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Day 1: Arrival - Hue
On arrival Phu Bai Airport, you are met by our guide and transferred to hotel. The small and quiet Hue City was once the feudal capital of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. This town is widely known for magnificent architecture, pagodas and royal tombs laid in many small villages and surrounding hills. We spend this afternoon to visit Hue with the massive citadel, containing the Imperial City and the Purple Forbidden City. This royal residence was all but destroyed during the 1968 Tet Offensive, however it is still fascinating to walk among the ruins. Close to this masterpiece is Hue Imperial Museum which displays an interesting collections of bronzes, Chinaware, court robes and various emperors' personal belongings. We visit this site and spend the remainder of day to wander this charming town. O/N in Hue.
Day 2 : Hue
The beautiful riverside Thien Mu Pagoda is one of the oldest ancient architectural structures for religious work ship in Hue. We include this in a half day cruise on the Perfume River which also gives us a taste of the scenic countryside and an enjoyable visit to the mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang. This impressive landmark in a tranquil setting of gardens and lakes, reflects the beautiful architecture, intricate decor and mysterious statues. Afterwards we take a short drive though the rolling hill to see the elaborate royal tomb of Emperor Tu Duc and the famous Tu Hieu Pagoda. The sightseeing tour of Hue continues with a walk to the bustling Dong Ba Market that sells a wide variety of local goods and handicrafts. Along the way we pass many fantastic eating spots, all ideal for visitors to sample some local delicacies. O/N in Hue. (B)
Day 3: Hue - Danang - Hoi An
Heading out of the town, we drive southwards to Hoi An with stopover in Lang Co Beach for a leisurely swim. The winding roads begin as we make our way up the spectacular Hai Van pass. A view from the top of the pass is one of Vietnam's most impressive panoramic scenes. The next stop is Da Nang City, a major trading hub in central Vietnam. We enjoy a short city tour seeing the famous Cham Museum, formerly the Ecole Francaise d’Extreme Orient. This museum contains many exquisite limestone carvings from the vanquished Kingdom of Champa which has been in central coastal littoral prior to the march of the Vietnamese nation south. Today we also catch a chance to see the Marble Mountain, whose peaks represent the five elements, and the China Beach on our way to Hoi An. This charming town was originally a Cham seaport but has been influenced down the centuries by a myriad of traders from various cultures. O/N in Hoi An. (B)
Day 4: Hoi An - Danang - Departure
The ancient architecture of Hoi An is a fascinating combination of Vietnamese traditional characters with Chinese and Japanese influence. There are plenty to see in this delightful and tranquil town, some of which are the famous Japanese Covered Bridges, the Pottery Museum, the 200 years old Tam Ky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda and the vibrant central market. We visit these sites on our morning walking tour past many low tiled houses scattered along the small streets and assembly halls which reflect the town's multi-cultural past. The trip ends after your transfer to Da Nang Airport for departure. (B)
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