Vietnam Laos Sri Lanka India Australia
Art, Food & Culture Experiences with Anna Barnes
artist, chef & anthropologist
Books Open
⋆
Books Open ⋆
Anna’s Art Food Culture Experience
Vietnam
Central Region
Hội An, Đông Giang, Huế & Đà Nẵng
March 3 - 12th, 2027
Grounded in responsible travel and shared engagement. An immersive exploration of Vietnamese culinary history and food culture.
Engage deeply with the art, food, and cultural landscapes of Vietnam. We weave together historical context, lived experience, and sensory observation.
Art, Food & Culture Experiences are a distinctive methodology for creative exploration, designed to support artistic development within your chosen medium. The program emphasises a considered pace of travel that allows sensory experience to fully unfold. Observation develops into insight. Attunement to place encourages reflection & synthesis.
The experience is delivered within a secure, well-supported structure. With a longstanding operational history since 2011, Anna and her dedicated team of local professionals ensure continuity of care and cultural integrity throughout the journey. Participants are guided by Anna Barnes, founder of Art, Food & Culture, Central Vietnam expert Ngoc, and an established local network of collaborators and cultural practitioners.
-
Art
Studio artists. Writers. Photographers. Designers. Chefs. Textile artisans & visual storytellers.
Non-creatives are equally welcomed, supported by the structure of the journey and the care of our senior local hosts.
There is no hierarchy of skill — only depth of engagement.
Creative sessions remain fluid. Time and space are held for your chosen practice to unfold naturally, shaped by context, light, and culture.
Market tours with time to savour.
Visit with Anna into the heart of local villages and family homes.
Traditional artisans, weaving & textiles — including the living practice of Cơ Tu weaving in highland communities, where material, pattern, and meaning are closely intertwined.
Early morning field sessions — capturing light, atmosphere, and the quiet aesthetics of place.
Gallery & museum visits — including the Imperial City of Huế, An Định Palace, and Lê Bá Đảng Memory Space, offering insight into imperial heritage, modernist expression, and contemporary Vietnamese artistic memory.
Architectural & cultural landscapes — exploring the Assembly Halls of Hội An, and their symbolic meaning within the trading port era, the restoration of the Japanese Covered Bridge, ancient garden houses, and layered architectural styles shaped by Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and French influences.
Hands-on cultural practices — including enamel painting, paper lotus flower making, incense making, and other traditional craft forms that reflect both ritual and everyday aesthetics.
Book club (book announced upon reservation)
A shared reading experience designed to deepen cultural and historical context prior to travel.10-day creative inspiration journey
A structured itinerary supporting observation, reflection, and creative development across mediums. -
Food
Local Food
Try the famous dishes
A guided introduction to regional Vietnamese specialities across markets, street stalls, and traditional eateries.Street Food & Local Eateries
Exploration of everyday dining spaces, from roadside vendors to long-standing neighbourhood eateries.Hội An Pho & Central Vietnamese Specialities
Experience Hội An’s distinctive bowl culture, including regional pho variations, cao lầu, mì quảng, and rice-based dishes shaped by historic trading influences.Huế Royal Cuisine & Street Food Heritage
Discover the refined culinary traditions of Huế, from imperial-inspired dishes with layered preparation and presentation, to vibrant street food shaped by riverine life and Buddhist vegetarian traditions.Đà Nẵng Seafood Restaurants & Coastal Dining
Dine at locally loved seafood restaurants along the coast, featuring freshly caught fish, shellfish, and seasonal specialities prepared in simple regional styles close to the source.“Break bread” with locals (eat noodles)
Shared meals in informal settings, centred around everyday dishes and communal dining culture.Food Filming, Content Creating & Food Photography Friendly
Opportunities to document culinary experiences through photography, film, and observational content creation.Write Recipes, Keep a Journal
Space for recording recipes, sensory notes, and personal reflections throughout the journey.Family Home Meals
Home-cooked meals shared in local households, offering direct insight into regional cooking traditions.Sober friendly (no alcohol-based activities)
A welcoming environment with no focus on alcohol-centered experiences.Learn to use chopsticks (or bring your own fork)
Gentle, practical introduction to local dining customs and table practices. -
Culture
Ethical Travel
