LukeNguyen teaching on the Mekong

Celebrity chef Luke Nguyen’s first hosted APT Signature Experience tour in Vietnam has won rave reviews from passengers, and APT.

Luke escorted passengers around Hanoi, Hoi An and Saigon -- including his family neighbourhood and eating at many restaurants and locations featured on his tremendously popular show -- he hosted a Red Lantern’ style degustation dinner with matching wine at Xu restaurant in Ho Chi Mihn City and spent four nights on APT’s Mekong River cruise on the MV AmaLotus where he hosted his Signature Banquet which he devised in consultation with the ship’s chefs.

The Signature Banquet and the dinner at Xu with Luke’s personal menu will both be featured on all APT departures between Saigon and Siem Reap.

APT’s International Operations Manager, Craig James was at the dinners and was over whelmed with the positive feedback of all APT passengers to this very unique exclusive dining event.

“He was a brilliant host, most entertaining and informative about all the courses, which everyone agreed were superb,” he said.

A humble Luke reported back to APT: “I just wanted you to know that I very much enjoyed my first APT signature tour. The chosen tour directors were fantastic; Trung & Son in particular were so very passionate who showed that APT love. A great asset to the company. The group had an absolute fantastic time. I was very fortunate to get such a lovely bunch of people. Guests really enjoyed the dinner and their evening.”

Luke Nguyen is APT’s Asia Ambassador. He is famous for his SBS cooking show “Luke Nguyen’s Vietnam” and “Luke Nguyen’s Greater Mekong”, his cook books and his world-renowned Sydney restaurant Red Lantern.

APT’s second 19-day Luke Nguyen Signature Experience tour of Vietnam later this year is sold out, but APT is taking registrations for his 2013 dates which will be announced soon.

APT announced recently that Luke has inspired an 11-day deluxe small group adventure in China’s Yunnan Province for next year. He will escort the March 11 departure, over six days.

Luke Nguyen was previously APT’s Vietnam Ambassador but he has this new Asia title because of the addition of his China tour and a third destination due to be announced soon.