See Vietnam the Peregrine way
At Peregrine, we’re for premium adventures, and for us, that means embracing the spirit of adventure through a more immersive cultural journey. Hand-picked accommodation, small groups, award-winning local guides, added inclusions and a more considered pace. Premium means an exceptional experience, but never an artificial one.
Join us on a one-of-a-kind journey to Vietnam in partnership with Traveller Tours. Accompanied by renowned hosts and chefs along the way, this is your chance to embark on a small group tour where culinary experiences and immersive encounters are just the beginning. Whether it’s tucking into street food specialities guided by your expert local leader, gazing at the towering limestone peaks in Halong Bay or enjoying a private cooking class, each day will be complete with moments you’ll remember forever.
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Join us on this 13 day guided journey of Vietnam created with Traveller Tours.
To book this trip please contact us on 1300 854 439 and ask for John or email tailormade@peregrineadventures.com. Our business hours are 9.00am – 5.30pm Monday to Friday. Please note this trip cannot be booked online.
Why you'll love this trip​
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Learn all about the ingredients and flavours of northern Vietnamese cuisine. You will sample local coffee, typically served with condensed milk – or for the more adventurous – egg! Or, you can even taste some of Hanoi’s famous street food specialities and learn about Vietnamese tea traditions from a true master.
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Discover Vietnam history in one of the oldest Hmong ethnic minority villages in the region. Here you’ll see rice growing on terraced fields using traditional methods of cultivation, plus the Hmong people’s famed process of making cloth from hemp and dying it a deep indigo colour.
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Cruise along Halong Bay past the dramatic limestone peaks and spend a peaceful night on board, beneath a sky alive with stars for your Peregrine Feature Stay.
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Enjoy a cooking class with Phuong Dang, the nephew of Vietnam’s most respected food personalities, Mrs Dzoan. Learn about the distinct flavours and dishes of southern Vietnam with this noted expert and enjoy the results of your cooking over dinner.
Meet your hosts
Pauline Nguyen
Pauline is one of Australia’s most successful entrepreneurs – but with a difference. Pauline’s achievements are many. She is the owner of Red Lantern, the most awarded Vietnamese restaurant in the world. Pauline has achieved outstanding success as an entrepreneur, author, businesswoman and acclaimed speaker. Pauline is an original ‘Rare Bird’ – one of Australia’s top 50 influential female entrepreneurs – and is included in Blackwell and Hobday’s global recognition of 200 Women Who Will Change the Way You See the World. Pauline will be your host for the first part of the tour.
Annie Dang
Annie Dang is a senior writer and producer with Traveller at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Annie was born in Vietnam and moved to Australia in the late 1980’s. She grew up in Cabramatta and Bankstown, which in the 1990s had a reputation for drug and crime, but is now Sydney’s heartland for Vietnamese food. Annie began her career as a legal business journalist, before becoming an editor in trade publishing. She joined the digital news team at The Sydney Morning Herald in 2012, moving to Traveller in 2014. Annie helped launched Traveller first podcast, ‘Flight of Fancy’. Annie will be your host for the second part of the tour.
Dang Phuong
As the nephew of culinary icon Nguyen Dzoan Cam Van, Dang Phuong has spent a lifetime learning culinary secrets passed down over time. Earlier this year, Dang Phuong opened Spice Garden in Cu Chi so he could continue sharing Mrs Dzoan’s passion for Vietnamese cuisine. What started as a garden filled with organic produce is now the primary source of fresh fruit and vegetables for private cooking classes hosted on-site at Spice Garden. You’ll enjoy a cooking class with Dang on Day 10.
Where will you go?
4 June 2020
Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam. If you arrive early into the capital of Hanoi, there’s plenty to see and do. Consider booking the Hanoi Highlights Urban Adventure with an expert local guide to introduce you to the city. Or take it at your own pace and wander the Old Quarter and admire the city’s French-colonial architecture, relax in a park, or enjoy some street food.
Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. We'll be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you bring these details to provide to your leader. An arrival transfer is not included, should you wish to pre book one please speak with your consultant.
Included Activities
Hanoi - Welcome Dinner at Madame Hien
Optional Activities
Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh, Stilt House and Museum - VND80000
Hanoi - Village Discovery by Bike Urban Adventure - USD33
Accommodation: Lan Vien Hotel or Similar
Meals included: Dinner
5 June 2020
Start the day with a traditional breakfast of pho, a dish that originates in Hanoi and is designed to awaken the senses and prepare you for the day. After breakfast, it's time for a guided tour of Chau Long Market, where you will learn all about the ingredients and flavours of northern Vietnamese cuisine. As a group, we will sample local coffee, typically served with condensed milk – or for the more adventurous – egg! Tuck into some of Hanoi's renowned street food specialties and finish at a hidden tea house, learning about Vietnamese tea traditions from a true master. In the evening, you’ll enjoy a hands-on experience learning to prepare northern Vietnamese dishes. Discover some classic Hanoian favourites like caramel pork as well as some lesser known dishes from the highlands. To round off the day, you’ll enjoy the dishes you have prepared for dinner.
