6-Day Tour of Central Vietnam

Xin Chao: Welcome to Vietnam!

Your guide will be ready and waiting to greet you at Da Nang Airport then show you to your private transport for the 40-minute journey to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An. We’ll drop you off at your hotel and leave you to get settled in. When you’re feeling rested, we can embark on our walking tour of the peaceful Old Town, which is pedestrianised and an absolute joy to walk around. It’s impossible to take more than a few steps without seeing ancient buildings and temples full of character from Hoi An’s colourful past. A former port city with a melting pot of influences from China, Japan, and France, it truly is a beautiful and unique place, perfectly preserved and yet full of new life!

You’ll see many highlights on this walking tour including the Japanese covered bridge, the old merchant’s house and the famous lanterned streets and markets. For lunch, we’ll be free to either sample local delicacies at a restaurant or try tasty street food as we wander through these ancient streets.

Come sunset, thousands of lamps and colourful lanterns will be lit all along Hoi An’s picturesque streets, buildings, and trees- even the river will be filled with floating lanterns. It truly is a sight to behold and makes for a magical experience and an unforgettable evening out.

Overnight stay in Hoi An.

Today You’ll Travel By: Private Car/Van • Airplane • Walking.

Today’s Inclusions: 1 Night’s Accommodation With Breakfast • Private Transport • Bottled Water • Lunch • Tour Guide

Experience Local Life at Herbal Village

After a hearty breakfast, your guide will arrive at your hotel with first-rate bikes for today’s tour. We’ll get comfortable on our bikes and then set off through the streets for Tra Que Herbal Village, located about 3 km from the Old Quarter. The route is easy to navigate and follows a nice, flat path so you can take advantage of all the sights you’ll see along the way.

The herbal village is famous for its fertile lowlands which produce the fragrant herbs used in Vietnamese cooking like sweet basil, peppermint, and cilantro- all lovingly cultivated by hand. We’ll meet with locals and have the opportunity to get involved with the daily tasks essential to keeping this special place flourishing. Here you’ll take a selfie with a water buffalo and even try your hand at the art of lantern-making. Phew!

Next up will be a welcome coffee and lunch break. ‘Cao Lau’ will be on the menu- a dish exclusive to Hoi An consisting of pork, noodles, and plenty of fresh herbs and greens from the very fields you’ll be standing in. After some rest and digestion, it’s time to get back in the saddle and head back towards the city. The tour will cover about 17 km over 4 hours, but of course, is flexible to meet the needs of your group.

Overnight stay in Hoi An.

Today You’ll Travel By: Bicycle • Walking.

Today’s Inclusions: 1 Night’s Accommodation with Breakfast • Private Transport • Bottled Water • Bicycle Tour With Guide • Lunch.

Today You Choose the Adventure!

Today is a scheduled free day for you to do as you wish, whether that’s to chill out and put your feet up, do some souvenir shopping, or simply enjoy some alone time. Don’t worry though, if you’re keen to continue adventuring we have a range of fantastic optional activities for you!

Take part in a hands-on cooking class and market tour and have a go at making (and eating) a classic Vietnamese feast including crispy spring rolls, grilled sea bass in banana leaf, and ‘bun cha’ pork patties. Dietary requirements accommodated.
If you’re feeling active we can take you hiking up the Marble Mountains, a group of limestone hills dotted with beautiful pagodas and caves housing Buddhist shrines and temples. The views from the top are worth the climb!

Alternatively, experience the wonder of the ancient My Son Cham ruins; centuries-old Hindi temples built to honour the god Shiva. They are remarkably well preserved with many intricate carvings and complete structures still standing strong.

Overnight stay in Hoi An.

Today’s Inclusions: 1 Night’s Accommodation With Breakfast • Tour Guide • Transport to Activities

Ancient History & Beauty Await

After breakfast we’ll set off in our private transport for Hue; the former seat of the Nguyen Dynasty Emperors and Vietnam’s capital city up until 1945. Our route will take us through the Hai Van Pass, meaning ‘sea clouds’, so-called because of the majestic views of the sea and white sand beaches. There are some fantastic photo opportunities along this pass, so we’ll include plenty of photo stops to make sure you capture these stunning views. If we get peckish along the way, we can stop for an optional lunch, views included of course!

Once we arrive in Hue and get checked-in it’s time to hit the road, cyclostyle! We’ll head straight to the Citadel; a UNESCO World Heritage Site guarded by an ancient moat and thick stone walls. The vast Citadel encompasses the Imperial City, Forbidden Purple City and the Royal Theatre, so stretch those legs and get ready for an afternoon full of culture, history, amazing architecture, and countless photo opportunities.

Afterwards, we’ll take you back to your hotel for a well-deserved rest and happily share some top recommendations for dinner in the city.

Overnight stay in Hue.

Today You’ll Travel By: Private Car/Van • Cyclo • Walking.

Today’s Inclusions: 1 Night’s Accommodation With Breakfast • Private Car/Van • Bottled Water • Cyclo and Driver • Tour Guide.

Tombs, Pagodas & Dragon Boats!

Today will be a full-day tour so we can see all the best Hue has to offer, starting with Thanh Toan Bridge. This hidden gem, located off the tourist track in a small village, is characterised by a rare, squared timber arch, ancient ceramics, and calligraphy inscriptions. It may have been built centuries ago, but its unique beauty is still very much apparent. We’ll also visit some locals including the inspiring Ms Thuy who specialises in making Vietnam’s world-famous conical hats.

Next up is the tomb of King Tu Duc, the most popular and impressive of all the royal mausoleums. It houses courtyards, pavilions, temples, and chambers. Your tour guide will tell you all about its fascinating history and the king’s life of imperial luxury, from his 104 wives to the unfortunate ending for the 200 burial servants!

Just before lunch, we’ll visit Bunker Hill which overlooks the Perfume River and boasts amazing panoramic views. The area served as a great military vantage point by providing secret observation posts for the surrounding territory. Many bunkers still remain so you’ll have the chance to get up close and investigate them.

We’ll have lunch and recharge our batteries at a serene nunnery pagoda and then head off for our next destination: Tiger Arena, an ancient colosseum where tigers and elephants would fight to the death all in the name of royal entertainment.

The final leg of our tour today takes us to the iconic, seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda, the unofficial symbol of Hue City. From here we’ll board a classic dragon boat and cruise down the Perfume River back towards the city, where you’ll be picked up and transferred back to your hotel.

Overnight stay in Hue.

Today You’ll Travel By: Private Car/Van • Dragon Boat on Perfume River.

Today’s Inclusions: 1 Night’s Accommodation With Breakfast • All Transport • Bottled Water • Tour Guide • Lunch.

Departure Day

Tạm biệt! Goodbye! Sadly today is departure day. After checking out of your hotel, your trusty guide will be there to help you with your bags and make sure you arrive at the airport in good time. Whether you’re heading home or onto the next leg of your adventure, we’ll wish you the best of luck and have no doubt that you’ll be leaving with great memories thanks to your fantastic Maika Tour!

Today You’ll Travel By: Private Car/Van

Today’s Inclusions: Private Guide • Private Airport Transfers