Central Vietnam

Culinary & Nightlife

Spend time in Vietnam's countryside on this tour from Hoi An. Browse a local market and float along the Thu Bon River to witness rural life firsthand. Learn how to prepare Vietnamese food and savor your work during a cooking class. Following pickup from your hotel, visit a morning market in Hoi An and marvel at the seasonal fruits, noodles, herbs, vegetables, meat, and fish on display. Interact with the vendors and get some tips on how to bargain.  Cruise down the Thu Bon River and get up close to the traditional fishing nets and boats. Then, paddle through the water coconut palms aboard a bamboo basket boat. Learn how to fish with a fishing net, listen to some folk songs and receive some handmade souvenirs made from coconut leaves. Learn how to cook Vietnamese food, such as spring rolls, papaya salad, and pork in clay pots as you prepare your own lunch or dinner.

After pickup from your hotel in Da Nang or Hoi An, visit the Son Tra Mountain, also known as Monkey Mountain, to gain insight into Vietnam's rich history of Buddhism and Hinduism. Then, visit the Lady Buddha statue, the tallest Buddhist statue in Vietnam, reaching a height of 220 feet (67 meters). Next, visit local stone factories and sculpture shops, before visiting Marble Mountain. Visit the Âm Phủ cave, to take a walk through a re-creation of Buddhist hell. At midday enjoy lunch in a local restaurant with authentic Vietnamese dishes. You'll be transferred back to your hotel around 1:00 PM.

Discover the beauty of Ba Na Hills on this full-day program. Experience 4 distinct seasons in a single day: it will feel like spring in the morning, like summer by noon, autumn by the afternoon and winter in the evening! With the hiking train, visitors traveling to Ba Na can enjoy views of the stunning natural landscapes in comfort. Visit several popular destinations including Linh Ung Pagoda with its exquisite architectural design and 30-meter-high Buddha statue. Continue to the Tinh Tam garden, Nghinh Phong peak, and Vong Nguyet hill, then stop for lunch.

Upon arrival at the class at Cam Pho, in the heart of Hoi An, you'll be greeted with a traditional Vietnamese tea. Then, start to make a 30 cm lantern made of silk and bamboo in the shape you like - choose between a lotus, diamond, sunrise, or sunset.  All the materials you need will be provided, so you can focus on enjoying the experience of making your own lantern. You can either make your lantern completely from scratch for a full class, or choose the express class to start with a pre-made frame. Vietnamese people believe that hanging lanterns in front of their house brings luck, happiness, and wealth to the family. After the class you can take your foldable lantern home as a souvenir from Hoi An.

Enjoy a lesson in Vietnamese history on this day trip from Da Nang. After getting picked up from your hotel, head to Hue, stopping at Hai Van Pass to explore some abandoned war bunkers. Upon arrival, head to the city's prime attraction, the Citadel. Wander through this vast complex containing the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City, and the Emperor's private residence, and learn more about Vietnam's last dynasty, the Nguyen dynasty. You will also discover other architectural masterpieces such as temples, pavilions, gardens, and the gates to the Imperial City. In the afternoon, stop for lunch to reenergize before enjoying a boat trip along the Perfume River. Stop at Thien Mu Pagoda, an active Buddhist monastery, and admire its iconic 7-story pagoda, the unofficial symbol of the city.   From the monastery, head to the serene Khai Dinh Royal Tomb, the final resting place of a Nguyen Emperor. Admire the tomb's unique architectural design and learn more about the many myths and legends that surround this controversial emperor before heading back to Da Nang.

After pickup, travel to Cua Dai Wharf and board a traditional Vietnamese wooden boat. Relax on your hour-long ride to Cham Island and enjoy a coffee on board.  After arrival at Hon Nhon Beach, take some time to swim and snorkel at your pleasure. Cham Island is a world biosphere reserve area recognized by UNESCO. Discover the area's beautiful sea life. Then, enjoy a delicious seafood lunch at a Cham Jungle Restaurant.   Travel to Bai Chong Beach and take the opportunity to rest in the hammocks, sunbathe or take another swim. Return to the boat and the journey back to your hotel in Hoi An or Da Nong.

Discover the sights and sounds of Hue, the former Imperial capital of Vietnam. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city sits on the banks of the delightful Perfume River, where you will find amazing citadels, fabulous palaces, and royal tombs. Many of the sites can be reached by river, and on this full-day private tour a boat cruise is part of the program. You will be picked up from your hotel by your guide, who will take you down to the river for your cruise. Sail along the romantically named Perfume River, seeing Hue’s best-known religious sites, such as the Thien Mu Pagoda. Continue your journey by land, visiting the Imperial Citadel, from where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945. See the Flag Tower, Noon Gate, 9 Dynastic Urns, 9 Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace, and the Forbidden Purple City. After a break for lunch, visit Khai Dinh King’s Tomb and discover the blend of Western and Eastern architecture. Then visit Minh Mang King’s Tomb, where one is sure to be impressed by the majesty and symmetry of the architectural constructions. Continue to conical hat village, an incense stick-making village. The guided tour will give you a deep understanding about the king’s philosophy of geomancy, and how this affected royal life.

Begin your full-day shared or private tour at 08:00 with pickup at your residence in Hoi An. Make your way to the beautiful Ba Na Hills, a hill station and resort located in the Truong Son Mountain region of central Vietnam. See the fascinating Linh Ung Pagoda and marvel at its exquisite architectural design. Stand before the massive 30-meter tall statue of Buddha towering in the clouds, and then make your way to a French cellar still used today to distill alcohol. Continue the tour to the lovely Tinh Tam Garden, stand at the Nghinh Phong Peak, and make your way to Vong Nguyet Hill for some spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding region. Visit Golden Bridge, a 150-meter long pedestrian bridge with two giant stone hands supporting the structure. Get a scenic overlook and enjoy the view of the beautiful landscape of nature comfortably and smoothly.

Your private tour guide will pick you up from your accommodation in Hue. You will then set off to Phong Nha. On the way, you will make a rest stop at the famous Hien Luong Bridge and Ben Hai River, where the border between South & North Vietnam was located during the war. Next, you will stop by a local restaurant where you will tuck into authentic Vietnamese dishes. After lunch, sail along a river by boat to reach the iconic Phong Nha Cave. This cave is truly a marvel of nature and is hidden away in the dense jungle of Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park in Central Vietnam. Admire the dramatic rock cliffs and wealth of flora and fauna in the area. After visiting the cave, you will start the return journey back to your hotel in Hue, where you will arrive at around 7.30 PM.

Begin your shared or private day trip with a visit to the capital and religious center of the former Champa Kingdom, My Son, which has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Beautifully situated in a lush green valley, there are dozens of red brick towers and sanctuaries dating from between the 7th and 13th century. After this first part of the tour, you will have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, you will discover Marble Mountain (Ngu Hanh Son, meaning 'five elements mountain'). Here, you will have the opportunity to explore the stunning natural caves of the mountain and enjoy the beautiful view from the peak. Stone steps carved into the mountain lead to a Buddhist pagoda. Da Nang is famous for three pagodas having the same name: 'Linh Ung', the first on Son Tra Peninsula, the second on Marble Mountain and the other on Ba Na Hill. The Linh Ung Pagoda at Marble Mountain has been designated a national historical and cultural site by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. You will also visit Am Phu cave where there is a replica of heaven and hell in the eerie underground tunnels, before you return to your hotel.