Tours out of Ho Chi Minh City and across Vietnam
Central Vietnam
Two old capitals and the pass between them
The classic central pairing given two nights at each end, and the drive between them treated as a day out rather than a transfer.
Overview
The shape of the trip
Hue and Hoi An are the two towns in central Vietnam that everybody visits, and they are very different: one an imperial capital of walls, tombs and ceremony; the other a merchant port of shophouses and river trade. Put them in the same trip with enough time in each and they explain one another.
The road between them is the other reason for this route. The Hai Van pass climbs over a spur of the mountains that reach the sea north of Da Nang, and on a clear day it is one of the finest short drives in the country. Most transfers now go through the tunnel beneath it, which is quicker and shows you nothing. We take the pass, in daylight, and stop on the way.
In Hue we work with our long-standing partner operator, whose cars and guides take you the whole way to Hoi An.
- Length
- 5 days, 4 nights
- Start
- Hue
- Finish
- Da Nang airport
- The pass day
- About 3 hours of driving, spread over 6
- Guides
- Days 1, 2 and 4
- Best months
- February to May
Nights
Where you sleep
Day by day
Day by day
Day 1
Hue, the citadel in the afternoon
Your driver meets you at Phu Bai airport or Hue station. At 14:30 your guide walks you through the Imperial City, the reconstructed halls and the empty ground where the Forbidden Purple City stood before 1968, finishing near the flag tower at about 17:30.
Day 2
The tombs and the river
Tu Duc’s tomb and the boat back
Leave at 07:30 for Khai Dinh, the odd, ornate hillside tomb of an emperor who admired French design, then Tu Duc among its pines and lakes. After lunch, a private boat on the Perfume River takes you downstream to Thien Mu pagoda and on to the city as the light fades. The evening is yours; ask your guide for the name of a place serving bun bo Hue.
Day 3
Over the Hai Van pass to Hoi An
The view south from the top of the pass
Depart at 08:30. The first hour runs south past rice fields to Lang Co, a fishing village between a lagoon and the sea, where you stop for coffee. Then the road climbs the pass, bend by bend, to the old fortified gate at the top, with the bay of Da Nang ahead of you if the cloud allows.
Down the other side, lunch is seafood in Da Nang, and on the way south there is time for the Marble Mountains, limestone outcrops full of caves and shrines, before you reach Hoi An in the middle of the afternoon. In all, around three hours of driving between Hue and Hoi An, spread over most of the day.
Day 4
Hoi An, early and late
At 06:30 your guide takes you through the old town before the day visitors arrive — the covered bridge, a merchant house and an assembly hall — and leaves you at about 10:00. The afternoon is free. Go back in at dusk when the lanterns are lit and the river fills with small boats.
Day 5
To Da Nang
A free morning, perhaps at the beach or on a bicycle through the rice fields, then the transfer to Da Nang airport or station, about forty-five minutes.
Price
Price
| Travellers | Tier 1 — simple | Tier 2 — comfortable | Tier 3 — the good ones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 travelling | from 695 | from 870 | from 1320 |
| 4 travelling | from 570 | from 710 | from 1085 |
| 6 travelling | from 515 | from 645 | from 975 |
The car and driver are with you from Hue to Hoi An, including the full pass day, which accounts for a good part of the price. Choosing the tunnel instead of the pass saves time but little money. Hotel tier matters most in Hoi An, where the range is widest.
Included
What is included
What the price includes
- Four nights at your chosen tier, two in Hue and two in Hoi An, with breakfast
- Private car and driver throughout, including the pass day
- English-speaking guides in Hue and in Hoi An
- Private boat on the Perfume River
- Lunches on days 2 and 3
- Entrance fees for the citadel, the tombs and the old town
What it does not include
- Flights to Hue and from Da Nang
- Other meals and drinks
- Visas, insurance and tips
Practical
Weather and the pass
The Hai Van pass is a weather divide. It is common to leave Hue under grey drizzle and come down into sunshine on the Da Nang side, particularly between October and January. Cloud can also sit on the summit and hide the view entirely; if that happens, we still drive it — the lagoon and the descent are worth it — but we warn you in the morning.
The whole central coast has its storm and flood season from September to December, and both Hue and Hoi An flood in bad years. February to May is the comfortable window; June to August is very hot, especially inside the citadel walls.
Not for everyone
Who this does not suit
Travellers who get carsick on mountain roads should know that the pass is a long series of bends; take the tunnel and keep the day for Lang Co and the Marble Mountains. If historic sites leave you cold, one night in Hue is enough. And if a beach is the main thing you want from central Vietnam, spend the Hue nights in Hoi An instead and book our Hoi An trip.
Common questions
Questions travellers ask most
Can we take the train between Hue and Da Nang instead?
Yes. The coastal line between the two is a beautiful ride of about two and a half to three hours, and we can put you on it and meet you at Da Nang station. You lose the Lang Co and Marble Mountains stops.
Can we ride the pass on a motorbike?
We can arrange a rider to take you on the back of a motorbike over the pass while the car carries your luggage. We do not rent bikes to self-drive here.
Is two nights in each enough?
For a first visit, yes. A third night in Hoi An is the easiest extension if you want a beach day.
Related
Read next
Central Vietnam
Hue
Citadel, royal tombs, and Vietnam’s most particular cuisine.
View this journey
Central Vietnam
Hoi An
Old town, beach, tailors and the honest timing.
View this journey
Central Vietnam
Da Nang
The gateway city: beach, mountains and the pass.
View this journey
Central Vietnam
Central Vietnam
Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang and Phong Nha.
View this journey
Example journey
Hue, three days
The citadel, two tombs done properly, and a Hue food evening.
View this journey
Tours
Tours
Day trips, regional routes and full-length itineraries.
View this journey
Start planning
Tell us about the trip you have in mind
Dates, party size and the places you care about are enough to start. You get a draft route and an indicative price, not a brochure.
Or talk to us:+84 766 045 399