Vietnam Central Highlights

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6 Days From

~~$529~~

$504

Vietnam Central Highlights

6 Days Starting in Da Nang, Vietnam and ending in Hue

Visiting: Hội An, Thua Thien Hue, Hue

Tour operator:

Topas Travel Vietnam

Tour code:

TP - VCH

Group Type:

Private

Specialist Group:

18-30 Somethings

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

2 - 20

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

1-80

Tour operated in:

English

Interests:

Cultural, History, Photography

Activities:

Sightseeing, Walking

Private Available:

From: $529 $504 (USD) Travel Club discount: -$25

NB: Prices correct on 10-Mar-2025 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

Experience the best of central Vietnam with this immersive tour that takes you from the enchanting streets of Hoi An to the historic wonders of Hue. Begin your journey with a leisurely exploration of Hoi An, where you'll navigate the scenic waterways in traditional basket boats and discover the vibrant culture of Tra Que vegetable village. Next, embark on a picturesque train ride from Hoi An to Hue, passing by stunning coastal vistas and lush countryside scenery along the way. Upon arrival in Hue, delve into the city's rich heritage with visits to iconic landmarks such as the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City. Immerse yourself in Hue's cultural tapestry as you interact with locals and savor authentic cuisine at traditional eateries. Finally, reconnect with nature amidst the serene landscapes of Hue, exploring lush gardens, tranquil pagodas, and picturesque viewpoints overlooking the Perfume River. This tour offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty, providing an unforgettable journey through the heart of Vietnam's central region.

Highlights

Basket Boat Adventure: Explore Hoi An's waterways in traditional boats, immersing in local culture at Tra Que village.
Scenic Train Ride: Marvel at coastal vistas and lush countryside scenery en route from Hoi An to Hue.
Heritage Discovery: Visit Hue's iconic landmarks, including the Imperial City and Forbidden Purple City.
Nature Exploration: Wander through lush gardens, tranquil pagodas, and picturesque viewpoints along the Perfume River.

Places You'll See

Hoi An

Hue

Itinerary

tourhub | Topas Travel Vietnam | Vietnam Central Highlights | TP - VCH | Route Map

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Day 1 : DANANG ARRIVAL – HOI AN

Location: Hội An

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Emerald Riverside Resort - Deluxe garden view

Xin chao and welcome to Vietnam!
Upon arrival at Danang International Airport, your Topas guide will welcome you and you'll transfer directly to your hotel in Hoi An.

Distance and activities: 45’ drive

Day 2 : HOI AN - BASKET BOAT – FARMING AT TRA QUE – MASK MAKING WORKSHOP

Location: Hội An

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Emerald Riverside Resort - Deluxe garden view

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

8:00am Our local guide will greet you at your hotel and you'll set off to explore the local area by bicycle. First on the itinerary is Cam Thanh, where you can take a ride in a circular basket boat and experience the expert rowing skills of the locals. You'll learn about the daily life of Vietnamese fishermen, their families, and their communities. You can also join some local fisherman on the river to see how they cast their nets and even try your hand at making a catch.

10:00am Leaving Cam Thanh behind, you'll pass through picturesque rice fields and enjoy the cool fresh breeze of the countryside. Your guide will explain the rice cultivation process used by the local farmers. Continuing, you'll reach Tra Que vegetable village. Here your guide will introduce the history of the village and the riparian ecosystem the local people use. You'll have the chance to roll up your sleeves and help the local farmers with some farm work, such as laying seaweed to fertilize the land, dig the soil, construct beds for planting, transplanting vegetables and watering the crops. Afterwards, you can relax with a footbath made from herbs grown in the gardens.
Once refreshed, it will be time to head to the kitchen and learn how to make a Hoi An specialty, Banh Xeo a crispy Vietnamese pancake stuffed with herbs, prawns and pork, before tucking into a well-earned lunch. After lunch, you can rest in the shade and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the village.

2:00pm In the afternoon you'll cycle to a nearby mask making workshop. Here you'll be given a brief introduction to the history of mask making, including the symbolism of the shapes and colors used as well as the creation process. The guide will explain how the color of the face depicts the background or personality of a character and their age is shown by the thickness of lines around the eyes. You'll have a chance to let your creative juices flow; painting your own unique design on a mask or following one of the traditional designs.

After the workshop, you'll cycle back to your hotel and spend the evening at your leisure, exploring the old town or simply taking time to relax.

