Central Vietnam Tours

Why visit Central Vietnam

Central Vietnam brings together four UNESCO World Heritage Sites within a few hours of each other: the Complex of Hue Monuments, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. That means royal history, an old trading port, Cham temple ruins and some of the world's largest caves, with long sandy beaches close by.

Top things to do in Central Vietnam

• Hue: explore the Imperial City, the royal tombs along the Perfume River and Thien Mu Pagoda.
• Hoi An: walk the old town's merchant houses and Japanese Covered Bridge, then take a cooking class or visit a tailor.
• Da Nang and the Hai Van Pass: relax on My Khe Beach, visit the Marble Mountains and cross the coastal pass to Hue by car or motorbike.
• Phong Nha: take a boat into Phong Nha Cave, walk the boardwalks of Paradise Cave or join a guided jungle caving trip.
• My Son Sanctuary: see the brick tower temples built by the Cham kingdom, about an hour from Hoi An.
• Nha Trang: beaches, island boat trips and the Po Nagar Cham Towers.

Best time to visit

The centre has its own weather pattern, different from the north and south. Around Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An the dry season runs from about February to August. Spring is warm and pleasant, and June to August is hot, often around 35°C. September to December brings the rains, with the highest risk of storms and flooding in October and November, when some Phong Nha caves close. Nha Trang is driest from January to August.

Getting there

Da Nang Airport is the main gateway, about 1 hour 20 minutes by air from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Hoi An is around 45 minutes from Da Nang by road, and Hue about 2 to 3 hours via the Hai Van tunnel or pass. Phong Nha is about 4 hours north of Hue by road, or under an hour from Dong Hoi Airport. Nha Trang is served by Cam Ranh Airport, around 45 minutes south of the city.