Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Central Vietnam: Hue, the Hai Van Pass and Hoi An
7 days in Central Vietnam: two nights in Hue, the Hai Van Pass by road, and four in Hoi An with My Son, Tra Que and An Bang beach.
7 days · Hue to Da Nang · up to 12 guests
Lantern boats on the Thu Bon River, Hoi An. Photo: . Ray in Manila, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hoi_An,_Vietnam.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Start and end
- Hue to Da Nang
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Easy
Mostly easy walking in Hue and Hoi An, about 3 to 5 km on the busiest days, with a few early starts. My Son is about 2 km of walking on dirt paths and steps between the temple groups. The ride to Tra Que is about 3 km each way on flat lanes, with the vehicle as an alternative. It is hot and humid from April, so midday is kept for rest.
- Meals included
- 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 dinner
- Room of your own
- + CAD 300 (estimated price)
- Season
- Best February to May
Highlights
Why this trip
- The Imperial City of Hue as the gates open, before the day groups
- A dragon boat up the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda in the late light
- The Hai Van Pass by road, timed for the clearest hour, with lunch at Lang Co
- The Japanese Covered Bridge at about 6 am, while the Old Town is still quiet
- My Son at opening time, with a free afternoon on An Bang beach
- A garden-to-table cooking class at Tra Que vegetable village
- A rowing boat on the Thu Bon among the lanterns at dusk, then a farewell dinner
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 300 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Hue
Phu Bai International Airport to central Hue, then Dong Ba Market
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Hue
- Drive about 30 min
Your trip starts at Phu Bai International Airport (HUI), about 15 km south of Hue, where we meet you and drive you to your hotel near the Perfume River. Hue was the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen emperors from 1802 to 1945, and the river still divides the walled citadel on the north bank from the newer town on the south. Rest after the flight.
Afternoon
In the late afternoon your guide meets the group for a short walk across the river to Dong Ba Market, the city's main market since the 19th century, where stalls sell conical hats, dried shrimp, sesame sweets and the fermented shrimp paste that flavours much of Hue's cooking.
Evening
Then a welcome dinner together, with dishes the city is known for: bun bo Hue, a spicy beef noodle soup, banh khoai crispy pancakes and small steamed rice cakes. If your flight lands late, we meet you at breakfast instead.
Included
- Pick-up at Phu Bai International Airport (HUI)
- Late afternoon walk to Dong Ba Market with your guide
- Welcome dinner of Hue dishes
Free time: Afternoon free to rest before the welcome walk
Hue: the Imperial City and the Perfume River
The Imperial City, the tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh, then a dragon boat to Thien Mu Pagoda
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Hue
- Drive about 1 h
We walk to the Meridian Gate for opening time, when the courtyards of the Imperial City are cool and nearly empty. The Complex of Hue Monuments is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and your guide takes you through the throne hall, the dynastic temples and what remains of the Forbidden Purple City, explaining what was lost in the fighting of 1968 and what has been rebuilt since.
Morning
Late morning we drive into the hills south of the city to the tomb of Tu Duc, a lakeside park of pavilions the emperor used as a retreat while he was alive, then the tomb of Khai Dinh, finished in 1931, its inner hall covered in porcelain and glass mosaic.
Afternoon
Lunch together at a garden restaurant, then the afternoon is free to rest. In the late afternoon a dragon boat takes us up the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda, founded in 1601, with its seven-storey tower in the low light.
Evening
The evening is free.
Included
- Imperial City of Hue at opening time, with entry
- Tomb of Tu Duc, with entry
- Tomb of Khai Dinh, with entry
- Dragon boat on the Perfume River to Thien Mu Pagoda
Easier option: Skip the tomb of Khai Dinh, the one with the most steps, and rest at the hotel before the boat.
More active option: Walk the citadel walls and the quieter back lanes of the citadel with your guide after lunch.
