PRIVATE SHORE TRIPS (TIEN SA)

Welcome to Da Nang and central Vietnam!
Tien Sa Port

Central Vietnam is blessed with some of the most wonderful ‘must-see’ sights, scenery, attractions and cuisine in South East Asia. We fully understand the unique requirements of our cruise ship visitors and include dockside pick-up, quality vehicles and our renowned English speaking tour guides with a timely return to your ship in plenty of time for departure.

Our Private Shore Excursions are designed to give a true taster of authentic Vietnam in the time available. And customer service before and during your time with us is first class and your safety and security is assured.

We warmly welcome couples, families, small groups of friends and can accommodate Cruise Critic ‘Roll Call’ forum groups.

Tien Sa port is just 15 minutes from Da Nang city itself. While very industrial in nature, it welcomed more than 112 cruise ships in 2019, an increase of 4% over 2018. Our shore Excursions from Tien Sa port include; Da Nang city, pretty UNESCO listed Hoi An and Ba Na Hills with its famous Golden Bridge. My Son sanctuary can also be reached from Tien Sa, usually linked with an afternoon visit to Hoi An and an authentic Vietnamese lunch.

Simply choose a wonderful day from our ‘typical itineraries’ shown below, or let us carefully design an individual trip around your requirements. Our trips don’t come off the shelf, there’s no set recipe except the time constraints of your visit, we listen to what you want and then carefully design a trip around you.

Tien Sa #1 - Our Da Nang & Hoi An 'Two Centre' Private Excursion

This is our ‘Two Centre’ fully escorted private excursion. In just one day you contrast the photogenic beauty of Hoi An ‘ancient town’ with modern Da Nang city and its bustling centre, awe-inspiring attractions and stunning beaches right on its doorstep. We can include:

Da Nang's ever-expanding centre and wonderful My Khe beach (with its own history) right on the city's doorstep
Son Tra Peninsula + 'Lady Buddha' & Ling Ung Pagoda
An authentic Vietnamese Lunch in Hoi An on request*
The famous Hoi An Bánh mì (Vietnamese baguette) is well on the world foodie map because of Anthony Bourdain's recommendation! Definitely worth a try to see what all the fuss is about!
A walking tour of UNESCO listed Hoi An 'ancient town', including the Japanese Bridge, Fujian (Phúc Kiến) Assembly Hall, and the historic house of Tan Ky & Phung Hung
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'drop-off' in plenty of time for departure

Tien Sa #2 - Our Hoi An 'Town & Countryside' Full Day Private Excursion

One of our most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the charming ancient town of Hoi An never fails to delight its many visitors. Sometimes busy but always a real pleasure to discover, this former port is a melting pot of history, architecture, eras & styles. We can include:

A daytime private excursion with quality air-conditioned vehicle, professional driver plus one of our renowned English speaking tour guides. Chilled water and face wipes are supplied and all entry fees included
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'meet & greet'
Morning activities in the surrounding countryside and rural areas of Hoi An. Visit Cam Kim island by private boat or cycle and visit our country families and see how they work & live – a true taster of authentic Vietnam where families remain largely untouched by tourism.

Tien Sa #3 - Our Hoi An 'Foodie & Sightseeing' Full Day Private Excursion

Charming Hoi An never fails to delight its many visitors. Sometimes busy but always a real pleasure to discover, this former port is a melting pot of history, architecture, eras & styles.

And of all SE Asia countries, Vietnam probably has the most diverse food scene. And the most diverse is Hoi An, with a food experience like no other.

Traditional Vietnamese cooking is greatly admired for its fresh ingredients, minimal use of dairy and oil, complementary textures, and reliance on herbs and vegetables. And Vietnam is fam ous for its varied vegetarian dishes.

The abundance of spices produced by central Vietnam’s mountainous terrain sets our region’s cuisine apart from North & South Vietnam. With the balance between fresh herbs and meats and a selective use of spices our region’s food is considered one of the healthiest cuisines in the world.

