Vietnam Real Food Adventure
Experience Overview
Sip, slurp and crunch your way through Vietnam, experiencing one of the freshest and most fragrant cuisines on the planet. From pho and ancient buildings in Hanoi, banh khoai and imperial citadels in Hue, banh xeo and lantern-lit streets in Hoi An and banh canh and pulsating markets in Ho Chi Minh City, experience Vietnam’s cuisine and discover its tightly woven place within this culture. 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. Experience all of Vietnam’s iconic sights, spend time cooking some of the country’s top dishes and get a true taste of Vietnam on this food focused adventure.
Highlights
- Embrace your adventurous side on a tour of Hue’s imperial monuments from the back of a motorbike (the local way of getting around). Then, be treated to lunch, specially prepared for you by a chef who is a descendant of the royal family in the garden of their family home.
- Don’t just taste your way around this foodie haven, don your chef hat and learn the recipes behind these incredible eats, too. Learn the secret spices directly from local chefs (often in their own homes) and be guided to the freshest ingredients in authentic local markets.
- Explore the Mekong Delta – known as ‘Vietnam’s rice bowl’ for its abundance of rice paddies, fruit and flower orchards. Cruise on a traditional sampan, then meet fresh produce vendors along the way to your veranda-wrapped homestay for the evening.
- Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay and set sail on the emerald-green waters, gliding between limestone karsts on a traditional junk boat for the evening.
- Discover the real flavours of Vietnam, digging into authentic eats like pho, banh mi, bun cha, bun bo Hue and Cao Lau – a true feast for the senses.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2878
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Private Vehicle,Taxi,Overnight sleeper train
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: TVZY
Starts: Hanoi , Vietnam
Finishes: Ho Chi Minh City ., Vietnam
Duration: 12 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (10), Lunch (6), Dinner (5)Accommodation: Hotel (7 nights),Homestay (1 night),Overnight Boat (1 night),Overnight Sleeper Train (2 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,718 ($226 /day)
Itinerary
Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins in the country’s capital – Hanoi. If you arrive early, maybe grab a delicious Vietnamese coffee (typically served with condensed milk or, for the more adventurous, egg)! Meet your group and leader for a welcome meeting at 5 pm, then head out for your first introduction to Vietnam’s lively culinary scene. Your leader will take you on a street food tour around the streets, as the sun goes down and the city comes alive at night. Maybe try bun cha (a grilled pork and noodle dish loved in Hanoi) or lau (Vietnamese hot pot). Thinking of arriving a few days early to explore the majestic Northern Vietnam? Then check out our Ninh Binh Mini Adventure (TVAN) -for an off-the-beaten path discovery of Pu Long and Ninh Binh. Or you can try our Hiking In Sapa (TVAG) - for a big doze of dramatic mountain landscapes, crisp fresh air and colorful hilltribes.
Included Activities:
- Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure
Optional Activities:
- Ninh Binh Mini Adventure (TVAN) (355 USD)
- Hiking in Sapa (TVAG) (432 USD)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, hit the road for the spectacular UNESCO World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay. The harbour, with approximately 2000 limestone islands rising from the turquoise waters of Bac Bo Gulf, spans an area of about 1500 square km and is dotted with beaches and grottos. When you arrive, 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 – the water! Then, you’ll explore Surprise Cave, one of the most striking caves in the bay. 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.
Included Activities:
- Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise
Optional Activities:
- Halong Bay - Kayaking Tour (250000 VND)
Accommodation:
- Boat (Number of Nights: 1)
If you’re an early riser, you might like to wake up for sunrise this morning, watching the bay come alive. Perhaps organise an optional kayak experience to see the limestone karsts from a new perspective. Tonight, you’ll head back to Hanoi and board an overnight train bound for Hue. Perhaps grab some snacks today for the train, then settle in and play some cards with your group or watch the scenery pass you by from the window.
Accommodation:
- Overnight sleeper train (Number of Nights: 1)
Arrive in Hue this morning – Vietnam’s former royal capital - and enjoy a local breakfast of bun bo hue (a spiced beef noodle soup). The food here is influenced by its imperial heritage (small dishes and a focus on aesthetic presentation) and Buddhism, reflected in the many vegetarian restaurants. 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 Thich Quang Duc, the worldly famous self-immolating monk of the 1963 protests. After some time exploring, it's time to eat! You’ll enjoy a plant-based Buddhist meal specially prepared by a chef and descendant of the royal family, in the garden of their family home. After, visit the royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc and enjoy some free time this evening. You may like to ask your leader for the best place to try imperial street specialties for dinner tonight like banh hue (rice flour cakes stuffed with shrimp, pork and spices).
