After breakfast, you will continue exploring Hue. Your day will start with a short visit to Thanh Toan Village where we can see the lively morning market. This is where the locals come to by their daily food. The nearby area is the 300-year-old Thanh Toan bridge and a Cultural Museum where you can visit and talk to the locals.
Take a traditional dragon boat trip on poetic Perfume River, stop to visit Thien Mu (Celestial Lady) Pagoda. This iconic seven-story pagoda is regarded as the unofficial symbol of the city, overlooking the River. You will also see the Austin car which took Monk Thich Quang Duc to HCMC where he famously set himself on fire in 1963 as a dramatic protest against the unfair treatment of Buddhists by the Diem regime. The photo of his self-immolation is one of the most well-known images of the war.
Continue on to the Royal Complex, former home to the Nguyen Dynasty, the last Monarchy of Vietnam from 1802 – 1945. You will explore the ancient and atmospheric walled Citadel which contains the former Imperial Palace and the Forbidden Purple City. Wind your way to Cat Tuong Quan Zen House. It’s a perfect combination of architecture, culture, and people. Here you will have a chance to learn about Hue culture, experience Qigong and do meditation.
After lunch at a local restaurant, you will drive south to Da Nang and Hoi An. During the trip, you will enjoy one of the most scenic drives over Hai Van Pass, where you can stop to enjoy the spectacle of the coastline, Lang Co Beach and Da Nang city. Reaching Da Nang, you will climb up the Marble Mountain, a cluster of five hills made from limestone and marble in Da Nang. It’s also a well-known pilgrimage site with peaks, caves, tunnels, and temples all just waiting to be discovered. Reaching the summit, you will enjoy spectacular panoramic views of Da Nang city below.
Continue to drive to the nearby town of Hoi An. From the 16th to the 18th century, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port. Today it is a quaint riverside town popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, tailor shops, and cafes.
Arrive and check into your hotel. Then spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Hoi An