Vietnam with Nini Nguyen

Welcome to Hanoi, one of Asia’s most mesmerizing capitals. Today is all about easing into the ancient rhythm of the city, so we’ll refresh and rejuvenate after our long journeys and convene for a welcome dinner in the late afternoon.

Situated atop the former meeting spot of Vietnam’s top writers and journalists, our destination is a hotspot for innovative cocktails and inspired bites. Here, we’ll find La Table Hanoia, the award-winning eatery where Michelin-star chef, Alain Dutournier, crafts a delicious and playful menu—think saffron potato risotto with lobster bisque sherbet. It’s a multi-course celebration of craft and cuisine, and the perfect opportunity to raise our glasses in toast to Andrew and the many adventures to come.

We begin the day at the legendary Thanh Ha Market to commence our masterclass on Hanoi’s world-class street food. Alongside an expert guide, Nini will introduce to us to her favorite local eats, from cà phê trúng (creamy egg coffee) to pho tiu (Vietnam’s original beef and noodle soup) at a hidden family-run shop.

Culinary tour de force complete, we’ll seek out repose at the Ambassador’s Pagoda. Here, we’ll wind through gilded halls and intricate shrines, learning more about the Pagoda’s role as a meeting spot for visiting Buddhist dignitaries. As the truly special culmination to our visit, we’ll sit down with the Pagoda’s senior monk to explore the unique practices and philosophies that inform Vietnam’s Buddhist traditions.

We’ll round off our afternoon with a breezy cyclo ride through the city’s graceful Old Quarter before heading to Koto, a restaurant and hospitality training center for at-risk youth. Here, we’re in for an incredible dinner; a sumptuous spread of regional specialities and heartfelt conversations with our inspiring hosts.

After breakfast, we’re driving through sleepy villages and sun-kissed fields to one of the world’s most iconic seascapes: Ha Long Bay. Here, a private cruise awaits, ready to float us through an otherworldly landscape of limestone islands jutting from ancient emerald waters. From the boat’s upper deck, we’ll breathe in the symphony of looming, cave-lined karsts and sandy islets before gathering for a sumptuous lunch onboard.

At Bo Hon Island, we’ll disembark to explore Ha Long’s storied caves. Our first stop is Sung Sot, or “Surprise Cave,” named by the French for the mesmerizing view hiding behind the grotto’s mouth. We’ll then head onwards to Luon Cave, an ancient tunnel that serves as a portal to an ethereal hidden lake. Luon’s tranquil waters practically beg for a kayak ride or easy float on of its bamboo boats—either way, we’ll take our time to relax and explore here before heading back to the marina for cocktails and a cooking demo against the setting sun.

Say tạm biệt (farewell) to Hanoi; after breakfast we’ll head to the airport for our short flight to Hue, seat of the Nguyen Dynasty and the national capital from 1802 to 1945.  Keeping with the royal theme, we’ll meander towards the Royal Home of Tha Om and its stunning grounds, followed by lunch at a restored royal home and a visit to the former residence of a Nguyen Dynasty princess. The grand finale to our picturesque afternoon: a breezy boat trip down the Perfume River, complete with a stop at the iconic seven-story Thien Mu pagoda—one of the city’s best-preserved religious monuments.

In the evening, we head to Phu Mong for a feast of epic proportions. The gracious garden house recreates the authentic cuisines of Hue’s past emperors, and each plate is a work of art: think vegetables sculpted into the shapes of animals and crispy stacks of banh khoai (fried rice pancakes).

Our first stop is the Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO Heritage site and the perfect setting for a garden stroll. Profoundly settled, we’ll belly up for lunch laden with local specialties—think clay pot-fired rice and veggies.

Our next stop is Phuoc Tich, a 500-year old village that seems permanently stuck in time. Here, we’ll meet a local family, tour some of the country’s most unique garden houses, and eventually find ourselves apron-clad and sleeves-rolled up in the midst of a pottery workshop.

After some downtime, we’ll reconvene for dinner by cyclo, with Nini as our guide to the unbeatable flavors of Hue. We’ll warm up with a drink and some light finger food, then wind our way to local restaurants and street food stalls to sample everything from rice with river clams to sizzling lemongrass pork skewers. Don’t be shy about dessert: the region’s famous sweet soups—made from lotus seed, kidney bean, and purple yam—await!

