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Central Vietnam |
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6 Days / 5 Nights in Hue – Danang – Hoi An – My Son – Danang |
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Tour Overview
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Central Vietnam may not have the razzle-dazzle of the South or the spectacular scenery of the North but it has a rich, subtle beauty and an incomparable historical significance. Indulge in the architectural, musical and culinary legacy left by the Nguyen emperors in former imperial capital, Hue. Discover ancient ruins in Vietnam’s foremost Champa kingdom site, at the temples of My Son. In Hoi An, you can shop for an entirely new wardrobe – tailor-made – and for a fraction of the price! While you wait, browse the lantern-lit streets and alleyways along the banks of the river that was once Vietnam’s most important merchant seaport. |
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Central Highlights
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• Indulge in the majestic grandeur of the city of Hue and its Imperial Citadel
• Embark on a DMZ Tour and visit the famous battle site of Khe Sanh
• Immerse yourself in the art, history and architecture of Hoi An Old Town
• Discover the lost and ancient Champa kingdom of My Son
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Detailed Itinerary
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DAY 1: Arrival in Hue (lunch/dinner) |
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| HUE: Majestic Hue was once the country’s imperial capital, and today is still at the very heart of Vietnamese culture. From 1802 to 1945, Hue was home to the famous Nguyen Dynasty Emperors who made Hue a cultural and political center:- that legacy remains today with imperial palaces, stately buildings and grand mausoleums. Hue is also renowned for its traditional music, Nha Nhac.
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| AM: You’ll be warmly welcomed by your guide at the Phu Bai Airport or Hue railway station and taken to your hotel for check-in.
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| PM: Take a tour to the Hue Imperial Citadel, which was established as Vietnam’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. It includes ramparts, gates, a moat, a palace and temple, and the Forbidden Purple City, reserved solely for the emperor. Stop by the Dong Ba Markets on the way home. For dinner, try some of Hue’s famed culinary specialties such as “Bun Bo”, a special beef noodle soup.
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DAY 2: Hue City Tour (breakfast/lunch/dinner) |
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| NHA NHAC: This music – now one of the UNESCO 28 Great Spiritual and Orally Transmitted Heritages of the World – served as royal entertainment during the Ly Dynasty (1010 – 1225) but reached its harmonious peak during the Nguyen reign. Nha Nhac is played by an orchestra – small (8 instruments) or large (at least 42) depending on the occasion – and features diverse instruments from percussion to strings.
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| AM: Get ready for an adventurous boat trip along the Huong or Perfume River – the city’s picturesque waterway – to visit Thien Mu Pagoda, perched high on the river banks, and then onto the royal mausoleum of Minh Mang, one of the Nguyen emperors. Past glories can be contemplated in the tranquil gardens of the tombs. Enjoy a delicious vegetarian lunch at the Thien Lam pagoda.
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| PM: You’ll next visit the mausoleum of Tu Duc, the longest reigning monarch and legendary for his 104 wives but no offspring! Then visit a village where bronze is cast, and onto the Ho Quyen fighting arena and Long Chau temple. Later, take a night cruise on the romantic Perfume River to enjoy Hue’s famed culinary delights and listen to some traditional folk music. Spend the night in Hue.
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DAY 3: Hue – DMZ Tour – Hue (breakfast/lunch/dinner) |
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DMZ: Following the withdrawal of the French and under the 1954 Geneva Accords, Vietnam was sliced in two – North and South. The demarcation line rang along the Ben Hai River and the stretch of land both 5km to the north and south of the river was known as the DMZ or Demilitarized Zone. Ironically, the DMZ and the two provinces either side of it were to become the most heavily bombed regions in Vietnam during the American War.
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AM: Today you’ll venture into the notorious battlefields of Central Vietnam and understand the historical significance of the DMZ. First head into Quang Tri province, which was the stage for many major battles during the war. Quang Tri town has an old citadel that’s worth a look. You’ll see the impressive Hien Luong Bridge across the Ben Hai River, first built by the French and later bombed by the Americans! Vinh Moc tunnels, although not as famous as Cu Chi, are exceptionally well-preserved and the passageways are larger and taller than those at Cu Chi. So underground tours are possible but be prepared to sweat! These tunnels were an engineering feat for the local villagers who literally dug themselves out of harm’s way.
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PM: After lunch, you’ll visit famed sites such as Dar Krong Bridge and the town of Khe Sanh to see the Khe Sanh Combat Base where a deadly battle was waged against US marines, resulting in a huge human loss and a retaliation campaign of incessant bombing, backed up by napalm and defoliants, leaving the area resembling a lunar landscape. You’ll also see the Ho Chi Minh Trail, a network of routes that enabled the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army to move unhindered up and down the country. After visiting an ethnic minority village, you’ll return to Hue in the evening for dinner and overnight.
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DAY 4: Hue – Danang – Marble Mountain – Hoi An (breakfast/lunch/dinner) |
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AM: You’ll depart from Hue, traveling overland past some of Vietnam’s most spectacular scenery – the white sand and pristine waters of Lang Co Beach and Hai Van Pass, where mountains meet the sea and green hills and valleys roll effortlessly into the aqua-marine water. Arrive in Danang, a big industrial city.
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PM: You’ll continue on to Hoi An via the Marble Mountains, where hundreds of sculptors make giant statues, from majestic lions to awe-inspiring Buddhas, from all different colors and grades of marble and other stone. See artisans at work at the Nuoc stone sculpture village.
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DAY 5: Hoi An City Tour (breakfast/lunch/dinner) |
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HOI AN: Hoi An was a thriving port city during the Middle Ages and reached its zenith as an international seaport for British, European and Asian sea merchants and traders from the 16th to 19th centuries. Today Hoi An Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is an inimitable blend of quaint colonial building facades, small Chinese pagodas, hidden alleyways and an old-world charm all of its own. It’s hard not to be won over by Hoi An, especially once you learn that it’s Vietnam’s one-stop-shop for all your tailoring needs.
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AM: Wander through the peaceful Old Town to see low-tiled houses from the Chinese merchant era, the Phuc Kien Congregation, the Ancient House, the Japanese covered bridge and the town’s myriad brightly painted pagodas and temples.
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PM: Take a relaxing boat cruise on the Thu Bon River and soak up the magic of Hoi An. Later, stroll through the town’s quaint streets – there are many beautiful bars, restaurants and art shops. Overnight in Hoi An.
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DAY 6: Hoi An – My Son – Hoi An (breakfast/lunch) |
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MY SON: My Son – a UNESCO World Heritage site – is the Holy Land of the ancient Champa kingdom dating back to the 4th century, and dedicated to Hindu gods, mainly Shiva. Although smaller than other Indian inspired civilizations like Angkor Wat, My Son served as the political capital of the Champa Kingdom and was occupied until the 13th century – the longest period of development of any monument in Southeast Asia. About 20 of 70 structures stand strong today. Towers made from bricks adorned with sandstone and joined together with no glue, have withstood the tyranny of time, weather and wars.
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AM: You’ll travel by car to My Son for a tour of the temple remains and the small Cham museum.
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PM: This afternoon will allow you to either clothes shop till you drop, browse art and craft shops, have a long-island iced tea overlooking the river, or simply laze on Hoi An beach. Later transfer to the railway station or airport in Danang for your flight home.
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