Vietnam by Avocet Travel Management

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Thinking about going to Vietnam and are you looking for a real expert to help you plan and book your trip of a lifetime?

Our Vietnamese experts are on hand to offer you first hand knowledge of the country, its people and places to visit.

From beaches to stunning mountain scenery, small villages and large cities. Vietnam has it all.

We can get you off the tourist trail for you to experience the real Vietnam.

Give us a call on 01737 763421

Throughout the Pandemic our Travel Partners have been here for you. Working tirelessly in obtaining refunds, rebooking travel plans and generally offering advice to our valued clients. As each Travel Partner owns their part of the business the last 12 months has been (to say the least) a struggle. However, we are still here for you.

Whilst we are not currently able to travel, we are still here for you to plan your future travel.

Holidays, business travel, meeting and events, aircraft, helicopter, coach and train chartering and there is nothing like booking through an ABTA approved travel agent.

So, if like us you are dreaming of going on holiday, need to book that all important business meeting, looking for a venue for an event (or meeting), wanting to take to the high seas on a cruise or need to charter aircraft, coaches or trains then give our experts a call.

Avocet Travel Management:
Telephone: 01737 763421
Email: [email protected]

I am still missing Vietnam especially it's people and food. So, let’s pretend we are in Vietnam and cook a Tofu dish. Now, I don't particularly like tofu, but this dish really is tasty so go on give a go.

Dậu phụ sốt cà is the dish we are going to cook.

You will need:

900g firm tofu
5 chopped tomatoes (ripe ones)
1 teaspoon of soy or fish sauce
1 cup of water
Oil for cooking
1 teaspoon Garlic (crushed)
2 small shallots (finely chopped)
3 Spring onion
1 or 2 fresh Chillies (finely chopped)
Salt and pepper to taste

And this is what you do:

• Cut the tofu in half (length ways) and pop onto some kitchen paper. Cover the top with more kitchen paper and leave for about ½ hour. This will remove excess liquid.
• Heat a pan on medium high and add a single layer of tofu and brown. Set aside on more paper towels.
• Heat the cooking oil in a pan. Fry the garlic and shallots until fragrant. Add chillies, chopped tomatoes, water soy (or fish) sauce and spring onions (reserve some for the topping).
• Bring to the boil then lower the heat and let simmer until the tomato’s breakdown.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Add fried tofu and heat through.
• Serve in a bowl topped with spring onions.

Why not join one of food tours in Vietnam. A popular tour is our field to table tour taking in the rice fields, the markets and of course the cookery course. You will have much fun and really get to know the Vietnamese people. We combine this tour with a trip to Sapa, Hanoi and a 1-night cruise on Halong Bay. But as with all of our tours if there is something specific you would like to see or do just let us know after all it is your holiday.

Banh Mi Trung

During my times in Vietnam, I always look forward to breakfast. In particular in Hoi An. Here in Hoi An you can buy the best Banh Mi in the world!

Banh Mi is basically a sandwich, but it is no ordinary sandwich. There are many fillings but my favourite is egg omelette.

I have found a recipe for this simple but tasty dish although in Europe it is difficult to get Banh Mi bread so I opt for a French stick as a replacement which is a pretty close substitute.

Here is my take on Banh Mi Trung or egg sandwich:

Ingredients

1 French stick
4 eggs
½ small cucumbers (sliced)
150g shredded carrots
2 tablespoons of cooking oil
2 tablespoons of rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
Fresh coriander and garlic
Chilli sauce (or better still fresh chillies)
Soy sauce
Salt and paper (to taste)

And this is how you make it:

• Mix the sugar with the vinegar in a bowl and add the shredded carrots. Allow to marinade for 15 minutes or so.
• Drain and squeeze dry.
• Beat the eggs in a bowl and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan and pour in the egg mixture spreading evenly over the pan.
• Cook until golden brown, then flip and cook through. Set ASIDE
• Cut the French stick so that the omelette will fit and then cut length ways.
• Place omelette in the bread and layer with the carrots, slices of cucumber, coriander and a few chillies (if using).
• Drizzle with Soy Sauce and enjoy

Whilst I am missing Vietnam this is a real flavour of the country bringing back many great memories of my times in this wonderful country.

If this has whetted your appetite (for travel!) then give us a call and let us plan your trip for when travel once again become the normal.

Happy New Year

The first day of Lunar New Year or Tết is celebrated this year on 12th February and is the biggest celebration on the Vietnamese people’s calendar.

Tết or Tết Nguyên Đán to give it its full name means “Feast of the First Morning of the First Day”. It is considered the first day of spring so is often called Hội xuân or spring festival.

Bright colours abound the city streets and peach blossoms (to bring good luck for the coming year) are transported on the backs of motorbikes. Houses are cleaned and decorated and cooks prepare special dishes for the family.

Tết celebrations start 3 days before Lunar New Year and last several days afterwards.

It is a great time to see Vietnam as street are generally quieter but try to avoid travelling a few days each side of Tết as the transport system will be heavily used and traffic will be busier than normal.
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới (Happy New Year)

Our tours of Vietnam let you explore the true culture and can include a visit to a local school. Pictured is “assembly” for the youngsters of Yen Bai province.

Food plays an important part in life of the Vietnamese and anyone who has visited will agree that the food is some of the best in the world.

Whilst in Vietnam I am fortunate enough to stay with our director’s family in Hanoi. Hospitality is at the centre of everyday life and dinner times are always a feast to behold.

