Celebrity chef Luke Nguyen will lead a food-themed APT 19-day Vietnam and Cambodia Signature Experience tour-cruise on June 30 and December 29, 2012.

Luke Nguyen is famous for his SBS cooking show Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam, his cook books and his world-renowned Sydney restaurant Red Lantern. He will be with the tour over 10 days. See a video about his book

Among the Nguyen-inspired experiences on the Hanoi-to-Siem Reap itinerary are sampling authentic homemade Pho from a side-street stall in Hanoi, a vegetarian banquet lunch at Dong Thien Pagoda nunnery in Hue, a class-lunch at the Morning Glory Cooking School in Hoi An and in Saigon, exploring the local neighbourhood of his family, a cooking class based on his menu with matching wines and a Red Lantern-style degustation dinner with matching wines.

Following the Saigon cooking lesson, a professional mixologist, using ingredients such as tamarind, lychee, chilli and lemongrass, explains the art of creating Asian-inspired cocktails.

The price of this holiday is from $8395 per person twin share, which includes the above experiences, another 44 meals, five-star hotels in Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon and Siem Reap, overnight sailing on a Ha Long Bay junk, eight days cruising on the Mekong River on the new luxury APT-owned RV AmaLotus, small group shore excursions, city tours, internal flights, port charges, tipping, soft drink, local beer and spirit at all times during the cruise as well as regional wines with lunch and dinner on the RV AmaLotus.

As APT’s Ambassador for Vietnam, Luke Nguyen also recommends city restaurants for APT’s Dine Around Dinner concept, which provides dining choices covered by the tour price.

DEAL: APT’s free return flights deal for bookings made before March 31 applies to these Luke Nguyen Signature Experience holidays.

Contact AP Touring, call 1300 229 804 or see a travel agent.