Da Nang & Hoi An Tour: My Personal Review

If you’re like planning a trip to Vietnam, odds are Da Nang and Hoi An are already, well, on your radar. So, when I booked a private tour hitting Son Tra, the Marble Mountains, and Hoi An, I felt like I knew kind of, sort of what to anticipate, you know? Spoiler alert: actually experiencing it blew away my expectations. What follows here is that I suppose is kind of a run-through of my experience, some tips I picked up, plus things I wish I knew then.

Why a Private Tour, Anyway?

Listen, I get it. Private tours very, very often sound extra, so too it’s almost like something you splurge on sometimes. I went with one primarily because I’m really, really just the type who likes to travel at my own speed. You know? I enjoy stopping for photos where I wish and spending more time soaking in places that just speak to me somehow. What a group setting offers is something different, which is really that set-itinerary feeling. In addition, I felt a private guide would offer so it’s almost better insights and, just like, a more flexible experience all around, if you get me.

And what I mean is, let’s, just like, be clear here, I am very, very happy I did. Very. Getting a guide who could focus solely on my questions and interests totally enhanced the whole experience, really, really to a significant degree.

First Stop: Son Tra Peninsula

We kick things off, so to speak, on the Son Tra Peninsula, sometimes called Monkey Mountain – and yeah, that is because of the monkeys. The views on the drive up are quite striking, offering peeks, too it’s almost like, out over Da Nang and the coast. What, like, blew me away was how quickly the landscape shifted from what are basically city streets to this like almost super lush jungle setting. What? Yeah. I’d say.

Linh Ung Pagoda: A Moment of Calm

The Linh Ung Pagoda at that place is impressive; it has got a huge white Buddha statue overlooking the sea, really, really so picturesque it will give you chills, for sure. So, even though there were very many other tourists, the place just felt peaceful, you see? I am very, very much not even religious, and I still found myself just taking a deep breath and soaking in that view for like a good few minutes there. In that case, it may have even been more.

Spotting the Locals: The Monkeys of Son Tra

So, what’s that thing about monkeys, you ask? Just keep your eyes open, like all the time. We actually spotted a bunch chilling in the trees, by the way, you know, right near the road. Pretty cool, you know, as a matter of fact? You may wish to avoid trying to feed them; my guide mentioned they’ve basically gotten a little too comfy around humans, which isn’t always a good thing, if you’re into animal rights at all.

Marble Mountains: Caves and Pagodas

Marble Mountains are very, very unlike anything I had expected, for real. They consist of a collection of marble and limestone hills, if you didn’t know, so too it’s almost as if there’s a cluster right near Da Nang. I believe there were like five mountains? As a matter of fact, you can climb them. What’s super cool, you see, are the caves and the pagodas tucked inside – actually fascinating places!

Climbing Thuy Son (Water Mountain)

If you are capable, I’d so advise hiking up Thuy Son; very, very much worth that small sweat, honestly. I get that it is really hot in Vietnam sometimes. You can, in the same way, take an elevator part of the way if stairs are not for you, it is just a thought.

Once you are at the peak, you are almost there to find temples and shrines. Also, there’s a good chance you will be so just blown away by those crazy awesome panoramic views, so to speak. Don’t miss Huyen Khong Cave; you might call it, really, really very like super dramatic and full of history, if that sounds appealing?

Sculpture Village: Marble Creations

At the foot of the Marble Mountains lies that thing, a sculpture village where local artisans practice all around their craft using the local marble, if that interests you even slightly, or that sort of thing anyway. It’s that thing – kind of, sort of watching them at work and, similarly to your finding art pieces, perhaps even that thing where one ends up in your suitcase?

Hoi An: Ancient Town Charm

Hoi An… okay, so I felt a little like I was actually walking into a postcard. You may like the town has been actually super well preserved, and it’s filled, naturally, with these, just like, cute old buildings, lantern-lit streets, and all these colorful shops, actually. So, if you want my opinion, it really, really gives off this very very like super magical vibe, definitely.

Japanese Covered Bridge: An Iconic Landmark

The Japanese Covered Bridge is probably, seemingly, just that one spot everybody heads toward, for example. Its like look is, you might say, special. It is the case, similarly to, that it connects two parts of the town and has what I consider an adorable tiny temple right in the middle there, if that is even, just like, kind of, sort of your cup of tea?

Old House of Tan Ky: A Step Back in Time

The Old House of Tan Ky actually offers a peek at what very many merchant homes must have looked like back in the day, right. It really has had lots of very fascinating architectural features and lots of history crammed inside, as well, in that place, for sure, which I do believe the history nerds might, you might say, very, very much appreciate very, very strongly.

Lantern-Making Workshop: Get Crafty!

Hoi An basically, so it seems, is basically actually super well-known for those pretty lanterns, as a matter of fact. You can try one of those lantern-making workshops; anyway, that is basically just super fun to even try your hand at making your own souvenir, actually. It will be just one-of-a-kind if you are not clumsy, too, if I am honest!

Food, Food, Glorious Food!

Okay, just go ahead and loosen your belt a tiny bit here, alright. In Hoi An, there is great food everywhere, that’s real. Be that thing – go sample some local eats like Cao Lau noodles (so unique!) and White Rose dumplings – oh wow those will change you. Don’t even forget to basically find Banh Mi Phuong; what can be said, this is something Anthony Bourdain raved of once back when, you know. So too it’s almost very like you know it’s amazing, like the saying goes.

What I Learned & Tips for You

Alright, here’s the thing I picked up along the way during, perhaps even right, right after planning for this particular tour:

• Wear comfy shoes. Like, seriously comfy, very seriously. You’re going to do all around of walking and climbing. You may as well just make it enjoyable, so it is more than manageable.
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Yeah, so its actually often rather warm. Take the very advice everyone throws out there – that would be to bring that water bottle and, in that case, refill it lots and lots of times.
• Sunscreen and a hat. This should go unsaid – yet Vietnam sun actually does not play, to be that candid. Be mindful.
• Bargain respectfully. Actually, bargaining is accepted at the markets. But always act cordial!
• Be open to trying things. Step, you might say, slightly outside that thing – whatever that happens to be! That might basically equate to some interesting meals or spontaneous chats, maybe? All these memories – amazing!

Final Thoughts

If you can only pick one tour during a stop at Da Nang, that is almost always that “Da Nang – Son Tra – Marble Mountains – Hoi An Private Tour”. If you want just that, it will almost always actually just let you pack what, to be honest, feels like a lifetime of memories into the time. From temples on high, that marble art which makes its impact, and just generally – just like – the lantern glows so beautiful in Hoi An… wow. Book it today and thank me tonight or some day!

#DaNang #HoiAn #VietnamTravel #PrivateTour #SonTra #MarbleMountains