Included Activities
Hanoi - Chau Long Market, Food & Coffee Tasting Hanoi - Teahouse visit
Hanoi - Cooking Class, Northern Vietnamese
Accommodation: Lan Vien Hotel or Similar
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6 June 2020
There’s no better way to awaken your senses that with a short morning trek to Lech Village and back. About 5km / 3.1mi (approx. 2.5-6 hours) from Sapa, the village is home to the Red Dao ethnic minority, remarkable people whose culture has remained relatively unaffected by outside visitors. Your camera will get a workout as you encounter the rice paddies of the Thanh Kim valley. Stop to try the regional special of three colours sticky rice. This dish is so named as the rice is coloured with locally sourced natural ingredients such as leaves and flowers. Afterwards you’ll need a well-earned rest and rest is what you’ll find at your hilltop lodge in Hoang Lien National Park. After arriving via private vehicle (approximately 1 hour) take in the views from your private room across the valley in this majestic location. Perhaps even take a massage or simply unwind at the lodge’s hilltop spa.
Notes: Total trekking time today is 2.5 - 3 hours.
Included Activities
Sapa - Cat Cat Village trek
Accommodation: Victoria Sapa Resort (Superior) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
7 June 2020
There’s no better way to awaken your senses that with a short morning trek to Lech Village and back. About 5km / 3.1mi from Sapa, the village is home to the Red Dao ethnic minority, remarkable people whose culture has remained relatively unaffected by outside visitors. Your camera will get a workout as you encounter the rice paddies of the Thanh Kim valley. Stop to try the regional special of three colours sticky rice. This dish is so named as the rice is coloured with locally sourced natural ingredients such as leaves and flowers. Afterwards you’ll need a well-earned rest and rest is what you’ll find at your hilltop lodge in Hoang Lien National Park. After arriving via private vehicle (approximately 1 hour) take in the views from your private room across the valley in this majestic location. Perhaps even take a massage or simply unwind at the lodge’s hilltop spa.
Notes: Total trekking time today is 2.5 - 3 hours.
Included Activities
Sapa - Tea with local family
Sapa - Sample 3 colors sticky rice
Sapa - Group dinner
Special Information
Please note on occasion we may stay at an alternate lodge in the Sapa region if Topas Ecolodge is fully booked.
Accommodation: Topas Ecolodge (Premium Executive bungalow) or Similar
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
8 June 2020
Return to Hanoi (approximately 5 hours) and together enjoy a half day city tour of town. You will visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum, and the tranquil Temple of Literature – an oasis of calm in the heart of town.
Included Activities
Hanoi - Temple of Literature
Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh Complex: Ho Chi Minh, Stilt House and Museum
Accommodation: Lan Vien Hotel or Similar
Meals included: Breakfast
9 June 2020
Travel by minibus to the spectacular World Heritage-listed site of Halong Bay (approximately 4 hours). The bay is a breathtaking secluded harbor, with over 2,000 limestone islands jutting out of the waters of the Bac Bo Gulf. Board your boat and cruise among the dramatic limestone peaks. There's an opportunity to swim in the famous Vietnam East Sea and explore caves filled with stunning stalactites and stalagmites. Spend a peaceful night on board, beneath a sky alive with stars. Your sailing junk has twin-share cabins that have air-conditioning and private facilities. There's also a dining room and bar.
Accommodation: Overnight on boat – sharing basis: Bhaya Cruise (Deluxe cabin) or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
10 June 2020
Enjoy breakfast on the boat this morning and return to Hanoi by bus (approximately 3.5 hours) then flight to Danang. Head straight to Hoi An upon your arrival to Danang.Â
Accommodation: Belle Maison Hadana Hoi An Resort & Spa or similar
Meals included: Breakfast
11 June 2020
Perhaps, you might choose to walk around Hoi An’s iconic old town – recently declared a World Heritage site. It's perfect for strolling around at a leisurely pace, with many beautiful Japanese houses and Chinese temples lining the narrow lanes. The best part, unbeknown to visitors, is that parts of Hoi An look exactly as they did more than a century ago. It's also a shopping haven where you can browse local markets and shops for original paintings, handcrafted woodwork, ceramics, embroidery and lanterns. Hoi An has also become famous for its tailoring, with a great variety of fabrics and tailors to choose from.
Optional Activities
Hoi An – Hoi An Old Town walking tour
Accommodation: Belle Maison Hadana Hoi An Resort & Spa or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
12 June 2020
Today, you will learn all about central Vietnamese cuisine. Start your morning with a bike ride through the expansive herb gardens located on the outskirts of the city. Later as we head back to Hoi An, you will then have a hands-on lesson in classic central Vietnamese dishes at Vietnam’s celebrated Morning Glory Cooking School. For lunch, you will feast on your own delicious creations. The afternoon is free for you to explore Hoi An as you please. The market is a good place to buy silk that can be crafted into fine garments, and many expert tailors offer a same-day service. If you fancy a swim, a local beach nearby can easily be access on a bicycle.
