Hoi An is an expanding country town surrounded by paddy fields farmed mainly by women in ‘coolie’ hats growing rice, verdant fields full of herbs and vegetables worked by water buffalo, and the Thu Bồn river where fishermen use methods unchanged through generations. But Hoi An’s star attraction is its historic Old Town dating mainly from the 15th – 19th centuries, indeed it possessed the largest harbour in S.E. Asia as far back as the 1st century.
The Old Town is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site so its not hard to imagine Hoi An’s long history with its beautiful beaches and old port overlooking the East Vietnam Sea – during the period of ‘China trade’ the town was called Hai Pho (Seaside Town) and its Japanese merchants believed the ‘heart of all Asia’ lay beneath Hoi An in the 18th century.
This long & varied history has today given Hoi An, through its cookery schools and 100+ restaurants, the accolade of the ‘premier food destination’ in Vietnam. So Xuan Tu’s private 3 hours evening adventure is designed to immerse you in the sight, smell and taste of what is probably the healthiest cuisine in the world!
Likes and dislikes were taken into account and nothing was too difficult for Lam to organise. We tried around 15 different foods from market stalls, street vendors and restaurants. I would highly recommend this food tour for anyone visiting Hoi An
– client TripAdvisor review
Our Private Walking Tour is most definitely NOT about the international food chains that have started to import their blandness into our country, neither is it the higher end establishments that have popped up to tempt western tastes and western wallets! This is about food for everyday Vietnam, food that stimulates all five senses at everyday prices for local people, and prepared with pride at market food stalls, make-shift street restaurants and in what sometimes seems to be the owner’s front room!
We meet in your Hoi An hotel at 17.00 where introductions are made and we discuss our food itinerary (and any intolerances) with you. Then while evening falls we experience the beautiful kaleidoscope of coloured lanterns that illuminate the town streets as we embark on our foodie journey. Xuan Tu’s private food tours are as much about the culture, people and sights of historic Vietnam through interaction with local Hoianians, as it is the amazing food of our country.
We try some 10 local delicacies depending on availability and your personal preferences. From traditional Vietnamese coffee to central Vietnam’s famous spring rolls and BBQ pork skewers, from steam savoury rice cakes to deep fried seafood wonton and perhaps ending with a favourite street dessert! Finally though, our evening will come to a close at around 8.00 when we return you safely to your hotel or give you great recommendations for the rest of your evening in this most atmospheric of Vietnamese towns
What’s included:
- a full 3 hours private guided walking tour in English
- all food taken
- cold, bottled mineral water
- moist towellettes
- Da Nang or Hoi An hotel meet & greet
What’s excluded:
- alcoholic drinks if taken