Distance and activities: 5-hour cycling tour, basket boat ride

Day 3 : HOI AN FREE DAY

Location: Hội An

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Emerald Riverside Resort - Deluxe garden view

Meals Included: Breakfast

Hoi An is undoubtedly one of Vietnam’s most charming towns, with its pretty, narrow streets of faded yellow buildings adorned with lanterns swaying in the breeze and pink bougainvillea tumbling over the balconies. Enjoy spending the day at your leisure, perhaps cafe hopping, souvenir shopping or heading to one of the many tailors for a made to measure outfit. We suggest popping by the Reaching Out Teahouse, a lovely old-fashioned teahouse providing work for the hard of hearing and serving delicious tea and homemade treats.

Day 4 : HOI AN – DANANG - SCENIC TRAIN RIDE TO HUE

Aerial view of Hue Citadel and view of Hue city, Vietnam. Emperor palace complex, Hue Province, Vietnam

Ngo Mon gate - the main entrance of forbidden Hue Imperial City in Hue city, Vietnam.

Aerial view of Hue Citadel and view of Hue city, Vietnam. Emperor palace complex, Hue Province, Vietnam

Ngo Mon gate - the main entrance of forbidden Hue Imperial City in Hue city, Vietnam.

Aerial view of Hue Citadel and view of Hue city, Vietnam. Emperor palace complex, Hue Province, Vietnam

Ngo Mon gate - the main entrance of forbidden Hue Imperial City in Hue city, Vietnam.

Location: Thua Thien Hue

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Romance Hotel – Deluxe room

Meals Included: Breakfast

12:30pm You'll have the morning to relax before being picked up at your hotel in Hoi An and taken to Danang train station. The train ride to Hue is incredibly scenic, and you'll be treated to panoramic views as the train winds its way along the coastline, passing through charming villages and verdant rice paddies. Along the route, you'll catch glimpses of historic landmarks and enjoy splendid natural scenery, including the Hai Van Pass.

Train: SE2 – 1:51pm 4:22pm – soft seats

Upon arrival in Hue, you'll check-in to your hotel and have the remainder of the day free to spend at your leisure.

Distance: 2.5-hour day train

Day 5 : HUE - HERITAGE, PEOPLE AND NATURE, FULL DAY

Aerial view of Hue Citadel and view of Hue city, Vietnam. Emperor palace complex, Hue Province, Vietnam

Ngo Mon gate - the main entrance of forbidden Hue Imperial City in Hue city, Vietnam.

Aerial view of Hue Citadel and view of Hue city, Vietnam. Emperor palace complex, Hue Province, Vietnam

Ngo Mon gate - the main entrance of forbidden Hue Imperial City in Hue city, Vietnam.

Aerial view of Hue Citadel and view of Hue city, Vietnam. Emperor palace complex, Hue Province, Vietnam

Ngo Mon gate - the main entrance of forbidden Hue Imperial City in Hue city, Vietnam.

Aerial view of Hue Citadel and view of Hue city, Vietnam. Emperor palace complex, Hue Province, Vietnam

Location: Hue

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Romance Hotel – Deluxe room

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Hue is a fascinating, multifaceted city, where visitors can gain a real sense of the country's imperial past. On this jam-packed full day tour, we'll dive into the past feudality of Vietnam, cycle through ancient villages where descendants of the former Mandarins live and sample the refined imperial cuisine in recipes passed down through generations.

8:30am Your guide will meet you at your hotel to begin a full day of exploring Hue's many captivating historical sites. First stop will be the Hue citadel, which provides an excellent introduction to Vietnam’s imperial history, the Mandarin culture and the country's former feudal system. We'll then enjoy a slow-paced visit to the Thien Mu pagoda, one of the most iconic religious buildings in Vietnam. Built in the early 1600’s, the seven-story pagoda is widely regarded as a symbol of Hue and features in various Vietnamese folk rhymes and literature.
Next, we'll cross the Perfume River on a small boat to reach Thuy Bieu village where we'll stop for lunch at a local house. The village is a maze of narrow alleys that lead to beautiful ancient houses with lush tropical gardens. The real treasure of Thuy Bieu village is its people, descendants of the Mandarins. We'll take a gentle stroll around the village, stopping to meet some of the villagers and taste locally grown fruits along the way.

On our way back to the city center, we'll visit emperor Tu Duc’s tomb and climb a small hill to gain a scenic view over the Perfume River. Back at your hotel, the remainder of the day will be free for you to spend relaxing or exploring more of Hue.

Distance and activities: 1.5h boat ride; 4h sightseeing tour

Day 6 : HUE - DEPARTURE