Vietnam Real Food Adventure

12 days
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Small Group Tour
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 wo...
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

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 the 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 Ha Long Bay, a truly bucket list experience, and set sail on the emerald-green waters, gliding between limestone karsts and staying 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 a traditional seafood hotpot – a true feast for the senses.

What's this trip about?

    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.

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age range15 years and up
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityHanoi
End CityHo Chi Minh City

Travel Themes

  • Culinary & Wine

Destinations

Attractions

  • Halong Bay
  • Hanoi
  • Ho Chi Minh
  • Hoi An
  • Hue

Activities

  • Cooking

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 12

Trip includes

    • Hanoi - Street Food Experience Urban Adventure
    • Halong Bay - Overnight Boat Cruise
    • Hue - Royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc
    • Hue - Highlights & back streets by motorbike
    • Hue - Imperial City entrance and guided visit
    • Hue - Thien Mu Pagoda
    • Hoi An - Cao Lau dinner + lantern orientation walk in Hoi An
    • Hue - Salt coffee
    • Hoi An - Tea Tasting in Silence
    • Hoi An - Old Town walking tour
    • Hoi An - Cooking class with local chef
    • Hoi An - Market tour
    • An Nhon - Rice winemaker
    • An Nhon - Home-cooked lunch
    • Quy Nhon - Market visit
    • Quy Nhon - coffee
    • Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum
    • Ho Chi Minh City - Cooking Class with local chef
    • Ho Chi Minh City - City tour
    • Mekong Delta - Boat cruise with visits to local producers
    • Ho Chi Minh City - Ben Thanh market visit
    • Ho Chi Minh City - Banh mi

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Hanoi

Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. Your adventure begins in the country’s capital – Hanoi. If you arrive early, maybe grab an iconic coffee – typically served with condensed milk or, for the more adventurous, egg! You’ll meet your group and leader for an important welcome ...

Day 2 Halong Bay

This morning, hit the road for the spectacular World Heritage-listed 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 grott...

Day 3 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. When you arrive, you’ll board an overnight tr...

Day 4 Hue

Arrive in Hue this morning – Vietnam’s former royal capital, where the cuisine is considered by many 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, refl...

Day 5 Hoi An

After a local breakfast of bun bo hue (a spiced beef noodle soup), 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 coff...

Day 6 Hoi An

Today, you’ll really get to know Hoi An – 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 empl...

Day 7 Quy Nhon

This morning after breakfast, you’ll drive south, to the coastal town of Quy Nhon.On the way,visit a village to see the production process of Vietnamese rice whiskey (made from plain boiled rice). Learn about the history of this traditional practise and see how it's m...

Day 8 Overnight Train

Early this morning, you’ll visit the local market with your trip leader for a wander around and a fruit tasting of some local produce.Durian, jackfruit, rambutans are a feast for the eye. Then, walk to Bun Ram Thuy for breakfast, before continuing to Dang Coffee for ...

Day 9 Ho Chi Minh City

Arrive in Ho Chi Minh City this morning, then join a walking tour to get a feel for the city's frenetic, 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 Po...

Day 10 Mekong Delta

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...

Day 11 Ho Chi Minh City

Enjoy the freshest fruit of the Mekong Delta for breakfast, then head back to Ho Chi Minh City. When you arrive, 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,...

Day 12 Ho Chi Minh City

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.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,216
Price per day$185
Last Updated: 6/4/2024
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
05 Jan 2025
16 Jan 2025
$2,447
26 Jan 2025
06 Feb 2025
$2,216
09 Feb 2025
20 Feb 2025
$2,554
23 Feb 2025
06 Mar 2025
$2,534
02 Mar 2025
13 Mar 2025
$2,549
09 Mar 2025
20 Mar 2025
$2,549
23 Mar 2025
03 Apr 2025
$2,549
30 Mar 2025
10 Apr 2025
$2,549
06 Apr 2025
17 Apr 2025
$2,654
20 Apr 2025
01 May 2025
$2,489

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Intrepid Travel Reviews & Ratings

4.5/5  Excellent
Excellent
3,381
Great
677
Average
150
Disappointing
84
Terrible
226
E

Edythe

Oct 2015

Written on

Our tour leader was very informative, solved

Our tour leader was very informative, solved problems very quickly...

C

Connan

Oct 2015

Written on

Small groups, flexibility, sense of adventure and

Small groups, flexibility, sense of adventure and variety of offerings.

D

David

Oct 2015

Written on

The tour was well planned, provided great

The tour was well planned, provided great variety and taught us a lot about the country

R

Rebecca

Oct 2015

Written on

Khoa was an excellent guide. He was

Khoa was an excellent guide. He was on top of everything all the time, dealing with minor problems and larger ones with ease and a good sense of humor and always con...

J

Judirh

Oct 2015

Written on

Great guides (also on our trip to

Great guides (also on our trip to China), good group size, good activities...

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

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The Intrepid Travel Experience

If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.

Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.

Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

Why Intrepid?

  •   Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
  •   Sustainability - pioneers for the industry
  •   Local leaders - authentic perspectives
  •   Local transport - get close and personal
  •   Local accommodation - experience real living
  •   Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions 

History

Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.

Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.

 

Values

On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:

  • Integrity – Doing the right thing
  • Responsible – Think global, act local
  • Growth – Stakeholders in our own success
  • Innovation – Thriving on new ideas and embracing change
  • Fun – It’s engrained into who we are and what we do
  • Passion – We are inspired by the work we do and the trips we offer

 

Why we love this operator
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
What they’re known for
Small group tours for all types of travelers at a range of different price points and trips to off-the-beaten-path destinations.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights),Homestay (1 night),Overnight Boat (1 night),Overnight Sleeper Train (2 nights)

Transportation & Flights

Private Vehicle,Taxi,Overnight sleeper train,

Transportation & flights

Private Vehicle,Taxi,Overnight sleeper train
Guides
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative. If you have credit card insurance your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or USA the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services MOTORBIKE INCLUDED ACTIVITY: Please note that for this particular trip, your travel insurance must also cover riding pillion on a motorbike. The motorbikes used are 125cc or less.
Visa requirements
PASSPORT You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date. We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends. VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our page here:  www.intrepidtravel.com/visa-entry-requirements ADDRESS FOR VIETNAM VISA APPLICATIONS If you require an address for your visa application, please use: Intrepid Vietnam Ground Floor, Ladeco Building 266 Doi Can St Ba Dinh District, Hanoi Vietnam Ph +84 4 3715 0996
Health & Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your group leader or local representative will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your group leader or local representative will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your group leader or local representative has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips. https://www.intrepidtravel.com/safety-guidelines MOTORBIKE BAG SNATCHING: Be particularly aware of motorbike bag snatching, especially in the bigger cities, such as Ho Chi Minh City.
Age Requirements
15 years and up
Additional Information

Finish point

  • Central Park Saigon Hotel
  • 223 Hai ba Trung street Ward 6, Dist 3
  • Ho Chi Minh City
  • VIETNAM
  • Phone: +84 2838203117
Trip ID
intrepid-TVZY

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