Central Vietnam

5 Days / 4 Nights Program of Hue & Hoi An.

• DAY 1   Arrival

  On arrival at DANANG Airport you will be met and drive north along Highway 1 over the Hai Van Pass, an incredible mountainous stretch of highway with spectacular views, and continue past Phu Loc and Phu Bai, to transfer to Your Hue Hotel, where your reservation here is for the next 2 Nights and includes Breakfast.

• DAY 2   Hue

  This morning we commence our sightseeing of Hue; the Old Imperial City which was once the capital of Vietnam for more than 140 years, with a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda, an elegant seven-tiered octagonal tower which has become Hue's most widely recognizable monument. During the early 1960s, this became a center of anti-government protest, and the site of the famous self-immolation of the monk Thich Quang Duc
  
  We then continue to the Imperial Citadel, a vast complex built in the early 19th century and modelled after the Forbidden City of Peking. The original walls stretched for 10 km and were surrounded by a wide moat. Today, most of the buildings have been destroyed due to bombing during the Vietnam-American War, but the monuments that remain provide a fascinating glimpse into the court life of the Nguyen Dynasty. Approach the city past the striking Flag Tower, where a giant Vietnamese flag waves proudly overhead, to the imposing Ngo Mon Gate, the main entrance to the Imperial Enclosure. Enter into an area of spacious courtyards and serene lotus ponds, and visit Dien Tho Residence (Dien Tho palace) where the Queen mother lived, visit Thai Hoa Palace, the magnificently decorated reception hall, the Halls of the Mandarins, and the original Nine Dynastic Urns, among other sites, including a visit to the Hue Royal Antiquities Museum.
  
  In the afternoon, we venture into the countryside around Hue to the Imperial Tomb of Tu Duc. Tu Duc, the longest reigning Vietnamese emperor, designed and built this elegant tomb during his lifetime, using it as a retreat for meditation, reading and theatre performances. Take some time to soak in the tranquil atmosphere, wandering among the gracefully proportioned pavilions, courtyards and lotus ponds. Afterwards visit the Imperial Tomb of Khai Dinh, dramatically located on a hillside. The last of the monumental tombs of the Nguyen dynasty, completed in 1931, this tomb incorporates distinct European elements into traditional Vietnamese architecture.

• DAY 3   to Danang

  After breakfast & checkout, we drive South along the scenic mountain roads with spectacular views over the coastline to Hoi An. Along the road we can visit to the dramatic Hai Van Pass, the high dividing line between the climate zones of North and South Vietnam; Lang Co, a lovely stretch of beach curving outwards between a clear blue lagoon and the East Vietnam Sea; and the large coastal city of Danang.
  
  On arrival in Danang, we can visit the Cham Museum, an elegant colonial building which now houses the finest collection of Cham sculpture in the world and briefly pass Non Nuoc Beach, a famous spot for American soldiers during the Vietnam-American War in the 1960s. The Non Nuoc Beach stretches for many kilometres north and south of the Marble Mountains. During the American War, soldiers were airlifted here for “est and relaxation”
  
  On completion, we transfer to Your Danang Hotel, where your reservation here next 2 Nights and includes Breakfast.

• DAY 4   World Heritage Site of Hoi An

  Today we visit to the World Heritage Site of Hoi An. The town is home to beautiful temples, pagodas and ancient homes that display a unique blend of local and foreign influences including French, Japanese and Chinese.
  
  We commence our program with a walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the old quarter to experience the lifestyle of the local people. Pass by the sleepy river full of traditional fishing boats, ochre-hued stone houses, and shopfronts full of brightly colored silk lanterns. Along the way visit some of the most significant places including the Fujian temple, an old merchant's house, and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, first constructed in 1593 by the Japanese community of Hoi An to link the town with the Chinese quarters across the stream.
  
  In the afternoon, board a local boat and cruise down the Thu Bon River, enjoying the unspoiled countryside and stopping to visit a pottery village and a woodcarving village before returning to Hoi An harbor. On completion, we transfer you back to Danang and to the Resort, where you have the rest of the afternoon, at leisure on the beach.

• DAY 5   Departure

  Today is at your leisure or available for local sightseeing until we transfer to Ho Chi Minh City Airport for your International Departure Flight.