Things to do in

Hue, Vietnam

Hue (pronounced ‘hway’) was the capital city of Vietnam where the Nguyen dynasty ruled from 1802 to 1945. Hue owes its charm partly to its location on the Perfume River. This location is also the destination of palaces, pagodas, tombs, temples, culture, and cuisine, as well as history and heartbreak — as such, the city is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site status. This private excursion gives you an opportunity to explore not only the Imperial Citadel of Hue, Thien Mu Pagoda, and the Perfume River but also a chance to meet local people in a rural village. Your tour guide will pick up you at your hotel and upon arrival in Hue, you will visit locations and sites such as Haivan Pass, Langco Bay, the Khai Dinh Tomb, the Minh Mang Tomb and the Conical Hat Making Making Village. After having lunch, you will visit the Royal Citadel, the Forbidden City, Hue Royal Museum, and the seven-story Thien Mu Pagoda on the riverbank. After your visit to Thien Mu Pagoda, you'll board a dragon boat for sight-seeing along the Perfume River. At the end of the tour, you'll be dropped off at the hotel you were picked up from.

At 8 AM, get picked up from the lobby of your hotel in Da Nang/Hoi. Meet your private driver and climb into a comfortable modern vehicle. Set off for Hue City making a couple of stops for sightseeing and incredible natural scenery along the way. Drive through the Hai Van Pass where you will immerse yourself in a sea of clouds. Also, pass by the stunning Lang Co Bay, and Lap An Lagoon to take in the magnificent views. Arrive in Hue and meet your private English-speaking tour guide who will join you for the entire city tour. First, visit Khai Dinh Tomb - built for the 12th Emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty and blending Western and Eastern architecture. Then, head over to Minh Mang Tomb, built on the west bank of the Perfume River and dedicated to Minh Mang and his empress. After this, stop for lunch in Hue at a local restaurant. Once you have refueled, continue the tour with a visit to the Citadel, also known as The Imperial City. Explore this Unesco World Heritage Site, a walled enclosure and the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Next, see the Thien Mu Pagoda - an impressive 7-story pagoda which is regarded as an iconic symbol of the city. Finally, get dropped off back at your hotel in Da Nang/Hoi An, returning by around 7:30 PM.

After being collected from Hoi An express office at 7:00 AM, embark to spend a day exploring Vietnam's former imperial capital, Hue, with its fascinating historical sights. Your tour will begin with stops to admire the area's natural beauty at Hai Van Pass, where you can view in particular the Ocean Cloud Pass and Lang Co beach, the most beautiful beach in Vietnam. Upon arrival in Hue, you will start your visit at the Citadel, Hue’s prime attraction. Here you will find the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City, and the Emperor's Private Residence. After that, the tour continues to Thien Mu Pagoda. Considered by many as the unofficial symbol of Hue, Thien Mu is an active Buddhist monastery with origins dating back to 1601. One of its most poignant displays is a car belonging to a former monk, who in 1963, drove to Saigon and set himself alight to protest against the South Vietnamese regime and its cruel treatment of Buddhist monks and followers. From here, the tour visits the serene Khai Dinh Royal Tomb, designed to blend in with its natural surroundings and built on principles of feng-shui. Your tour will conclude with a drop off to the Hoi An express office at 7:00 PM.

You are welcomed at Chan May port with procedure assistance to exit from the cruise and drive through northward to Hue. Today you will spend the day in Hue, the former capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 till 1945. We will start the visit to the Imperial Citadel where preserving many traces of the Nguyen emperors during 19th century, continue to  Thien Mu pagoda, Hue's biggest Buddhist temple standing on the bank of the poetic Perfume River with its notable seven-floor tower. After lunch, we will go on to the Tomb of King Tu Duc with atypical old oriental  design, and mingle with Hue people in their exciting life at Dong Ba market (if time available) before driving back to the port for our departure. End of our services.

