The bucket-list things to do — and who runs each one.
Here’s the bucket list for your day ashore: the most extraordinary thing to do at each stop, who runs it, and how to book it direct — so you can weigh it against your ship’s excursion and pick what suits you.
In port at Hue, the bucket-list move is Hue Imperial Citadel & Forbidden Purple City: Private Expert Tour. Below: 5 bucket-list things to do on a Hue port day — worth weighing against whatever your ship offers.
Step inside the last great imperial capital of Vietnam on a private, expert-led tour of the UNESCO-listed Hue Citadel and its Forbidden Purple City. Walk through throne halls, royal courtyards, and moon gates as your guide unlocks 200 years of Nguyễn dynasty intrigue.
Book itPrivate Walking Tour of Hue Imperial City$35 per person
Drift along the legendary Perfume River aboard a traditional wooden dragon boat, gliding past willow-fringed banks to the iconic seven-storey Thien Mu Pagoda. This is Hue's single most atmospheric image, best savoured slowly from the water.
Book itHue: Dragon Boat, Perfume River, Pagoda & Royal Tomb Tour$33 per person
Explore the two most spectacular imperial mausoleums of the Nguyễn dynasty — the baroque fantasy of Khai Dinh and the serene garden-palace of Minh Mang — on a private, guided half-day immersed in royal grandeur and sacred geometry.
Book itHue: Royal Tombs Private Tour with 3 Best Tombs & Pagoda$7 per person
Run by Mausoleum of Emperor Minh Mang · 4.50 from 6,300 reviews
Hue is Vietnam's undisputed culinary capital — birthplace of bánh mì fillings, bún bò Huế, and exquisite imperial small plates. This private cooking class begins at Dong Ba Market and ends at your own chopsticks, making it a deeply personal encounter with Vietnam's finest regional cuisine.
Book itExperience Local Market and Cooking Class in Hue City$45 per person
The Hai Van Pass — the 'Ocean Cloud Pass' — is one of the world's great coastal mountain drives, separating the climates of north and south Vietnam with a jaw-dropping ridge road above turquoise sea. This private half-day excursion is pure cinematic Vietnam.
Book itHoi An to/From Hue via Hai Van Pass & Scenic Stops ( 1Way)$103 per person
Soak in naturally carbonated thermal mineral springs set in a lush jungle valley just 45 minutes from Chan May — a restorative ritual that echoes the bathing practices of the Nguyễn emperors. Alba Thanh Tan is the finest thermal resort in central Vietnam.
We have not yet verified a bookable operator and price for
this one, so we are not quoting either.
Your day in HueNothing picked yet — tick what you fancy
$0for two, booked direct
Now plan the rest of it
You know what to do on the day. Here is the trip it belongs to —
each one opens as a whole plan, not a list: where to fly in, every port, what it runs.