Free time: Early afternoon and evening free
Activity: About 3 km of walking inside the Imperial City and steps at Khai Dinh's tomb. Rain plan: February and March can be drizzly in Hue. In steady rain we keep the Imperial City and Tu Duc's tomb, drop Khai Dinh's tomb and take longer over lunch; the dragon boat has a roof and runs in light rain.
Over the Hai Van Pass to Hoi An
Hue to Lang Co, the Hai Van Pass and the Marble Mountains, then Hoi An
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Hoi An
- Drive about 3.5 h
Today the drive is the trip, and the one longer road day of the week.
Morning
We leave Hue after breakfast and follow the coast south to Lang Co, a fishing village on a sand spit between a lagoon and the sea. Then we climb the Hai Van Pass, the pass of the sea clouds, where a spur of the Truong Son range runs into the sea at almost 500 metres. It has long marked a climate line between the north and the south, and at the top stand the ruins of a gate built under the Nguyen emperors and a few wartime bunkers. Cloud often sits on the pass, so your guide watches the sky and picks the time; if it is hidden, we stay longer at Lang Co and take the tunnel.
Afternoon
Seafood lunch together near Da Nang, a short stop at the Marble Mountains, then Hoi An by mid-afternoon.
Evening
The evening is free to find your feet in the Old Town.
Included
- Transport from Hue to Hoi An with your guide
- Lang Co
- Hai Van Pass, weather permitting
- Marble Mountains, Da Nang
Easier option: Stay at the foot of the Marble Mountains while others climb the steps to the caves.
More active option: Climb to the caves and viewpoints of the Marble Mountains.
Free time: Evening free
Activity: Driving is split into three legs of about an hour each, with stops at Lang Co, the top of the pass and the Marble Mountains.
Hoi An at dawn and the Old Town
The Japanese Covered Bridge at first light, then the Old Town on foot
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Hoi An
Morning
This is the morning to set an alarm for. At about 6 am the Japanese Covered Bridge, built by the town's Japanese merchants at the end of the 16th century and reopened in 2024 after a long restoration, is often empty, if it is open at that hour (we confirm it locally), and the yellow merchant houses along Tran Phu Street take the early light. Your guide walks the quiet lanes with anyone who wants to come, with time for photographs before the shops open. After breakfast we return for a guided walk of Hoi An Ancient Town, a port where Chinese and Japanese merchants traded until the 19th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with entry to a Chinese assembly hall, an old merchant house and the central market.
Afternoon
Lunch together, with cao lau noodles, a dish the town is known for.
Evening
The afternoon and evening are free: rest at the hotel, swim, or see one of the town's tailors.
Included
- Optional, early: dawn photo walk to the Japanese Covered Bridge with your guide, about 6 am
- Guided walk of Hoi An Ancient Town
- Hoi An Old Town entry ticket
- A Chinese assembly hall, an old merchant house and the central market
Easier option: Sleep in and join the group after breakfast.
Free time: Afternoon and evening free
Activity: Please keep tripods off the Japanese Covered Bridge.
My Son at opening, then An Bang beach
Hoi An to the My Son sanctuary and back, then An Bang beach
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Hoi An
- Drive about 2.5 h
An early start for My Son, about an hour west of Hoi An in a green valley under Cat's Tooth Mountain. From the 4th to the 13th century the kings of Champa built brick temples here, most of them to the Hindu god Shiva. Many were destroyed by bombing in 1969, but the groups that survive, with their carved brick and sandstone, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We arrive as the gates open, while it is cool and before the day groups, and your guide explains how the Cham builders laid brick with almost no visible mortar.
Afternoon
Back in Hoi An by late morning for lunch together. The afternoon is free on An Bang beach, about 4 km north of the Old Town: we drive you there, you rent a lounger at one of the beach cafes, swim or walk the sand, and the vehicle brings you back in the late afternoon. Or stay in town if you prefer.
Included
- My Son sanctuary at opening time, with entry and your guide
- Transfer to An Bang beach and back
Easier option: See the first temple groups and wait in the shade at the site cafe while others walk to the far group.
