HOI AN

Explore the confluence of cultures in the old city of Hoi An, where Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese aesthetics mingle in the area’s architecture. In fact, the entire old city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will be illuminated the history and architecture of a number of notable buildings, The Japanese Covered Bridge; The Fujian Chinese Congregation Assembly Hall, Old House of Phung Hung; and others.

Have lunch in town at the colorful Mango Rooms, whose menu features fresh local ingredients combined in innovative recipes, such as pan-seared red snapper seasoned with ginger, onion and roasted pepper and served with a mango and tomato infused garlic sauce.

Take a day trip along the Thu Bon River on luxury boat. Pass through Hoi An and take in the fisherman and local markets along the riverbank before continuing upriver, where you will find yourself immersed in the sights and sounds of sleepy rural Vietnam.

Meet with your culinary expert and visit a local market to enjoy the tantalizing sights, smells and flavors of local produce and savor real street food as the local people do. Engage in conversation with your culinary expert to understand his passion for food and experience the local culture through the eyes of an expatriate. Then, examine and taste traditional central dishes. 

Hands-on cooking class to learn the traditional ways of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food from scratch, how to use the freshest ingredients and traditional Vietnamese utensils to prepare your dishes, and savor the dishes you have created as a part of this special activity.

Discover Hoi An countryside by a fun buffalo cart ride passing by rice paddies and vegetable farms. Join the friendly farmers to learn the traditional farming methods including plough, ranking soil, transplanting rice and scooping water.

Explore the abandoned Hindu temples of My Son, a UNESCO World Heritage. Beyond the beauty of the temples themselves, My Son area is home to rich scents emanating from neighboring coffee plantations and the sound of freshwater streams running through the tropical forest.