My favourite is Nem Ran Hay Cha Gio (or as I call them Vietnamese Spring Rolls).

As a taster of what to experience I have been given this recipe to share with you. Give it a try!

2oz dried thin rice noodles
¾ cup ground chicken
¼ cup shrimp, washed, peeled and cut into small pieces
2 large hard boiled eggs peeled and grated
4 mushrooms – go for something like chestnut for more flavour
2 spring onions, chopped
½ teaspoon white sugar
½ teaspoon of salt
24 rice paper wrappers
2 cups vegetable oil for frying

• Soak rice noodles in water for about 20 minutes, drain well and cut into 2-inch-long pieces
• Mix together the noodle pieces, chicken, shrimp, egg, carrot, mushroom and green onions.
• Add the sugar and salt and stir well.
• Soak rice paper (one at a time) in a bowl of water (about 15 seconds), remove and place on a damp cloth
• Place 1 tablespoon of filling into the centre of the rice paper. Fold bottom edge so it covers the filling then roll tightly.
• Repeat (you should be able to make about 24 rolls out of this)
• Heat oil in ta wok over a medium heat
• Add 3 to 4 rolls at a time and cook until crispy (around 5 minutes)
• Drain on paper towels
• Eat – the best bit!

If that has whetted, your appetite (for food and Vietnam) then why not ask us about our Vietnamese food tours. You get to try many traditional dishes, discover where the produce comes from, shop for ingredients in local markets and make your own authentic dishes. A really fun holiday.

Fin Ho tea is probably the best the world. Surprisingly, it does not come from India but comes from high up in the mountains of Vietnam. Our tours can lead you to this enchanted world in the clouds.

Ninh Binh is just 2 ½ hours by road from Hanoi but the contrast is spectacular. From the hustle and bustle of the city you find yourself in the middle of towering mountains dotted with caves. So spectacular is Ninh Binh that the latest King Kong movie was filmed here. So when you see King Kong coming out of his cave, you are looking at Ninh Binh.

World Famous Water Puppets

During the 11th century people would entertain each other with puppets. Standing waste deep in the flooded paddy fields the entertainers would perform traditional folk stories which can be seen today in theatres built specifically for this purpose. Unique to the north of Vietnam the puppets are best seen in Hanoi.

Descending Dragons

Any visit to Vietnam is not complete without visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay. Ha Long (or Descending Dragons) is about 4 hours from Hanoi by road.

There are various styles of ships from basic 3 star up to luxury 5 star options available and offer 1, 2 or 3 night options.

The one night option is the most popular and usually includes lunch, a visit to a floating fishing village, a fun cookery lesson, dinner, night fishing, breakfast, tai chi lesson, a visit to a cave system and brunch. But the real reason to visit Ha Long Bay is to see the limestone islets of which there are 775.

Let Avocet Travel Management book you Ha Long Bay trip

Sapa - the foot hills.

So, you have made it to Vietnam. But where should you visit? Lets over the next few weeks give you some ideas starting with the hill town of Sapa.

Sapa is north of Hanoi right up in the mountains and in my view is one of the most spectacular places to visit whilst in Vietnam.

The town itself stands at the head of a deep valley and is the best place to see the rice terraces, rivers come tumbling down the valley feeding these terraces. Despite the tourists life is still very traditional. You do not need to go far to experience the real Vietnam.

Close by is Mount Fansipan. A three day trek takes you to the top of the mountain. OK, lets take the 25 minute cable car ride instead!

If you want to experience life in Vietnam we would suggest a visit to the town of Bac Ha. Sundays are the day to go as the ethnic market is held. See the traders all in traditional dress. The sights, smalls and sounds are remarkable.

Feeling energetic? Lets go for a hike. Through villages unconnected by road, along rice terraces and if it's hot bathe in the waterfalls.

What is not to like about the hill surrounding Sapa!

More details are available from Avocet Travel Management

In this day and age airlines are financially struggling but it is good to see that the Vietnamese Government have reinvested US$520m into their national carrier Vietnam Airlines

Long Bien Bridge, Hanoi

One of the icons of Hanoi is Long Bien Bridge. This strategically important bridge spans the Red River. It was built by Dayde and Pille of Paris between 1899 and 1902 and was opened in 1903. 3000 Vietnamese worked on the bridge during constriction.

Originally named the Paul-Doumer Bridge it changed its name after the independence of North Vietnam in 1954 to Long Bien Bridge.

At 2.4km long, the bridge was one of the longest in Asia.

Heavily bombed during the Vietnam War meant a lot of reconstruction work was needed and a small part remains as built.

Trains, two wheeled vehicles and pedestrians all use the bridge on a daily basis and our tours in Hanoi include a walk along part of the structure.

Here is an odd fact about Vietnam. Did you know that words in Vietnam only ever contain one syllable? So whilst we would write Vietnam it actually is Viet Nam and Hanoi would be Ha Noi etc!

When we first started operating to Vietnam we knew we had a great product as we tailor make every tour around the clients interests. (this does not mean tours are expensive!) So one of the questions we always asked prior to designing a tour was "What would you like to see whilst in Vietnam". We mostly received the answer of the war relics. After a while it struck me that something was not quite right so we delved deeper only to discover that most people had heard of Vietnam because of the conflict and indeed did not know what else there was to do. Well, the conflict does play a major part in Vietnam modern day history but there is so much more to see and do.

Give us a call and let us design your itinerary and let us really show you Vietnam.