More active option: Cycle back from An Bang to Hoi An through the rice fields, about 5 km, on a rented bicycle.
Free time: Afternoon free at the beach or in town; evening free
Activity: About 2 km of walking at My Son on dirt paths with some steps. Swim only where the beach flags allow it.
Tra Que cooking class and the river at dusk
Hoi An to Tra Que village by bicycle, then the Thu Bon River
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Hoi An
- By boat
Morning
After breakfast we cycle about 3 km out of town to Tra Que, a vegetable village between two rivers known for its herbs and greens, grown in beds fertilised with seaweed from the lagoon.
Afternoon
A local host walks you through the gardens, you help with watering and planting, then cook dishes such as banh xeo crispy pancakes and fresh spring rolls in an open kitchen and eat them for lunch. We ride back before the midday heat, and the afternoon is free to rest, swim or collect tailoring.
Evening
At dusk we meet at the river: a small rowing boat takes the group out on the Thu Bon as the lanterns come on along both banks, and you can set a candle lantern on the water if you like. Then a farewell dinner together in the Old Town, the last evening of the trip.
Included
- Bicycle ride to Tra Que vegetable village
- Garden visit and cooking class with lunch
- Rowing boat on the Thu Bon River at dusk
- Farewell dinner
Easier option: Ride to Tra Que in the vehicle instead of by bicycle.
Free time: Afternoon free
Activity: The bicycle ride is on flat lanes, about 3 km each way.
Depart from Da Nang
A free morning in Hoi An, then north along the coast to Da Nang International Airport
- Breakfast
- Drive about 45 min
The last day is yours, with no early start.
Morning
Breakfast at the hotel, then the morning is free until your airport transfer: a last walk through the Old Town before the day visitors arrive, a coffee by the river, a final fitting at the tailor, or a swim.
Evening
If you want one more outing and your flight leaves in the afternoon or evening, your guide can arrange a half-day basket boat trip in the water coconut palms at Cam Thanh, just outside the town. We drive you about 30 km north along the coast to Da Nang International Airport (DAD) in good time for your flight. Flights after about midday are the easiest; for an earlier flight we arrange an earlier transfer. Many guests continue south to Ho Chi Minh City or north to Hanoi from here.
Included
- Drop-off at Da Nang International Airport (DAD)
Optional experiences
- Basket boat trip at Cam Thanh. For afternoon or evening flights.
Free time: Morning free
- Hue2 nights
- Hoi An4 nights
- Da Nangend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: February and March are mild, often grey and sometimes drizzly in Hue, and the best months for walking. April is warm and mostly dry. May is hot, often above 30 C by midday, which is why the plan starts early and keeps the afternoons free. The sea at An Bang is calmest from about April. Hue and Hoi An get most of their rain, the risk of typhoons and, in some years, river floods in Hoi An Old Town from September to December.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers with a week who want Central Vietnam done slowly instead of rushed
- First-time visitors adding a week to a stay in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City
- People who like early light, history and food more than nightlife
- Anyone who wants My Son, the cooking class and the entries included, not sold as extras
- Solo travellers who want a small group with a fair single supplement
Not for you if you want
- Travellers who want the whole country in one trip; see Vietnam: Hanoi to Saigon instead
- Those who want to sleep in every morning
- Anyone looking for a beach resort week
- Travellers wanting long treks or hard cycling
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
6 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Hue2 nights
- Hoi An4 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 6 nights: 2 in Hue and 4 in Hoi An
- Central hotels of a 3-star-plus standard with air-conditioning and private bathrooms, near the Perfume River in Hue and in walking distance of Hoi An Old Town; we name each hotel when we confirm your dates
Transport
- Pick-up at Phu Bai International Airport (HUI) and drop-off at Da Nang International Airport (DAD)
- Our own vehicle and driver for the group throughout, including over the Hai Van Pass
- The dragon boat on the Perfume River and the rowing boat on the Thu Bon
- Bicycles for the ride to Tra Que, with the vehicle as an alternative
- Transfer to An Bang beach and back
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from day 1 to day 7
- Local site guides where a site requires them
Activities
- Hue: Dong Ba Market walk, the Imperial City, the tombs of Tu Duc and Khai Dinh, and a dragon boat to Thien Mu Pagoda
- Lang Co, the Hai Van Pass and the Marble Mountains
- Hoi An: dawn photo walk at the Japanese Covered Bridge, guided Old Town walk with the Old Town ticket
- My Son sanctuary at opening time
- Tra Que garden visit and cooking class
- Thu Bon River lantern boat at dusk
- All entrance fees for included sights
Meals
- 6 breakfasts
- 5 lunches, including the cooking class lunch
- 2 dinners: a welcome dinner in Hue and a farewell dinner in Hoi An
Not included
- International flights, and the domestic flight to Hue if you connect through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City
- Vietnam visa
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed above
- Drinks
- Tips for guides, drivers and boat crews
- Optional activities, such as the Cam Thanh basket boat
- Tailoring, beach loungers and personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 300 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the Central Vietnam trip include?
