Insightful Tour Of Hue & Hoi An 5 Days

Day 1: Danang Arrival – Hoi An

Upon arrival in Danang, be met by our car driver and be transferred to the hotel for check-in. 

Overnight in Hoi An
Notes: The itinerary can be flexible base on the arrival flight schedule; some sites can be visited today to have more time at sites or adding some other sites in the next day (with small surcharge).

Day 2: Tra Que Village (B/L)

Early morning welcome drink and program overview at Hai Café. Drive to the nearby Tra Que Vegetable Village to observe local farmers working the organic fields using traditional methods that date back hundreds of years. The rich soil from this village produces some of the most flavoursome vegetables and herbs in all of Hoi An. Pick fresh sawtooth coriander and Vietnamese mint for your cooking lesson later today before visiting a local home and trying a special herbal drink. Transfer to the Red Bridge Cooking School and freshen up before beginning your private class. Follow the demonstrations of the chef who will teach you the traditional methods of preparing and cooking Vietnamese food from scratch. Use fresh ingredients with traditional Vietnamese utensils to prepare four popular dishes, including Vietnam’s national dish of ‘pho’ noodle soup. After class, enjoy and savor the dishes you have prepared. Board a local boat for a short cruise along the Thu Bon River back to central Hoi An. 

Day 3: Hoi An Fishing Life & Hoi An Ancient Tour (B/L)

AM: HOI AN FISHING LIFE 

The rivers and waterways around Hoi An were not only instrumental during its history as a famed port city, they are also vital to the villagers who depend on fishing for their livelihood. Depart for a local fishing village and spend some time learning about the fishermen’s simple yet rewarding way of life in the area. Board a local river boat and start cruising down the Cua Dai River with a stop along the shore and try your hand at casting the Vietnamese fishing nets, an age-old technique still used today. The fluid motion looks easier than it is, but the friendly fishermen will offer you their guidance based on years of experience. Learn the art of paddling the unique Vietnamese round basket boats and travel through the tranquil coconut-palm flanked waterways while hearing about how the area was a hotbed of activity during the American War. Return to the riverboat and enjoy a refreshing drink as you head back upriver. 

PM: HOI AN ANCIENT CITY
Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An known then as ‘Faifo’, was a prosperous trading port, attracting Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish ships amongst others. Today, this World Heritage ancient town is recognized for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets and distinctive local cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious past. Hoi An’s narrow lanes are ideal for a guided walking tour of its many atmospheric sights including old merchant houses with influences from Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture; the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, first built in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream; the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with its intricate woodcarvings; and the colorful market with stalls brimming with local specialties including silk, which can be turned into fashionable garments within a day or two. Enjoy an hour-long boat trip on the Thu Bon River for up-close views of fishing boats and country villages before returning to your hotel.

Day 4: Hoi An – Hue Citadel (B/L

Depart Hoi An for a 3.5hr drive to Hue over scenic Hai Van Pass crossing over a spur of the Truong Son mountain range jutting into the sea. Once the imperial capital of the Nguyen emperors from the 17th to the 19th centuries, Hue is home to splendid emperors’ tombs, ancient pagodas and the remains of the Citadel which contribute to its undeniable royal charm. Explore the Imperial Citadel at the centre of the Complex of Hue Monuments inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Enter through the towering main gate and appreciate the magnificent architecture and gardens while your guide explains the events and the intrigue surrounding the former royal court. Despite being bombed heavily during the American War, there are some incredibly well-preserved sections intact and others which have been carefully restored. In the afternoon, drive to the Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue’s best-preserved religious monument. Built in 1601, the seven-story pagoda is situated on a hilltop overlooking the Perfume River and is one of Vietnam’s most recognisable icons. Conclude your day of exploration at the Royal Tomb of Emperor Khai Dinh. The elaborate tomb, built from 1920 to 1931, is a blend of Eastern and European design elements. A remarkable feature is the tomb’s blackened concrete exterior and colourful mosaic interior. Drive back to Hoi An via the Hai Van Tunnel (6,280m/3.9mi long) in the late afternoon. 

Day 5: Hoi An & Departure (B)

After breakfast at hotel, you are free for shopping until transferring to Danang Airport for your flight.

Services Included

• Four nights of accommodation in Hoi An based on double or twin sharing.
• Handpicked 4-star boutique hotel or resort for the Premium 4-Star Cultural Experience.
• Selected 5-star hotel or luxury resort for the Prestige 5-Star Cultural Experience.
• Daily breakfast at the confirmed hotel.
• Four breakfasts and three lunches as mentioned in the itinerary.
• Private air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver throughout the five-day journey.
• A comfortable seven-seat private vehicle for four travellers or a private minibus for five to six travellers, subject to luggage requirements.
• Private pick-up and drop-off at Da Nang International Airport.
• Private transportation for all scheduled sightseeing and activities.
• Private Hoi An–Hue–Hoi An transportation on Day 4.
• English-speaking licensed tour guide during scheduled sightseeing and cultural activities.
• Welcome drink and program introduction at the scheduled Hoi An meeting point.
• Guided visit to Tra Que Vegetable Village.
• Traditional farming and herb-harvesting experience.
• Local herbal drink during the Tra Que program.
• Private Vietnamese cooking class with ingredients and equipment.
• Lunch prepared during the cooking class.
• Scheduled local boat journey on the Thu Bon River.
• Guided fishing-life experience in a traditional Hoi An fishing community.
• Traditional fishing-net demonstration and supervised practice.
• Basket-boat paddling experience.
• Scheduled boat journeys during the fishing and countryside program.
• Hoi An Ancient Town entrance ticket.
• Guided Hoi An walking tour, including selected merchant houses, assembly halls, market and Japanese Covered Bridge area.
• Scenic private journey over Hai Van Pass, subject to road and weather conditions.
• Entrance ticket to Hue Imperial Citadel and the Forbidden Purple City heritage area.
• Guided visit to Thien Mu Pagoda.
• Entrance fee and guided visit to Khai Dinh Tomb.
• Bottled drinking water and tissues during private road transfers.
• Fuel, road tolls, parking fees and driver expenses for all included transportation.
• Local taxes and service charges for included ground arrangements.
• 24/7 local assistance during the journey.

Services Not Included

• International flights to and from Vietnam.
• Domestic flights to and from Da Nang.
• My Son Sanctuary unless specifically added to the confirmed itinerary.
• Perfume River boat trip unless specifically added to the confirmed Hue program.
• Vietnam visa or e-visa fee, if applicable.
• Personal travel insurance, including medical, cancellation, emergency evacuation and baggage coverage.
• Dinners throughout the journey.
• Meals not clearly mentioned in the confirmed itinerary.
• Drinks, alcoholic beverages, minibar, laundry, spa treatments, telephone calls and personal expenses.
• Single room supplement or additional room required for an odd-numbered group unless confirmed in writing.
• Early check-in and late check-out at hotels or resorts.
• Hotel room upgrades, suites, villas, river-view, ocean-view or premium room categories unless requested and confirmed.
• Tips for guides, drivers, chefs, boat crews, fishermen, basket-boat rowers and hotel staff.
• High-season, Christmas, New Year, Lunar New Year or Vietnamese public-holiday supplements.
• Compulsory gala dinners required by hotels or resorts.
• Additional costs caused by adverse weather, flooding, road closures, attraction closures or force majeure events.
• Additional transportation, meals or accommodation required because of flight disruption or unexpected operating conditions.
• Any service not clearly listed under “Services Included”.