Vietnam

Iron Chef Culinary Tour

Vietnam's culinary highlights from north to south

Every traveler knows the best way to get into the heart of a place is to experience the food (and is also what can make or break a travel experience). And as as you may have already heard, anyone who has traveled to Vietnam will mention three things that stood out most: the people, the scenery... and especially Vietnam's delightful food culture.

There are few culinary adventures on par with Vietnam and this trip will highlight the distinctive cuisines of each region with a mix of activities, including hands-on cooking, kitchen and market visits while canvasing the best of Vietnam from Hanoi to Saigon, including thousand year-old Old Quarter in Hanoi, to sublime cycling through the Imperial Capital, Hue, ancient port town, Hoi An

Highlights of Vietnam from North to South

Vietnam is a country of stunning contrasts, from the busy ancient capital, Hanoi, that recently celebrated it's millennium founding, the vast emerald rice fields that seemingly cover most of the land, to the placid water of Halong Bay, Asia's most striking landscapes, and hundreds of miles of tropical coastline. Yet Vietnam's largest prize are it its people, famously gregarious, warm and endearing.

As Vietnam changes, seemingly week-to-week, we've stayed ahead of the crowds and will craft a trip that showcases on the finest of Vietnam. Our guides and local experts are the most experienced in the country whom you will get to know well before your arrival. Your trip will be carefully monitored from our offices in Hanoi and Hoi An by a dedicated Tour Manager. Read more about our Vietnam luxury tours below or contact us to begin planning your trip.

Celebrating a legendary heritage, this private tour is packed full of Vietnam’s cultural and natural grandeur. Vietnam's history isn't told through books. It's alive in the lanes and backwaters, told by legendary storytellers that open up the country's heart. Hear it from decorated fighter pilots, royal artists, culinary pioneers, and other unforgettable figures that have been handpicked for this classic Vietnam experience. Immersing you in the country's four World Heritage Sites, this tour isn't about sightseeing. It's about living Vietnam through the people and places that make it, unraveling a cultural jigsaw that's complemented by the most surreal of natural landscapes.

Vietnam. A name that conjures so many images, both good and bad, authentic and misrepresented. Through private tours and exclusive invites, this classic itinerary celebrates the history behind the name's legend. It's about a country and its people, about a history that can be told from so many contrasting perspectives. As the country opens its heart you discover how a name can be incredibly multifaceted. Over the ten days you understand more and more. Yet this tour also showcases how the sublime tales fuse effortlessly with the surreal, for there's something ineffable about Vietnam that can only be captured in memories, not in photos or written words.

Art Encounter Vietnam

Artists are often the ideal cultural ambassadors, and this is especially true in Vietnam where many prominent artists have exhibited abroad, are fluent in English, and are astute observers of their own culture. We're always happy to make introductions with artists in Hanoi, where many of the country's leading artists are based and most we know personally from our long experience, organizing the very first arts tours of Vietnam in 1994, when artists were only beginning to emerge from a long post-war slumber and poor economy. What a difference a couple of decades makes. Vietnam's artists have since claimed the world-stage and the arts scene is Hanoi is one of the most vigorous in Asia. Meet privately with the country's most renowned artists and learn of new mediums, including lacquer and thread art.

If you can't make on our semi-annual Art Encounter Vietnam trips, we can arrange a mix of highlights from that trip into your private one, including meeting with specific artists.

Vietnam & Cambodia Unveiled

Explore as few travelers do the magnificent and unique World Heritage sites in Vietnam, from Hanoi, Halong Bay, to the Imperial Capital, Hue, ancient port town of Hoi An, ending in the majestic temples of Angkor.

Vietnam and Angkor Photography

We've been organizing photography trips to Vietnam for over two decades. With long experience and local office, our research and planning begin well before your departure, including developing an itinerary matching your photography preferences. Vietnam's landscapes are picturesque, but the country is also exceptional for portrait photography, which will facilitate in all destinations.

