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Culinary Arts in Vietnam
January
2008
Day One
Departure on a trans-Pacific flight.
Day Two
Late evening arrival in Ho Chi Minh City where
you are met by your CSA On-site Coordinator. Transfer to
your hotel for a welcome drink. Check in and overnight.
Day Three
Still affectionately known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh
City is an intoxicating blend of old and new. Begin your
exploration of this exciting city with a visit to the
Reunification Hall, formerly known as the
Presidential Palace. It was towards this modern building
that Communist tanks rolled on the morning of April 30,
1975, as Saigon fell. This fascinating building is
filled with history still fresh in the minds of many.
Your tour continues with the War Museum, which
depicts the American War from the viewpoint of the
Vietnamese people. The tour also includes the Old
Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral, the
Jade Emperor Pagoda, Chinatown and Binh
Tay Market — the central market for the city and one
of the liveliest areas where you will discover an
amazing array of produce, meat and seafood. Dinner at
Com Ngon Vietnamese Restaurant.
Day Four
Vietnam’s ‘rice-bowl’, the Mekong Delta, is a
rich fertile region of flat farmland interlaced with
thousands of waterways and tributaries of the mighty
Mekong River. This morning depart for the Delta and the
town of Cai Be. At Cai Be board the Cai Be
Princess for a private excursion; you will pass stilted
villages and rich green rice paddies. Focusing on the
culinary heritage of the Delta the tour will begin with
a visit of some local home factories such as rice paste
making, rice pop corn, coco candies, and the drying and
processing of longans. We will proceed by
cruising through Cai Be colorful floating market among
local barges full of fruits and vegetables.
Back on board the Cai Be Princess, proceed to Dong
Hoa Hiep Island, a peaceful escape where you will be
able to discover the rural life style and daily
activities of the Delta inhabitants such as roof making
with palm tree leaves, or net fishing. Lunch will await
you at an ancient mandarin house, Anh Kiet Restaurant.
After lunch, you will return on board Cai Be Princess
for a one and half hour cruise to discover beautiful
landscapes along the river and canals. The evergreen
islands of the Mekong River are created by networks of
meandering rivers, and are criss-crossed with countless
arroyos. Stops on the way can be made at An Binh ancient
Church or Tam Ho bonsais garden. On board you can sample
the local exotic fruits and green tea. Return to Ho Chi
Minh City.
Day Five
Drive north to the coast and the impressive sand dunes
of Mui Ne, called the Vietnamese Sahara. Later
continue to the neighboring town of Phan Thiet.
Nestled along the banks of the Phan Thiet River where it
enters the sea, Phan Thiet has a picturesque harbor, but
is best known for the quality of the Nuoc Mam, fish
sauce, made here. Overnight in Phan Thiet.
Day Six
Nuoc Mam is one of the staples of Vietnamese
cuisine and lends a distinctive character to the
nation’s cooking, additionally it takes the place of
salt as the primary condiment on the Vietnamese table.
It is made by fermenting salted fish in huge ceramic
vats for up to 12 months.
This morning visit a local Nuoc Mam manufactory with a
lecture on the history and process of making this
ubiquitous sauce, as well as a tour of the facility. The
remainder of the day is free. Dinner tonight at Fort
Vietnamese Restaurant.
Day Seven
Morning transfer to Nha Trang airport for a brief flight
to Danang. A short drive brings you to Hoi An,
simply a jewel of a town. In a country so ravaged by
war, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has miraculously
remained unscathed.
The historic district is a rich architectural fusion of
Chinese, Japanese, European, and Vietnamese influences
reflecting the international status of this important
port. Hoi An was the gateway through which many new
ideas entered Vietnam, including both Buddhism and
Christianity, as well as the diverse influences, spices,
and culinary currents which together have resulted in
the country’s amazing cuisine.
Your hotel is located on the stunning palm lined Hoi An
Beach and the remainder of the day is free to enjoy this
tropical paradise.
Hoi An Beach
Day Eight
Meet this morning at the local Hoi An Café with
the Chef from the Red Bridge Restaurant. After
coffee or tea head off to the market to buy ingredients
for this morning’s cooking class.
Then it is a quick boat trip up the river to the school
where you will be treated to demonstrations of Hoi An
specialties such as squid and pineapple salad, grilled
eggplant and banh xeo (Hoi An crepes), before
being let loose in the kitchen. Enjoy lunch of the
dishes you have created. Return to Hoi An where the
remainder of the day is free to explore this charming
town, or relax on the beach.
Day Nine
This morning take a bicycle ride to Thanh Ha
pottery village, where you will visit a ceramics
workshop where artisans use age-old techniques. Visitors
have a chance to “get their hands dirty” making their
own ceramic creations.
