3-Day Community Tour in Hue - Vietnam

Hue is steeped in history, with crumbling tombs, monuments and fortified imperial cities. On arrival, you’ll settle into your central hotel in the heart of the French colonial quarter. Afterwards, take a stroll along the riverbank, hop in a rickshaw to the Royal Citadel, or wander past the shabby but beautiful Chinese shopfronts of Phu Cat.

The following day, you’ll leave dynastic history behind and get your hands dirty. Climbing on a bike, you’ll cycle into the rice paddies and meandering rivers of the countryside, where buffalo plough the fields and local fishermen wait for a catch. You’ll feel a million miles away from the big cities.

In Thanh Toan village, you’ll set to work with a farming family, helping in the rice fields, trying to reel in some fish and trying your hand at some traditional handicrafts. You’ll also help to prepare lunch from fresh, home-grown ingredients. After just a few hours, you’ll understand that life here revolves around the harvest.

On the morning of day 3 you will continue on with your Vietnam adventure.

Immerse yourself in the history of the ancient Royal City of Hue; embark on a boat trip along the Perfume River with your private guide and watch fishermen haul their catch into small rowing boats. Take a trip to one of the oldest ancient religious structures in Hue, the Thien My Pagoda, where you can pay your respects before exploring the ancient temples and tombs within the walls of the Forbidden City. You’ll also visit a village to see how the locals make conical hats and heady incense sticks and see the elaborate mausoleums of emperors Tu Duc and Khai Dinh where the last ruling family, Nguyen Dynasty, ruled between 1802 and 1945.

If you fancy sampling some of Hue’s speciality dishes then this evening Vespa tour is for you. Kick off with a tropical cocktail or cold beer and meet your guide for an evening of sampling Hue’s diverse cuisine. First up, try your hand at making Banh Beo, a savoury steamed rice cake. Next, hop on your Vespa and take a ride through the city, past the Perfume river and local riverside stalls. Sample spring rolls and Hue pancakes before finishing at a popular local Vietnamese dessert shop for a sweet treat.