Flavours of Central Vietnam with Duncan Lu

Welcome to Vietnam! On this tour Duncan Lu will show you that there is so much more to Vietnamese cuisine than pho. We are taking a deep dive into the distinct cuisine of Central Vietnam and in particular the three dishes that each of our city bases are known for - Cao Lau in Hoi An, Bun Bo Hue in Hue and Mi Quang in Da Nang. The charming, old-world trading port of Hoi An with its cobbled streets, traditional homes and quaint shop houses is a perfect place to kick off our exploration of the cuisine of Central Vietnam. Boutique restaurants, hip cafes along the waterfront, delightful craft shops and artisans including some of Asia’s best tailors all can be found here. In the afternoon we'll meet with Duncan at the hotel and take a leisurely walking tour of the historic town. To fuel our walk, we'll try our first bowl of noodles, Hoi An's favourite street food, Cao Lau. We'll then walk to the serene Chua Ong Pagoda and iconic 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge. Later we enjoy our first group dinner together. Overnight Allegro, Hoi An NOTE: The closest airport for Hoi An is Da Nang airport (DAD). A transfer takes approx 60-90 minutes depending on traffic. Some airline services, including Vietnam Airlines arrive in to Da Nang late in the evening, as such you may need to arrive the day before the tour commences. We can book an additional nights accommodation at the group hotel, as well as airport transfers, please just ask our team.

Meals:  D

This morning we head to a nearby village to learn about traditional farming. Strolling through the gardens, we'll observe the farmers at work, using methods that have remained unchanged for centuries. Duncan will tell you about all his favourite Vietnamese aromats and fresh herbs and we will hand pick some of these, to use in our upcoming cooking lesson. Next we'll explore the local market to buy more ingredients, including star anise, cardamom, sesame rice paper, water spinach and banana flower. Working alongside our chef & using these fresh, locally sourced ingredients, we will our first hands on cooking lesson on Vietnamese cuisine. After enjoying the lunch we've prepared, we can take an optional swim to cool off, before we return to Hoi An taking a leisurely half hour cruise along the river. Overnight Allegro, Hoi An

Meals:  B,L

We'll start our day with a short bicycle ride through picturesque villages, passing orchards and rice paddies, which are at their most lush and green in August. We arrive at an organic farm & learn more about rural life and the projects taking place in this community, such as making their own organic pesticides and cultivating the soil for planting and watering. We'll also harvest some of the garden's vegetables to cook for our lunch which we'll enjoy al fresco in the garden. Duncan will share stories of his family recipes that utilise the organic garden vegetables before our eyes. In the afternoon, we'll get back on our bicycles for a short cycle back to the village pier where our boat awaits. From there we'll cruise to Thuan Tinh Island, where we swap to basket boats for a fun and unique way to explore the mangrove forest and watch the village fisherman in action. We return to our main boat and cruise along the Thu Bon river to Hoi An town, enjoying the architecture at water level, followed by a short transfer back to the hotel. Overnight Allegro, Hoi An

Meals:  B,L

We continue our journey, moving on to Hue with a scenic drive offering some photo stops along the way. We'll see Lang Co Beach with it's clear turquoise water, white sand and lush green backdrop and take in a roadside lunch before arriving into Hue. The city is a blend of vibrant colours, pagodas and gardens lining the Perfume River. In the afternoon we'll take a short tour to get to know the area and view the Imperial Citadel, the home of Vietnam’s last royal dynasty. Hue is home of Bun Bo Hue, a rice noodle dish that is much more bold and spicy than pho & a must for our visit to this city. Dinner at one of Duncan's favourite places in Hue. Overnight: Senna Hotel, Hue

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we meet our local cooking host for a wander through central Dong Ba market, the oldest market in Hue. Duncan will help you navigate the bustling alleys of fresh produce and engage with the local street vendors. We gather the ingredients for our cooking class and stop for a taste of local Hue coffee - a salt coffee - before heading to our home cooking class. We will prepare a selection of typical Hue dishes. After lunch, we'll make our way to Chuon Lagoon where we'll board a small boat and learn about the Tam Giang lagoon system and the floating life of these water communities. Dinner is fresh lagoon seafood, enjoyed on the water and later we return to Hue. Overnight: Senna Hotel, Hue

Meals:  B,L,D

Enjoy a leisurely morning before we set off for Da Nang which is just two hours away. We'll take our time and stop at scenic Lap An Lagoon, dotted with oyster farms and traditional, wooden stilt houses. Prepare yourself for noodle mania in Da Nang where Duncan will take you to his favourite eateries, championing local specialties, including today's lunch at Mrs. Hon's Fish Noodles, featured in the Michelin guide. Arriving into Da Nang, we will have some time to relax before a street food tour in the early evening. Here in Da Nang you will find more Mi Quang noodle stalls than pho, proving this is the city's favourite street food. After we'll check out a craft brewery and taproom, to experience Vietnam’s emerging craft beer scene. As Duncan will share with you, there are some meals here in Vietnam that are made purely to be enjoyed with beer! Overnight: Risemount Resort, Da Nang

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we delve into the heart of Vietnamese coffee culture, here coffee is more than a drink, it’s a way of life! From Vietnamese egg coffee to pour overs and specialty arabica and robusta, explore Vietnam's expanding coffee scene with Duncan Lu. Afterwards we visit the local market to gather ingredients for our cooking class. Today we'll be making Mi Quang noodles, the pride of Da Nang and one of Duncan's favourite dishes to cook at home. Enjoy some time to shop or swim before our final group dinner where we'll indulge in Central Vietnamese Banh Xeo (sizzling savoury pancake) and hear from Duncan Lu as he explains the subtle difference to the variations of Banh Xeo from the North through to the South of Vietnam and ultimately what makes Da Nang Banh Xeo the best in the world. Overnight: Risemount Resort, Da Nang

Meals:  B,L,D

Our tour concludes and we hope you'll take some of the recipes and techniques you have learned home with you, to keep enjoying the cuisine of Central Vietnam. For more Vietnamese home cooking inspiration, visit www.duncanlu.com.au/recipes to access all of Duncan Lu's Vietnamese recipes.

Meals:  B