Continue to Tra Que, an herb growing village,
stopping en route to visit the tombs of Japanese traders
from centuries past. The country road to Tra Que winds
through rice paddies and timeless rural landscapes. At
Tra Que see traditional gardening of herbs and
vegetables and learn about their importance in
Vietnamese cuisine.
After lunch at local house return to hotel. The
remainder of the day is at leisure.
Day Ten
Breakfast at hotel. You will depart Hoi An for Hué
via the stunning Hai Van Pass (one of the highest
passes in Vietnam). Arrive Hué and check-in to your
hotel.
This afternoon visit the imposing Imperial Citadel
from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and
1945. Also visit the Museum of Royal Relics. The
city tour is followed by a drive to visit some of the 13
lavish imperial tombs of the Nguyen kings, including
Tu Duc tomb. End the day with visit of the Dong
Ba market. Dong Ba market is the largest market in
Hué and, more importantly, is a symbol of the city’s
culture and refined cuisine.
Vietnamese
Cuisine in Hué
 Day
Eleven
Today enjoy a cruise on the romantically named
Perfume River visiting Hué’s best known religious
site, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the mausoleum of the
former emperor Minh Mang in a tranquil setting of
gardens and lakes. After lunch at An Dinh Cung
the balance of the day is free to continue exploring
this imperial city.
Day Twelve
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Hanoi. After
a short rest, set out to take a one hour Cyclo ride
around Hanoi’s old streets. Relax as you weave through
the narrow alleys of Hanoi’s ancient Old Quarter,
glimpsing everyday life.
We will take you past Hoan Kiem Lake stopping at
Ngoc Son Temple. This evening attend a
traditional water puppet show, a uniquely
northern Vietnamese art form especially designed for
depicting scenes from rural life and many episodes of
national history. Dinner at Au Lac Restaurant.
Day Thirteen
This morning enjoy a city tour of Vietnam’s capital.
Hanoi is a unique city with tree-lined boulevards,
French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and
oriental temples. The city tour includes such sights as
Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. Enjoy the architectural
and historical aspects of “Uncle Ho’s” final
resting-place. Continue your visit to see Ho Chi Minh’s
‘house on stilts’, his home from 1954 until 1969. The
wooden ethnic minority style house is surrounded by
quiet and peaceful gardens.
Sitting to one side of the Mausoleum is the One Pillar
Pagoda, founded by King Ly Thai To in 1049 the structure
has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi.
Journey to the National Fine Arts Museum, located
in colonial France’s former Ministry of Information has
an eclectic mix of contemporary Vietnamese art,
religious pieces, lacquer-ware and sculptures.
Continue to the Temple Of Literature. Vietnam’s
first university constructed in 1070, its gardens and
well-preserved architecture offers a relaxing glimpse
into Vietnam’s past.
After lunch at Wild Rice Restaurant, considered
one of the finest restaurants in the country, continue
to the Hoa Lo prison (known as the “Hanoi Hilton”
during the American war). Continue to visit the Buddhist
Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake (one of the oldest
in Vietnam) and Quan Thanh Temple (Taoist, dating
form the Ly Dynasty). Then, the Museum of Ethnology
to enhance your understanding of Vietnam's diverse
culture through its unique presentation of objects &
dress from daily life.
Wild
Rice Restaurant, Hanoi
 Day
Fourteen
Leave Hanoi by road for Halong Bay. Enjoy the
journey through the rich farmlands of the Red River
Delta and the scenery of rice fields, water buffalo and
everyday Vietnamese village life. Arrive in Halong and
board the Huong Hai or Bai Tho traditional
sailing junk.
While cruising the exquisite waters sample the regions
fresh seafood. Visit the recently discovered Surprise
Grotto with its great views, and on the next island see
the yawning mouth of Bo Nau Cave.
Alternatively journey to Dau Go Cave and nearby
see the famous stalagmites and stalactites of Thien Cung
Cave. Enjoy a swim in the emerald waters of Halong Bay
at any spot that you wish to visit. Watch the sun set
over the bay while enjoying a delicious dinner.
Overnight on board the junk.
Day Fifteen
Wake up to fresh coffee and a wholesome breakfast before
cruising back to Halong City. En route the junk weaves
through strange-shaped rock formations that invite
comparisons from fighting cocks to dragons and even
General de Gaulle’s nose!
After another wonderful fresh seafood lunch on board,
disembark at the dock at Halong City. Transfer back to
Hanoi by road and transfer to hotel on arrival. In the
late afternoon, visit the Hoa Sua Cooking School
for disadvantaged students which is a goodwill project
to prepare under-privileged children for a culinary
career. A representative from the school will give a
presentation on the history and mission of this
organization.
Afterwards, enjoy a Farewell Dinner at the school
restaurant.
Day Sixteen
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the
USA.
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Let
CSA customize for you a program focused on the culinary
arts, oenology, or the history of cuisine. CSA is
committed to providing the most innovative and highest
quality customized international culinary programs
available. 
Day
Six