Private journeys and custom trips across Vietnam
8 daysHoi AnDa NangCham IslandHue
Eight days along the central coast, from lantern making and the old town in Hoi An to Cham Island, the Imperial City of Hue and a dinner cruise on the Perfume River.
Your journey at a glance
Overview
This is the long version of central Vietnam, and the extra days show. You start in Hoi An with a choice between a lantern-making village and a herbal foot soak, then spend a full morning in the old town rather than an hour of it: Tan Ky Old House, the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Fukian Assembly Hall from 1690 and the market along the Thu Bon.
From there the trip opens out. A day at Ba Na Hills and the Golden Bridge, a speedboat to Cham Island for snorkelling water and a seafood lunch, then two days in Hue for the Imperial Citadel, Khai Dinh's mausoleum and Thien Mu Pagoda, with an evening of Hue folk singing on the river.
The last stretch comes back down to Da Nang through Dong Ba Market, ending at the Dragon Bridge on a night it breathes fire.
Highlights
Day by day
8 days, 7 nights, in the order we usually run them. Timings, hotels and activities are adjusted to your dates and interests when we plan it with you.
Customise this journeyDay 1, Da Nang and Hoi An
Your driver meets you at Da Nang airport and takes you to Hoi An for lunch and hotel check-in. In the afternoon you choose between a traditional lantern-making village, where you follow the whole process and talk to the artisans, or a herbal foot soak and massage. Dinner in the old town.
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Day 2, Hoi An
A morning at Cam Thanh coconut village, known for its coconut groves and boat trips through the water palms. After lunch, Hoi An Ancient Town: Tan Ky Old House, the Japanese Covered Bridge, the Fukian Assembly Hall from 1690 and the market along the Thu Bon river. Back to Da Nang for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3, Da Nang
A full day at Ba Na Hills, with the French Village, the Golden Bridge held up by two stone hands, and the French Square. Fantasy Park, one of the largest indoor amusement parks in Vietnam, fills the afternoon if you want it. Back to the hotel around 15:30 for the beach.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4, Cham Island
A speedboat from Cua Dai pier out to Cu Lao Cham, where you visit the seafood market and the old Hai Tang pagoda, with lunch of local seafood. The afternoon is yours: either a vegetable-growing workshop and cooking class, or free time and a swim at My Khe beach.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5, Hue
Check out after breakfast and head north to Hue. Khai Dinh Mausoleum first, where late Nguyen dynasty architecture mixes Western and Eastern styles, then the Imperial Citadel: Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, the Forbidden City, The Mieu Temple, Hien Lam Pavilion and the Nine Dynastic Urns. Thien Mu Pagoda in the late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6, Hue
The Xuan Thuy incense-making village in the morning, where you make your own bundles alongside the locals, then a kite-making village in the afternoon, a craft Hue artisans built around the royal court. In the evening, a dinner cruise on the Perfume River with Hue folk singing.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7, Hue and Da Nang
A morning at Dong Ba Market, the oldest market in Hue, for whatever you want to take home. Lunch, then back to Da Nang to rest. After dinner, down to the Dragon Bridge to watch it breathe fire.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8, Da Nang
Breakfast, time at your own pace, then your driver takes you to the airport for your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
Where you'll stay
Stays are chosen for character and location, and confirmed with you before anything is booked.
1 night
Hotel room on a twin-share basis, two people per room. Property names are confirmed with your final itinerary.
3 nights
Hotel room on a twin-share basis, two people per room. Property names are confirmed with your final itinerary.
2 nights
Hotel room on a twin-share basis, two people per room. Property names are confirmed with your final itinerary.
1 night
Hotel room on a twin-share basis, two people per room. Property names are confirmed with your final itinerary.
The route
Map is schematic and not to scale for travel times.
Good to know
Moderate. Hoi An and the Hue citadel are covered on foot, and Ba Na Hills involves a fair amount of standing and walking. Most days have a long midday break.
Yes. The sequence of sights can shift with weather, traffic or opening hours, but the full list of included sights stays the same.
Children aged 10 and over are charged the full rate. Children aged 9 and under are charged 75 percent of the rate, and children under 3 travel free of charge.
Yes. Tell us what you avoid when you book and we will brief the restaurants on the route and choose suitable dishes.
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Tell us your dates and we'll shape the Hoi An, Da Nang & Hue around you.