Vietnam Central Heritage 9D8N Package

Start after breakfast for a 30 minutes gentle bicycle ride through the flat country lanes to Tra Que, which is a charming little village located just a few kilometres northeast of Hoi An. The village is famous for growing many kinds of vegetables and herbs including: lettuce, salad, houttuynia, flagrant knoutwed, basil and coriander.

We will learn about the planting and growing of vegetables and herbs. Enjoy a herbal foot massage before taking a short informal cooking class with a local family, to learn how to make (and then eat) some local delicacies.

WOOD CARVING WORKSHOP AT DRIFT WOOD VILLAGE
An experience unlike anything else, you are invited to pick up a chisel and carve your own inspired, meaningful work of art.
Working closely with our local craftsmen, you will create a unique work of art to take home with you as a treasured memory of your time in Hoi An.

Learn the ancient techniques and basic skills in our introduction to woodworking. Explore our collection for inspiration. Meet and work hand-in-hand with a local artisan.

Joining our Woodworking experience, you can expect a unique and creative few hours interacting and working hands-on with the talented sculptors and artists of the famous Kim Bong carpentry village as you sculpt your own work of art.

It is truly an unforgettable memory and sure to be a highlight of your visit to Hoi An.

My Son, located in an narrow valley in Duy Tan Commune is around 40km from Hoi An. It was an imperial city of the Cham kingdom, between the 4th and 12th century. The construction of My Son was likely to have been started in the 4th century. During many centuries, the temple complex had more buildings and stupas constructed of varying sizes and became the main cultural vestige of the Champa civilization in Vietnam.

Aside from religious celebrations, which allowed the dynastic royals to spiritually connect with the gods, My Son was also a cultural and religious centre and was the burial place of kings and religious leaders. The Sanctuary now is a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 70 architectural works. They include temples and towers that connect to each other with complicated red brick designs.

HOI AN WALKING TOUR

Located on the banks of the poetic Thu Bon River, Hoi An ancient town is an Eastern oriental classic captivation. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, Hoi An was a prosperous trading port, with a number of foreign occupations. These included the Japanese and Chinese, and and also western (Dutch and Spanish) during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Today, this UNESCO World Heritage listed ancient town is home to well-preserved buildings, pedestrianized streets, a quaint riverside and unique cuisines. The narrow lanes are ideal for aa approximate 2 hours walking tour to give you a glimpse of an ancient town with its illustrious past.

You will visit the Japanese Bridge, the Assembly Hall of Chinese, an old merchant’s house – Tan Ky and have a visit to the colorful local market.

Leave around 8.00am and drive around 1.5 hours to the Ba Na Hills. This hill resort, inherited from the French, has refreshingly cool weather and gorgeous countryside views.

Until WWII, the French were carried up the last 20km of rough mountain road by sedan chair, but now a 5.7km (the world’s longest) cable car system has opened up access. The ride involves a rise of almost 1400m, a truly spectacular trip over dense jungle and waterfalls.

Folklore says that when the French arrived in this region, they saw a lot of bananas and gradually this morphed to Ba Na!
Walk the Golden Bridge…

This amazing construction has attracted visitors worldwide, eager to see a novel piece of architecture famed for its unusual design.

The pedestrian walkway, sits at over 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level and extends over the treetops from the edge of a leafy cliff face, offering visitors uninterrupted views of the majestic landscape beneath.

The bridge was designed to evoke the image of the ‘giant hands of God’, pulling a strip of gold out of the and to connect the cable car station with the gardens and to provide an amazing scenic overlook.

We’ll remain flexible as to the walks and sites visited.

Lunch is included, following which we’ll continue to Hue by way of a scenic drive over the stunning Hai Van Mountain Pass. This is the highest pass in Vietnam (500m above sea level).

The rugged pass is the final section of the Truong Son Range stretching to the sea. Hai Van is translated “Sea Clouds”, since the peak of the mountain is in the clouds while its foot is close to the sea.

The views over Lang Co Bay are stunning. We’ll make stops along the way for photos and refreshments as required and will arrive into Hue by mid-late afternoon.

This morning, our private transfer and guide will pick you up from your hotel in Hue to begin your journey exploring the architectural wonders of Hue city.

Enter the ancient Hue Citadel and the Forbidden City.

The poetic and beautiful Hue of Vietnam was chosen to be the capital of the Southern Kingdom under Nguyen Lords’ Dynasty, and officially became the nation’s capital under Tay Son Dynasty, King Quang Trung. The citadel palace complex is located on the North bank of Huong River (Perfume River), inside Hue city.

It is a huge complex covering an area of 520ha and comprising three circles of ramparts, Kinh Thanh Hue (Hue Capital Citadel), Hoang Thanh (Royal Citadel) and Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Citadel). The rule of the last Vietnamese Emperor lasted until the mid-1900s. At the time, the Purple Forbidden City had many buildings and hundreds of rooms. It suffered from termite and cyclone damage, but was still very impressive. Many bullet holes left over from the war can also be observed on the stone walls.

Minh Mang tomb, on the west bank of the Perfume River is explored next. Begun in 1840, construction was not complete when Minh Mang died. His successor, Emperor Thieu Tri continued this task according to his father’s plans.

