CENTRAL HERITAGE ROAD (6D5N)

DAY 1: DA NANG ARRIVAL – HOI AN (L, D)

The classified Cultural Heritage of Hoi An Ancient Town is a marvel of centuries of preservation and propagation. Hoi An Ancient Town that measures a good 60 Sq Km in area is located in Hoi An city of Vietnam. Located on the banks of Thu Bon River, it was a place where several cultures merged to bring about the unique heritage that it has today. What is more important than this is the fact that this coalesced culture has survived several centuries of flux to remain uncorrupt and grow over time.

Upon arrival in Da Nang, our guide and car will greet you at airport then transfer to Hoi An – a small tranquil city in Quang Nam province. Have lunch at local restaurant then check in hotel. Afternoon, take a walking tour to Hoi An Ancient Quarters along small streets. Hoi An Ancient Town is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a South-East Asian trading port dating from 15th to 19th century. Its buildings and street plan reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique heritage site. You will visit the Fukian Assembly Hall (Phuc Kien), Japanese Covered Bridge, Old House of Tan Ky, Chaozhou Hall (Trieu Chau) and go shopping at the silk streets. Overnight in Hoi An

DAY 2: HOI AN – MY SON – HOI AN (B, L, D)

My Son lies in a narrow valley in Duy Tan Commune, Duy Xuyen District, Quang Nam Province. It is about 20km away from the Tra Kieu Citadel, and 40km away from the Ancient Town of Hoi An. My Son is a group of temple-towers of Cham people. With its great value, in December 1999, the complex of My Son Cham Towers has been recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Breakfast at hotel, then transfer to  My Son Holy Land.

Discover the archaeological ruins of the ancient Cham kingdom and spend the whole morning to visit Vietnam's most important Cham site. Located in a lush valley, My Son Holy Land now remains with red brick towers and sanctuaries. In fact, My Son is comparable to other big icons in Southeast Asia, like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Ayutthuya in Thailand and the Borobodur in Indonesia. Return to Hoi An for lunch. This afternoon, enjoy a boat trip on Thu Bon river. Firstly, the boat will take you to Thanh Ha pottery village where you can observe and learn about the process of making ceramics like vase, pot, kettle and other original symbols of Hoian as Japanese covered bridge, Cham dancers, etc. You can try to make your own products! It’s truly interesting. After that, continue your trip (about 30 minutes) to the opposite bank of Thu Bon river for Kim Bong wood village.

You have chance to relax with the mild air of the gentle river and take photos of the peaceful surrounding scenery. Go ashore, you will be briefly explained about the story of this village. Walking along narrow lanes, you can admire the shipping area where wooden fishing vessels are built with traditional techniques. Transfer back to the port with much knowledge of Vietnamese craft villages! Dinner at local restaurant. Overnight in Hoi An

DAY 3: HOI AN – DA NANG – HUE (B, L, D)

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Hue via Da Nang – a modern dynamic city in the Central. Stop to visit the Marble Mountains, also referred to as Ngu Hanh Son or Mountains of Five Elements, consisting of five marble mountains: Thuy Son (water) which is the highest, Moc Son (wood), Kim Son (metal), Tho Son (soil), and Hoa Son (fire) and Museum of Cham Sculpture built in 1915 with the most extensive collection of Cham art worldwide.  After lunch, continue the journey to Hue city.

The scenic route passes Hai Van Pass (the Pass of Ocean Clouds) - one of the highest passes in Vietnam and dropping down to the wonderfully photogenic Lang Co Beach for sightseeing and taking photos. 

Arrive in Hue, check in hotel. Overnight in Hue

(Option: Enjoy Royal Dinner with a welcome ceremony and royal costumes. Another special thing is that a royal music band will serve during your dinner. This is an unforgettable memory in life.)

DAY 4: HUE (B, L, D)

Hue city is one of particular sites in Vietnam which have many cultural heritages.These vestiges have been classified by the government as a very precious property. Hue is also an important center of Buddhism. Hue and its surrounding still conserve tens of pagodas constructed more than 300 years ago, and a hundred of temples and pagodas built in the early centuries. Besides, this is the cradle of royal music, traditional famous dishes as well as sophisticated handicraft. And in December 1993, Hue was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.

After breakfast at hotel, start to discover Hue – the former imperial capital of Vietnam. Take a morning boat trip on the romantically gentle Perfume River - one of the symbols of Ancient Hue Capital. Ending is at the seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda, built in 1601 on the riverbank and then return to the car for a visit to the Imperial Citadel including Flag Tower, Ngo Mon Gate, Nine Dynastic Urns, Nine Holy Cannons, Thai Hoa Palace, Forbidden Purple City (Tu Cam Thanh) where all Kings in the Nguyen dynasty ruled from 1804 till 1945. The afternoon tour will offer you some outstanding features in our history & architecture.

Let’s take your trip to Mausoleum of Tu Duc King & Khai Dinh King! Architectural spotlights of Tu Duc Tomb include poetry elements in free form. It was designed to blend with the natural setting of the landscape. Man-made elements were built and placed in strategic areas to achieve perfect harmony. Khai Dinh Tomb, 12^th King of the Nguyen dynasty, shows the typical aspect of traditional Vietnamese design with a European touch making it unique from the other tombs in Hue. The Thien Dinh Palace in Khai Dinh Tomb in Hue in Vietnam is on the top and it is where Khai Dinh was buried. And its interior was wonderfully designed and decorated by colourful glass and pottery. At last, stop at Dong Ba market to buy some Hue specialties then go to local restaurant for dinner. Overnight in Hue

DAY 5: HUE – QUANG TRI – PHONG NHA – DONG HOI (B, L, D)

Quang Binh, formerly Tien Binh under the reign of Le Trung Hung of Le Dynasty (this province was renamed Quang Binh in 1604), is a province in the North Central coast of Vietnam. Quang Binh has several tourist attraction sites that could be turned into tourism development, specially the World Heritage Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

Leave Hue after breakfast for Quang Binh province. En route, stop to visit La Vang Holly Land in the north-central province of Quang Tri, Ben Hai river – the official dividing point between Vietnam North and South in the war and Hien Luong – one of our historic bridges.  On arrival, head to Phong Nha Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch, take a boat trip on the river before reaching the caves. You will have a wonderful chance to admire original shapes of stalactites and stalagmites in caves as well as enjoy the pure air along the Son river. The most impressive cave - Phong Nha cave is probably also the most beautiful with many fascinating rock formations with imaginative names such as The Lion, Fairy Caves, Royal Court and Buddha. The farther one gets inside the Phong Nha Caves, the more illusory the stalactites and stalagmites look as they glitter when bright light is shone on them. Transfer back to Dong Hoi town for hotel check-in. Overnight in Quang Binh

DAY 6: QUANG BINH – HUE – DEPARTURE (B, L)

Breakfast at hotel. Check out then transfer back to Hue.

Lunch is served at local restaurant.

If time permits, visit Garden Houses – one of Hue cultural attractions. Transfer to airport for the onward flight.

End of tour program!