Co Tu Village Overnight Stay
An immersive highland stay in Đông Giang with the Cơ Tu community, engaging with weaving, woodworking traditions, and ancestral knowledge systems.Fishing Village Visits
Early morning harbour encounters with local fishers, observing traditional coastal livelihoods and seasonal rhythms along Vietnam’s central coast.Herb & Medicinal Garden Experiences
Exploration of village gardens and indigenous plant knowledge used in food, healing practices, and daily life.Experience the rhythms of village life
Participation in everyday routines including food preparation, artisanal work, and community interaction.Family Home Visits
Shared meals and informal cultural exchange within local households.Meet Anna’s Friends
Connections with long-standing local collaborators, artisans, and cultural practitioners.Market Vendor Interactions
Guided visits to local markets exploring seasonal produce, spices, and regional food traditions.Small group – max 8
An intimate group structure designed to support depth of engagement and personalised guidance.LGBTQIA+ safe space
An inclusive and respectful environment that prioritises safety, comfort, and belonging.Coffee Culture
Exploration of Vietnam’s café traditions, from street-side brewing practices to contemporary specialty coffee culture.Off the beaten paths, beyond the service and travel industry
Access to everyday cultural spaces and lived environments beyond formal tourism settings.Learn about living culture
Direct engagement with contemporary cultural practices as they are actively maintained within communities.Private WhatsApp Group
A dedicated communication space for coordination, resources, and in-trip connection.
Experience vibrant markets overflowing with handwoven textiles, aromatic spices, tropical produce and distinctive crafts, each reflecting the cultural traditions and trading histories of the communities that produce them.
Through guided walks, storytelling and creative sessions, explore the enduring legacy of the ancient trade routes and the exchange of ideas, goods and traditions they fostered. Engage with the region through its art, food and culture, gaining a deeper understanding of how centuries of commerce continue to shape contemporary life.
Hội An
Hoian, an ancient trading port in Vietnam, boasts a rich heritage steeped in silk, spices, and diverse cultures. Established as a bustling centre for commerce, it drew merchants from various corners of the world, including China, Japan, and Europe, fostering a unique blend of architectural styles and traditions.
The vibrant streets are lined with well-preserved historical buildings, reflecting the town's historical significance and the lucrative silk trade that once flourished there.
Hoian's cultural tapestry is further enhanced by its culinary delights, influenced by centuries of trade and interaction, making it a living testament to the confluence of history and culture in this remarkable river city.
Organic Herb Village & Rice Paper Making
Tra Que Herb Village is a gentle, sensory place where gardens stretch in neat green rows and life moves at a slower rhythm. Here we enjoy a relaxed sketching session, capturing daily life, textures, and the quiet beauty of the herb fields. Learn to grind rice and make Banh Trang the traditional way. Afterwards there is free time to wander, be creative, and explore the surrounding lanes, farm scenes and local homes at your own pace.
Sunrise Boat Trip to a Working Fish Market
We walk through the village, engaging in tasting and learning as we move through its daily rhythms. The experience includes a local breakfast snack, a visit to a fish sauce production site, and encounters with fishermen resting over coffee after a night at sea. Along the way, observe women preparing small fish for export and others drying chilli-seasoned fish for preservation. Together, these moments offer an intimate view of a coastal economy shaped by craft, labour and food traditions.
Co Tu Village
An Ancient Encounter
This isn't just a visit; it's a profound awakening. Journey deep into the Co Tu Village, an exclusive realm where ancient traditions meet breathtaking mountain beauty. Immerse yourself in stilt house living with our friend Thin and her family, connecting with their bond to ancestral spirits and the wild lands. Experience evenings around a roaring bonfire with soulful gongs and the 'Tung Tung Da Da' folk dance. Savour hyper-local mountain cuisine and embrace untamed daylight adventures like river swimming, mastering the ancient crossbow, and witnessing brocade weaving. This isn't just an overnight stay; it's a once-in-a-lifetime immersion in Thin's homestay, a rare glimpse into a living culture that will forever etch itself into your being. Experience the Co Tu Village – an untamed odyssey for the brave, a revelation for the soul.
