A Different Side of Vietnam

Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An Cooking Tour

Hoi An is renowned for its simple but divine cuisine. Many of the mouthwatering dishes served in the many restaurants here are not found elsewhere in the country. This distinction, and the superb array of fresh food products found in the local market, makes for an insightful and enjoyable cooking experience.

We include a short walking tour of the town with Ms. Vy, a well known and respected local restaurateur who has helped bring Hoi An’s superb cuisines to a wider audience. Ms. Vy will escort you through the market place, bringing an in depth explanation and local knowledge to the herbs, spices, fruits and seafood that will need to be purchased in preparation for her cooking lesson that day. Guests will have the opportunity to learn more about Vietnamese foods and prepare their own dishes under Ms. Vy’s guidance, before enjoying these dishes for a sumptuous lunch.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Mekong Delta Tour

Take the bustling highway into the surrounding countryside where you will pass carefully tended, lush rice paddies, before boarding your motorised sampan for a unique experience on the mighty Mekong Delta waterways.

You will see how, to the people of Delta, the water is a lifeline – the focus of all daily activity – as you journey through a maze of tributaries and fruit plantations. Enjoy a sample of delicious fruit in the shade of a fruit farmer’s garden before continuing via even smaller waterways to lunch, where the specialty is a remarkable dish of ‘elephants ear fish’.

Ninh Binh, Vietnam

Exploring Ninh Binh & Tam Coc by bike

Embark on a tranquil bike ride along a secluded trail, passing rice fields away from the usual tourist crowds. The path offers breathtaking views of the picturesque limestone mountains. Stop at Dancing Cave and take a short hike to the summit of Hang Mua for a panoramic view of Tam Coc.

Enjoy a leisurely lunch at a local restaurant before driving approximately 3km to Bich Dong Pagoda – an ancient three-tiered cave pagoda. Accessible only by steep stone steps, the climb is rewarded with a charming pagoda and breathtaking views from the top. Proceed to explore the remnants of the once-majestic citadel of Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of the Dinh and Le dynasties dating back to the 11th century. A climb of around 200 steps unveils a bird’s-eye view of the countryside.

Conclude the day with a short drive to Bai Dinh Pagoda, a Buddhist complex on the hillside. This is a great spot to watch the sunset, with limestone formations and vast rice paddy fields in the distance.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi's Secret Alleyways

Hoi An, Vietnam

Ancient Ruins of My Son

Often referred to as the mini “Angkor Wat” of Vietnam, the Cham ruins at My Son are well worth the slightly arduous journey needed to reach them! Your day will begin with an early morning drive from Danang/Hoi An through 60 km of rolling countryside, passing through small towns with markets in full swing, often journeying alongside the wide reaches of the Han River. As you draw closer to My Son, which translates literally as “Beautiful Mountain” the condition of the road begins to deteriorate and the last few kilometres of track are often rutted and potholed. On arriving at the My Son area and after crossing a bamboo “Monkey Bridge” you will transfer to a local jeep for the last spectacular 3 km bump and jolt along a river gorge. Finally, a 500m walk through lush hillsides, trees and brush, before emerging into the main site.

There are over 70 classic Cham monuments at My Son, dating from the 7th – 13th Centuries. Set against the backdrop of the appropriately named Cat’s Tooth Mountain, they would have been an awesome sight in their prime. Until 1968 they remained, remarkably, in almost perfect condition, having been sheltered from the worst excesses of weather by the surrounding hills. Regrettably however, man achieved what nature could not and B52 bombers destroyed most of the towers when My Son found itself in a free-fire zone during the Vietnam War.

Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An Social Enterprise Lunch

Most ETG experiences include a lunch, and we design the experience to ensure you steer clear of ordinary tourist buffets and focus on flavours of the local cuisine. We also like to ensure at least one such meal during your holiday is taken at a social enterprise restaurant. Typically, establishments that collaborate with local community programs, offering vocational training that creating life-changing employment opportunities for marginalised youth. Beyond the skills they teach their trainees, these restaurants serve lovely home-cooked food and are a platform for cultural exchange – where you can chat with staff members and learn about local customs.  

During our walking tour of Hoi An, we invite you to experience lunch at STREETS. Since 2009, they have been providing culinary and hospitality training to disadvantaged youth. By dining here, you get a delicious lunch and support a project that provides trainees with nutritious food, housing, clothing, uniforms, a supportive community, and access to basic medical care.   