Six nights in central 3-star-plus hotels, airport transfers, our own vehicle and driver, a See Sight Tours guide throughout, the Imperial City and royal tombs, the Hai Van Pass, My Son, the Hoi An Old Town ticket, the Tra Que cooking class, both boat trips, all entrance fees, 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 2 dinners.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, never more. That is smaller than the 16 to 18 that many Vietnam group trips allow, so everyone can hear the guide at the Imperial City and My Son, and the group moves quickly in and out of the vehicle.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from the airport in Hue to the airport in Da Nang, every day, including in museums and at My Son. Local site guides join where a site requires them. We do not make commission stops at lacquer or souvenir workshops.
How fit do I need to be?
This is an easy trip. Most days are walking in town, about 3 to 5 km at a relaxed pace. My Son has about 2 km on dirt paths, and the bicycle ride to Tra Que is short and flat, with the vehicle as an alternative. Heat is the main challenge from April, so afternoons are free.
I am travelling solo. What is the single supplement?
A room of your own is from CAD 300 more, about 17 percent of the small-group price, shown before you book with no surprise at checkout. Solo travellers join the same small group, the same meals and the same activities as everyone else, with no difference in the plan.
When is the best time to visit Hue and Hoi An?
February to May, when the central coast is mostly dry. February and March are mild and sometimes grey, April is warm, May is hot. September to December brings most of the rain, typhoon risk and some years river floods in Hoi An, so we plan departures for February to May.
Which airports do I fly into and out of?
Fly into Phu Bai International Airport (HUI) in Hue on day 1 and out of Da Nang International Airport (DAD) on day 7. There are few international flights to Hue, so most guests connect through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. We can suggest connections when we confirm your dates.
Can I combine this with Hanoi, Ha Long Bay or Saigon?
Yes. Many guests add this week to a stay in the north or the south. Our 12-day Vietnam: Hanoi to Saigon trip already includes Hue and Hoi An, so choose one or the other. This trip pairs well with our Northern Vietnam trip, with a short flight from Hanoi to Hue in between.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
Most visitors do, Canadians included. Vietnam issues e-visas online before you travel, through the official government portal. Rules and allowed stay lengths change, so check the current requirements for your passport before you book flights.
Is the Hai Van Pass always open, and what if it is cloudy?
The road over the pass is normally open, but cloud often covers the top. Your guide watches the weather on the morning and times the stop for the clearest hour. If the view is gone, we spend longer at Lang Co and take the tunnel underneath, then carry on to the Marble Mountains.
How does booking work, and can I choose my own dates?
Pick a departure and send a request to book; we confirm within 24 hours and nothing is charged until then. For your own dates, choose the private style for your party only, from CAD 3,215 per person, or ask from the dates section for an independent quote using the same hotels and guided days.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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