Day 1: Arrival at Hue
After your arrival at Phu Bai International Airport (HUI), you will be picked up and taken to Hue, the ancient capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. In the afternoon, you will start your five days Hue and Hoi An culinary tour by a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda, the symbol of Hue city, then take a walk around Kim Long Village where you can visit the original ancient house of the former mandarin, mingle with local people, and experience their daily activities in the village.
In the evening, you will get the chance to visit Dong Thien Pagoda to enjoy a vegetarian lunch prepared by the nuns. The visit contributes to the Pagoda’s kindergarten that educates children from needy families. You will interact with the nuns and learn more about the pagoda before going back to the hotel. You will stay overnight in Hue. Today's meal plan includes lunch.
Day 2: Hue cooking class and city tour
You will visit Dong Ba Market in early morning. This is the biggest whole sales market in Hue for food, vegetable, herb, spices, and fruit. In the morning, everything is so fresh and this is the best time and best way to experience and learn about the food and daily life activities in Hue. You will then go back to the hotel for breakfast then take a cyclo trip from your hotel over famous Trang Tien Bridge and Dong Ba market.
The cyclo will take you around the ancient citadel of Hue, getting over the streets, local shops for the over view of daily life and architecture of this famous citadel. The cyclo will take you to Y Thao Restaurant to participate in one of the best Hue cooking classes. In the afternoon, you will take the visit to the Imperial Citadel and Tu Duc Tomb, discover beautiful and impressive architecture of this unique construction in Hue, as well as the story of the king there.
In the evening, you will experience dinner in a local restaurant of all typical kind of Hue cake such as: Banh Beo, Banh Nam, and Banh Loc. You will stay overnight in Hue. Today's meal plan includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Cooking class at Y Thao Restaurant in Hue
- Go to market for cooking material, with the company of learners
- 09:00 Hue Drinking and Eating Art introduction. Food to be practiced in introduction while also preparing cooking materials
- 09:30 Learn how to cook and practice the spring roll, pancake, and grilled beef. You will learn how to make the banana flower salad
- 11:30 Enjoy food self-prepared and by the restaurant
Day 3: Hoe to Danang: Hoi An city tour
In the morning, you will depart to Danang through famous Hai Van Pass. Upon arrival, you will visit Cham Museum with great collection of sand stone artifact from 4th to 13th century.
Arrive in Hoi An, the little attractive town is very famous as living museum which was originally one of major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century. You will have lunch at Cargo Club Restaurant. In the afternoon, you will take a walk to ancient town for sightseeing as well as experiencing a short Hoi An street food tour. You will then visit Phuc Kien congressional assembly hall, Japanese Cover Bridge, and Tan Ky ancient house.
Afterwards, you will have free time for discovering the town on your own or shopping. In the evening, you will have a chance to try to most famous and popular local food in Hoi An: Com Ga (chicken rice) and Cao Lau. You will stay overnight at Hoi An. Today's meal plan includes lunch and dinner.
Day 4: Hoi An cooking class
In the morning, you will visit to Tra Que herb village near Hoi An. This village is very famous for growing organic herb for supplying to Hoi An. You will interact with their local farmer and learn about different kind of herb and the way how they grow them. You will then make a visit to a local made bread factory before going to The Market Restaurant for joining to one of the best Hoi An cooking classes.
In the afternoon, you will depart for the cyclo trip to Cam Nam village, this is exclusive discovery feature of ICT. The cyclo will take you from the town to Cam Nam Bridge. You will have the first stop for the photo opportunity of the activities and scenery on the Thu Bon River. Then, the cyclo will take you along the Thu Bon River bank, where you can have another photo stop for panorama view of Hoi An from other side of river.
You will ride along the riverside and cycle through local villages of Cam Nam. This is an untouched area by tourism with very friendly and hospitable local people. You can see their daily life activities or even viewing the interior of their house and their life through always opened doors.
The cyclo trip will be ended at small green canal covered by water coconut trees. Embark on the boat and take a cruise to Thu Bon River. You can experience the local daily life along river, such as fishing, farming, and catching clam. You will come back to Hoi An around sunset time and stay overnight in Hoi An. Today's meal plan includes lunch.
Cooking class at The Market Restaurant in Hoi An
You will start with a one-hour market tour to learn about Vietnamese ingredients and how to choose fresh foods. Next is a short talk on the art of Vietnamese gastronomy, vegetables, herbs and spices, and how to prepare and use them. The practical includes learning cooking and cutting techniques and how to use a Vietnamese vegetable grater and knife. You will get hands-on experience on bellow menu:
- Fresh spring rolls and shrimps
- Green papaya salad
- Grilled tuna in banana leave
- Crispy pancake
Day 5: Hoian (departure)
Morning is free at leisure until the departure time to the airport for the flight home. End of five-day Hue and Hoi An food tour.
