WORLDWIDE CULTURAL AND CULINARY VACATIONS
Marriott Vacation Club®
888-682-4862
Vistana Signature Network™
800-239-2197

Southeast Asia Culinary Odyssey Thailand & Vietnam

(This tour has a minimum of 2 guests and a maximum of 8 guests)

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Call now to book
Marriott Vacation Club®
888-682-4862
Vistana Signature Network™
800-239-2197
From15,750
Club Points *
(For Two People, Double Occupancy)
* Tours sold on an availability basis.
From9,500
Club Points *
(For One Person, Single Occupancy)
* Tours sold on an availability basis.
8 days | 7 nights

Two Asian Cultures in One Tour
Experience Bangkok & Ho Chi Minh City

Thailand is renowned for its bold and vibrant cuisine, with dishes like Pad Thai, Green Curry, and Tom Yum Soup tantalizing taste buds with a harmonious blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors. Street food markets in Bangkok offer an immersive experience where locals and travelers alike savor fragrant dishes cooked right before their eyes. In Vietnam, the cuisine is characterized by its freshness and balance, with staples like Pho, Banh Mi, and fresh spring rolls showcasing the country's culinary artistry. The bustling street food culture in cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City invites you to savor dishes brimming with aromatic herbs and nuance. Both countries offer culinary journeys that are not only delicious but also deeply rooted in tradition and local culture, making them must-visit destinations for food enthusiasts. What better way to experience Asia than a dedicated culinary tour to savor its tapestry of tastes, colors and smells? This gastronomic odyssey is designed for gourmet enthusiasts with an appetite for cooking, eating and adventure. Explore Bangkok's streets as you discover diverse Thai curries, travel through the Mekong Delta--known as the Rice Basket of Asia, tour the largest floating market in Thailand and experience its ancient fishing villages. As you embark on ethnic food tours in two very diverse cities, you'll enjoy four hands-on cooking classes, completing your immersive education of Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. The culinary scenes in Thailand and Vietnam are a testament to the rich and diverse flavors of Southeast Asia.
Itinerary Accommodations Map FAQ
VACATION HIGHLIGHTS
Please note: Tour inclusions can change depending upon seasonality and weather conditions.
4 nights Lodging in Thailand
3 nights Lodging in Vietnam
Round-trip Airport Transfers
Daily Buffet Breakfast
Lunch and Dinner Noted in Itinerary
2 Thai Cooking Classes
2 Vietnamese Cooking Classes
Floating Vegetable Market Tour
Temple of the Dawn Tour
Visit Reclining Buddha in Bangkok
Orientation Tour in Bangkok
Mekong Delta & Rice Fields Tour
Orientation Tour in Ho Chi Minh City
Thailand Food & Market Tours
Vietnam Food & Market Tours
Mekong Family Visit with Lunch
While our tours are designed as soft adventure experiences, walking, climbing stairs, and in rare cases mild hiking may be required. If you have mobility issues, you should speak with one of our culinary travel specialists to determine if this tour is appropriate for your situation.
AVAILABLE DATES
This tour has year-round dates available (Best dates from November - April). Simply tell us when you want to go. Tour operates for as few as 2 people, and as many as 8.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Please note: Actual itineraries are subject to change due to seasonality.
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Day 1
Airport Transfers | Check-In | The Reclining Buddha Temple | Welcome Dinner
You'll be greeted at the Bangkok Airport by your private driver and escorted to your hotel. Spend your first nights in one of Bangkok's best four-star hotels. In the late afternoon you will visit the Reclining Buddha Temple, then take a ferry across the river to visit Temple of Dawn. Here you will enjoy a soft drink at a local restaurant as you enjoy the sunset over the Wat Arun Pagoda. This evening you will enjoy a Thai welcome dinner at Steve Café, a very popular riverside restaurant.
Day 2
Daily Breakfast Buffet
Start each day with a delicious breakfast buffet served by your hotel. Ranging from delicious Thai & Vietnamese specialties to Western Fare, each dish is made with fresh and local ingredients. From rice porridge and tasty Thai omelets to grilled pork skewers (think “Thai Bacon”), sweet breads and delicious buns, you'll sample a variety of exotic fruits and savory dishes before your day even begins.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Railways Market
