Why this shape and not another
Three places, three nights each side of a drive. The whole route runs on one north-south axis, so no day is spent backtracking and no day is spent in an airport.
Day by day
Day 1 — Arrive Hue
Fly into Hue or Da Nang and transfer. Evening free along the Perfume River.
Day 2 — Hue
The Citadel in the morning, before the heat. Afternoon by boat to the royal tombs, which are spread along the river and are better seen two well than four quickly.
Day 3 — Hue to Phong Nha
Four hours north into the national park. Afternoon at Phong Nha cave itself, entered by boat along an underground river.
Day 4 — Phong Nha
Paradise Cave in the morning — a kilometre of boardwalk under a chamber that keeps going. Afternoon free, or the Dark Cave for the mud and the zip line if that appeals.
Day 5 — Phong Nha to Hoi An
The long drive south, broken at the Hai Van Pass for the view back over the coast. Into Hoi An by evening.
Day 6 — Hoi An
The old town early, before the coaches. Merchant houses, the covered bridge, the assembly halls. Afternoon for tailoring or the beach.
Day 7 — Hoi An or My Son
Either the Cham sanctuary at My Son, an hour inland, or a day doing nothing at An Bang. We ask rather than assume.
Day 8 — Depart
Transfer to Da Nang, forty-five minutes.
What you should know before booking this one
- October and November are the flood months here. We will say plainly if your dates fall inside them rather than sell you the route and reroute you later.
- Phong Nha's better caves close in the wet season when water levels rise. Son Doong and the multi-day expeditions are a separate booking with a separate operator and long waiting lists.
- The Hue to Phong Nha and Phong Nha to Hoi An legs are four to five hours each. That is the cost of putting the caves in an eight-day trip.
- Days
- 8
Sending this does not charge you. We hold the space and confirm within 24 hours.