Specialty itineraries designed to enhance your creativity

Experience

Colour, Food, Textiles, Architecture, Markets, Living Culture & the Arts

Slow Travel with your host Anna Barnes

artist, chef & anthropologist

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Anna’s Art, Food & Culture Experience

Small group, 5 star, meticulously designed 10 day experience.

Anna Barnes & Richard Briggs

Hoi An, Vietnam

April 12th - 21st, 2026

For everyone of any sex, age, race, religion or walk of life who would like to experience slow, responsible travel with like-minded people. The emphasis is on immersive cultural experiences while enjoying a deep exploration of Vietnamese Culinary History and Food Culture. You will be taught Travel Sketching and Visual Journalling on location with one of our Experts.

We focus on the Art, Food, and Culture of Vietnam. A meticulously curated experience.

Your workshops throughout the programme will take you from being a complete beginner to feeling confident in 8 progressive lessons. They’re held on location with our guest expert alongside your host Anna and her local friends.

Richard Briggs

  • BA(hons) architecture

    B.arch architecture

    ARB UK registered architect 067972K

  • At the end of all the workshops the participants will be able to:

    • Learn about how a sketch can lead to telling a story about place, landscape, culture and community 

    • Understand the role of observation before sketching and how looking can lead to clear and defined sketches identifying key urban and natural elements

    • Look at complex and busy scenes and be able to reduce the content of sketch to keep it clear and punchy

    • Look for edges, lines, shapes of architecture, objects and people to form interesting sketch compositions

    • How to break down complex views into simple shapes and elements make decisions about what to include and what not to include in a sketch

    • Learn techniques such as the continuous line technique and how patterns can form interesting levels of density in a sketch

    • Small notepad A5 size for thumbnail sketches and observation notes (this can be your everyday sketchbook and for experiments and discoveries)

    • Sketch book at least A4 in size (best size is the 11”x14” size) paper to be at least 110 gsm

    • Lots of pens such as artline pigment based including colours such as black, blue, red, brown and green (black sizes should range from 0.2, 0.5, 0.8) colours can be 0.4.

    • Posca paint pens 3M in size for drawing on objects (colours black, white, blue, red, green)

    • A3 hard board to use a supporting surface when sketching

    • Bulldog clips

    • Other drawing materials that you love to use!

    • Masking tape (other tapes will be supplied!)

    • Lightweight foldable stool that can fit in your bag

    • The usuals such as hat, good walking shoes, sunglasses, water bottle, suitable waterproof bag for carrying sketchbooks and supplies

    • Some of the sketching will be done quickly in busy places whilst standing up, so resilience for this type of immersion and sketching would be great!

    • Learn some basic Vietnamese language so that you can start to connect with community when sketching

  • From university students:

    “Richard was very good at providing feedback on drawing and encouraging us to quickly and efficiently draw in the street”

    “Great structured workshops that encouraged student participation and to develop their own style of drawing”

    “Richard is very helpful improving students’ initial ideas, I really love his teaching style and learned so much from him about drawing techniques which I will use throughout my life! He has a very kind, patient and generous approach to teaching!”

    “Richard inspires students to draw more”

  • University:

    Teaching experience of groups of 18-20 students with a range of skills, teaching drawing and learning about place and community as key parts of an architecture course.

    Sydney university: second year architecture 2018 - 2024. Course leader for a student field trip to Darwin for 1 week. Students working with an indigenous teaching college on learning about Country with cultural sensitivity.   

    UNSW: interior architecture summer elective street life studies in collaboration with Royal University of Fine Arts in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Course leader for a student field trip to Cambodia for 2 weeks 2016, 2017, 2019. Students drawing streetlife activities (cooking, making, helping, etc) in the centre of Phnom Penh with cross cultural aspects.

    Urban sketching workshops:

    2016: Manchester, selected instructor: workshops and a lecture that expanded upon the themes developed in the workshops 

    2019 Amsterdam, selected instructor: workshops and tape drawing demo

    2023 Auckland, selected instructor: workshops and tape drawing demo with everyone attending creating the work

    2024 Buenos Aires, selected instructor: workshops and tape drawing demo with everyone attending creating the work

    Also see below some text on my teaching style and description of how I run workshops.

