Overview

From fruits to seafood, the royal family who lived in Hue between 1802 and 1945 owe a lot of their elaborate cuisine to the products of Thuy Bieu and Tam Giang Lagoon. We discover the royal love for pomelo and seafood on the Thuy Bieu – Tam Giang Lagoon Full Day tour, operated by Incredible Asia Journeys.

We begin at Thuy Bieu Eco-Village, a rural enclave to the west of Hue that boasts verdant nature in its tree-lined village paths, fruit orchards, and splendid garden houses, once the retreats of members of the Nguyen Dynasty who held their royal court in Hue.

After enjoying the delights of pomelo jam and tea in Thuy Bieu’s natural assets, we head to Tam Giang Lagoon, a vast expanse of shimmering water that stretches to the horizon in some parts and is backed by the gentle slopes of mountains in others. Fishermen here approach their jobs in the same way they have for hundreds of years, by casting large nets into the water and hauling up a fruitful catch.

The Thuy Bieu – Tam Giang Lagoon Full Day tour is perfect for discovering some of the natural wonders surrounding the ancient capital of Hue.

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Places you’ll see

Hue

Highlights

Enjoying a slow boat ride down the Perfume River and checking out the Thien Mu Pagoda as we do so
Relaxing into the sedate pace of life of Thuy Bieu Village with jam and tea
Learning how to make pomelo jam in a cooking class and exploring the worlds of folk art painting and incense making by local artisans
Relishing the local cuisine of Hue through its famous dishes and plethora of seafood options
Lying back on our sampan boat as we cruise the waters of Tam Giang Lagoon, waiting for the fantastic marvel of sunset

Itinerary

Activities: Relaxing on a boat tour, exploring Thien Mu Pagoda, experiencing the quiet life of Thuy Bieu and joining local fishermen in Tam Giang Lagoon before returning to Hue.

08:00: Meet your guide at your hotel in Hue and take a leisurely ride on a dragon boat to Thuy Bieu Village. On the way along the Perfume River, we stop at Thien Mu Pagoda the city’s oldest pagoda and one of its most prominent symbols.

09:30: Upon arriving at Thuy Bieu, we visit a garden house to enjoy some tea and chat with the owner in beautiful surroundings. We will see examples of a folk painting tradition that is still alive in Hue, as well as a proud history of incense making, a craft that was especially treasured hundreds of years ago for use around the many Buddhist temples of the city.

11:30: We will have an early lunch consisting of some of the incredible range of food that comes originally from Hue. This is followed by a cooking class where we learn how to make delicious jam from Thuy Bieu’s most abundant and popular fruit, pomelo. We will enjoy tea and jam while relaxing into the languid pace of life that governs the residents of Thuy Bieu.

13:30: Climb into the car as we head to Tam Giang Lagoon in the northern reaches of Thua Thien – Hue Province.

14:30: We will have the early afternoon to spend on the shallow waters of Tam Giang. We join local fishermen as they show us the ancient techniques still used today in catching the kinds of seafood that used to grace the dining tables of the Imperial Citadel. We catch fish, snails, prawns, crabs and the local specialty of clams, used in many of Hue’s popular dishes.

16:30: A romantic cottage overlooking the lagoon will be the location for an early seafood dinner. Watch the individual wooden fishing boats drift silently over the silky water as we enjoy the fruits of the local fishermen’s labour.

17:30: We will climb back into the boat for an unforgettable sunset that spreads its pink, purple, red and yellow hues across the immense lagoon.

18:30: We finish your day trip from Hue at your hotel in Hue. Thank you very much for experiencing the outlying splendour of Hue on the Thuy Bieu Village – Tam Giang Lagoon Full Day Tour. We very much hope to see you again in the future.

Meals: Lunch