My Son Sanctuary is set in a small valley belonging to Duy Phu Commune, Duy Xuyen District, Quang Nam Province, about 70km southwest of Danang City and 40km from Hoi An City. Of the 225 Cham vestiges that are founded in Vietnam, My Son possesses 71 monuments and 32 epitaphs, the content of which is still being studied.

The Cham Kingdom had two sanctuaries belonging to two main opposing clans. My Son of the Dua Clan, ruled over the north of the kingdom and was the place for the worship of God Srisana Bhadresvara. The Cau Clan, who reigned over the south had Po Nagar Sanctuary, dedicated to Goddess Po Nagar. Nevertheless, My Son was considered as the sanctuary of the Cham Kingdom.

It has since been restored and enhanced many times. Because it was used for worship as well as for meetings by the Chinese from Phuoc Kien Province, this construction is now called the Phuoc Kien Assembly Hall.

The Holy Mother and the Goddess of the Sea, Thien Hau, are worshipped in the main sanctuary. The Phuoc Kien ancestors and the God of Prosperity are worshipped in the sanctuary behind the main one.

This temple is architecturally unique with its artistic ornaments and beautiful statues. The Chinese architectural style combined with Vietnamese workmanship has enriched it with Hoi An's cultural character.

More than 400 years have passed and the covered bridge has always been a good shelter for passers by escaping from the rain and heat.

On the northern side of the bridge is a Japanese pagoda to protect sailors. There are statues of two dogs located at the western end of the bridge and two monkeys at the eastern end. It is said that the construction started in the year of the monkey and finished in the year of the dog, according to Chinese calendar. Other legend is said that the statues on the bridge might have been put there by the Japanese to control this monster, since the dog and the monkey are sacred animals according to their Totem religion.

Designed in a traditional Vietnamese style with a contemporary twist for every imaginary comfort, Swiss-Belhotel Golden Sand Resort & Spa is a 5 star beach front resort in Hoi An comprising of eight Chalet like buildings housing 212 hotel rooms and suites, all with private balcony and are positioned throughout its lush tropical gardens for maximum seclusion.

This Hoi An hotel is nestled within 4 hectares of glorious sand with a well designed landscaped garden surrounded by palm trees, frangipani and hibiscus giving its guest a serene, warmth and relaxing hideaway.

Located in a small village near the city center of Hoi An, Betel Garden Homestay is a lot more personal, friendly than a normal standard chain hotel and has attracted more and more holidaymakers coming to stay with their family in a tropical garden full of trees and flowers.

The Homestay is a 10 minute walk from the centre of Hoi An and a 20 minute bicycle ride from the beach. You can borrow bikes for free and laundry is free, too. If you are looking for a unique experience, this is the place to stay.

Hoi An is located in a tropical monsoon climate. Temperatures are high and less changing. Each year has two seasons: the rainy season lasts from August to December and dry season from January to July. In the rainy season is often rainy and very humid climate, located beside the sea so often affected by tropical depressions and storms in the last months of year. Therefore, this season is often not suitable for tourism interests unless you have a walk in the ancient town  by boat, but the accommodation and travel is equally inconvenient at this time.

The weather is very nice in dry season, ideal for outdoor activities, especially outdoor activities at sea. Besides, you should visit Hoian in the early months as in January, February, March to participate in the festivities this time of year.

Hoi An Beach Resort boasts of 121 luxuriously appointed rooms with traditional interiors and modern equipment and facilities. Each room category is divided according to the view as Hoi An Beach resort is in between the river and the sea with the following room types:

• River View Suite


• River View Villa


• Seaside View Villa


• River View Deluxe


• Garden View Deluxe


• Superior

 

We start the day (8.15am) with a welcome drink at Hai Café (98 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An Ancient Town, the meeting point for the cooking class (transfer from your hotel to the restaurant is not included; it is possible for you to have a short walk ot take a taxi).

Visit Hoi An’s colourful market, and experience the amazing sights, sounds and aromas of this busy market. We will have the opportunity to interact with the local sellers and learn about all the ingredients to be used in the cooking lesson later.

We board the Red Bridge boat for a leisurely cruise (25 minutes) along the Hoi An River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. This is a chance to view local river life, so make sure your camera is handy.

On arrival, we explore the cooking school’s herb garden, before learning about some of Hoi An’s and Vietnam’s well-known dishes. The cooking lesson runs for about 2 hours – the Red Bridge chefs first demonstrate each dish before we prepare the same dish ourselves. Included in the class is a brief introduction to Vietnamese food carving (plate decoration). After the lesson, we sit down and eat what we have cooked.

After breakfast, you will be picked up by our local team and transferred to the Hoian boat pier.

Leaving the coast, you will be explained by our diving instructor about the theories of diving and practical advises. Arrival at the islands and enjoy one discover scuba dive with a certified PADI Instructor. Transfer to Bai Chong  beach for lunch.

In the afternoon, just stay free at leisure to enjoy the beach activities such as swimming, walking or simply relaxing.

Return to mainland and transfer back to the hotel. Trip ends.

8:00: You will be met up by our team at your hotel in Hoian.

Accompanied by our tour guide, you commence the day leisurely cycling along country roads witnessing local Vietnamese rural life first hand, discovering all manner of photo opportunities. As well you will experience the friendliness of the local people greeting you along the way. Later you will board our round boat for a river cruise to meet and engage with local fishermen and enjoy a hands-on experience of traditional net fishing.

You will also experience paddling the unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boat while exploring coconut-palm flanked waterways. This tour provides you with a cultural window into the ways of life of both our farming and fishing communities.

Back to your hotel around 14:00. End trip

Hoi An was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, and a visit to this old-world gem is a sure cultural highlight of any tour in Vietnam. From the 16th to the 18th century, the city was Vietnam\'s most important port and trading post, particularly of ceramics with nearby China.

Today it is a quaint old town of some 844 structures protected as historical landmarks, and the unique influence of Chinese and Japanese traders who passed through (or settled) can still be felt. It\'s a picturesque town, small enough to cover easily on foot, with lots of good nooks and crannies, shops, and gastronomic delights to discover.

Wander among historic homes and temples, perhaps stop to lounge in an open-air cafe, gaze at the oddities and exotic foods in the market, or take a sampan ride down the lazy river. In the afternoons when school is out, the streets are thronged with skipping children in spotless white shirts and girls in their ao dai uniforms, and you can still see local craftsmen at work in some parts of the city.

During the full moon of every month, local shop owners turn off the electricity and hang lanterns bearing their shops\' names, and a candlelight lantern procession, complete with a few small floats, makes its way through the Old Town and along the riverfront. It\'s well worth timing a visit to enjoy the spectacle and the post-processional festivities.