In the morning we’ll bid farewell to Hue and begin our drive to the jewel of central Vietnam: Hoi An. The famous Pass of the Ocean Clouds is our route, and we’ll pause at the crest of this mighty mountain pass to drink in stunning views of the turquoise sea below. We’ll stop along the way at Nam O, a small fishing village famous for its fish sauce production. Here, we’ll immerse ourselves in the 400 year old tradition and follow along as Nini and local experts explain the significance of the sauce in Vietnamese cuisine.

In the evening, we’ll have time to catch our breath back at the hotel before reconvening for the Vietnamese Bamboo Circus. Yes, among ancient instruments and astounding acrobats, we’ll be treated to an extraordinary evening of entertainment and culture.  Dinner is just down the road and equally enchanting.

We’ll ease into the morning with an energizing yoga session at a nearby studio, any lingering muscle stiffness all but a distant memory after our inspired flow. Grounded by the stillness of our final savasana, we’ll make our way to Hoi An’s bustling trading post by boat. The experience is a celebration of every sense: the vibrant colors, the cacophony of sounds, the exotic fruits and vegetables. Afterwards, we’re off to a gourmet cooking class led by Nini and local legend Ms. Lu. The duo will teach us the ins-and-outs of knife work and Vietnamese herbs, then we’ll roll up our sleeves to create our very own lunch of local specialities: crab wontons, papaya salad, and muc nhoi thit (squid stuffed with pork).

After lunch at our hotel, we’ll follow with a walk through the city’s historic Old Town. This picturesque riverside city was a major trading port for centuries, and mansions built by merchants still line the narrow streets of the Old Quarter. We’ll stop to admire temples, artisan workshops, and the bustling market, then visit the home of a master lantern-craftsman to learn more about the history, shape, and color of the lanterns—we’ll even have a chance to create our own.

Dinner is at one of the cities most eclectic fusion restaurants, and it’s a perfect opportunity to try modern remixes of the traditional foods we’ve been eating all week.

We’re hopping back on our bicycles this morning, passing through lush green rice paddies and grazing water buffaloes on our way to the water coconut forests of Cam Thanh. After trying our hand at fishing and crabbing in a traditional basket boat, we’re heading to the farming community of Tra Que, where we’ll roll up our sleeves to help harvest vegetables from the village garden. After a juggernaut of morning, we’ll reflect and pause for Vietnamese-style self care—an herbal foot massage to revitalize our tired muscles.

Later, we’ll join Nini in the home of a local family for a masterclass in traditional cooking techniques followed by a hearty, garden lunch. From there, the afternoon is ours to explore our scenic surroundings. Dinner tonight is a behind-the-scenes market tour. We will meet the faces behind the city’s most coveted food stalls and learn the ins and outs of daily preparation. We promise you won’t go hungry.

This morning we’re up bright and early for our short flight to Ho Chi Minh City. From the airport, we’ll embark straightaway on an immersive tour of the fabled city and its bustling streets, stopping to take in thought-provoking monuments like the Burning Monk Memorial and reveling in the French architecture.

After lunch at a beloved local eatery, we’ll check into Hotel De’Art Saigon, our newest home. Our day will end in quintessential Ho Chi Minh City fashion: riverside at a beer garden, but not before a nocturnal city tour and a rice wrap workshop tucked away in the heart of the city.

After our urban adventures yesterday, we’re excited to dive into rural Vietnam. Southwest of Ho Chi Minh City are the spidery tributaries of the mighty Mekong River—they’re home to the bulk of the country’s produce and rice production. We’ll cruise through the waters to one of the region’s iconic floating markets, where vendors balance stacks of heavy melons on narrow wooden boats and hawk fiery chiles on bamboo poles. Once we’ve gotten a feel for river life, we’ll dock our boats on Tan Phong Island and mount bikes for a short cycling tour through the shaded roads of the village. Lunch is an unforgettable experience, a banquet of delicacies sourced along the Delta and served up family-style at the home of a local host.

After our time in the countryside, it’s back to the city for a night of celebration. Our farewell dinner will be a raucous affair where we’ll recount our favorite memories over a spread of fresh spring rolls and hyperlocal seafood. After dinner, the night is yours to explore. You’ll find us at one of the city’s chic rooftop bars, nursing an unhurried nightcap in this city that never sleeps.

It’s time to bid goodbye to Vietnam, Nini, and our new friends. With all that we’ve experienced and tasted, we know it won’t be long before we return to this magical land.