Imperial Legacy, Artistic Traditions & Culinary Heritage
Explore Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam and a centre of cultural, artistic and intellectual life for centuries. Delve into the architectural and historical significance of the Imperial Citadel and visit the Le Ba Dang Memory Space, an important cultural institution dedicated to one of Vietnam’s most distinguished modern artists.
Huế
The journey culminates in an evening cyclo exploration of Hue’s celebrated food culture, where dishes once prepared for the imperial court reveal the city's sophisticated culinary heritage. Throughout, discover a destination where history, artistry, craftsmanship and everyday life remain deeply interconnected.
Gain insight into Hue’s living traditions through visits to artisan communities, cycling through pomelo gardens and village landscapes shaped by generations of agricultural practice. Participate in hands-on workshops, learning the techniques of traditional enamel painting and the intricate craft of paper flower making. In a traditional incense-making village, learn the process of incense production and hand-roll your own incense using techniques passed down through generations.
Hue’s cuisine is widely regarded as one of Vietnam’s most refined culinary traditions, shaped by its history as the former imperial capital. It is characterised by aesthetic precision, balanced flavour profiles and a repertoire of small, carefully composed dishes associated with royal court gastronomy.
Alongside this heritage sits a vibrant vernacular food culture, where regional specialities continue to reflect the city’s emphasis on technique, subtle seasoning and presentation. Together, these traditions position Hue as a key centre of culinary sophistication within Vietnam’s gastronomic landscape.
Đà Nẵng
Discover Đà Nẵng, a dynamic coastal city where contemporary urban development intersects with significant cultural heritage. Visit the Museum of Cham Sculpture, which houses an internationally important collection of Cham artefacts reflecting the artistic traditions of the ancient Champa civilisation. Continue to Chùa Linh Ứng on the Sơn Trà Peninsula, noted for its prominent statue of the Lady Buddha and its commanding views over the coastline. The coastal landscape itself offers a further point of engagement, particularly at sunrise, when the shoreline is experienced in relative quiet. Together, these elements present Đà Nẵng as a site of layered historical, cultural and geographic significance.
-
9 Nights Accomodation Included
HOI AN
4 nights at Anicca Private Villa
DONG GIANG
1 night in the Co Tu village
HUE
3 nights in a 5 star hotel in the Imperial City
DANANG
1 night in a modern beachfront eco hotel
Please note the overnight experience in the Co Tu Village is in a traditional homestay room. This is a stilt house on the upper floor in a communal room. You will all have your own mattress, blanket and pillow, with your own mosquito net covering. There are "privacy" curtains separating all the mattresses. The toilet and shower (cold water only) is on the ground floor. It is safe, fun and worth the small discomforts for the incredible experience. So many guests have said it was the best part of these Experiences!
-
6am Optional Market/Nature Walks
7am Breakfast
9am-12pm Creative Sessions & Experiences
12:30pm Lunch
1-4pm Creative Sessions & Experiences
6pm Dinner
*Subject to change pending best choices re weather and local circumstances.
-
Small group of 8-10 ensures you will receive plenty of personal tuition during the sessions
9 nights accommodation in Central Vietnam
Fully hosted by Anna Barnes founder of Anna’s Art, Food & Culture Experiences. Chef, Artist & Anthropologist.
9 breakfasts
8 lunches
9 dinners
Vietnamese (and English speaking) Licensed International Guide on all outings
Private licensed, insured, air conditioned van trips with our dedicated driver
Entry ticket to Hoi An Ancient Town
2 days 1 night in a village with the Co Tu Ethnic people
Sunrise riverboat trip
Authentic Fishing Village Experience
Organic Herb Village Cooking Class
Rice Paper Making
Ancient Temples
Heritage Houses
Riverside BBQ Dinner
Guided Market Tours
Family home shared meals
Genuine Market Experiences with Sketching
Fusion Cuisine & Fine Dining
Co Tu Ethnic Weaving
Bonfires & Rice wine
Dancing and Village Walks
The Imperial City Hue tour
Com Hen Island
Anh Dinh Palace
Cultural Heritage Copper & Enamel Workshop
Conical Hat (Non la) and Traditional Dress (Ai Dao) free private workshop visit and shopping
Paper Lotus Flower making
Private Jazz Club and Cocktails with locals
Sunset Riverboat along The Perfume River
Private Tour of Le Ba Dang's Art Gallery (memory space)
Seafood Dinners
The Giant Lady Buddha (Chua Ling Ung)
Danang's Dragon Bridge at Night
Cham Museum
Famous Street food Che in Hue
And SO MUCH MORE!