    Experience as an art instructor:

    As an art instructor I have always tried to provide insightful workshop experiences, and ones that well after the symposium has finished allows people to digest ideas, tips and approaches and apply these to their own sketching practice.

    With a background in architecture and design, I have taught at universities with students and with the wider public. I have worked with people across all backgrounds and skill sets and have good interpersonal skills, which have been developed whilst working as a team member in both design practice and in an education context.

    My interest in discovering unique aspects to cities has defined my approach to urban sketching. I have refined teaching methods over the past 9 years, providing a workshop framework for students and sketchers to work within, guiding them with thought provoking approaches and techniques. These efforts plant “a seed of thought” on how to approach urban sketching with the aim of producing clear sketches with a message and a story. I am an advocate for making sketches as simple as possible but ones that possess great depth and thought from the author of the sketch.

    The simple approach of firstly writing down words to describe a place, and then ensuring that any sketch uses those words as a basis content wise, is an approach that I have been developing in the past few years. This helps with the process of breaking down the visually overwhelming and simplifies the process.

    For 7 years I have been a co-tutor for an intensive short course at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney. The course is called street life studies, which focuses on documenting a sense of place in two cities; Phnom Penh in Cambodia and Sydney in Australia. This course involves guiding over 20 design and architecture students with different skill sets (some have never sketched on location before) through the process of using urban sketching to understand the local streetscape. This approach aims to help form ideas on how public space in a city can be improved.

    In 2017 I was invited to co-run a short workshop at the James Cook University in Cairns, Australia. It was in collaboration with Chuck Wolfe, the US based author of “seeing the better city” and focused on elements that make a place interesting. We used urban sketching as a medium to describe “place” in this workshop.

    In 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 I have been teaching 2nd year architecture studio, where I have encouraged students to use and improve their hand drawing skills in the street context. This has opened many eyes to this type of drawing experience and is starting to develop into a common theme throughout the course.

    All of these experiences have allowed me to teach with empathy, and to understand the framework required to create engaging experiences for students, one that is simple enough to follow but is thought provoking, encouraging students to get outside their comfort zone.

    In essence, I love teaching.

  • Area of specialty in sketching: 

    I use the combination of observation and line based sketches to try and describe the spirit or charm of a place; what makes a place interesting, what makes it unique, and how people create life on the streets. My sketches are playful with their composition, allowing the viewer to engage and fill in any blank spaces in the sketch. 

    I use the following step by step process; 

    • observation and looking at what you see

    • understanding and being curious about those findings

    • putting these findings into small and quick sketches to express what elements are interesting

    • using the above to produce expansive sketches with a clear focus in terms of content, and one that tells a story about a place’s character 

    In using the above step by step process and framework, I encourage anyone I work with to develop their own voice through what they sketch.

    Sketching techniques that I use include continuous line drawing, simplification of busy scenes, and the use of basic one point perspective to create depth in a sketch. 

    I also use tape to do urban sketches, placed on the streets and that use the above principles but in a more abstract and simplified way due to the nature of the medium. This is incredibly fun for anyone who participates and is a way to think about drawing as being interactive and inclusive. 

    Below is a link to an interview on the urban sketchers channel: 

    USK talks link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG2IMIr7Kls

Anna Barnes

Your Host, founder of Anna’s Art, Food & Culture Experiences

Your host Anna Barnes (founder of ArtFoodCulture, chef, artist and long-term traveller to Vietnam) has built a network of contacts over the years that will enable you to experience Vietnam with greater insight than with your regular tour. We go behind the scenes, interact with families, learn creative skills, and taste some of the best food Vietnam has to offer.

  • Allegro Hoi An

    Luxury "Little Suite" rooms are reserved for you. They all have a king sized bed with private ensuite and balcony. At 50 square meters, with bathtub, robe, swimming pool, spa, bar and gym, you are guaranteed a comfortable experience.

    Little Allegro is walking distance to the Old Town, perfect for free time.

  • 6:30am Optional Market/Nature Walks

    7:30-8:30am Breakfast

    9am-12pm Art Workshop OR Tour/Free Sketching time

    12:30pm Lunch

    1-4pm Tour/Free Sketching time OR Art Workshop

    6-8pm Dinner

    *Subject to change pending best choices re weather and local circumstances.