Included Activities
Hoi An - Herb Garden Bicycle Tour & Cooking Class, Central Vietnamese
Special Information
If you would rather not ride a bike today, please inform your leader. Instead, you will be taken on a walk around Hoi An Central Market.
Accommodation: Belle Maison Hadana Hoi An Resort & Spa or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
13 June 2020
After breakfast, take a short flight down south to Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam's largest city is a fascinating blend of old and new – and this is evident from the minute you hit the streets to explore – just like the French influence seen in the excellent baguettes and coffee on offer. After lunch, take a short city tour that covers the War Remnants Museum, passing the Reunification Palace and Notre Dame Cathedral. Along the way, you'll be able to admire the many beautiful French colonial buildings, such as the main post office and the former Hotel de Ville (city hall). Finish the day with a true highlight – a cooking class with Dang Phuong. As the nephew of culinary icon Nguyen Dzoan Cam Van, Dang Phuong has spent a lifetime learning culinary secrets passed down over time. Learn about the distinct flavours and dishes of southern Vietnam and enjoy dinner together.Â
Included Activities
Ho Chi Minh City - War Remnants Museum Ho Chi Minh City - Cooking class and dinner
Optional Activities
Ho Chi Minh City - Reunification Palace. VND40000
Accommodation: Sila Urban Living or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
14 June 2020
After breakfast you will drive south to Phong Nam Pier for a boat cruise along the Mekong Delta (approximately 2–3 hours). The Mekong Delta is renowned for its fertile land – rich in tropical fruits, flowers and rice. For this reason, it is often referred to as the 'Rice Bowl' of Vietnam. As you travel down the An Hoa river you will make various stops along the way. One of the stops includes a charcoal workshop where we learn about making various products. Continuing along the water, you stop at a candy mill and a fruit garden where you have the opportunity to try some fresh fruit. Our final stop will be for lunch at a local riverside restaurant before returning to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, the rest of the afternoon and evening is all yours to relax and enjoy at your own pace.
Included Activities
Ho Chi Minh City – Mekong delta day trip
Accommodation: Sila Urban Living or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
15Â June 2020
Today is your last full day in Ho Chi Minh. There are no activities planned for today so you can spend it as you please. Perhaps visit the Cu Chi Tunnels or do a final spot of shopping.
In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at KOTO restaurant, an organisation dedicated to developing the hospitality careers of disadvantaged youth. KOTO - Know One, Teach One - is a social enterprise that brings valuable skills training to disadvantaged youth in Vietnam. The centrepiece is a two-year hospitality services and culinary arts program, but it offers more than just professional development. KOTO provides workshops for self-awareness and personal development, on-site psychological counselling, meditation exercises, group activities, and most importantly – community.Â
Included Activities
Ho Chi Minh City – Dinner at Koto restaurant
Optional Activities
HCMC - A O show - VND1050000
Accommodation: Sila Urban Living or similar
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
16 June 2020
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. There are no activities included, so you are free to depart at any time. A departure transfer is not included, and should you wish to purchase one please speak with your consultant.
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Meals included: Breakfast
Trip inclusions
| Days |
4 June - 16 June 2020Â 13 days / 12 nights |
| Meals |
12 breakfasts 6 lunches 8 dinners |
| Transport | Private vehicle, boat, plane, taxi, bicycle |
| Accommodation |
Hotel x 11 nights Overnight Boat x 1 night |
| Price and inclusions | The tour is AU$4,200 per person, which is based on twin-share accommodation and includes the activities and meals as mentioned in the itinerary. Please note international airfares are not included in this price nor are meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary, travel insurance, any visa requirements, transfers or optional activities. |
Important information
- A single supplement is available on this trip, subject to availability. Please contact your sales agent if you would like to book this. Please note the single supplement excludes Day 6 (overnight boat) where you will be in shared accommodation.
- Bookings must be made and deposited by 7 March 2020.
- Deposit of $600 per person per trip is required upon booking.
- Minimum group size is 4, maximum group size is 12. Please do not book any non-refundable flights or services before the trip is guaranteed to depart.
- The minimum age is 18 years
- Airport transfers in Vietnam are not included. Should you wish to purchase an arrival or departure transfer please speak with your consultant.
- Passport Details: Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport), for internal flights and train tickets. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
VIETNAM VISA:
- Most nationalities are required to obtain tourist visa in advance to travel to Vietnam. When obtaining your visa you should allow 3 weeks for processing with your nearest embassy or consulate, the cost is approximately US$60 to US$100. Please check with your embassy or consulate for further requirements.
- An eVisa is available for some nationalities including passport holders from Australia (from 2018), France, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, valid for a single entry of a maximum of 30 days stay in Vietnam. For information on obtaining an eVisa visit the immigration website: https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/ Evisas take up to 3 days to be processed. You will need a clear electronic copy of your passport data page and passport photo, and to make a non-refundable payment as outlined on the immigration website.
- Keep the customs and immigration form you receive on arrival, as you need it to complete exit formalities on departure.
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