Drinking Water will be made available. Please bring your own stainless steel refillable bottle. Say NO to straws and single use plastic.
Transfers via private car to and from airport at your chosen time (if arriving from Danang and going directly to our Hoi A Villa. Also back again from Danang hotel to airport - within 2 days of start and finish times)
-
International airfares
Visas
Travel insurance
Beverages- alcohol, imported soft drinks or extra drinks you order yourself.
Extra activities and tours organised in your free time (at your own cost)
Personal expenses, laundry, minibar, tips, extra nights accomodation etc.
Tips and gratuities (not compulsory)
Anything not mentioned in the Included list
-
Central Vietnam.
The closest airport to our starting point in Hoi An is Danang. Airport code for Danang is DAD.
Our Experience begins at 4pm on the first day advertised in Hoi An.
Please ensure that you have arranged your airline tickets so you arrive with plenty of time to settle in before we begin.
The Experience ends at 10am (checkout from hotel is noon) on the last day advertised. You will need around 30 minutes to transfer to Danang Airport, and a few hours for check in (check with your individual airlines guidelines).
We will pick you up in a private car upon arrival and bring you to your Villa in Hoi An. (45min drive)
It is imperative you arrive in time for our first night of festivities.
If you need help organising your transport from your home town to the retreat please email or call Anna. We provide travel agents details to help you navigate the details, or take care of everything for you.
Onward travel and additions to your itinerary can be organised for you. Please get in touch should you wish to explore other areas of Vietnam. Anna knows them well and has many good people to connect you with.
-
All Prices in AUD (Australian Dollars).
Solo - Private Room& Ensuite AUD$6300 (approx. USD$4300).
Twin - Private Room & Ensuite AUD$6200 (when booking two places at the same time twin/double bed).
AUD $1500 non refundable deposit required to reserve your spot. (Fully refunded if Art Food Culture cancels the trip).
Final payment of balance via our preferred payment provider WISE, your preferred bank direct transfer (EFT) or Credit Card.
We will send payment details and confirmation before due date.
Currencies fluctuate constantly. Please see your preferred currency conversion app for more accurate estimates.
Balance due 120 days before commencement date.
-
This itinerary is thoughtfully designed for discerning travellers who appreciate immersive cultural exploration at a consistent, unhurried, yet active pace.
Each day involves extended periods on foot — typically three to four hours — as we move through historic quarters, living neighbourhoods, architectural sites, markets, and landscapes where texture, scale, and detail are best experienced slowly and on the ground. Terrain may include uneven stone pathways, gentle inclines, staircases, and heritage environments that retain their original character.
Travel between locations may include local transport and occasional transitions that require ease with boarding and disembarking, as well as accommodation that reflects the authenticity of place rather than uniformity of modern hotel design.
This journey is best suited to travellers with confident mobility, a comfortable level of fitness, and an enjoyment of sustained daily movement as part of cultural engagement rather than physical exertion.
The rhythm of the experience is intentional and fluid, allowing for depth of observation and connection. It is not designed for a leisurely or intermittent pace, but for those who find pleasure in being continuously present within a place — walking, noticing, and absorbing its layers in real time.
Itinerary
-
Welcome drinks and snacks at the villa.
Meet your host Anna, Ngọc, and the group.
Private transfer to UNESCO-listed Hội An.
Dinner at the historic home of a long-time friend in Hội An.
Introduction to Vietnamese fresh rolls, dipping sauces, and dining traditions.
Guided evening walk through the lantern-lit old town and riverside.
Traditional chè dessert tasting.
Introduction to Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups.