Included Activities:
- Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
- Hue - Highlights & back streets tour by motorbike
- Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning you’ll go to a local coffee house where three generations of Hue locals are living together. Admire the traditional house and gardens before meeting your host, Mr Khoa. Learn about his passion for coffee with a demonstration of how to make Hue’s traditional salt coffee, from the bean roasting process to the secret ingredients. Maybe even have a go at making it yourself! After, visit the Imperial Citadel and Forbidden Purple City before heading south by bus through coastal rice paddies and the mountainous Hai Van Pass to Hoi An. This beautifully restored city retains the feel of centuries past and tonight, you’ll head to the Old Centre – a UNESCO World Heritage site full of colourful streets, heritage buildings and specialty shops. Try Cao Lau (a local noodle dish) with your group tonight, then head out among the lanterns for a nighttime orientation walk with your leader.
Included Activities:
- Hoi An - Cao Lau dinner + lantern orientation walk in Hoi An
- Hue - Salt coffee
- Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Today, you’ll really get to know Hoi An – first, your leader will take you on a 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. 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, then you’ll go 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.
Included Activities:
- Hoi An - Tea Tasting in Silence
- Hoi An - Cooking class with local chef
- Hoi An - Market tour
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Enjoy a free day in Hoi An to explore at your own pace. Maybe relax at the hotel pool or go for a bike ride in the nearby rice fields. You can stroll around Hoi An’s Old Centre for some last minute shopping – you'll have your hotel room for the whole day, before driving to Danang along the coast. Maybe visit the beach for a while before boarding an overnight train bound for Nha Trang.
Accommodation:
- Overnight train (Number of Nights: 1)
Arrive in Nha Trang this morning at around 10 am, then have some breakfast. After checking into your hotel, maybe stroll around the city, visit the Po Nagar Cham Towers or head to the Tran Phu Bridge for scenic views of the city and coastline. This afternoon, you’ll meet back up with your group for a seafood dinner – a local speciality in Nha Trang.
Included Activities:
- Nha Trang - Seafood dinner
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Leave Nha Trang this morning and drive on to Ho Chi Minh City, once known as Saigon. Stop for lunch along the way, then when you arrive, take a walking tour to get a feel for the city's fascinating blend of old and new, East and West. You’ll notice a strong French influence here, which means excellent coffee and baguettes! Stop past the General Post Office, then take a guided walk around 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. Try the world famous crispy pork belly Bahn mi, then visit the War Remnants Museum to learn about the city’s sobering past.
Included Activities:
- Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
- Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
- Ho Chi Minh City - Banh mi
- Ho Chi Minh City - Ben Thanh market visit
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast this morning, kiss Ho Chi Minh City goodbye and make your way to the Mekong Delta. The delta is known as ‘Vietnam’s rice bowl’ for its abundance of rice paddies, fruit and flower orchards. When 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.
Included Activities:
- Mekong Delta - Boat cruise with visits to local producers
Accommodation:
- Homestay (Number of Nights: 1)
Enjoy the freshest fruit of the Mekong Delta for breakfast, then head to Cai Be for a hands-on cooking class with a local chef. Enjoy the tranquil setting and the spice garden as you learn some contemporary twists on traditional Vietnamese dishes with your passionate chef. Sit down and enjoy the delicious feast you've prepared over lunch and then enjoy a free afternoon to continue your explorations. Tonight, you might like to get together with your group and toast to a great trip over a farewell dinner.