    • Small group ensures you will receive plenty of personal tuition during the sessions

    • 9 nights 5 star accommodation in Hoi An

    • Fully hosted by Anna Barnes of Art Food Culture. Chef, Artist & Anthropologist.

    • 9 breakfasts

    • 8 lunches

    • 6 dinners

    • 8 x 3hr Art Workshops led by your tutor Richard Briggs

    • Vietnamese (and English speaking) Licensed International Guide on all outings

    • Entry ticket to UNESCO heritage Hoi An Ancient Town

    • Private licensed, insured, air conditioned van trips with our dedicated driver

    • My Son tour- historic Cham ruins

    • A day in a village with the Co Tu Ethnic people

    • Sunrise Riverboat trip

    • Organic Herb Village experience

    • Rice Paper making

    • Cooking demonstrations & Food tasting

    • Riverside BBQ Dinner

    • Guided Market Tours

    • Coffee Culture

    • Family home shared meals

    • Genuine Fish Market experience

    • 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

  • International airfares

    Visas

    Travel insurance

    Some meals

    Beverages- alcohol and imported soft drinks 

    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

  • Hoi An, 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 45 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. We recommend you arrive at least a day or two earlier. We will help you book extra nights accomodation if requested.

    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 USD.

    A $1000 non refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot. (Fully refunded if Art Food Culture cancels the trip).

    We recommend you take out travel insurance immediately, should you change your mind or need to cancel.

    Large Private Suite with Balcony & Ensuite USD$4,900

    Twin Travellers US $4,800 (when booking two places at the same time, king bed or twin available)

    The balance is paid when the trip is officially announced as proceeding, not less than 120 days before commencement.

Participate on an Anna’s Art, Food & Culture Experience

  • Art

    Creativity & Curiosity growth Support

    8 × 3 hr Workshops with Richard Briggs

    Ongoing and Continuous Creative Tuition throughout.

    Writers, poets, content creators, musicians & photographers encouraged to join

    Market tours with dedicated Creative Sessions

    Sketch with Richard & Anna in the heart of the Local Markets, Villages & Family Homes.

    Traditional Artisans, Ateliers & Textiles

    Early Morning Adventures-Capture the Light and soul of the culture (optional)

    Gallery & Museum Visits

  • Food

    Authentic local food

    Try the famous dishes

    Street Food & Local Eateries

    "Break bread" with locals (eat noodles)

    Food Filming, Content Creating & Food Photography Friendly

    Write Recipes, Keep a Journal

    Family Home Meals

    Sober friendly (no booze based activities)

    Learn to use chopsticks (or byo fork)

  • Culture

    Ethical Slow Travel

    Co Tu Village Day Trip

    Family Home Visits

    Meet Anna's Friends

    Market vendor interactions

    Small group-max 10

    LGBTQIA+ safe space

    Coffee Culture

    Off the beaten paths and behind the service & travel industry

    Learn about the living culture

    Book club (book announced when you reserve your spot)

    10 day creative inspiration destinations.

    Private WhatsApp Group

  • Co Tu Village

    We visit a Co Tu village (one of 54+ ethnic groups in Vietnam). Experience the fascinating hospitality, culture and nature of the Co Tu people. A village of just 315 people whose lives are ruled by the seasons just as they have been for time immemorial. Traditional agriculture, especially the cultivation of sticky rice and vegetables dominate local life. The ancient practice of weaving can be seen everywhere, from the sturdy yet decorative clothing to buildings woven in a way that resists the very elements themselves. The largest and most decorative of these are the Guol and Moong houses. In the middle of the village common a totem pole stands as a silent witness to harvest festivals, marriages and funerals.

    We enjoy lunch in a traditional communal house (private to us) located directly inside the village.

    We have the opportunity to swim in the river with the kids.

    We meet Anna’s good friend Thin, who will take you on a village walk.

    You can enjoy the local cafe and take time to sketch and relax

    We are privileged to be entertained by the elders stories, local music and dance traditions, also being given the opportunity to participate.

Day Trip to a Co Tu Village

Sunrise Boat Trip to a Working Fish Market

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My Son Ancient Cham Ruins

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.

Itinerary

  • We begin at 4pm. Enjoy a welcome drink and snacks. Your Host Anna and Tutor look forward to meeting you. Meet each other & connect.

