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Vietnam
is renowned for its delightfully fragrant food and has
over 500 special regional dishes. Eating is such an
integral part of Vietnamese life that they have a proverb
hoc an, hoc noi learn to eat before learning
to speak! |
Rice
and fish (nuoc mam is the fish sauce that is
an essential ingredient to most dishes) are the staple
ingredients to most dishes closely followed by leafy
herbs, pungent roots and aromatic tubers all of which
give Vietnamese food it's distinctive fragrance and
"kick". But of paramount importance to the
Vietnamese |
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cook
is the freshness and a fine balance of flavours and
textures in the ingredients chosen to compile a dish. |
In
Hanoi, pho (rice noodle soup) is centuries
old and has reached cult status. A sticky green rice
called com has its own season in Hanoi and
is considered the "staff of life". Nem (spring
rolls) are probably the popular dish and cha ca
la vong (grilled fish piues is so well known it
has it's own street named after the dish. |
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In
the Central region of Vietnam, a dish called cau
lau will only be found in Hoi An. |
Tea
to the Vietnamese is what fine wines are to the Western
Conniosseur. Tea preparation, tea drinking, tea appreciation
takes time and serving tea is more than a gesture of
hospitality, it is a ritual to lingered over, savoured
and above all enjoyed. We will enjoy these unique dishes
at every turn as we journey through Vietnam. |
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| Day
1 Tuesday 29th August Perth to Hanoi |
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We
depart Perth at 01.00 hrs arriving into Hanoi at 12.35
hrs. We are met by our Vietnamese guide who will assist
our transfer to the Sofitel Metropole Hotel Hanoi. The
Sofitel was built in 1901 in the French Colonial style
and boasts a rich history of hospitality. The historic
Opera House is close by. This afternoon join your host
for a cyclo (pedal rickshaw) tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter.
Evening welcome drink and dinner at the Emperor Restaurant,
renowned for it's food and inarguably the most beautiful
and romantic setting in Hanoi.
(D) |
| Day
2 Wednesday 30th August in Hanoi |
This
morning your Travel Indochina guide takes us on a city
tour visiting the Ho Chi MInh quarter to see "Uncle
HO's" mauseleum and " house on stilts".
In the same area is the presidential Palace, One Pillar
pagoda and Hi Chi Minh Museum. Continuing on to the
temple of literature - Vietnam's first university now
dedicated to Confucian worship. For lunch we dine at
Koto's Restaurant which overlooks the temple. The restaurant
was established by Jimmy Pham, an Australian - Vietnamese,
in order to train young people in need of assistance
in a caring environment. You'll walk through the Hoan
Kiem Lake area and visit the fascinating Old Quarter
with it's series of 36 streets where you can watch peddlers
selling their wares as they have done for hundreds of
years. Then on to the "Hanoi Hilton" - the
nickname given to the prison where U.S. pilots were
imprisoned during the Vietnam War - now converted into
a museum. THis evening enjoy a Water Puppet show followed
by dinner at the Press Club restaurant. (B/L/D)
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| Day
3 Thursday 31st August in Hanoi |
Our
introduction to Vietnamese cooking begins this morning.
The Assistant chef of M. Didier, Head Chef of the Sofitel
Metropole, will take us on an informative market visit
before preparing some dishes in the hotel's kitchens,
which we will then enjoy for lunch. This afternoon you
will have time to use the Hotel's facilities or wander
back to the Old Quarter for more browsing. Dinner this
evening will be at Seasons of Hanoi where French elegance
meets Vietnamese charm in a century old antique filled
villa. (B/L/D) |
| Day
4 Friday 1st September in Hanoi |
This
morning we travel a short way outside Hanoi to a village
called Phu Bo. The village makes noodles, an integral
part of Vietnamese cuisine and we will watch the preparation
of noodles. Lunch will be at Highway 4, which pffers
a stylish lunch venue and is renowned for the myriad
Russian Minsk motorbikes outside! The restaurant also
specialises in deo , Vietnamese rice wine.
Dinner this evebing will be at Le Tonkin restaurant
that specialises in traditional North Vietnamese cuisine.
(B/L/D) |
| Day
5 Saturday 2nd September Hanoi to Ha Long Bay |
This
morning you will be met at 8.30am for the journey east
to amazing Halong Bay. Considered Vietnam's greatest
natural wonder, Halong Bay boasts over 3,000 islands
that rise out of the sea to provide a spectacular natural
environment. After boarding your deluxe private junk
boat, enjoy a delicious seafood lunch on board as you
head out to the bay. Spend the afternoon cruising amongst
the islets, stopping to explore grottoes abd enjoy a
swim in the clean, warm waters of the bay. You will
also stop at Tiptop Mountain where you can ascend fpr
a spectacular view of the bay. In the evening relax
and enjoy dinneron board as the sun sets (B/L/D) |
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Day
6 Sunday 3rd September Ha Long Bay to Hanoi |
After
breakfast, continue cruising amongst the many spectacular
islets and visit several more fascinating grottoes.
Enjoy lunch on board as you finally leave the bay and
head back towards Baichay wharf and your transfer back
to Hanoi. Arrive at your hotel by late afternoon. Dinner
tonight will be at Bobby Chin restaurant. (B/L/D) |
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7 Monday 4th September Hanoi to Hoi An |
Today
we say farewell to Hanoi for our flight to Danang. Our
coach takes us to the historic coastal town of Hoi An
and our exotic riverside hotel the Life Resort for the
next five nights. This afternoon we take a walking tour
of enchanting Hoi An visiting an old merchant house,
the Hoi An Museum, a Chinese assembly hall and the Japanese
Covered Bridge. Dinner tonight is at Brother's Cafe
restaurant where you can taste cao lau and
white rose, the two specialities of Hoi An.
( B/L/D) |
| Day
8 Tuesday 5th September in Hoi An |
After
breakfast we visit the ancient town site of My Son,
a UNESCO site because of tis spiritual and political
importance to Vietnam. My Son was home to the Cham people
and is famed for it's magnificent ruins. Dinner is at
Song Hoai restaurant tonight. (
B/L/D) |
| Day
9 Wednesday 6th September in Hoi An |
Today
we learn about the culinary dishes of Central Vietnam.
beginning with a visit to Hoi An's colourful market
with it's amazing sights, sounds and aromas, we then
board the RED Bridge boat for a short leisurely cruise
along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School.
On arrival, explore the cooking school's herb and vegetable
garden, before learning about and preparing some of
Hoi An's well known dishes. Included in the demonstration
is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving.
Dinner tonight is at Mango Rooms restaurant. (B/L/D) |
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10 Thursday 7th September in Hoi An |
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Our
cooking lesson today is with Miss Vy at the White Lantern
Restaurant. Fish in banana leaf, green papaya salad
are two of the recipes we prepare this morning. This
afternoon take a lantern making tour and in the evening
attend the Hoi An Legendary Night. |
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11 Friday 8th September in Hoi An |
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This
morning we take a short(3kms) cycle ride to a small
village called Tra Que. At the village, we don farming
clothes and assist the local families to plant and reap
vegetables. later we help prepare some dishes for lunch
and then eat with the families. Our farewell dinner
tonight is at the Cargo Club restaurant. (B/L/D) |
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12 Saturday 9th September Hoi An to Perth |
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depart Vietnam this morning after breakfast.
(B) |
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| For
full booking details and conditions regarding this fascinating
tour please contact Bev Sprague by phone on 9384 - 0378 or email
us by clicking
here. Numbers are limited to ensure we can provide personal
attention and service. |
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