Man Nguyen Private Vietnam Tour Packages – Private Imperial Hue & its Northern Provinces (5D4N)
My 100% customised Private Tour Packages are ideal if you are a group planning to visit Vietnam for 5D4N (5 Days 4 Nights).Once the imperial capital of Vietnam and located on the picturesque Perfume River, evocative Hue is a city crammed full of ancient and modern history, photogenic sites and wonderful food opportunities. Unlike Da Nang, Hue has resisted the dash for modernisation and remains a pleasant and gentile reminder of a past Vietnam.
The provinces north of Hue, contain some of the most interesting sights in Vietnam. Its impossible to travel anywhere in Vietnam without mention of ‘The War’, and the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is perhaps the best known. We spend a whole day visiting the Khe Sanh area (Ta Con Airfield), Ben Hải river crossings and the 30m deep Vĩnh Mốc tunnel complex.
In 2005, a local man stumbled upon a hole in a rock hidden behind thick foliage in Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park. This began a journey to discover the magnificent Thiên Đường (Paradise) Cave, which we visit from the seaside city of Đồng Hới.
Day 1
We ‘meet & greet’ at Phú Bài Airport arrivals hall for the 30-minute transfer to your Hue city hotel. We head out again in the evening for our imperial City Food Tour, when most of the street vendors open for business (food included). We visit the most popular street stalls and hidden alleyways to try the specialities of Hue.
Day 2
Today we spend a full day in and around Hue city. Inside the city we visit its famous 19th century Hue citadel, experience a Private Boat ride across the Perfume River to Thien Mu (or Fairy Lady) Pagoda and enjoy a lunch of Hue delicacies. Out in the countryside, we make the short drive to the elaborate tomb of Emperor Khanh Dinh with its unique imperial audience court, experience the amazing colour & aromas of Thuy Xuan Incense Village and watch one of the enduring symbols of Vietnam being made at Tay Ho Conical Hat Village.
Day 3
130Km northwest of Hue is the location of Khe Sanh Combat Base, and this is our first destination today. We visit the former Ta Con Air Base with its evocative museum and relics, and later follow the Ben Hải River eastwards, mirroring the 17th parallel with its ‘Peace Bridge’. And the Vĩnh Mốc tunnel complex, where some 90 local families disappeared into three levels to live and work in 1966, while bombs rained down above them. Except for the addition of electricity, these tunnels are remarkably original. We exit facing The East Sea, making our way along the coast to the charming seaside city of Đồng Hới for hotel check-in.
Day 4
Making an early start today, we visit UNESCO listed Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park for our 25 minute Son River boat ride into Phong Nha wet-cave, where we explore over 1.5km of this natural wonder (along with the nearby Xuan Son ferry, it formed part of the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail). The breathtaking Paradise Cave is our next visit and we ride the electric buggies to the 500+ steps up into this dry-cave. Opened to the public just 10 years ago, its scale and beauty is astonishing as we traverse 1km on the longest wooden walkway in the world! If time permits we enjoy a short tour of Đồng Hới on our return.
Day 5
Hotel Pick-Up and short transfer to Đồng Hới Airport for your onwards flight to Saigon or Hanoi. Or perhaps join us for our day’s drive back to Da Nang via Hue, with a local’s lunchtime break – your choice!