Take a drive from Hue to Hoi An by private car, enjoying scenic views and important landmarks along the way on a 7- to 8-hour excursion. After pickup from your hotel in Hue city center, start your trip with the natural beauty of Lap An Lagoon. Admire the lush greenery, crystal-clear water, and the picture-perfect image of the clouds covering the mountains. Just 60 kilometers from Hue, the next town you’ll stop at is the serene fishing township of Lang Co. This village’s incredible beach was recognized in 2009 as one of the 30 most beautiful bays in the world. Next, experience Hai Van Pass, one of the most scenic hillside roads in Vietnam. On the top of the pass, there are vestiges of an ancient fortified gateway. The American and French bunkers in Hai Van Pass provide views to the city without any steep climb. At the peak is a rest station where you can take a break and enjoy a coffee.     The highlight of your drive will be your stop at the Golden Bridge, held up by two magnificent stone sculptures shaped like hands. You’ve never seen anything like this, and you’ll want to take lots of pictures. Finally, visit the Marble Mountains, famous for the image of rocky peaks rising above the roofs of homes and resorts. As the road curves towards the mountain, you’ll see large stone dragons and seated figures of Buddha. You’ll then be dropped off at the location of your choice in Hoi An.

After departing from Hoi An, you will travel in comfort with an air-conditioned car to your first point of call, Marble Mountain. This is a popular place for spiritual retreat and pilgrimage, with remnants of the Champa civilization and caves held inside the mountains. These are natural caves formed by erosion, water and the passage of time. Following Marble Mountain, you will proceed onward to Cham Museum, before heading on to Hai Van Pass. On a trip from from Hoi An to Hue, you shouldn’t miss passing over Hai Van Pass, Hai Van Pass is located along the Hai Van mountain side, between Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang city. It is the highest and the most beautiful pass in Vietnam (about 500 meters above sea level), and it is the final mountain belonging to Truong Son. On top of the pass, the trail of ancestors is still present, and you can take in amazing sights which are perfect for photo opportunities. Your tour will then visit Lang Co beach, which is situated between 3 cultural heritage centers: Hue ancient capital, Hoi An old quarter and My Son Sanctuary with a radius of about 70 kilometers. Lang Co attracts tourists and researchers from the cultural heritage center, and is on the north-south tourist route, 30 kilometers from Da Nang city and 70 kilometers from Hue city. You will also be able to enjoy locally sourced fresh seafood at this location, before heading onward to Hue for drop-off at your hotel.

Begin your full day trip with a pickup from a routed hotel in Hue. Start your tour with Minh Mang Tomb. It is the result of the of many intermingled architectural trends: European and Asian, as well as ancient and modern. Then, visit Khai Dinh Tomb - one of the most beautiful works of royal architecture of the Nguyen dynasty. The tomb lies in a boundless pine forest, 8 kilometers (about 5 miles) from Hue. Visit traditional martial arts in Van An. Stop on the way to visit the conicat hat and incense making village. At 12:00 PM have lunch. Continue by car to visit The Citadel, a walled fortress and palace in the former capital of Vietnam. The last place is Thien Mu pagoda, built in 1601 between a river and a pine forest. This Heavenly Lady Pagoda in Hue is one of the oldest and prettiest religious buildings in the country. 

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.

This well-preserved walled city is a must for those who love history, beautiful architecture, and Instagram-worthy photo opportunities. The day begins with a breathtaking journey from Hoi An through the Hai Van Pass. Once in Hue, the tour starts at Khai Dinh Tomb, a site that more closely resembles a palace than a grave. After visiting the equally impressive Thien Mu Pagoda, you enter the Hue Imperial City, known not only for its architecture, but for its beautiful landscaping. After the guided tour, try a delicious local lunch, wander the ancient temples, browse the visitors center, and stroll through the elegant gardens.

Explore the city of Hue on a half-day tour. Visit various local sights and attractions as you learn about the former imperial capital of Vietnam and see how people live there today. In the morning, begin with a trip to Dong Ba Market, where you can watch locals buying and selling goods. Then board a dragon boat made of teak wood and ride down the Perfume River. Upon arriving at the Thien Mu pagoda, get out and explore the historic tower. Next you will enter the Imperial Citadel, the home of Vietnam's last royal dynasty, the Nguyen Dynasty, and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then make your way to the Hue Royal Antiques Museum to see a collection of ornaments from that time.