Destinations within Vietnam and Cambodia, including Hanoi, Halong Bay, Sapa, the Mekong Delta, and Angkor, provide for maximum visual possibilities in the region. Those with time for longer trips may want to add the historic cities Hue and Hoi An, on Vietnam's central coast. We have also organized photography in Prek Toal, an important bird sanctuary located within the Tonlé Sap Biosphere Reserve, a massive flooded forest at the north-west corner of the Tonlé Sap featuring over 150 recorded species, including black-headed ibis, Spot-billed pelican, milky and painted storks, and Oriental darter (learn more about Prek Toal). We have also organized commercial photography trips for Vietnamese fashion, sports, and cuisine.

Vietnam Family Tour

Our family tours of Vietnam should be at the top of your list! We can't recommend Vietnam enough, if you can choose only one place to travel in Asia, Vietnam should be your destination. Nowhere on Earth is there a more fascinating and engaging destination, nor people who are among the most exceptional you will ever meet. We've escorted kids of all ages since 1993 organizing biking, kayaking, light trekking, camping out in hilltribe villages, with unique activities such as hands-on rice planting or learning hands-on how to create traditional lacquer guided by a leading artist. Our staff, in fact you'll discover almost all Vietnamese, are "kid crazy" and your children will enjoy one of the most remarkable trips they've ever had.

Take in a bit of history just outside Saigon, where you can visit the intriguing Cu Chi Tunnels where South Vietnamese fighters lived in these underground tunnels for years during the Vietnam War, and even had doctors and stores set up under the ground. This is a sobering and educational reminder of the dangers and hardships of war. We'll also expose you to living history, meeting with fighter pilot Mr. Hong My in his Hanoi Old Quarter home to hear of his dogfights above Hanoi during the war.

If your family enjoys active travel, will love kayaking through the stunning karst landscapes of Halong Bay. Just two and a half hours outside of Hanoi is one of the world's most incredible geological settings. Here, you can paddle past towering limestone karst formations and traditional Vietnamese wooden junks. The waters are very calm here, and a pleasant for boating and kayaking with children of all ages and ability.

Hanoi Art Crawl

The bohemian capital of Indochina is home to one of the most vigorous arts scene's in Asia. We're always happy to make introductions with artists in Hanoi, where many of the country's leading artists are based and most we know personally from our long experience, organizing the very first arts tours of Vietnam in 1994, when artists were only beginning to emerge from a long post-war slumber and poor economy. What a difference a couple of decades makes. Vietnam's artists have since claimed the world-stage and the arts scene is Hanoi is one of the most vigorous in Asia. Meet privately with the country's most renowned artists and learn of new mediums, including lacquer and thread art.

If you can't make on our semi-annual Art Encounter Vietnam trips, we can arrange a mix of highlights from that trip into your private one, including meeting with specific artists.

Cuisine of Vietnam

“The Vietnamese are a skinny people obsessed with food” —Anthony Bourdain

People tend to know two things about Vietnam: that it endured a long and painful war, and that it has one of the richest, most varied cuisines in the world.

You're about to embark upon an intimate journey through one of the world's most widely recognized and appreciated cuisines. Our obsession is giving you the information you'll need to intelligently eat and drink your way through Vietnam on an unforgettable culinary adventure. This list is only one part of that goal, on the ground your guide, local tour managers and people you meet will provide other suggestions. Also, don’t underestimate your hotel’s restaurants and cafes, some have fabulous food, in some places ranking better to what you may find outside in smaller towns.

Vietnam is a country best told by its people, with a cuisine that can only be understood when you share the experience with a local. Our Vietnam food tours are about the cuisine but also the people who share their story with you. Like a dinner date with an ex royal artist, a bowl of pho with a decorated fighter pilot, seafood stories from conical-hatted fishermen and interactive cooking classes with the chefs behind Vietnam's international culinary prominence. Every city has its own style, each chef cooks differently, and every dish provides a new memory. This is a country with a fabulous cuisine and our Vietnam luxury tours aim to infuse diverse food into your daily experience.

Vietnam by bike, foot, boat and kayak

In the Mekong Delta the mighty Mekong River ends its run from the Himalayas, splitting into multiple branches before emptying sights and experiences for those who care to explore. If you make the effort you'll be amply rewarded. The delta is a region of extraordinary energy and market commerce, with burgeoning markets, the last floating markets in Asia, exotic fruit orchards, and more coconuts than you'd want to contemplate.

