Splendors of Central Vietnam Tour – 3 days

Explore Central Vietnam in 3 days tour from history, culture to local living and cooking

Day 1 : Imperial Hue to Hoi An

Included – Breakfast and Lunch

This morning’s activities begin with a trip to the splendid Imperial Citadel of Hue, known as the place where until 1945 was home to the last dynasty. Check out the Flag Tower, the Thai Hoa Palace and the Forbidden City amongst other attractions.

We will spend several hours here before beginning the journey onward. We stop at the Hai Van pass and take in the lovely views, then make a visit to the village of Lang Co where we will spend some time learning about life in this fishing village as well as stopping to take photos of the traditional boats. Then it is time for lunch, which is enjoyed in a local restaurant overlooking the lake.

Once we have eaten we continue on to Ngu Hanh Son, then take a short climb up stone steps to the top of Thuy Son for some stunning views over the surrounding rural landscape. Stop off too at a cave as well as the pagoda at Tam Thai. A quick break is had at the bottom of the mountains before we visit the charming Non Nuoc village. Here, take in the atmosphere and look at the artists who are creating masterpieces from marble for export globally.

The day finishes with a visit to the Linh Ung Pagoda and the huge statue of Guanyin. Then you will be dropped back to your hotel where the evening meal and nights activities are your own arrangement.

Day 2 :  Village of Tra Que to the An Bang Beach

Meet your guide early this morning after breakfast and begin the day’s activities. We take a bike ride to the Tra Que Vegetable Village. Take in the lovely traditional scenery that passes you by, including charming houses and people going about their daily business. Stop for a refreshing glass of herbal tea as you pass by some local settlements, before learning a little about the village and its traditional way of generating income. Local farmers are ready to take you to the vegetable patches where you will see lots of locally grown produce. Talk to them about how they grow vegetables in a way that has never changed for generations, and help out around the plots. Then, take a tour of the fields on the back of a buffalo and use the opportunity to take some stunning photographs.

Once we have completed this part of the tour you will be welcomed back to the farmer’s house where you will take a relaxing foot spa prepared with traditional medicinal herbs to relieve any aches and pains. Once you are suitably relaxed you will take a cookery lesson and learn how to make some delicious local meals, including Tam Huu and the famous Banh Xeo rice pancake stuffed with delicious shrimps and bean sprouts. Don’t worry! You will get to eat the fruits of your labor!

After lunch we take you to the local beach at An Bang where you can spend some time swimming and relaxing at your leisure. Plenty of photo opportunities exist along the way. At the end of the day we make the four kilometer journey back towards the hotel where the evening can be enjoyed at your leisure.

Day 3 : My Son holy land and tour of Hoi An

This morning you will meet your guide after breakfast and head to My Son holy land. Your journey here will take you through the beautiful countryside, home to the old Champa Kingdom. This is one of the country’s most significant heritage areas and provides a detailed overview over the Cham people’s existence over one thousand years ago. Your tour guide will take you on a tour through the My Son Holy land and fill you with interesting facts. Learn how buildings were made back then, as well as what materials were used in traditional buildings. An interesting point to see are the craters that serve as a reminder of the US bombs that fell here during the Vietnamese War.

Take your time looking around the ruins, and perhaps enjoy a traditional Apsara dance. These local women will mesmerize you as they move to the sound of pan pipes and local drums, and the costumes are as vibrant as the music.

Our tour of the heritage area complete, we head back to Hoi An, stopping on the way to learn how to work with rice paper and how to make a tasty local snack. You will have time to relax at this point and take in the surroundings, perhaps chatting with the locals about their culture and traditions. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and on arrival in Hoi An begin the final part of the tour – a walking tour around the town’s best attractions. Take in the Kwan Temple, covered bridge and the interesting local museum before you are dropped back at the hotel where the Central Vietnam tour ends.

Hue Flag tower panoramic view

An Bang beach Hoian

Watering vegetables at Tra Que herb village

Included

PRIVATE TOUR rate quoted in American Dollars per person in a private group.

• Hynam’s live English speaking tour guide
• Private transfer by Air conditioned car/minivan/bus based on group size
• Cooking lesson is Tra Que village
• Foot massage in Tra Que area
• A water bottle per person
• Entrance fee to mentioned places in the itinerary
• Pre and post accommodation in 3 stars hotel
• Plenty of photo shooting opportunities
• Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (03 lunches, 02 breakfasts)
• Swimming in An Bang beach

Excluded

• Travel insurance
• Tipping
• Personal expenses for shopping if you wish
• Drinks