-
Villa time for relaxation and creative pursuits.
Lunch at the best Cau Lao restaurant in Hoi An
Japanese Bridge.
Quang Thắng Ancient House.
Phúc Kiến Assembly Hall.
Time in Hội An Old Town for creative pursuits.
Riverside dinner at Mango Rooms.
-
Visit to a local market regularly visited by Anna for over 15 years, with time to meet local vendors and residents.
Fresh fruit drink or Vietnamese coffee at Tâm’s place.
Lunch in the Herb Gardens, followed by afternoon exploration of Tra Que.
Riverside BBQ meal frequented by locals.
-
Sunrise boat ride along the waterways.
Visit to a coastal fishing village and café, meeting members of the local fishing community.
Fishermans Coffee and Breakfast.
Time with hosts Kiet and Giang, sharing stories and cultural insights at their ethnic minority handcrafts gallery.
Hoi An family meal prepared by Giang from the local market with special ingredients sourced from their mountain journeys to ethnic minority villages.
Time at the gallery and café with focus on art and local expression.
Dinner at Anna’s best friend’s homestay garden restaurant. Meet the family and taste a truely local style meal.
-
Breakfast at the villa, followed by check-out and departure into the hills.
Visit to a Co Tu village, one of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic minority groups.
Cultural welcome with elder Mr Bling Blo and meeting Thin, a Co Tu woman and local host.
Creative time in the village.
Village lunch, exploration, and cultural activities including music, dance, and swimming.
Free time for connecting with village life or deeper cultural conversations with Thin.
Evening gathering with rice wine, bonfire, music, and dancing Co Tu style.
Overnight stay in the village.
-
Breakfast at Thin’s home
River swim and traditional crossbow activity with the Co Tu.
Visit to Lang Co, a coastal lagoon area for a seafood lunch.
Transfer to Huế and check-in
Dinner featuring traditional Bún Bò Huế.
-
Visit to local cafés and small eateries across the city.
Exploration of the Imperial City and historic pavilions.
Enamel Painting workshop and cultural wandering throughout Huế.
The original Salt Coffee tasting.
Local dining experiences featuring traditional Huế cuisine and the young local scene.
Private Jazz club of Anna's friend Phuong will have an artist playing. We will visit for a beverage and some soulful sounds.
-
Stay in Huế at a central hotel.
Visit to An Định Palace and Chợ An Cựu.
Perfume River cruise, including Thien Mụ Pagoda, with stop at Pomelo Village for cycling, traditional incense making and paper lotus flower making.
Visit to Lê Bá Đảng Memory Space.
Dinner with Vietnamese tourists, it is quite the experience.
-
Visit to a historic garden house in Huế with Mr Vinh Tu.
Local food experience featuring bánh ép.
Scenic journey over Hải Vân Pass, with a stop at a mountain café overlooking the “Lonely Pine Tree.”
Arrival in Đà Nẵng and evening seafood dining experience by the river, featuring fresh local seafood and coastal flavours.
Electric car ride to Dragon Bridge, with time to experience the illuminated riverfront and lively night river life along the waterfront.
-
Morning beach walk.
Visit to Chùa Linh Ứng.
Visit to the Cham Museum.
Check-out and transfer to the airport.
Farewell.
-
Hoi An
4 nights
Anicca Villa - 4 star
Own room & bathroom
Private Villa with Pool, Living areas & Kitchen
-
Co Tu Village
1 night
Family Homestay Stilt House
Shared space with the group
-
Hue
3 nights
Indochine Hotel - 5 star
Deluxe Room
-
Danang
1 night
Chicland - 4 star
Deluxe Room
Fresh Hot Chillis and wedges of Lime
Hue style Banh Beo
Textures & Tastes
Local Soup Noodles in Hoi An
Danang Style Fish Cake and Rice Noodle Soup
Cooking Demonstration Hue Banh Nam
Bun Bo Hue Family Noodle Stall
Northern Style Pho, Beef Noodle Soup
Family meal, Central Style, Hue.