The delta is a relaxing place, with good food (abundant in seafood), pleasant river trips, cheap boats, and friendly people. You're never far from water in the delta, and boats in some districts are the main mode of transportation. Intriguing in the backwaters are the floating markets, which have disappeared in other parts of Asia. If you've the, we can organize Mekong Delta trip that travels through the heart of the delta, then by boat along the Mekong to Cambodia's sleepy capital, Phnom Penh. From Phnom Penh, the temples of Angkor are a short 50-minute flight to the north.

Photography in Vietnam

Few destinations in the world as are compelling as Vietnam for photography, featuring an variety of landscapes, exotic and photogenic people, and historical treasures. We organized the very first photography trips in Vietnam and newly opened-up Cambodia, hosting dozens of amateur and professional photographers since then.

Hill tribe Encounter

Ancient, exotic cultures and picturesque landscapes

The mountainous hilltribe regions of Vietnam are incredibly picturesque, with terraced rice fields, vaulting karst towers, sublime villages, and home to a wealth of colorful, diverse hill tribes, who have steadfastly resisted integration into Vietnamese society and modern life.

Tunnels & Caves

You may have heard the largest caves in the world were only recently discovered in Vietnam. Come explore these formations, along with picturesque foothills, mountains and rivers in Vietnam's central region. We can organize easy treks and caving to moderate and longer trips, which include cruising the rivers in the are by sampan (small boat). In addition, visit the "DMZ" or war-era demilitarized zone where we will visit tunnels far more accessible and far less touristy than those south in the Cu Chi area.

If you enjoy cycling, we have planned thrilling cycling trips for over two decades in this scenic area.

Hanoi

The 1,000 Year-Old City

If you can only visit one city in Vietnam, it should be Hanoi. To visit Hanoi is to steep yourself in history, tradition, and legend in a capital that has been inhabited continuously for a millennium. Hanoi's present architecture is mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries, and the stately French-built section of town is largely intact. Hanoi is cleaner, leafier, and quieter than other big cities in Vietnam — in a word, it's "cooler."

There's cooler weather, more drizzle, less traffic, less hype; the streets seem quieter, with few large billboards. There's a cooler mentality here, too-prouder, more prudish. Hanoi is a magnet for intellectuals and artists, while Saigon seems to attract entrepreneurs and hustlers. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city boasts the country's only world-class museums and artists prefer the city, their galleries and studios have recently enjoyed global attention.

Halong Bay

The spectacular geographic highlight of Vietnam does not disappoint, but enthralls. Halong Bay has over 3,000 limestone and dolomite islets sprinkled over an area of 1,500 square kilometers, offering a wonderland of karst topography. In recognition of this, in 1994 Halong was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Legend has it that when the Vietnamese were under attack long ago, a dragon came to their aid, splitting mountains to impede the progress of the enemy. The limestone topography was created by the lash of the dragon's tail as it thundered down from the mountains to the sea; consequently, "Vinh Halong" — Halong Bay-means "Bay of the Descending Dragon." In geological terms, the mythical monster at work here is wind and water, weathering the porous limestone over a few million years. This process created the bizarre limestone cathedrals, colonized by stunted and twisted vegetation. The misty romantic setting of rugged island peaks and bays dotted with sailing junks has inspired a whole genre of Vietnamese painting. Halong Bay is featured in our 2008 Photography Series. For celluloid viewing, Indochine (with Catherine Deneuve) offers beautiful scenes of the bay.

We recommend at least one night on the bay. Kayaking allows up close access to the islands and cave exploration. Read more about our trips to Halong Bay and the special boats we use on Halong Bay.

Sapa

Sapa has changed dramatically since the first visitors began arriving in the early 90s. The small town has been transformed by tourism and the weekend market is teeming with tourists who the hill tribes now market goods to, rather than each other. Still, the high-mountain setting is picturesque and offers extensive trekking for both light and extended trips when the weather permits. Unfortunately, the weather in Sapa is most adverse during the December and January high season when temperatures can dip to the 30s with heavy fog and drizzle. Mai Chau offers a warmer (and closer) option for trekking and cycling during these months.

