We begin at 4:00 pm.

Enjoy a welcome drink and light snacks. Your Host, Anna, and your Tutor look forward to meeting you.

We then head to the UNESCO town for an evening walking tour with our guide, enjoying the colorful lanterns and exuberant energy of Hoi An at night.

Dinner is at the award-winning Mango Rooms. Afterward, we will try "Che," a delicious Vietnamese dessert, street-side.

We learn about the 54 ethnic minority groups of Vietnam with a gallery and designers boutique visit.

There will be opportunities to take photos, videos, and sketch throughout the evening.

After breakfast poolside in the villa, your first Creative Session will begin.

Lunch is the famous Cao Lao noodles dish, only found in Hoi An. Thick noodles with a umami reduced broth, topped with slices of lean pork fillet, served with a forest of fresh herbs, lime wedges, chilli jam and crunchy fried noodle squares.

Afternoon we have designed a wonderful walking tour of the Old Town of Hoi An, visiting historical temples, ancient houses and discovering the alley ways and hidden gems of the yellow city. Try the Hoi An dumpling named "white rose".

Peel off and get some extra creative time for yourself, sketch, photograph and meet people, knowing we are close by and here for you.

Or stay close with us - An opportunity to try the tea houses and cafes of Hoi An, climb to a rooftop for a spectacular view, or rest by getting a foot or full body massage.

Dinner at Anna's friends restaurant for a family style Hoi An cuisine based meal by the river.

After breakfast poolside in the villa, we begin your Creative Session.

Lunch is a delicious vegetarian meal. This is also a great place for a herbal tea blend. Vegetarianism in Vietnam is practiced by buddhists on the lunar cycle. The full moon and half moon days. Today you will experience just how good vegan food is in Vietnam.

The afternoon is in the Old Town. Stay with our guide and be taken to the Sa Huynh Museum, the museum of the first inhabitants of Hoi An.

Sa Huynh Museum, housed in the French colonial style shop house constructed in early 1900s for Chinese merchants. It has the traditional tubular layout with the trading area in the front , linked by a central courtyard with water well, to the residential area at the rear.

Artefects are from archeological sites unearthed in and around the Thu Bon river basin (and Cham Island) of the Sa Huynh civilisation that flourished between 1000 BCE and 200 CE.

The Sa Huynh are thought to be the first international traders of the Thu Bon River. An important example showing they were active in seaborne trade with South East Asia, South India and China.

We also will show you some of the most exquisite silk hand embroidery, done so delicately they look like photographs.

Our cafe today is in a Silk Loom cafe. Watch the artisans at work and enjoy the scenes (sketch able) of hand operated looms.

Dinner is a local version of the National Dish of Vietnam. Pho. Beef noodle soup. A restaurant that serves one dish only and after years of serving the same thing, they have perfected the recipe. Squeeze in some lemon, pick your fresh herbs and dunk in some bean sprouts. Take a slurp! It doesn’t get any better than this.

After breakfast poolside in the villa we take a short 15 min drive to the Herb Village.

Learn about the herbs, the growing techniques, organic farming, local and seasonal ethos. Grind rice in an old style stone grinder and make rice paper pancakes over a mud and straw hearth.

Your Creative Session is here.

Lunch under the palm thatched grooves of the first and oldest restaurant in the village with Mrs Thuong.

Try an avocado coffee with Anna,

Dinner is another of Hoi An’s best! A small place that perfectly showcases Vietnamese resilience. Opened as a “pop up” during covid and only doing home deliveries, it is now one of the best vegan restaurants in a quiet hamlet outside the main centre, run by Anna’s friend Phuong. Anna will order family style for you, and it has been said to be the best meal of the trip.

Breakfast in the Villa.

Creative Session in our private session room and beyond.

Lunch is the rice noodle dish of the province. Mi Quang. We visit the best noodle house in the area, for this delicious dish of rice noodles, pork, shrimp, egg and mountains of fresh greens and crispy rice crackers.

In the afternoon we venture west up into the hills to visit the ancient Cham ruins of My Son.

After a 1.5hr drive we arrive at the ancient temples where your guide will inform you about the history, architecture and culture of the area.

Between the 4th and 13th centuries a unique culture which owed its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism developed on the coast of contemporary Viet Nam. This is graphically illustrated by the remains of a series of impressive tower-temples located in a dramatic site that was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence.

They are constructed in fired brick with stone pillars and decorated with sandstone bas-reliefs depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. Their technological sophistication is evidence of Cham engineering skills while the elaborate iconography and symbolism of the tower-temples give insight into the content and evolution of Cham religious and political thought.

The My Son Sanctuary is an exceptional example of cultural interchange, with an indigenous society adapting to external cultural influences, notably the Hindu art and architecture of the Indian sub-continent.