    We enjoy a delicious Vietnamese meal in Hoi An’s best restaurant.

    We meet our senior local guide, and enjoy an evening walking tour. The beautiful colourful lanterns riverside, and exuberant energy of Hoi An at night is a most spectacular experience.

    We try a delicious Vietnamese dessert called Che, learn about the 54 ethnic minority groups of Vietnam, and have the opportunity to take photos, videos and sketch.

  • After breakfast poolside in the villa, your first workshop 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.

    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 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.

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

    Try an avocado coffee with Anna,

    Rest, sketch and create in the afternoon before we head out for 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 learn about the etiquette of eating Vietnamese style.

  • Breakfast in the Villa

    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.

    -Here you also have your creative Session with your tutor


    -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.

    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.

    Afternoon - take some free time to swim, sketch or wander in our Villas friendly hamlet community before we head out to a local vegan eatery for dinner. You will be surprise how much you enjoy this meal. It is absolutely brimming with flavour and freshness.

  • 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 workshop 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 the town for a workers lunch known as com binh dan. A cabinet full of freshly made dishes - grilled, braised, sautéed, steamed, something for everyone, served on rice.

    The night is free time for all. Anna has a list of restaurants in the guide you may wish to try. Our villa also has a restaurant you may wish to enjoy a delightful Hoi An style meal poolside.

  • Breakfast in the Villa

    The highlight of the trip.
    -We visit a Co Tu village. One of 54 ethnic minority groups of Vietnam.
    -First we visit the elder Mr Y Kong and pay our respects. He will tell us a few things about his culture, and you can have a bathroom stop here.
    -Next we meet with Anna's friend Thin, a Co Tu woman.

    -Creative Session with your tutor in the Village

    Lunch, village tour, musicians, dancing, swimming and more sketching, photography and connecting in the village. Feel free to wander around and meet the beautiful people of this warm and inviting village, or stick close to Thin and ask her a million questions, of which she will be happy to answer. The Co Tu are very proud of their culture, and we are genuinely privileged to be able to visit them.

    We return early evening and dinner is served family style in the Villa’s restaurant.



  • 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 and evening. Check the guide for recommendations and ask Anna for specific things you may like to do.

  • 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, 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.

    Sa Huynh Museum is nearby and we recommend you visit after lunch. It is, 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.

    -Enjoy time wandering the Ancient Town.
    -Ask Anna for her recommendations. -There is a great massage place nearby, and if you've never has a foot massage before, then now is the time!.

    -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.

Your workshops throughout the programme will take you from being a complete beginner to feeling confident in 8 progressive lessons. They’re held on location in our hotel studio setting & in various interesting locations in Vietnam with Richard Briggs. Your daily outings will be accompanied by Richard, Anna and bilingual local guide, Ngoc.

For those who would like to experience slow, responsible travel with like-minded people. Be taught by Richard Briggs, on location. Explore the living culture of Central Vietnamese people. Venture into the UNESCO heritage town of Hoi An for daily demonstrations and opportunities to discover slowly in comfort.

Premium Art Food & Culture Experience

Anna Barnes founder of Art Food Culture is your host, working closely with her experienced senior local guide.

A Premium experience. meticulously designed. the perfect trip to unwind.

Gorgeous New Hotel with Large Suites Reserved for you

Walking distance to the UNESCO Heritage Town, with pool and in-house spa services.

A perfect balance of tutored art sessions, local town visits, guided history & culture tours

Delicious food, comfortable restaurants & enjoyable relaxed evenings out.

Early mornings, and long drives optional.

This is the comfortable trip for those who wish to participate in creative workshops on location, enjoy good food and plenty of rest time.

PARTICIPATE

local specialties bun cha pho banh mi fresh seafood mountains of green vegetables noodles soup crunchy baguettes wobbly rice pancakes fresh herbs hot chilli juicy limes just made tofu sticky rice thick chewy tapioca noodles pungent fish sauce fermented anchovies pickled daikon green papaya mango smoothies fresh crisp rose apples stinky durian bbq squid freshly caught prawns silky flan earthy che tropical fruits crispy pork crunchy peanuts bitter melon strong coffee sweet ethical chocolate refreshing coconut sweet sugar cane juice sweet salty pungent umami fermented fresh green incense colour energy life

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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