We eat in Local Eateries
A Typical Street Food set up
We eat Local
Street Food
Che, a sweet dessert snack of fruits, legumes and starchy veg
Bun Bo Hue
Che vendor in Hue
What Guests Have Written about us
-
Dear Anna, Thank you for showing me the Vietnam you have come to know and love. Thank you for being so generous with your time, your friends, your knowledge and your life. You exceeded my expectations on what a trip like this can be. This trip expanded my knowledge of Vietnam- the people and the food and I certainly came away with some new skills and inspiration creatively. xx Julie
Julie H
-
I was truly astounded by your knowledge of everything Vietnamese. Any questions we had, you had the answers. Everything we did and everywhere we went was so thoroughly thought out, planned and researched that we never had any doubts that it wouldn’t be incredible. I found you to be a real inspiration - watching the way that you urban sketched, how you chose your subjects, but also how you were interacting with the locals. I really did find all of this very inspiring and it made me really think about what I want from my life.
Karina D
-
Love Anna! Her knowledge of Hoi An and Vietnamese food was invaluable. She had great recommendations for anything you wanted from restaurants to tailors to massages. I would travel anywhere with you, Anna! I really enjoyed walking around with Anna. My Dad and I agree that this was a trip of a lifetime and it is hard to describe to people. Thank you for helping us create that memory together.
Sarah H
-
Hi Anna, I just wanted to say that overall the trip was fantastic. Extremely well organised.
Karen T
-
"I highly recommend Art Food and Culture’s Western Sydney Travel Sketching classes. Anna has a wealth of knowledge on art, food, culture, and travel sketching and is such a warm friendly person. I have had so much fun travel sketching, eating delicious, authentic foods, and learning about each culture in the suburbs we visited. It’s been such an immersive experience, making it feel as if I traveled to a new country each week. I hope to attend one of Anna’s Vietnam Retreats in the future
Cathy C
-
Google traduction : « This is not an ordinary trip, it is a human experience where all the senses are solicited, tastes, smells, sounds, colors and time seems suspended. Difficult to resume our daily life, even if coming home is pleasant, a part of us stayed there and with the group, with whom we shared all these moments. There is a before and an after, we do not come out unscathed from this stay where Anna was able to share with us her passion for this country which oscillates between tradition and modernity.
Virginie F
-
Hello Dear Anna , I take time for transmet you my feelings …. With my little English… It was a super trip ! Your organisation is top , your energy 👍 I like the way to be attentive to ecology (plastic, river …etc ) It was super to discover so much different food and to cook some. Super also the visits , galleries, special place like the green garden…. Bref ….. difficile to tell you all
Isabelle C
-
Hi Anna, We thoroughly enjoyed the Vietnam Art Food Culture workshop . You did an amazing job curating an authentic Vietnam experience. Thanks again for your efforts in pulling it all together, educating us on Vietnam and making our trip special.
Bev and Graham
-
Wow ! Vietnam is amazing! I have had two weeks of just the best experiences with a small group of like minded souls from around the Globe. I truly enjoyed the ART, FOOD & CULTURE in and around Hoi An, Co Tú, Lang Co, Hue and Da Nang. The trip curated by Anna was a fantastic way to learn and really feel we were being immersed in the Vietnamese Culture. I came away with a much better understanding of what is all about Central Vietnam and I definitely want to go back to Vietnam and explore more in the North and South. Having all the great sensory experiences with Anna including a variety of culturally appropriate experiences and exciting Street Food & Markets too.
Alyson L
-
Is there anything else to say other than I have been back home for less than a week and am anxiously waiting to see the dates for next year's trips. I need more! Wonderful, superlative experience in every way. Thank you Anna Barnes for sharing your in-depth knowledge of Vietnam.
Joanne M
-
Hi Anna, My time in Vietnam with Anna was incredible. I came for Renata and sketching and would come back for Anna and Vietnam. What more to say! Everything was more than I expected. Neither Anna nor Renata counted their time. Both were always enthusiastic and available for help and understanding. I trusted you both. I went on this trip to experience life in Vietnam and profit from the colors, food, art, culture of the country. Maybe I did not sketch as much as expected by you or myself, but I took in all these sensations with pleasure. Anna: congratulations for having survived so many ‘French” people. We proved ourselves to be good travelers and great eaters! Your organization was great. The hotels were all different and good standing. CoTu was different. The minority was so generous. The sleeping and shower situations were completely ‘do-able’ and a small ‘adventure” for a city person. The meals were good, swimming in the river, dancing in the fields- lots of fun.