We began including social enterprise restaurants as part of an initiative we call “One Meal At A Time”. We started this in Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar and have since expanded it to include restaurants in Sri Lanka, Laos, India, Indonesia and Thailand.  We are confident of the positive local impact these restaurants have and of the way in which they can also enhance your experience of our destinations.  

Cao Bang, Vietnam

Ban Gioc Waterfall

Begin your journey at Ban Gioc, where the cascading waters spanning the Vietnam-China border create a visual masterpiece amid lush landscapes and limestone karsts. Marvel at the falls’ thundering display. Delve into the cultural tapestry surrounding Ban Gioc as traditional villages beckon with a glimpse into the region’s rich heritage.

Later in the day, your guide will take you to the mystical Nguom Ngao Cave, a short drive away, where intricate stalactite and stalagmite formations unveil a subterranean world. The contrasts of the open-air grandeur at Ban Gioc and the underground wonders of Nguom Ngao create a day of diverse exploration, natural beauty and cultural immersion.

Hoi An, Vietnam

Farmer and Fisherman Experience

This Farming & Fishing Life Tour provides you with a close-up and intimate experience to both the local farming and fishing communities around Hoi An. Accompanied by your tour guide, you commence the day leisurely cycling along country roads witnessing local Vietnamese rural life first-hand, discovering all manner of photo opportunities – maybe a water buffalo working in a rice paddy field; seeing ducks swimming along or farmers tending their crops. The photo opportunities are endless. You’ll also experience the friendliness of the local people greeting you along the way. Later you will board a local boat for a river cruise to meet and engage with local fishermen and enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing. You will also experience paddling the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat while exploring coconut-palm flanked waterways.

Hue, Vietnam

Imperial Hue

Due to the 20th century conflict in Vietnam many of its traditional heritage sites were damaged or destroyed. A visit to the ancient city of Hue, which was the former capital of Vietnam for many years, affords the visitor an important insight into the country’s royal history prior to its colonisation by the French in 1887.

In the very early 19th Century, when the Nguyen Dynasty administered Vietnam from Hue, the Emperor Gia Long commenced construction of a mighty citadel among the rolling hills and mountains of Hue from where he could both live and rule. The resulting Imperial Citadel was modelled on the Forbidden City in Beijing, but unfortunately suffered much damage during the war years. Today the huge ancient complex of buildings used by the Emperor for living and administering his kingdom can still be explored, although some have fallen into ruin, offering visitors an atmospheric trip into Vietnam’s ancient past. Many of the pavilions, bridges, libraries and great halls are now being carefully restored with help from UNESCO, and so some of the site has been rebuilt and restored to its former glory. Marvel at the legends of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors who built the fortress and lived within its moated walls for nearly 150 years and wander among both the restored buildings and dilapidated stone structures that make up the complex.

Continue on to one of the most famous sights in Hue Vietnam- the Thien Mu Temple. An octagonal tower of seven tiers rises majestically over the tranquil Perfume (Huong) River. The tower’s design shows the historical influence of Chinese culture on Vietnam while the seven tiers are dedicated to different Buddhas. Beyond you may see robed monks chanting their mantra or novices carefully tending the bonsai garden. One unusual feature of this temple is the blue Austin Westminster motor car in the grounds – the same car that appeared on television screens around the world when a revered monk set himself on fire in central Saigon, in protest of a repressive Diem regime in the 60’s.

Hue Vietnam has many historical sites and when touring in Hue there are many options as to what to see, but another location of note is Tu Duc’s tomb. Emperor Tu Duc was the 4th emperor of the Nguyen dynasty and reigned from 1847 to 1883. His ancient tomb site is peaceful and tranquil with many lotus flower lakes (which only flower at certain times of the year). However an element of mystery with the tomb is that Tu Duc was actually buried in a secret place to avoid thieves, and as of yet his true burial site remains discovered! Another burial site for one of Vietnam’s 20th century emperors is the tomb of Emeperor Khai Dinh, who was essentially a puppet king for the French in 1916. Built from 1920 to 1931, his tomb is actually a strange mish mash of both Vietnamese and Western styles and is brightly coloured and flamboyant with brightly coloured mosaics of porcelain pieces. It provides an interesting snapshot into Vietnam in the early 20th century, as a country both maintaining traditional aspects of its culture while also adopting some aspects of French influence too.