Discover the Forbidden City and the Royal Palace in an old crumbling citadel, then turn yourself into an expert chef in Vietnamese cuisine all in one day.

Prepare for your adventure of Hue to begin at around 8/8:30 am, when your guide will pick you up to show you the secrets locked within the Forbidden City about Vietnam’s Imperial past.

Start by walking to the Royal Palace, which is situated in the fortified Citadel known as the Forbidden City. Once home to the Emporer and his family, as well as his court women and a few other high-class people, the structure is protected by tall brick walls and a moat full of dragonflies.

After you’ve visited the Royal Palace and explored the incredible complex, with stories seeping from every shady passageway and locked chamber, it’s time to become an expert in Vietnamese cuisine.

Head to a garden house perched on the banks of the winding Perfume River, where you’ll learn how to cook stunning dishes in front of a poetically beautiful view of Thien Mu pagoda on the opposite bank.

After dinner, walk back to town and stop off at some of the local bars, recommended by your guide, of course.