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Hue and Hoi An are two of the best places in the country to experience the traditions, culture and rhythms of Vietnam. However this Central Vietnam tour is not just about sightseeing but also engaging with the locals and gaining an understanding about their traditions through a series of excursions. We have also included visits to area charities to learn more about what is being done to improve the living conditions of the underprivileged, resulting in a meaningful holiday in central Vietnam.
This Vietnam tour package begins in Hue, a town that is fascinating for its austere architecture and tranquil atmosphere. With an Exotissimo guide you will visit ancient mausoleums and the enigmatic Citadel to discover the rich traditions of the Imperial Dynasties that once inhabited the area.
Incorporated into this section of your Vietnam tour is a meeting with a local kite maker who is keeping traditional craftsmanship alive. Should you wish, purchase a handmade kite and head to a park near the Citadel where you can join the school kids as they fly their kites. Before bidding farewell to Hue you will also meet with a local charity working to offer a brighter future for disabled youth through vocational training.
To reach Hoi An, drive along one of the most spectacular roads in Vietnam which winds along the coast with magnificent views of beaches to one side and lush hills to the other. This half day journey is often a highlight of a Vietnam tour for photographers, with plenty of opportunities to stop at rustic fishing villages to meet with the locals can capture amazing images of the scenery.
Upon arriving in Hoi An, you will take a guided walking tour. Around every corner is a movie-like setting: ancient Chinese communal houses, bustling fish markets, cobbled streets and traders with push-carts singing out to potential buyers. But beyond this charming façade Hoi An still has underprivileged locals and we'll introduce you to groups working tirelessly to improve the living situation of these families.
Throughout this Vietnam tour, our guides will make suggestions for shopping and dining options where the profits are given to area charities. For travelers looking for a meaningful holiday, this charitable program in Hue and Hoi An is an ideal way to make a positive impact while traveling.
Arrive in Hue , meet your guide at the airport and transfer to hotel in city.
Hue is a unique city that is unmatched in Indochina. It has everything to please the most demanding visitor : from Royal palaces and mausoleums to old residential areas, both Vietnam and French. The core of Hue city , the Imperial Citadel , although was severely damagdin the war, but under the auspices of UNESCO, a massive restoration projects , are slowly regainning their original magnifience.
This evening you have your leisure time to walk around the area. Overnight in Hue.
After breakfast, visit the Imperial Museum where exhibit the antique collections of bronze, pottery, chinaware, Phap Lam enamel, court robes, head-gear and the personal belongings of former Vietnamese emperors. Continue by a tour to visit Hue Citadel where the Nguyen Dynasty ruled between 1802 and 1945, the Imperial City, the Forbidden Purple City and the Imperial Museum. Have a nice lunch in the local restaurant with the Hue food . From here take a cyclo through dai noi ‘Old City’ to Tinh Tam Lake where the Emperors used to come to relax. It is full of lotus flowers in summer and there are many local style coffee shops around the lake where university students come to study.
In the afternoon, continue for Thien Mu Pagoda locates on the Perfume River bank . Built in 1601, the 21-meter tower is the centerpiece of the pagoda and represents seven reincarnations of Buddha. At the ground of Pagoda, you find the famous Austin carof a resident monk drove to Saigon in 1963 to protest against the southern regime. The photo of his self immortalization is one of the most well known images of the war.
Then visit former emperor Minh Mang’s tomb with its a tranquil setting of gardens and ponds.
Next visit is to Khai Dinh’s tom constructed in traditional Vietnamese with European influence making it unique from the other tombs in Hue. Before return to your hotel take time to explore the local daily life with your tour guide around Dong Ba Market, a must see of Hue. Overnight in Hue.
Breakfast at hotel then vist the Hue College of Medicine and Pharmacy who’s ‘Office for Genetic Counseling and Disabled Children’ provides vital assistance to sick and disabled children and their families in Central Vietnam and the Central Highlands. This centre offers vocational training to disabled youth as well as running a rehabilitation center, programs for children with intellectual disabilities and heart operation programs. Tour the centre to learn more on the programs offered here.
Have a Vietnamese lunch then leaving Hue for Hoi An, a major Asian trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries whose architecture and relaxed lifestyle has changed little over the years. The scenic journey is through the fantastic photogenic fishing village of Lang Co before climbing over the Pass of Ocean Clouds.
Stop over Danang for visiting the Cham Museum, which contains the finest collection of Cham sculptures in the world. Upon arrival in Hoi An, transfer to your hotel for check in. Atleisure. Overnight in Hoi An.
After breakfast take a walking tour of Hoi An ancient town, an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional Asian trading port, is an outstanding material manifestation of the fusion of cultures over time in an international maritime commercial centre. Walking tour through the narrow winding streets of the Ancient Quarter, visiting Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Halls, the 200 year old Tam Ky ancestral house, and the 400 years old Japanese Bridge .
Have lunch at Streets. The restaurant is staffed by disadvantaged young people and street children who complete an 18 month programme, which gives them all the skills they need to gain employment in the hospitality industry. All profits get ploughed back into the scheme. Plus it serves up extremely tasty local and international cuisine.
This afternoon, experience a tour with the Lifestart Foundation. It is a registered, non-profit charity organization helping the disadvantaged find community, learn life skills and obtain vocational livelihoods through handicraft. The cost of this tour directly supports disadvantaged Lifestart community members.
First, enjoy a brief stroll through town to board a local boat for a boat trip across the river. Then you will arrive at the painter’s house where you will meet the local artist Mr. Sinh Trong who teach the disable children painting. You will participate in a traditional painting class taught by him. At the end of this interesting session, you can keep your own handmade card as a souvenir. Next, enjoy an hour-long lantern making class. Hoi An traditional lanterns are very famous and bring a beautiful charm into houses and streets. While making your small lantern, you will have the opportunity to learn about Vietnamese life through interesting discussions with the class instructor and Lifestart members. Learn how the Foundation is helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Meet some of these lovely ladies and see how their beautiful products are made, your handmade lantern can be kept as a memory of your time with Lifestart in Hoi An.
The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight in Hoi An.
Breakfast then have your free time for relax or for the last minute shopping in the ancient town of Hoi An before depart to Danang for your onward flight
TOUR DURATION: 5 Days / 4 Nights
TOUR OPERATES: Year Round / On Demand
TOUR PRICE: Available upon Request
Rates vary frequently. Please contact us to get the best possible price based upon your travel period and specific touring needs.
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