About this trip
This is a 12-day route through Vietnam told through its food, starting with pho and old quarter streets in Hanoi and ending with banh canh and market life in Ho Chi Minh City. Along the way you eat your way through Hue's imperial city and Hoi An's lantern-lit lanes, with plenty of stops for street food, cafes and market stalls.
Expect hands-on cooking sessions alongside the eating, plus the big sights of each city worked in around the food. It's a fully guided group trip pitched as easy going, though it covers a lot of ground including an overnight train.
The cuisine leans heavily on meat and seafood, so if you're vegetarian or vegan it's worth checking the itinerary closely before booking.
What you'll do
- Eat pho and explore ancient buildings in Hanoi
- Visit Hue's imperial citadel and try banh khoai
- Take a motorbike tour around Hue with licensed drivers and helmets provided
- Wander Hoi An's lantern-lit streets over banh xeo
- Cook some of Vietnam's classic dishes hands-on
- Experience homestay life and market culture in the Mekong Delta
- Includes an overnight train journey with shared, basic amenities
- Mekong Delta homestay facilities are basic, but offer a genuine local experience
- The Hue motorbike tour is optional — alternative transport can be arranged
Worth it if you want authentic Vietnamese food experiences led by genuinely excellent guides. Think twice if you prefer self-paced exploration.
- Guides Nhi, Thao, and Tham were standout—knowledgeable, entertaining, and genuinely invested in your experience.
- Food-focused itinerary delivered authentic local dishes and restaurant experiences you wouldn't find alone.
- Well-organised trips with balanced pacing, mixing activities with proper downtime and relaxation built in.
- Small group size and local provider partnerships mean good value, but less flexibility for independent wandering.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and availability come from our own daily tracking.
Departing in Oct is cheapest — from £1,155, about 46% below the priciest month (Mar).
Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Hanoi · 3 Oct – 4 Oct
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