Explore Central Vietnam: Hue and Hoi An
- A Secret Retreats journey -
This journey has been personally designed by Pham Dac Kham, the author of this journey, who lives in Hanoi: “There is a bug that nothing can cure, the travel bug! I am passionate about my work, I practice it with faith, dignity and humility. Client satisfaction is my daily goal.”
All our itineraries have generally been constructed on the basis of the rooms that have the most charm or best view, and not necessarily the first prices, nor the most expensive suites.
We can of course adjust according to your request.
Highlights of the Journey:
- Hue Imperial Citadel
- Hoi An lanterns and surrounding fishing villages
- Central Vietnam gastronomy
Discover Central Vietnam’s treasure trove of wonders. Follow in the footsteps of emperors at Hue’s historic Imperial Citadel, take part in a cooking class in Hue where is considered as a culinary paradise for foodies. Huế was the seat of Nguyen Dynasty emperors and the national capital from 1802 to 1945. Home of one of the most refined cuisine, the city keeps a poetic feel with leafy streets, colourful pagodas, art déco mansions and its river called Perfume. During the journey we will also drive along the coast to discover charming fishing villages and spectacular coastal landscapes, wander amid My Son’s ancient ruins and explore Hoi An’s atmospheric old town and its authentic villages. Hoi An Town is trading port dating from the 15th to the 19th century. Its buildings and its street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site.
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Your Journey Day by Day
from 895 USD /person for 6 days / 5 nights
based on 2 people traveling together and sharing the same room
Day 1 : Hue (-/-/-)
The program starts after your check in at your hotel in Hue, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the cultural and geographical center of Vietnam. Explore the ancient relics, historical monuments, and fine continuation of imperial traditions with a troll through the Imperial Citadel. We visit also Thanh Tien village – a village that has been crafting paper flowers for 400 years. We visit the Mausoleum of Khai Dinh, the final emperor’s bedazzling eternal resting place. During the day you will have a chance also to observe how to make the symbolic conical hats and an incense-making village.
All meals on your own.
HOTEL: Pilgrimage Village (Deluxe Room)
Day 2 : Hue (B/L/-)
After breakfast, we leave the hotel to Toa Kham wharf for a cruise on the picturesque Perfume River. On the way, we stop at Dong Ba open-air market to buy some fresh ingredients for the cooking class. We embark on a traditional dragon boat heading for Thien Mu pagoda – the symbol of Hue city. We go for an adventurous amble or bicycle ride to visit the garden-house styled homes at An Hien, ancestral temple of Thien Mu, and the Thuy Bieu Village. We meet your chef in the village and with him you will prepare carefully some traditional Hue dishes and enjoy them for lunch.
You can then relax by dipping your feet in a medicinal herbal water – a traditional therapeutic practice – and unwind with an excellent massage by a visually-impaired masseuse.
Back to the hotel, the rest of the day is yours. No arrangement for dinner.
HOTEL: Pilgrimage Village (Deluxe Room)
Day 3 : Hue - Danang – Hoi An (B/L/D)
Enjoy your breakfast and a free morning on your own. After check out, your driver will then pick you up to take a drive via Danang and the Hai Van Pass with spectacular views, known as “the pass in the clouds” to reach Hoi An (3 hrs drive). You will settle at your boutique hotel in Hoi An for 3 nights. Rest of the day at leisure.
HOTEL: Aira Boutique Hoi An Hotel (Premier Deluxe Balcony Room)
Day 4 : Hoi An (B/-/-)
After breakfast, take in the breath of fresh air that is the riverside port town of Hoi An. Stroll through the delightful trading port and see the remaining century-old buildings. Appreciate the narrow alleys, charming homes with wooden balconies, fascinating architectural features, beautiful temples, and the famous Japanese Bridge. Visit a lantern factory which the city got famous for and learn how to make your very own lantern.
In the afternoon, leisurely lounge on the An Bang beach. Later in the day, explore the historic port lit up at dusk by hundreds of beautifully coloured lanterns, which creates spectacular photo opportunities.
No arrangement for meals.
HOTEL: Aira Boutique Hoi An Hotel (Premier Deluxe Balcony Room)
Day 5 : Hoi An (B/L/-)
Today we continue to explore the beauty of rural villages around Hoi An. We take a visit to families who make delicious My Quang noodles, homemade rice wine (Mr. Dau family) and weave colorful straw sleeping mats- an opportunity to chat with them and learn about their history, local customs and way of life.
For lunch, savour an organic homemade lunch cooked by a local family while listening to the calm sound of the wind in the trees. Learn also about the traditional farming methods, see water buffaloes and witness the fishermen setting and harvesting their nets.
In the afternoon, we visit a bamboo workshop and meet Vo Tan Tan - a man who passionately makes everything from bamboo: chairs, tables, lamps, telephones and even bamboo bicycles. Join his workshop to create your own bamboo souvenir.
Back to the hotel to rest. No arrangement for dinner.
HOTEL: Aira Boutique Hoi An Hotel (Premier Deluxe Balcony Room)
Day 6 : Hoi An - End (B/-/-)
After breakfast, you can enjoy some free time to wander Hoi An ancient town or go for a swim at An Bang beach (4km away) before your check out.
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End of our services.
Your Accommodation on this Asia Travel Itinerary
Pilgrimage Village
Aira Boutique Hoi An Hotel
Explore Central Vietnam: Hue and Hoi An
6 days / 5 nights
from 895 USD /person
based on 2 people traveling together and sharing the same room
The total price includes:
Accommodation for 5 nights
All meals as specified in the program
All transfer by private, spacious, air conditioned car, with provision of water and refreshing towels, and a professional driver
Excursions with English speaking guide
Cruises, cooking class and workshop as precised in the program
All entry fees for places you visit
All Taxes
The total price does no include:
Domestic/International flights to and from Danang
Visa to Vietnam (if applicable)
Extra activities and meals not mentioned in the program
Beverages, personal expenses and other services not clearly mentioned
Tipping guides and drivers, which are of course not mandatory, but always appreciated, are subject to your discretion.
Travel insurance
This Secret Journey was designed in cooperation with Pham Dac Kham and Hanoi Voyages (License N° 01-022/2009/TCDL-GP LHQT).
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