In late October 2017 we embarked on a food explorer tour of Vietnam organised by Peregrine Travel. There would be eight of us in the group. We started the trip in Hanoi in the north and then travelled south, finishing in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and the Mekong Delta. For the type of trip we were after, the Peregrine tour could hardly be faulted.
Apart from the two of us, in the group were two of our family members – a sister and brother-in-law who used to run a restaurant – and four other interested foodies whom we met for the first time.
As well as inspecting markets and visiting interesting restaurants, we would also attend three cooking schools. And, of course, we would also see the key sights.
Vietnam is one of the food destinations on earth. The variety of the cuisine is a surprise, from old-world markets and marketing to pricey French cuisine. We would visit some acclaimed restaurants. We would have pho for breakfast. We would see beautiful ‘flowers’ carved from vegetables.
At the cooking schools we would learn about the key ingredients in Vietnamese cooking. We would visit vegetable gardens in the midst of ancient villages. We would get to try the meat and vegetable roll called banh mi. We would come back with many recipes and dishes we wanted to try.
In Hoi An we would walk along the beautifully lanterned streets and riverside walks one day then the next day race to get away from them as the power of a typhoon was unleashed.
In the Mekong Delta we would ply the river and canal systems, try the local dishes, see artisans making rice paper wrappers, fish sauce and coconut milk, and spend a night in a home-stay where we were invited to help prepare the evening meal.
At the end of our trip, in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), we would continue our study of key ingredients, continue to gain a different perspective on the Vietnam War and continue to learn more about the French influence in the colonial era in Vietnam.
In the next set of posts we will cover our journey through Vietnam, from north to south. Click here for the first food stage in our Vietnam journey: Hanoi!