After you've settled into your hotel, it's time to explore the city. Especially exciting is your visit to Damnoen Saduak floating market and Railways Market, where wooden boats are filled to the brim with fruits, vegetables and flowers.
First Thai Cooking Class | Dinner
During this hands-on cooking class you will have an immersive experience that is hard to find elsewhere. You'll be guided through succulent curries, stir-fried noodles, fresh spring rolls and other dishes by a professional, local chef. At the conclusion of your instruction, you will sit down with your chef and fellow students to dine on your creations.
Day 3
Daily Breakfast Buffet
Start each day with a delicious breakfast buffet served by your hotel. Ranging from delicious Thai & Vietnamese specialties to Western Fare, each dish is made with fresh and local ingredients. From rice porridge and tasty Thai omelets to grilled pork skewers (think “Thai Bacon”), sweet breads and delicious buns, you'll sample a variety of exotic fruits and savory dishes before your day even begins.
Bangkok Orientation Tour plus more Floating Markets
Today, stroll through the Queen Sikit Botanical Gardens, visit a few of Bangkok's many temples, hike to the top of Golden Mount to see panoramic views of the city and experience traditional dancing at Erawan Shrine. Additionally, you'll visit Or Tor Kor floating market that is home to stall after stall of colorful fruits and exotic produce…one of the best places to try traditional food such as stir-fry noodles and mango sticky rice. Lunch will be provided in the market. Dinner is on your own this evening.
Day 4
Daily Breakfast Buffet
Start each day with a delicious breakfast buffet served by your hotel. Ranging from delicious Thai & Vietnamese specialties to Western Fare, each dish is made with fresh and local ingredients. From rice porridge and tasty Thai omelets to grilled pork skewers (think “Thai Bacon”), sweet breads and delicious buns, you'll sample a variety of exotic fruits and savory dishes before your day even begins.
Second Thai Cooking Class with Lunch
Enjoy another traditional hands-on Thai cooking class where you will learn how to cook with fresh herbs & spices to create savory dishes such as green curries, pad Thai, and papaya salads. You will enjoy a relaxing lunch from your own creations.
Evening Street Food Tour of Bangkok | Dinner
Bangkok is full of many neighborhoods, each with a unique approach to cuisine. From street stalls to local eateries and fine dining restaurants, take in culture and tradition with every bite. Learn the history of various recipes, why particular ingredients are used and savor a variety of new and mouth-watering flavors. Your food tour will provide more than enough sampling to serve as your dinner this evening.
Day 5
Daily Breakfast Buffet
Start each day with a delicious breakfast buffet served by your hotel. Ranging from delicious Thai & Vietnamese specialties to Western Fare, each dish is made with fresh and local ingredients. From rice porridge and tasty Thai omelets to grilled pork skewers (think “Thai Bacon”), sweet breads and delicious buns, you'll sample a variety of exotic fruits and savory dishes before your day even begins.
Depart for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
After breakfast, you will depart on your connecting flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (flights between countries are not included in the price of your tour, so check with your culinary travel specialist for assistance and pricing). Airport transfers are included in your package.
First Vietnamese Cooking Classes | Dinner
One of the healthiest cuisines in the world, food in Vietnam is often used as medicine. During your hands-on cooking classes held in a beautiful agricultural village, you'll experience a Vietnamese Medicine Garden with varied herbs, spices and vegetables. After learning about the Mushroom House and what it's like to be a Vietnamese farmer, select herbs and vegetables from the garden to prepare delicious, healthy Vietnamese dishes such as pho, bahn mi and summer rolls. After your instruction, you will enjoy dinner with the chef. This evening, you'll enjoy some free time in Ho Chi Minh City (also known as Saigon).
Day 6
Daily Breakfast Buffet
Start each day with a delicious breakfast buffet served by your hotel. Ranging from delicious Thai & Vietnamese specialties to Western Fare, each dish is made with fresh and local ingredients. From rice porridge and tasty Thai omelets to grilled pork skewers (think “Thai Bacon”), sweet breads and delicious buns, you'll sample a variety of exotic fruits and savory dishes before your day even begins.
