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I managed to spend a solid 10 days here in Vietnam, and started my journey in the South at Ho Chi Minh City and made my way up north to Hanoi. We made quite a few stops along the way but some of my favorite places happened to be in the middle of the trip. Central Vietnam (my definition), comprises the cities/towns of Hoi An (or Hoian) and Hue.

Hoi An is a town that is known for its lanterns and very idyllic, chill vibe (it was my personal favorite). Hue is a larger city, absolutely steeped in history. With the two places taken together, you’ve got a great mix of environments to see. A Google Map of the places I will talk about can be seen at the end of this post.

Getting to these cities is done easily using Intercity bus companies like Mai Linh Express and The Sinh Tourist. These types of transport function very much like a hop-on-hop-off bus style concept, stopping along the major cities of Vietnam. You can add as many stops as you would like to your journey. You can also take a train, here is an excellent resource on that.

Also, If you have more time in Vietnam, why not check out more of the country? Check out my blog posts on North Vietnam (Hanoi and Ha Long Bay) and South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, Nha Trang).

Hoi An

This city is small and easily walkable or better yet, just as enjoyable on bike. The Ancient town itself is charming with colorful facades and chill vibes. The most iconic relic from the past is the Japanese Covered Bridge in the center of town. It was built in the 18th century and is ‘said’ to have been built by the Japanese to connect to the Chinese quarter on the other side. Not sure if that’s true…but it’s what they ‘say’. Anyway, it’s gorgeous. Go see it.

There are a number of tailors and shops here that will make you anything you desire, whether it be suits, shoes, dresses, etc and even jewelry (Papillon Noir made some nice shirts for me). And the turnaround time is anywhere from a few hours to a day or two. You simply go in, bring in a photo too if you have one, tell them what you are looking for, they will take your measurements and ask you to come in a little later for a fitting, and then do any adjustments required. This is all for a fraction of what you would pay elsewhere. 

If you’ve hired a bike, the beach at An Bàng is idyllic. The journey to that beach is even better. As you leave the small town, you will pass by a plethora of rice fields, farms, and ponds, an entire sea of lush green vegetation. 

No trip to Vietnam is complete without eating their cuisine, furthermore, without trying to make it yourself. There are a few kitchens in the city that offer cooking classes, like Red Bridge cooking school. Here you will learn to make just about everything that is a staple in Vietnamese cuisine. It’s delicious food and even more, a great way to meet other travelers as well. 

This is also the city of lanterns, which you will see in all their glory at night. In my opinion, lanterns make everything better whether they be on a rooftop overlooking a big city or hanging in a college dorm room to create a chill, relaxed atmosphere. Walk along the city streets after a night out, taking in the bright and colorful lanterns that hang from all the shops and stalls is quite relaxing. Between purchasing some new clothes/jewelry/lanterns here, make sure you have a good amount of space in your luggage before arriving. Two days in this city is probably enough, but no amount of time will ever be enough, since you’ll never want to leave.

For an extra excursion, there are the Cham Islands which are off the coast of Hoi An and together comprise a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. You can scuba dive and snorkel at Cu Lao Cham Marine Park and even explore the fishing villages and beaches for water sports at Hon Lao Island. It takes about 30 minutes to get to the island from Chua Dai Beach via express boat ($10/person).

Hue

Hue is absolutely choc full of ancient relics and structures. Simply walking along the coastline of the Perfume River, you will encounter temple after pagoda after temple, etc. One such monument is Bia Quoc Hoc. Walking by this structure, you wouldn’t really see why it is significant. It’s wedged between the river and the road and is a bit run down, and yet it still was remarkable to see. This monument commemorates the French and Vietnamese soldiers who fought and died in WWI against Germany. The Tu Đuc tomb nearby is also awesome.

Perhaps the most significant space is the Hue Imperial City and Citadel. This large expanse possesses many architectural features, sculputures, mosaics that make it quitessentially vietnamese. Early in the morning, without many people around, this area is especially enchanting. Try to avoid peak times like during the day. 

The Bach Ma National Park is not located within the city of Hue, but a little outside of it. This national park is a protected area known for its biodiversity and a 1450 meter tall mountain of the same name. Unfortunately, the park suffered from the use of defoliants like Agent Orange at the time of the Vietnam War (it’s safe to explore again).

The Hon Chen Temple (also called the Hue Nam Temple) sits on the Perfume River and is where people would worship the goddess Po Nagar. Not in the mood for more temples? Go to a pretty sweet beach, about 14 kilometers outside of Hue, called Thuan An Beach. The sunsets here can be quite spectacular!

The 7-story buddhist monument Thien Mu Pagoda is set alongside the perfume river, surrounding my gardens. You cannot miss it and nor should you if you find yourself in Hue. It is in exceptionally good condition, and is one of the most prized monuments of Hue/vietnam as a whole. As always, show up early when this structure opens to get teh best views, unimpeded by humans.

For the absolute best views and sunsets in Hue, look no further than Vong Canh Hill. This is a favorite of locals and tourists alike. Grab some street food, or go to the Đong Ba Market and have a picnic here to finish off your day.

If you’re also keen for exploring other Southeast Asian destinations, check out my posts on seeing Cambodia (Blog Post: The Perfect Guide for Tomb Raiding in Cambodia) and Thailand (Blog Posts: An Explorer’s Guide to Bangkok and Just a few reasons why should visit Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai).

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