Hue

While the south has changed dramatically, today the sleepy imperial capital city remains a quiet town of 350,000. While Saigon and Hanoi grow by leaps and bounds, places like Hue crawl along. Few joint ventures are allowed, and there are few private hotels but deliberate blocks placed by the central government insist joint ventures in Hue be "branches" of those in Hanoi or Saigon. Hue is renowned for its university, producing such leaders as Ho Chi Minh.

The real attraction of Hue, aside from the tranquil environment, are the imperial tombs are scattered in the countryside four to eight miles south of Hue. Sightseeing along the Perfume River also offers the historic citadel and Purple, or forbidden city. Thien Mu Pagoda is located overlooking the river and is Vietnam's most important Buddhist site.

Hoi An

About 80 miles south of Hue, just inland from the white sands of Cua Dai Beach lies Hoi An, an ancient port of trade that is typically everyone's favorite stop in Vietnam. This quaint town features well-preserved traditional wooden architecture, a flourishing cohort of established cafes and restaurants, and a picturesque setting on the Thu Bon River.

Hoi An is a wonderful place for cooking classes, "flash fashion" custom tailoring, and our unique, leisurely cycling tour that travels by sampan and bicycle to neighboring villages. No visit to Vietnam should miss this special UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City)

After 1945, Saigon was the biggest and the most developed city in Asia. Today, it is again a boomtown and one of Asia's most-rapidly-changing cities. As rural Vietnamese immigrate in search of jobs, foreign corporations move in, and as Viet Kieu, or overseas Vietnamese move back to their home country, the city has been transformed.

There are few historic sites left from either the colonial and American periods, but Saigon possesses fantastic cuisine, the best in the country, and the buzz and energy on the streets is unique for not only Vietnam, but much of Asia. There are few more interesting spectacles than sitting at night in a central quarter cafe watching thousands and thousands of Vietnamese cruise by on their motor scooters.

Cuc Phuong, Tam Coc, and Ninh Binh)

Cuc Phuong is most important area of biodiversity, designated a national park by president Ho Chi Minh in 1962. The park, roughly six miles wide and fifteen miles long, was created in 1962-the first area in Vietnam set aside as a national park. It covers an area of 25,000 hectares, but for the moment is primarily a national park in name only. There are six Muong villages in the park: villagers farm and raise cattle on park lands and hunt. Deforestation in the surrounding area steadily encroaches on parkland, and large amounts of brushwood disappear from the park daily. The park supports a wide variety of flora species and patches of primeval forest, including 50-meter-tall Cinnamon, Parashorea, and Sandicorum trees. You can find ancient trees with thick clusters of roots, and parasitic plants and ligneous creepers. Some tree species have been introduced from Myanmar (Burma), India, and Borneo. Clusters of orchids grow near cave entrances, where the moisture conditions and light are ideal. Varieties include coral, vanilla, snow-white, and butterfly orchids.

Nha Trang

Once an idyllic, beautiful and undeveloped beach cove only a short hop north of Saigon, Nha Trang today is a bustling developed beach resort town popular with package tourists from around the world. Although the town itself is no longer a recommended stop on your visit to Vietnam, there are two exceptional luxury resorts here to linger during longer trips when lounging in the sun by the pool is paramount and other beach destinations of Phu Quoc and Hoi An are inconvenient or experiencing cooler weather.

Resort escapes include the Amanoi, about an hour south, and the Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, an hour off shore. Time of year is critical, please consult with us when to go or other options for your time of travel.

Mekong Delta

In the Mekong Delta the mighty Mekong River ends its run from the Himalayas, splitting into multiple branches before emptying sights and experiences for those who care to explore. If you make the effort you'll be amply rewarded. The delta is a region of extraordinary energy and market commerce, with burgeoning markets, the last floating markets in Asia, exotic fruit orchards, and more coconuts than you'd want to contemplate.

The delta is a relaxing place, with good food (seafood!), pleasant river trips, cheap boats, and friendly people. You're never far from water in the delta, and boats in some districts are the main mode of transportation. Intriguing in the backwaters are the floating markets, which have disappeared in other parts of Asia. If you've the, we can organize Mekong Delta trip that travels through the heart of the delta, then by boat along the Mekong to Cambodia's sleepy capital, Phnom Penh. From Phnom Penh, the temples of Angkor are a short 50-minute flight to the north.