It took ten thousand soldiers and artisans to finish the project. Fully completed in 1843, the tomb comprises of about 40 monuments of various sizes which was designed on an symmetric axis running from Dai Hon gate to the foot of La Thanh (Surrounding Wall) behind the tomb.

Then we will visit Thien An Monastery, which is located in Thuy Bang, Huong Thuy, Thua Thien Hue, in a romantic, airy space in the middle of the forest of pine. After many years of establishment, with the type of design of a convent church, Thien An Monastery still retains its intimacy, harmonizes with nature and is beautiful between the forest. We will have a great time there.

After that we will transfer to visit Dong Ba Market – the biggest market of Hue city. Dong Ba Market is the oldest of its kind in Hue, with hundreds of stalls selling household items, handicrafts, clothing and fresh produce at affordable prices. The Market spans almost 16,000 square metres, with several sections dedicated to fruits, seafood, clothing, meat, and handicrafts.

Dong Ba Market is one of the few shopping venues in Hue, attracting tourists looking to experience the local lifestyle and shop for souvenirs and street food. Here you will have a chance to enjoy a local coffee at Depo Cafe Shop

A QUITE UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCE

This evening, take the opportunity to rub shoulders with royalty with a visit to the residence of Pham Ba Vinh and his wife, Ton Nu Cam Tu. Mr Vinh is of royal heritage and during your visit to the delightful Tha Om Garden House, he will undoubtedly regale you with a few stories of his ancestral roots.

Tha Om Garden House offers an excellent opportunity to relax and enjoy traditional Vietnamese hospitality in the surrounds of a fully-working and functioning replica of a 19th century Hue residence. The house itself is set in charming gardens, complete with lotus ponds and pavilions.

Like many of Hue’s homes, the structure is built on high foundations with low, dipping roofs due to the historical problem of flooding in the area. As the sun sets, enjoy an exceptional Vietnamese dinner either within the house or, if the weather is fair, in the gardens.

This morning, early breakfast and check out from your hotel by around 8am, heading north from Hue on Highway 1. This drive passes through some of the most historic areas in Vietnam.

During the 1960’s / 70’s war, some of the most fierce fighting was in the area north of Hue at the Ben Hai River / 17th parallel division of former North and South Vietnam – ironically known as the DMZ or Demilitarized Zone.

On the way pass by the totally destroyed Long Hung Church, now just a shell of the building remains. The exterior is riddled with bullet marks, giving some idea of the fighting that took place here.

Nowadays this peaceful area is a complete contrast the former battlegrounds. You may be able to cross the old wooden footbridge the over Ben Hai River and also visit the small war museum situated on the north side.

We’ll continue for around 15 minutes drive to Vinh Moc. A highly impressive complex of tunnels, Vinh Moc is the remains of a coastal North Vietnamese village that literally went underground in response to unremitting American bombing. More than 90 families relocated into three levels of tunnels running for almost 2km, and continued to live and work while bombs rained down around them.
Most of the tunnels are open to visitors, and are kept in their original form (except for electric lights, a recent addition).

Leaving Vinh Moc, we continue north for a couple hours until we reach Phong Nha – Ke Bang, which will be our base for the following days.

Leaving your hotel after breakfast, we’ll drive to Phong Nha Cave. First discovered under French rule in the late 19th century and subsequently fully surveyed in 1990.
Soon after cave was given the title of the world’s longest river cave with a length of almost 14km. The first 1.200 meters of the cave was opened up for public viewing. It is only accessible by boat and features an underground river.
The caverns that are open to visitors are quite close to the mouth of the cave. Just as you enter, to the right, disembark your boat on to a landing and a set of stairs that lead to two caverns, or grottos.
At 400 million years of age, these are some of the oldest limestone formations in the world. The curiosities produced when water seeps slowly through limestone for eons are visible everywhere. Intricate stalactites, stalagmites and ground formations are on display everywhere — it’s truly an underground wonderland.

Duong “Paradise” Cave took the title of longest cave in Vietnam away from the name star of the park, Phong Nha Cave.

At 31km (19 miles) in length Paradise Cave is more than four times longer than its nearby sister and has perhaps more impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations

Take a deep breath before you go further to prepare yourself for what is ahead, or you will think you have stepped into a primitive forest that aged into stone mineral. Stalactites that look like temples, cranes with their arched necks looking up to the sky and a pine tree with hundreds of branches are dotted throughout this underground world.

With a little imagination, there is no end to the shapes to be found in the cave. Also around Thien Duong Cave are dozens of stalactite mounds 30-50 centimeters tall, resembling Buddha statues, some of them with diameters of more than a meter. One stalactite structure looks like the communal house of the Central Highlands people.

The British Caving Association have stated that Thien Duong Cave is probably the longest dry cave in Asia.

After, we’ll return to your accommodation in the National Park. The remainder of the day is free for you to rest or discuss any local activities (walks / cycling etc) with your guide, who should be able to arrange for you.

After check out hotel, depart for the drive south to Hue. We will have lunch on the way back to Hue city.

Arrive into the former capital city of Hue by late afternoon and check into your hotel. Remainder of the day is free and easy for you to enjoy this charming riverside city.

Private transfer to Da Nang airport (flight details tbc). Your guide will be with you for this transfer.