Hue Imperial City and Royal Tombs from Da Nang
In the morning:
At 7 am, the driver will pick you up from your hotel in Da Nang city and begin the Hue City Tour from Da Nang.
On the way to Hue, your driver will stop at Hai Van Pass (Ocean and Clouds Pass). Hai Van Pass is famous as the most beautiful pass in Vietnam. At the top of the pass, you will see a brick gate that once marked the border between two countries: Dai Nam to the north of the pass and the Champa Kingdom to the south.
The next stop is Lang Co Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The driver will stop at the foot of the pass so you can enjoy a panoramic view and take beautiful photos of Lang Co Bay.
You will also stop at Lap An Lagoon, which offers lovely views of the brackish-water lagoon where local fishermen farm oysters. There is a cafeteria there with lagoon views, and you can also taste excellent Vietnamese coffee.
Around 10:30 am, you will arrive at Hue Imperial City.
Pick up your Hue tour guide and continue the Hue City Tour from Da Nang.
Take a dragon boat along the Perfume River to visit Thiên Mụ pagoda. As you may know, Thiên Mụ is the oldest pagoda in central Vietnam, dating from 1601. There are many stories and myths about this holy place, and your guide will explain them to you in detail.
After that, take the private car to visit the Citadel, Royal City, and Forbidden City. Hue was the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam from 1802 to 1945. Your Hue guide will share valuable information about the royal lives of the emperors, concubines, and eunuchs. This complex includes three sections: the Citadel (the protective area), the Royal City (the working area of the emperor, civil servants, and military servants), and the Forbidden City (the private area of the emperor, his concubines, and eunuchs).
Learn how Hue was the political centre of Nguyen Dynasty Vietnam, and why the food in Hue is considered among the best in Vietnam. You can then enjoy a lovely lunch at a local restaurant at around 12:30 pm.
In the afternoon:
After lunch, continue the Hue City Tour from Da Nang. As you may know, all the emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty believed that this life was only temporary. After death, they believed they would live an authentic life in the afterlife. Therefore, whatever they needed in this life, they would also need in the next. For this reason, one of the first things they did after ascending the throne was to order Feng Shui tellers to find the perfect places to build their tombs. Please remember that everything inside the tombs was never used in the past; it was prepared only for their afterlife.
The first stop is the Royal Tomb of Emperor Minh Mạng, the second emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. His royal tomb is set in the mountains and faces the head of the Perfume River. Your tour guide will tell you about the great emperor's biography and reveal a scary secret hidden inside his beautiful royal tomb.
After that, visit the most beautiful and expensive royal tomb of the 12th emperor, Khải Định Tomb. Unlike traditional architecture, Khải Định Tomb is a mixture of Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, French, and Vietnamese architectural styles. It is a fabulous and beautiful tomb. All the materials used to build his grave came from other countries, such as cement from France and coloured glass, porcelain, and ceramics from China and Japan. It represents the height of the art of inlaid decoration. At Khải Định Tomb, you can take great photos and practise your photography skills.
Finish the Hue City Tour from Da Nang and drive safely back to your hotel in Da Nang city.
Tour ends.