The Champa Kingdom was an important phenomenon in the political and cultural history of South – East Asia, vividly illustrated by the ruins of My Son

Tropical jungle vibes with beautiful sunset atmosphere. Perfectly enjoyed with a coconut and a sketchbook or camera!

This evening is a free night. Check the guide for recommendations or ask your host. Even better, wander locally until you find something delicious. By now Anna will have explained to you what to look for and how to spot a good street food stall. Of course, there is also the hotel restaurant if you prefer some extra comfort.

Early start, we head out at dawn. We don’t want to miss the action.

A gorgeous sunrise boat trip along the river. Enjoy watching Hoi An wake up.

Breakfast in the market with the fishermen and fish mongers. Banh Mi (the famous Vietnamese sandwich on a crispy baguette) and a Vietnamese workers style coffee.

Your chance to see a working fishing market, far enough away from the tourists, yet close enough to go by boat.

The energy is hectic and busy, the fisherman are coming to shore after a night of fishing, the women are buying and selling on waters edge. Giant ice blocks are being chipped for ice, motorbikes, trucks, food vendors, colour and excitement.

After your Creative Session with your tutor and a tour of the village, meet the locals, try some of the foods they are selling, and then we head back to our Fishermans cafe which has now transformed into a seafood BBQ joint. Freshly cooked from the very market we just sketched, you try Vietnam Style seafood. Grilled scallops with green onions and peanuts, squid with chilli & garlic fish sauce, whole BBQ fish with small morsels wrapped in fresh green mustard leaves dipped into hot green sauce.

After lunch we head back to our Villa by boat for an afternoon and evening of rest and free time.

Breakfast in the Villa

A relaxing day in the garden cafe and art gallery of Ethnic minority crafts and textiles where you have your creative session with your tutor.

Enjoy a single origin ethically produced coffee or tea, ask Kiet all about the items in his gallery and give your credit card a little love and purchase some of the hand collected items on display if thats your thing. Textiles, woven items, clay and wood pieces.

Lunch is by Giang, featuring local seasonal produce purchased from the local market that morning, cooked family style

Free afternoon.

Dinner in a local area, riverside where you learn all about Nhau-the eateries where Vietnamese go to casually socialise, eat and drink.

We try BBQ fish and squid, delicious mango salad, crispy pork belly and deep-fried tofu and more. Learn about the etiquette of eating Vietnamese style.

We arrive in the Old Town before the tourists do, and have our Creative Session with your tutor in a street cafe with the locals, right amongst the historic yellow buildings.

Pho for breakfast street side, the national dish of Vietnam, of rice noodles, beef broth and rare beef with mountains of fresh herbs, a squeeze of lime, sprouts and chilli.

Lunch is a modern style fusion restaurant in Anna's friends grandparents house, down a secret laneway of the UNESCO heritage town.

Afternoon we keep exploring and creating, meeting at the best cafe in town to meet some local practicing artists, try a specialty coffee, talk about our book club book, before heading back to the Villa for an evening of free time.

Check the guide for recommendations for dinner.

Breakfast in the Villa

Your last Creative Session today in the ancient town at the temple gate Ba Mu. Ba Mu Temple was officially built in 1626. Initially located at a different site, it was later relocated to its current address. Only façade survives.

Established by the Ming Dynasty supporting refugees.

It comprised 2 seperate sanctuaries, the right side (facing) was dedicated to 12 midwife deites who’s function was to support newborns. The left side (facing it) was dedicated to the Chinese god of medicine, 36 generals (heavenly spirits) and 72 “earthly demons” who made up the entourage of rebel leader Song Jiang.

The 19th century popularity of this temple was that Ba Mu became the shrine for local couples who were praying for children.

The salvaged 12 midwife statues from here are found in the Phuc Kein Assembly hall we visited on our second day.

Hoi An cuisne for lunch. We have booked tables at a local Restaurant where you can continue to sketch and enjoy Ba Mu temple gate area with beautiful lily ponds and the fascinating modern culture of locals and photographic sessions. A great place for people sketching.

Free afternoon in the Ancient Town.

Return to Villa to freshen up before dinner, or stay on and meet us for dinner at Chef Duc’s restaurant in Old Town.

Chef Duc is a passionate chef, combining his personal culinary history, good humour and sensitive empathic character on the plate to impress your senses. This is fusion food done well. The creativity of Chef Duc  is fuelled by local seasonal produce, and a deep love for his birth country.

If we are lucky, Chef Duc will meet with us before dinner, and tell us his story of how he came to Hoi An. Bring a tissue! An impressive final dinner, with elevated world class cuisine by a truely remarkable human of integrity and ethics.

Breakfast in the Villa.

A casual walk and coffee in the local market, free sketching time, take some last photos, buy some last minute foodie gifts before we say farewell at 10am.

Checkout is 12pm.

Your airport transfers are organised with us, drivers are booked, we say farewell but remain friends for life.