Deborah C
-
I highly recommend the Art Food Culture Retreats for anyone looking for a fun and interesting way to travel, stay, eat, sketch, learn about new cultures!
Alyson L
-
I had the most amazing trip Anna - loved how you took the hassle out of ordering food, took us to different locations and different levels and pushed us beyond our comfort zone without us even realising. You have a passion for life, food and Vietnam. I think you have pretty much nailed the tour Anna - you know what works for you, your tutors and your clients. Tweak it if you need to but you don’t change it too much. It’s pretty much spot on and for me personally it met my objectives of being able to explore Vietnam with a small group of like minded people.
Sam B
-
Anna is not your typical tour leader! She’s far more fun, unexpected, quirky and interesting. She really injected her passion for Vietnamese Food, People and Culture into every moment of the tour. Watching her sketch and record her own observations was another whole level of pleasure for me.
Janet M
-
A trip I shall always remember with wonder and amazement. Culinary delights and in depth cultural experiences expertly curated by Anna
Cheryl H
-
What an amazing experience. Anna is so knowledgable and organized. This tour is a must if you are looking for a fun, guided tour that shows you the local experience. We tried so many different foods and toured so many interesting places. Sitting in the local market sketching what inspired me, was my favorite experience, it is so enjoyable to absorb the atmosphere and the simple life in the local market
Michelle M
-
The GOOD - everything. Anna's organization, the hotels including the home stay with the generous CoTu minority, the meals taken in markets, the visits to monuments and museums, her farms and markets, rice noodle making and cooking lessons. Sites, Sounds and Sensations. Renata Lahalle shared her sketching knowledge and passion without counting her time. Great job to all as most of the participants were French speakers (but not Anna). Friendships were created and a great time was had by all!
Deb fom France
-
Wow! What an amazing Tour! Much more than I was expecting! Unforgettable! Anna is an amazing curator of her tour, so much knowledge, always helpful, very professional! I know that if I went to Vietnam on my own, I would not have seen or experienced so much! Thanks heaps Anna!
Liza L
-
Loved the wonderful accommodation at An Villa, so tranquil. Interesting variety of accommodation, liked the luxury of Indochine Palace in Đà Nẵng All the great breakfast’s,street food, bánh mì’s, lunches, cà phê sữa đá’s ( Vietnamese Ice Coffee and dinners, Chế! OMG the unbelievable fresh seafood dinner on our last night! Awesome! I would recommend ArtFoodCulture 150%, and would love to join one of Anna’s tours in the future for sure! 🙏
Lisa
-
Anna led us on a perfectly crafted tour that changed organically with the weather or groups interest or abilities and never felt rushed. It was like visiting an old friend who couldn’t wait to show you around their town, the best places to eat and provide a western interpretation for cultural context along the way while Lap, our Vietnamese tour guide, provided authentic and insightful cultural and historical narration.
Sean M
-
We loved this tour!!! Anna was our trip mom who kept everyone organized and made sure we were well fed. It’s wonderful to see her share her love for this culture from a more familiar western perspective.
Jen B
-
We loved Anna’s local knowledge of the best markets, best vendors, best food experiences in Vietnam. We loved the visit to the CoTu village, and the art experiences we were able to have. It was a fabulous tour. Do it again in a heartbeat.
Rennie
-
There were so many fabulous things I can’t pin point just one. Anna’s local knowledge is unparalleled. Not only knowledgeable about the country but the little things like local specialty places to eat and buy gifts. Recommendations of places to eat, after she’d checked them personally, recommendations of places to spend spare time after the formal tour as well. She coordinated different experiences to cater for different tastes and personalities. And that’s never an easy task. I have recommended Anna and her tours to many friends.
Dianna K
-
Best holiday ever, great friends and amazing places, loved sketching, will definitely do more in future.
Peter M