Vietnam Central Highlights 5D4N Trip

TRA QUE BIKING COOKING CLASS – HOI AN WALKING TOUR – HOI AN MEMORIES SHOW ( B/L)

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.
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.

THE REAL-WORLD PERFORMANCE
In the evening you will enjoy a special show in Hoian. “Hoi An Memories” Show – The heroic and romantic memories of Hoi An.
Take a walk on the memory lane with “Hoi An Memories” Show, an outdoor visual arts performance, you will experience impressive stories on the rich history, culture and identity of Hoi An.
“Hoi An Memories” show is a outdoor art performance with the participation of over 500 dancers and actors, various props, captivating stage effects, eye-catching choreography, modern sound and lighting, all in one on a 25,000 square metres stage.

Leave around 8.00am and drive around 30 minutes. to the Marble Moutain. Ngu Hanh Son (The Marble Mountains) are about 8km southeast of Da Nang City. This is a cluster of five marble mountains lying close to the sea. That is why it is dubbed Hon Non Nuoc, which means Mountain and Water in Vietnamese.
Thuy Son is both the highest and considered the most beautiful covering an area of 15ha. It has three peaks namely Thuong Thai, Trung Thai and Ha Thai. As a result, the pagoda built on the mountain was named Tam Thai.
The Marble Mountains are famous for their traditional stone engraving activities. In Dong Hai village close to Thuy Son, 600 families chisel stone producing statues, jewelry, and art work. Stone from the Marble Mountains has been exported to many countries. At this village, you can admire all those wonderful works created by patient craftsmen right in front of you.
Then we will visit Cham Museum. This fine, small museum has the world’s largest collection of Cham artefacts, housed in buildings marrying French-colonial architecture with Cham elements. Founded in 1915 by the Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient, it displays more than 300 pieces including altars, lingas, garudas, apsaras, Ganeshes and images of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu, all dating from the 5th to 15th centuries.
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

We begin with a discovery of Minh Mang tomb, which is 12km from Hue, on the west bank of the Perfume River. 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.
Returning to the city, we’ll visit the private gallery and workshop of Mr Do Huu Triet to discover the ancient art of Phap Lam, an art-form that uses ceramic enamel to cover laminated copper.

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.
Conclude this splendid day with a visit to Thien Mu Pagoda, which overlooks the Perfume River and is the official symbol of the city of Hue. Thien Mu means “elderly celestial woman”, and refers to an old legend about the founding of the pagoda.
From here, cruise back to Hue centre on the legendary Perfume River. The views on both sides of the river with the citadel, town, gardens, pagodas, towers and temples, provide good photo opportunities while enjoying this short 45 minutes cruise.

Private transfer to Phu Bai Airport (flight details tbc). Your guide will be with your transfer.
This service marks the conclusion of your 5-day, 4-night journey.