Mekong Delta & Rice Field Tour
Today you and your guide will set out for the Mekong Delta, one of Vietnam’s two main rice bowls. On this journey, pass through lands comprised of low-lying rice paddies and rivers that are bordered by dense mangroves and palms. Boarding a longtail boat, you'll pass through the Mekong Delta and Ben Tre to explore fishing villages and the four islands of Dragon, Unicorn, Turtle and Phoenix. As you cruise along Vam, Xep, a small canal dotted with little village houses, glimpse the daily life of local villagers and join them for a traditional lunch. During the ride, your guide will explain the agriculture of the region and how it's incorporated into the local Vietnamese cuisine.
Local Family Visit & Culinary Experience | Dinner in Ho Chi Minh City
Spend an afternoon with a local family in the Mekong Delta, learning about their culture and lifestyle. As you sit with them to dine on delicious homemade beef soups, noodle dishes and rice platters, you'll come to understand the importance of food in their daily lives. This is guaranteed to be one of the most unforgettable and enriching experiences of your trip. This evening you will enjoy dinner back in Ho Chi Minh City.
Day 7
Daily Breakfast Buffet
Start each day with a delicious breakfast buffet served by your hotel. Ranging from delicious Thai & Vietnamese specialties to Western Fare, each dish is made with fresh and local ingredients. From rice porridge and tasty Thai omelets to grilled pork skewers (think “Thai Bacon”), sweet breads and delicious buns, you'll sample a variety of exotic fruits and savory dishes before your day even begins.
Second Vietnamese Cooking Class | Lunch
In the mid-morning, you will experience another insightful cooking class with local chefs. This class will expose you to some of the traditional dishes that Vietnamese people enjoy every day. Fresh fish and local herbs will take center stage, as you learn techniques that you can duplicate when you return home. After your instruction, you’ll all sit down to enjoy a delicious lunch with the chef.
Temples, Museums and Markets Tour
Spend the day exploring the beautiful and historical city of Ho Chi Minh. You will visit temples, museums, and markets where you will learn about the rich Vietnamese culture and history. During your tour experience a variety of different local Vietnamese foods as you explore some of the most famous markets in the city. Try dishes such as Bahn Mi, Pho, Beef Satay, and Custard Apples. (The cost of sampling foods in the market is optional and at your own expense).
Ho Chi Minh by Night Food Tour | Dinner
Enjoy a tasty "Ho Chi Minh by Night Food Walk" through some of the liveliest food scenes in the city, followed by another delicious dinner at one of the best local restaurants.
Day 8
Daily Breakfast Buffet
Start each day with a delicious breakfast buffet served by your hotel. Ranging from delicious Thai & Vietnamese specialties to Western Fare, each dish is made with fresh and local ingredients. From rice porridge and tasty Thai omelets to grilled pork skewers (think “Thai Bacon”), sweet breads and delicious buns, you'll sample a variety of exotic fruits and savory dishes before your day even begins.
Check-Out and Departure
Pack your newly acquired cooking skills and your tasty memories. After another wonderful breakfast at your hotel, you'll need to pack your bags and head to the airport. It is time for your journey back home.
[Optional] Extension to Siem Reap, Cambodia
Extend your stay in Southeast Asia with this incredible 4-day, 3-night journey to Siem Reap – home to the famous Ankor Wat Temple, delicious Khmer cuisine and a beautiful culture. Siem Reap is absolutely stunning in both architecture and history. The Ankor Wat Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered to be one of the new ancient wonders of the world. Discover the mysteries of Angkor on a full-day, small-group temples tour where you can watch the sunset over the iconic Angkor Wat, see the enigmatic faces of Bayron Temple and wander around Ta Prohm, taking in the trees intertwined with the ruins. Your other days will be spent taking a hands-on cooking course and exploring the markets and villages that surround Siem Reap. Ask your culinary specialist for details prior to finalizing your travel plans.
Bangkok, ThailandHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Winner
OUTSTANDING
CULINARY TRAVEL
Category
Member of ASTA Member of ATTA Member of GSTC

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