You’ll enjoy the sight, aroma and taste of central Vietnam’s favourite foods while experiencing the colours and excitement of UNESCO listed Hoi An ancient town! We include:

A daytime private excursion with quality air-conditioned vehicle, professional driver plus one of our renowned English speaking tour guides. Chilled water and face wipes are supplied and all entry fees included
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'meet & greet'
A morning walking tour of UNESCO listed Hoi An 'ancient town', including the Japanese Bridge, Fujian (Phúc Kiến) Assembly Hall, and the historic houses of Tan Ky & Phung Hung
Our unique 'Vietnamese coffee culture'
Tasting 10 central Vietnamese delicacies including dessert (you will be asked about intolerances/likes & dislikes) – and we guarantee you will not be left hungry! We include the Hoi An Bánh mì (Vietnamese baguette) made famous by Anthony Bourdain. Definitely worth trying to see what all the fuss is about!
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'drop-off' in plenty of time for departure

Tien Sa #4 - Our Hoi An 'Focus on Locals' Full Day Private Excursion

Behind the well-trodden tourist routes and normally unseen by the growing number of visitors is ‘real’ Hoi An. Few will ever get the chance to really experience beautiful Hoi An as locals see it with local Hoianian guides. Today we focus on how our people go about their daily lives and a genuine glimpse into ‘local’ Hoi An and our rural families in the surrounding countryside. We can include:

A daytime private excursion with quality air-conditioned vehicle, professional driver plus one of our renowned English speaking tour guides. Chilled water and face wipes are supplied and all entry fees included
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'meet & greet'
Experience Hoi An and it's market – the absolute centre of daily family life. Walk the alleyways behind the tourist trails
Our unique 'Vietnamese coffee culture'
Take a private boat to rural Cam Kim island to meet our country families to see how they live and work. Here are families generally untouched by tourism but who welcome you into their homes with genuine Vietnamese courtesy - a true taster of authentic Vietnam

Tien Sa #5 - Our Golden Bridge & Marble Mountains (Da Nang) Private Excursion

Ba Na Hills is THE tourist attraction for many visitors to Vietnam. Reached by a world record holding cable car system, Ba Na Hills is famous for its ‘Golden Bridge’ opened in 2018. This is our escorted private excursion where in just one day you contrast the photogenic beauty of Da Nang’s Marble Mountains with a visit to the world-famous Golden Bridge!

Depending on time in port, we can include:

Crossing Da Nang's famous 'Dragon Bridge'
Da Nang's ever-expanding centre and a glimpse of wonderful My Khe beach (with its own history) right on the city's doorstep
An authentic Vietnamese snack or unique 'Vietnamese coffee culture' experience in one of our iconic coffee shops - on request
Golden 'Hand' Bridge: Located within the Ba Na Hills resort, its the attraction everyone is talking about! But remember the bridge is not 'stand-alone' - a complete Ba Na Hills resort ticket must be purchased and you ride its cable car to view and photograph the bridge
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'drop-off' in plenty of time for departure

Tien Sa #6 - Our Golden Bridge & Hoi An Town Private Excursion

Ba Na Hills is THE tourist attraction for many visitors to Vietnam. Reached by a world record-holding cable car system, Ba Na Hills is famous for its ‘Golden Bridge’ opened in 2018. This is our escorted private excursion where in just one day you contrast the unrivalled beauty of Hoi An ancient town with a visit to the world famous Golden Bridge!

Depending on time in port, we can include:

A daytime private excursion with quality air-conditioned vehicle, professional driver plus one of our renowned English speaking tour guides. Chilled water and face wipes are supplied and all entry fees included
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'meet & greet'
A morning walking tour of UNESCO listed Hoi An 'ancient town', including the Japanese Bridge, Fujian (Phúc Kiến) Assembly Hall, central market and the historic houses of Tan Ky & Phung Hung
An authentic Vietnamese snack or unique 'Vietnamese coffee culture' experience in one of our iconic coffee shops - on request

Tien Sa #7 - Our 'My Son Sanctuary' & Hoi An Full-Day Private Excursion

Some 1700 years ago there evolved a unique culture on the coast of contemporary Viet Nam, owing its spiritual origins to the Hinduism of India. This is graphically illustrated by the remains of a series of impressive tower temples in a dramatic site that was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence.

Mỹ Sơn (spoken Mee Sun) Sanctuary dates from the 4th to the 13th centuries with the My Son valley a site for religious ceremony for kings of the ruling dynasties of Champa, as well as a burial place for Cham royalty and national heroes.

My Son is located in the mountainous border region of Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam and is yet another of Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The charming ancient town of Hoi An never fails to delight its many visitors and is a real pleasure to discover.

So this is our ‘Full-Day’ fully escorted private excursion of this former port with My Son sanctuary. We include:

A daytime private excursion with quality air-conditioned vehicle, professional driver plus one of our renowned English speaking tour guides. Chilled water and face wipes are supplied and all entry fees included
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'meet & greet'
A walking tour of UNESCO listed Hoi An 'ancient town', including the Japanese Bridge, Fujian (Phúc Kiến) Assembly Hall, central market and the historic houses of Tan Ky
An authentic Vietnamese Lunch in Hoi An on request
The famous Hoi An Bánh mì (Vietnamese baguette) is well on the world foodie map because of Anthony Bourdain's recommendation! Definitely worth a try to see what all the fuss is about!
An escorted tour of My Son sanctuary
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'drop-off' in plenty of time for departure

Tien Sa #8 - Our 'My Son Sanctuary' & Da Nang Full-Day Private Excursion

My Son is located in the mountainous border region of Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam and is yet another of Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. My Son is easily reachable from Da Nang in about 70 minutes.