Included Activities:
- Ho Chi Minh City - Cooking Class with local chef
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
With no activities planned for today, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you wish to spend more time in Ho Chi Minh City, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Lorna - Traveled, March 2024
Couldn’t rate this tour highly enough. Loved everything that was offered and tour leader was exceptional. Go!!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/02/2024
Maddison - Traveled, March 2024
This is my second Foodie Tour with Intrepid and it was amazing! I am obsessed with Vietnamese food now. Our guide Lucky was incredible and his knowledge of Vietnamese history, food and culture made the tour unforgettable. I highly recommend this tour and traveling with Intrepid
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/30/2024
DOUG - Traveled, February 2024
My latest Intrepid Food Tour, of Vietnam , was exceptional. The people and the food were fantastic and Bon, our guide made it a most pleasant and memorable trip. Totally recommend. Where else do you travel by plane, bus, boat, train and sanpan on one tour!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/29/2024
Simon - Traveled, February 2024
What a wonderful experience, I doubt if I could have found a better way of seeing Vietnam and experiencing the marvelous food.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/21/2024
Phyllis - Traveled, January 2024
I first traveled with Intrepid in 1998, a trip to Northern Thailand. Then to China in 2018 and this year to Vietnam. Intrepid is my favorite tour company.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/11/2024
Elizabeth - Traveled, January 2024
This trip was amazing! Well organized, interesting destinations, delicious food, excellent cooking classes. Tour guide Anh added so much to the tour with her knowledge, enthusiasm, and obvious pride in her beautiful country. So glad I went.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/17/2024
Aimee - Traveled, December 2023
I couldn't rate this tour more highly. The itinerary and included activities are great for any food lover. You come away from the tour with a better understanding of Vietnamese food and culture. Our guide Lily was incredible and made the who experience feel stress-free and enjoyable. Although it is a food-focussed tour, there are also lots of culture and sightseeing activities. It was a great way to experience the diversity and beauty of Vietnam.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/12/2024
Amanda - Traveled, December 2023
This trip completely exceeded expectations. The description under sells it. Linh was a superb leader. Knowledgeable about all aspects of the cuisine, the history and the culture of Vietnam.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/23/2023
Andy - Traveled, November 2023
Vietnamese food is wonderful and this trip showcases that perfectly. Recent history is very difficult but the Vietnamese story and people are well worth understanding. A superb trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/04/2023
Nicholas - Traveled, November 2023
This trip is worth it! An excellent value and a great mix of experiences.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/23/2023
Karen - Traveled, November 2023
What a magical experience. I whole heartedly recommend this Real Food Adventure Vietnam. We had the best people and Nhung was the best guide. I could never have done this on my own and all through the trip I felt safe and taken care of. The amazing foods and activities just kept on coming. Nhung's experience, passion and spirit really show that she loves what she does. She went over and above to meet our needs and whims with her knowledge of the people and places. This tour was a good choice.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/27/2023
Pamela - Traveled, October 2023
Bon, our tour guide was the best, his knowledge and passion of all aspects of the Vietnamese culture, had us living and breathing this great country. Loved it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/09/2023
Angela - Traveled, October 2023
WOW! Words just can’t explain one of the most amazing travel experiences that I’ve had in my life. The knowledge and experience was second to none, our tour leader consistently went above and beyond to help us with anything we needed at all. There was not a question that went unanswered and not a thing that he wasn’t willing to help us with. Whether it was organising extra activities, transport, recommendations on where to eat, what to see or do, during and after our tour. I have the utmost respect for our tour guide and highly recommend him and Intrepid tours.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/28/2023
Debra - Traveled, October 2023
This food-centric tour of Vietnam is spectacular. In addition to the food, learning about the history and culture of Vietnam was great. Our guide was the best and truly enhanced the experience. I love that we were able to meet and mingle with so many locals in all of our destinations. And the food! It was a true culinary experience. I would recommend this trip and have already recommended Intrepid Traveler to friends. Two enthusiastic thumbs up
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/19/2023
Hans - Traveled, October 2023
It was our second trip with Intrepid. And this alone is a sign, that Intrepid offers excellent service and a fair and - in the matter of surcomstances - sustainable tour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/16/2023
Sue - Traveled, September 2023
From the cave visit in Halong Bay to the homestay in the Mekong you will have an amazing time discovering the cuisine of Vietnam. Anh's "let's go" will keep you on the move. So many delicious meals to enjoy on this trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/01/2023
Bec - Traveled, September 2023
Anh was an amazing guide. We were on a foodie tour but her knowledge of culture and history ensured the tour was so much more than just delicious. Will definitely be bac Vietnam
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/12/2023
Elizabeth - Traveled, August 2023
I highly recommend the Vietnam Real Food Adventure. I not only tasted regional food cuisines and learned new cooking skills, but I also embarked on an incredible adventure of trains, boats, planes, scooters and buses. The reality of the adventure surpassed my expectations from the itinerary. Our group and group leader were amazing. Ten out of ten. If you can - do it!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/18/2023
Monika - Traveled, August 2023
I took this trip as intrepid had been recommended to me. I liked the guaranteed small group number, 12 maximum. The cooking classes and food experiences were wonderful. The trip was well organised and once in Vietnam I needed to do very little further organising.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/18/2023
Steve - Traveled, August 2023
This trip was a fantastic way to experience Vietnam's food and culture, and exceeded expectations. Bon was an absolutely fantastic your leader.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/18/2023
Share a personalized trip brochure!
Why Choose Us?
We Work for You
Our goal to make you happy! That means ensuring our travel consultants have the best product knowledge and excellent customer service. A positive customer experience is our #1 goal!
Our Products
We offer an broad selection of travel products, including all-inclusive vacation packages, pre-packaged tours, custom travel itineraries, destination weddings, and luxury vacations.
Escapes Cares
We believe in giving back. When you book with us, you are contributing to tree planting through our partners at Veritree, as well ocean conservation though Oceana Canada.