Phu Quoc Island Paradise

Phu Quoc Island, located 25 miles (4o km) off the Cau Mau Peninsula's western coast in the Gulf of Thailand, is the largest island in its archipelago. Lowland evergreen forest, the predominant vegetation on Phu Quoc, still covers much of the island. Little is known about the fauna of Phu Quoc Island. A Dugong population of unknown size has been identified from these waters, though it is clearly under great hunting pressure; at least six individuals were killed in 2002 alone. Leather back Turtles, Loggerheads, Green Turtles, and Hawksbills have all been seen in this area. Green Turtles were formerly common, but populations are in decline owing to destruction of nest sites, collection of eggs, and over harvesting for food and shells.

Phu Quoc is also known for nuoc mam, a pungent fermented fish sauce. Nearly half the island' s population is dependent on its production. Coral reefs abound off the island, good places for diving and snorkeling, offer a chance to see beautiful tropical fish and other marine life. For nearly a decade, Phu Quoc has been of significant interest to resort developers and the government is beginning to take initial steps for formal development agreements, including the completion of a new airport. The island has the potential to rival popular destinations in the region such as Phuket and Krabi. If you're looking for sunshine, Phu Quoc often has clear skies while the rest of the country may not. Check the weather for Phu Quoc on our Vietnam Weather Page. [More on Phu Quoc]

The Sofitel Metropole

A French colonial hotel dating back to 1901, not many hotels can claim the provenance of the Metropole, which during the French colonial-era and for a century after, still remains the premier hotel in all of Indochina for ambassadors, statesmen and writers (with a few suites named after them, including Graham Greene and Charlie Chaplin).

Following extensive renovations in the early 1990s and late 2010, including a surprising uncovering of a forgotten war-era bomb shelter, visitors today can enjoy the charm of an impeccably restored turn-of-the-century hotel in the heart of the capital. All 363 rooms and suites, both in the original Metropole wing and the new Opera wing, provide extensive international services and facilities befitting Vietnam's first officially accredited five-star hotel.

The Four Seasons Nam Hai

Indochina's premier beach resort and Four Season's newest acquisition. During better weather, the Nam Hai and Song Saa off Southern Cambodia offer sumptuous alternatives to traveling further south to the crowded Thai islands.

The Nam Hai's beach remains largely empty, even during the high season and massive infinity pool (one of the most dramatic resort swimming pools in the world) provides a refreshing dip. Spacious, the Nam Hai offers seclusion yet a very rare location for a resort, a mere 20 minutes away from a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hoi An, and its cultural riches. Contact us for the best time to visit and activities around the area.

La Residence

A Sofitel M Gallery property is a refurbished, rustic Art Deco hotel housed within the former colonial governor's mansion that spread over five acres on the banks of the Perfume River. The property languished for more than a quarter of a century as a run down government hotel but the former colonial mansion has been restored to its past elegance and grandeur with two newer additional wings

Many of the 122 rooms and suites offer fine views of the river looking over to the Royal Citadel. La Residence offer good Vietnamese cuisine in a city lacking for the most part, a spacious garden area with a massive saltwater pool overlooking Hue's ancient Citadel, plus spa, gym and tennis. The spa is one of the finest in the country with Thai masseuses.

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay

A luxury Robinson Crusoe experience not far off the coast of Nha Trang, Vietnam's premier beach destination (though keep your eye on Phu Quoc Island in the years ahead). The eco-paradise features austere bungalows with plunge pools, steps away from the ocean. All bungalows are served by a private butler and golf cart, recalling memories of Fantasy Island. Guests navigate the shoreline and private island by foot and bicycle.

Park Hyatt

Saigon's newest arrival and most sophisticated property overlooks the central theater square within walking distance of most attractions (including those featured in our Saigon walking tour). The Park Hyatt features a spacious piano lounge with evening entertainment and two of Saigon's top restaurants, including Opera, serving up superb Italian with extensive wine list. Pool villas have balconies that front the courtyard pool area and the Park Hyatt's Xuan Spa.

The piano lounge is the city's most pleasant place for an afternoon or early evening aperitif. Rooms at the Hyatt trend to smaller and the lobby and public areas can feel crowded. Consider the Caravelle across the square for magnificent high-tower views from the 19th floor, which the Hyatt lacks.