paying locally allows us
to keep the overall cost of our tours competitive and pass the savings on to
you. These funds are put towards local expenses. In some developing countries
the transferring of funds is at times problematic so this is a way to help us
serve you while saving you money. Payment is to be made to Daniel upon arrival.
Shopping- depends on your
desire for souvenirs, gifts, artwork, etc.
Film/video tape- also
depends on what you use. It is more economical to bring these with you but
you will have opportunities to purchase if you need to.
Keeping in touch - communication while on the
road
If you need to be
contacted while traveling we recommend that you set up an email address that can
be accessed on the road, rather than relying on postal mail. Hotmail, Gmail or
Yahoo are good for this. Our hotels all have internet access and Email cafes are
becoming increasingly commonplace and cheap throughout the regions we visit.
If someone wishes to contact you in an emergency while you are on the trip we
recommend that they contact your email address. If you plan to phone home
during the trip it is recommended that you purchase a phone card or use internet
calling. Some tri-band cell phones will also work here. Check with your
provider about connectivity and rates.
Arrival complications
We
don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you are
unable to commence your trip as scheduled, please make the following contacts as
soon as possible:
The first contact should be your starting point hotel. You will receive this
information when confirmed.
If this is unsuccessful,
contact Daniel by email on daniel@welleatenpath.com
Your group leaders
Daniel Hoyer and Kim
Phuong Nguyen (assisted by her husband, Marny Freedman) will be the group
leaders. Some of you have met Daniel through cooking classes. Marny is a
Vietnam Vet and has lived periodically in the country and visited over 20 times.
He and Phuong, who is a native Vietnamese, operate the Vietnam Project, a
humanitarian organization that helps people around the country. The group
leaders are there to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have
the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are
traveling through, offer suggestions for extra things to do and see, introduce
you to our local friends and participate in all the scheduled activities. While
not being a guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad
general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, food especially, but also
including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local
guides and interpreters where we think more specific knowledge will add to the
enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.
Responsible
travel
We believe strongly
in low impact or rather positive impact tourism. Broadly speaking this means
that we try to minimize the negative aspects of tourism on the local cultures
and environments that we visit and highlight the positive aspects. We always
show respect for the local culture and customs. Conservative attire is
sometimes required when visiting religious sites. Always ask before
photographing indigenous people. A smile goes a long way. Daniel
will keep you informed on special customs or dress requirements.
Meals
Most meals are
provided (see itinerary for details), in fact you will help prepare several of
them. All efforts will be made to accommodate differing tastes of
travelers; however, we ask that you bring an open mind (and palate) to enjoy the
regional specialties.
Visas
Visas are
required for US citizens visiting Vietnam. IT IS YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION.
The following is from the
Vietnamese Embassy website
http://www.vietnamembassy.us
You may also apply through a travel agent.
For further information you should log on to the Embassy website, contact the
Embassy or contact your travel agent.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A VISA TO
VIETNAM?
A VISA to Vietnam
can be applied for by mail
or in person at the
Embassy of Vietnam as early as six months prior to the date of travel. The
applicant must submit:
• Original PASSPORT.
• One completed and signed visa
application form (PDF Form) with 01 passport-size photo
glued or stapled.
•
VISA fee in the form of MONEY ORDER, or CASHIER’S CHECK, or
CERTIFIED CHECK payable to “THE EMBASSY OF VIETNAM.” Applicants applying
together may submit the fee in one money order.
• A prepaid return
envelope, if the applicant requests the visa be returned by mail. Please use
US Express Mail (UPS and DHL are
not accepted for the return envelope).
Processing Time:
• 5 - 7 business days are
required to process visa applications.
• Expedited processing requires 2 - 3 business days after the Embassy has
received the application (additional fee required).
• Please keep the tracking numbers of the envelopes to and from the Embassy.
When the above deadlines have passed, use the tracking number to check with the
mailing service first. Please do not make telephone inquires on the status of
your application (make sure that you keep your passport number for this request)
until after the 3rd business day for an expedited case and the 7th working day
for a regular case.
• The Embassy will be closed on
Vietnamese and US holidays 2007. Please
take account of the observed holidays in planning for your visa application and
travel.
For further information,
please
contact the Visa Section of the Embassy:
Opening hours: 9:30 – 12:30 Monday through Friday
The Embassy is closed on Saturday, Sunday, and US and Vietnamese holidays.
Phone: (202) 861-
2293, (202) 861-0694 and (202) 861- 0737
Fax: (202) 861- 1297 and (202) 861- 0917
EMBASSY OF VIETNAM
1233 20th Street, NW, Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036
Website:
http://www.vietnamembassy.us
What to take
Check list
Documents:
*Passport (with photocopies)
*Travel insurance (with photocopies)
*Airline tickets (with photocopies)
*USD cash and travelers checks
*Credit or debit card (see
personal spending money)
*itinerary
Items
- First-aid kit**
- Sun block and sunburn treatment
- Sunglasses
- Toiletries
- Watch or alarm clock
Clothing (suggested minimum, less is better to keep your baggage light)
- Light jacket or sweater
and/or
- Windproof/waterproof
jacket (May is not the rainy season but it is always a possibility)
- Small towel and swim wear (if desired)
- 4 shirts/t-shirts
- Sun hat
- 1or 2 pair of shorts
- 2-3 pairs of long trousers (1 long skirt, dress or wrap for women)
-plenty of cotton socks (it
is often very humid)
- Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes
- Sport sandals and/or casual shoes
**First aid kit should contain lip salve, Aspirin or Tylenol, Band Aids,
anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, motion
sickness medicine (if needed), extra prescription drugs you may be taking.
Optional
Camera, batteries and film, reading/writing material, Vietnamese dictionary or
phrase book, binoculars, cover for backpacks, flashlight, concealable money
belt.
Safety
We
recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while traveling, for the safe
keeping of your passport, air tickets, travelers' checks, cash and other
valuable items. Leave your valuable jewelry at home - you won't need it while
traveling. Many of the hotels we use have a safety deposit box that is the most
secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your
luggage.
Note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the
trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your leader
will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have
some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore
at your leisure. While your group leader will assist you with options available
in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are
not part of your itinerary, and
Well Eaten Path-Chef’s Tours
makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the
operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an
independent activity.
The Well Eaten Path-Chef Tours
©2005
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