This combined sightseeing tour and cooking class is the perfect introduction to the history and culture of Hue, its people, and its cuisine. The royal city was the seat of emperors for thousands of years, and to this day it is full of intrigue and charm.

Meet your guide and driver at your hotel in the morning and begin your full-day tour with a cruise down the Perfume River. Your destination is the Thien Mu Pagoda, one of the oldest and most beautiful temples in the country. From there you’ll explore the Imperial Citadel, the centre of ancient Hue city. Wander through the palaces, halls and residences, hearing stories of eras past.

Leave the bustling Old Town for the serene quiet of Thanh Toan village. Like stepping back in time all over again, you’ll find ancient traditional houses and shrines in Thanh Toan, as well as a new and well-loved eco-restaurant. Under the guidance of a local chef, you’ll prepare and cook a selection of Vietnamese dishes and then enjoy them for lunch.

In the afternoon you will visit the nearby Thanh Toan bridge, crafted in intricate detail over 200 years ago. Following this, the agricultural tools museum will provide you with an insight into farming techniques and the importance of agriculture for Vietnam.

Your last stop for the day will be Khai Dinh Tomb. As one of the last royal tombs to be built in Hue, the style and structure of the tomb reflects the cultural climate at the end of the colonial era.

Comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a rain jacket (rain is frequent in Hue) and a camera.

Transportation, English-speaking guide, bottled water, boat ticket, cooking class and lunch at Thanh Toan eco-restaurant.