This is our ‘Full-Day’ fully escorted private excursion of modern Da Nang city and its bustling centre, awe-inspiring attractions and stunning beaches right on its doorstep, with My Son sanctuary. Depending on time available we can include:

A daytime private excursion with quality air-conditioned vehicle, professional driver plus one of our renowned English speaking tour guides. Chilled water and face wipes are supplied and all entry fees included
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'meet & greet'
Mysterious and historic Marble Mountains
A unique 'Vietnamese coffee culture' experience in one of Da Nang's iconic coffee shops
Son Tra Peninsula + 'Lady Buddha' & Ling Ung Pagoda
An authentic Vietnamese Lunch on request
An escorted tour of My Son sanctuary
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'drop-off' in plenty of time for departure

Tien Sa #9 - Our 'Imperial City of Hue' Private Excursion

Please note the drive from Tien Sa port to Hue is about 2hrs 30mins. It’s not possible to see the full sights of imperial Hue during a normal ship’s call in Da Nang port. We offer this shortened version of ‘Tien Sa #10’ for guests who wish to mainly visit Hue citadel:

Once the imperial capital of Vietnam and located on the picturesque Perfume River, evocative Hue is a city crammed full of ancient and modern history, photogenic sites and wonderful food opportunities. Unlike Da Nang, Hue has resisted the dash for modernisation and remains a pleasant and gentile reminder of a past Vietnam. Our fully escorted private excursion includes:

****Excursions 10 & 11 below are suitable for passengers with a very late evening departure
from/or berthing overnight at Tien Sa port****

Tien Sa #10 - Our 'Imperial City of Hue' Full Day Private Excursion

A day & early evening (10-hour+) private excursion with quality air-conditioned vehicle, professional driver plus one of our renowned English speaking tour guides. Chilled water and face wipes are supplied and all entry fees included
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'meet & greet' & crossing the Hai Van Pass. This scenic 21 km drive was made world famous by the BBC 'Top Gear' programme and is said to be one of the 'best coast roads in the world'
A photo stop at beautiful Lang Co Bay
The 19th century Hue Citadel, the imperial city remains and it's Forbidden City

A Private Boat ride across the atmospheric Perfume River
Thien Mu (or Fairy Lady) Pagoda and its 21m high tower on the north bank of the Perfume River
An authentic Vietnamese Lunch of Hue delicacies (payable locally)
A short drive through rural Hue Province into Chau Chu mountain
Thien Mu (or Fairy Lady) Pagoda and its 21m high tower on the north bank of the Perfume River
An authentic Vietnamese Lunch of Hue delicacies (payable locally)
The elaborate tomb of Emperor Khanh Dinh with its unique imperial audience court
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'drop-off' in plenty of time for departure or overnight berthing

Tien Sa #11 - Our Hoi An 'Town & Countryside' Full Day/Evening Private Excursion

Another of our UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the charming ancient town of Hoi An never fails to delight its many visitors. Sometimes busy but always a real pleasure to discover, this former port is a melting-pot of history, architecture, eras & styles. We include:

A day & evening (10-hour+) private excursion with quality air-conditioned vehicle, professional driver plus one of our renowned English speaking tour guides. Chilled water and face wipes are supplied and all entry fees included
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'meet & greet'
A choice of morning activities in the surrounding countryside and rural areas of Hoi An. Maybe Cam Kim island to visit our country families and see how they work & live – a true taster of authentic Vietnam where families remain largely untouched by tourism. Or ride the unique basket boats of Vietnam or help farmers on their unusual organic herb & vegetable farms at Tra Que village.

An authentic Vietnamese Lunch in Hoi An on request
The famous Hoi An Bánh mì (Vietnamese baguette) is well on the world foodie map because of Anthony Bourdain's recommendation! Definitely worth a try to see what all the fuss is about!
An afternoon walking tour of UNESCO listed Hoi An 'ancient town', including the Japanese Bridge, Fujian (Phúc Kiến) Assembly Hall, and the historic houses of Tan Ky & Phung Hung
Evening time in the very pretty Hoi An Lantern Area & Riverside
Hoi An Night Market
Dinner under Hoi An's lights & lanterns (payable locally)
Your Da Nang (Tien Sa port) dockside 'drop-off' in plenty of time for departure or overnight berthing