OVERVIEW

Hike through Bach Ma National Park with a naturalist that will point out and describe the remarkably diverse flora and fauna. As an introduction to the natural wonders, you will first browse the exhibits in the visitor center, which detail the park’s mountainous topography. Bach Ma means “white horse,” a reference to the clouds that ride the wind around the granite summit. As you ascend the trail, the forest will become denser and the air cooler. Although the ruins of homes that the colonial French built to escape the summer heat are still visible, most every other sight will be natural. Birds are abundant, including red-headed trogons and scarlet minivets, which are easy to spot because of their bright coloring. A fifth of all the plant species found in Vietnam flourish in the park, and you may see rare orchids. The summit will afford you panoramic views of the mountains, Tam Giang lagoon and Hue.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Follow a naturalist through Bach Ma, a spectacularly bio-diverse national park.
• Hike to the summit for an incredibly panoramic view of the mountains and Hue.
• Look for rare species of birds and orchids, which the naturalist will describe in detail.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Explore Da Nang beyond the tourist attractions by experiencing typical daily life at places that the residents frequent, beginning with a traditional market. Most Vietnamese still go to open-air markets each day, and you can watch them haggling and carefully selecting merchandise ranging from garden-fresh produce to handmade clothing. For a different cultural perspective, you will visit the unusual Buddhist pagoda Buu Son, where the statues are clay rather than cast in bronze or carved in wood. The guide will introduce you to worshippers, who will happily elaborate on their views on a variety of subjects. Feel free to ask even the most candid questions. Fishing is still vital to Da Nang and you will be treated to an up-close look at a fisherman’s lifestyle along the waterfront. Later, at a coffee shop, you will have another one-on-one experience by lingering over a cup of coffee and chatting with the affable owner.

HIGHLIGHTS
• See the real Da Nang beyond the tourist attractions by mingling with the residents.
• Watch how the locals select the best goods and interact with the vendors at a market.
• Meet worshippers at an unusual Buddhist pagoda where the statues are made of clay.
• Converse with the owner of a coffee shop over a fresh-brewed cup of coffee.

OVERVIEW

Trek deep into the forest that blankets Son Tra Mountain in search of red-shanked douc langurs, an endangered species of Old World monkey known as the Queen of the Primates. You will follow a naturalist along a trail that winds through what is commonly known as Monkey Mountain for the abundant macaques that flourish there. Although red-shanked douc langurs are also found in the jungle, they aren’t nearly as prominent, so if you spot one in the tree canopy, it will be a real treat. These white-bearded, golden-faced primates are easy to identify, as they appear to be wearing dark-red stockings from the knees down. Their habitat is extremely limited, and it continues to be lost due to deforestation. The naturalist will elaborate on what’s being done to protect these rare animals. You will learn even more about the efforts by meeting with a local conservationist dedicated to preserving the threatened eco-systems around Da Nang.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Look for red-shanked douc langurs, a type of endangered Old World monkey.
• Hike through the forest on Son Tra Mountain, one of the monkey’s primary habitats.
• Discover the challenges that threaten the monkeys and the solutions to protect them.
• Meet with a conservationist that will describe other threats to Da Nang’s eco-systems

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Discover the highlights of Da Nang, a coastal town situated on the Han River and surrounded by beautiful bays, long stretches of pristine beaches and towering mountains.

Da Nang has a colorful history reflected in its many cultural attractions and colonial architecture, remnants from the days when the French and Spanish occupied the area during the 17th and 18th centuries. As a major US Marine base during the Vietnam war, Da Nang was a strategic air and seaport, and the scene of some of the most brutal fighting of the war. Today, Da Nang sports a scenic river embankment, tree-lined boulevards with sidewalk cafes and old colonial villas.

You’ll visit the Cham Museum, founded by a group of French scholars in 1915, the old sandstone museum houses the best collection of Cham art in the world, including over 300 sandstone and terracotta sculptures. Drive to the lively Han Market for a stroll through its stalls offering a variety of fresh foods, handicrafts and clothing. Re-board your coach and drive outside the city limits to the Marble Mountain. Both the Vietnamese and the Cham used these mountains to build their shrines, making it a picturesque spot with grottoes, caves and pagodas.

Proceed to Non Nuoc Stone Village, a marble carving village at the base of the mountain. Built in the 18th century, it is the home of master stone carving artisans. See the carvers at work with the white and rose-colored marble quarried from the mountain. Before returning to the ship, you'll make photo stops at Marble Beach, known as the beach used by US soldiers during the Vietnam War, and the Buddhist Temple at Fairy Mountain.

Discover Hue, the old imperial capital and cultural treasure chest of Vietnam. Founded on the bank of the Perfume River in the 17th century by the Nguyen Dynasty, it features hundreds of temples, pagodas, palaces and tombs. You’ll drive to the remains of the Citadel, the magnificent court of the Nguyen emperors, completed in 1832, it occupies almost 1,000 acres of land, with stone ramparts standing over 20 feet high. Declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, the Citadel has undergone extensive restoration, bringing it back to its former glory.

See the vast, wing-roofed Thai Hoa Palace and the ornate Imperial Library with its detailed ceramic sculptures decorating its roof. Visit the Forbidden Purple City, once the inner, exclusive domain of the emperors. Continue along the Perfume River to the elegant Thien Mu Pagoda, it represents the finest in Buddhist design and a symbol of Hue.

Stop to visit the Tomb of Tu Duc, the emperor of Vietnam for more than 35 years. Hidden behind an octagonal stone wall is the monarch's sepulcher, surrounded by a pavilion and temple, and guarded by stone sculptures of elephants, horses and soldiers. On your return drive to the ship, stop at the curious hat-craft village, where the conical-shaped bamboo hats common to Vietnam are made.

You’ll visit the Cham Museum, founded by a group of French scholars in 1915, the old sandstone museum houses the best collection of Cham art in the world, including over 300 sandstone and terracotta sculptures. Continue on to Hoi An, an important trading port from the 15th century to the late 19th century, with merchants from Asia, the Arabian Peninsula and Europe trading all types of goods from spices to gold.

Upon arrival at the ancient town, start your walking tour with a stroll to the center of the village and the Hoi An Museum with its collection of porcelains, photographs and maps. Continue through the narrow street to the Phuoc Kien Temple, lavishly decorated with lacquered boards engraved with Chinese characters, and dedicated to Thien Hau, Goddess of the Sea.

You’ll also see a nearby Japanese covered bridge and visit a traditional merchant house. Stop at the Hoi An open market where you’ll enjoy free time and find many local products for sale. Discover on your own this charming town and to grab a bite at one of the many restaurants offering traditional and international food.