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Embark on an immersive cycling tour around Kim Long village with a memorable home meal with a local family. Explore garden-house green architecture, spiritual practices and best kept royal family virtue. Slow down to learn about Feng Shui, refined arts and crafts displayed on each rare premise. Live in the heart of a hospitable family to really appreciate the local art of living.
Only 3km from Hue city center, Kim Long offers a green maze of hidden cycling paths which are worth exploring for a day trip. The tour starts in the morning and takes about 6 hours with a home meal. On a custom tour, guests can start in the afternoon, including dinner. You will visit two garden-houses and a beautiful mandarin temple. Each stop will offer complementary insights and services.
The cycling is 17km on flat roads with many stops for fruits, tea, craft experiences. Thus the exploration is not only about architecture but embracing nature, activities and local food delights. Cycling or riding on a rickshaw is also a slow means to fully absorb the laid-back atmosphere. Touring by car and walking is also possible.
Kim Long village is close-by Thien Mu pagoda and the Citadel. On a custom tour, you can easily add these sites in to make a complete mix of heritage and active tour.
We recommend proper clothing to suit both activities and cultural visit.
Child rates are applied for children 6 to 11 years old. Children below 6 years are free, please make a note in the booking. For families with many children, we recommend using the Enquiry Form to request the most favorable Family Offer.
Kim Long Village
8:00-14:00
Today, you explore Kim Long village, which used to be the southern capital of Nguyễn Lords (1636-1687). After a short stroll along Perfume River bank, the guide offers an overview of Hue Citadel master planning according to Feng Shui principle and The Five Basic Elements of Universe.
Just a stone-away from the city hustle, you immediately feel the difference of the green Phu Mong neighbourhood. Behind the green hedges and a losingly gate hides a blissful universe of plants, architecture, and mankind. This is called Nhà Rường “beam house” or Nhà Vườn “garden-house”. Dated back to the 18th century, they were built for princes, princesses, mandarins, aristocrats. This precious heritage is now under threat of distinction, due to socio-economic, environmental challenges. Unveil unique features of beam house construction, meticulous sculpture. With the host company, take a close-up glimpse into the healing garden and pick some seasonal fruits.
Ride past some other princely residences alongside ranges of areca palm and vegetable fields. Stop at a magnificent shrine house dedicated to a high-ranking mandarin. Spare your curiosity to fully admire this uncommon relic. His descendant enthusiastically guides you through ritual practices. Enjoy some tea with the gracious hosts in his awesome bonsai garden and discuss Hue culture then and now.
Pursue your exploration in Truc Lam village, known for having many centenarians. After visiting the village temple, pagoda, and eventual handicraft workshop, you call by an ancestral beam house. Be warmly welcome to a multi generation family. Get to know each other then partake in the grandma’s kitchen to prepare a typical meal with fresh ingredients from the garden. Enjoy your lunch in an exclusive setting followed with a herbal foot bath to ease muscle and blood circulation.
Bid farewell to friendly hosts, villagers and complete your cycling back to the city. Optionally, you may visit Thien Mu pagoda and return on a dragon boat ride on the Perfume River toward the city center (approx. 30 minutes).
Excellent tour and guide. Definitely recommend this tour. Friendly and interesting. Thank you. Mr Khoi was very hospitable -very lovely experience visiting him.
Our guide Tuan was absolutely fantastic. He told us all about the history of the people / village life … The food was amazing and the length of the trip was perfect . I will tell my friend. Thank you.
The meal was superb. Seeing 3 different homes and way of life was a privilege, and being able to talk to the people via the guide. There were somethings we passed it might have been nice to stop and see, but the timing walk well so perhaps its better as it is. The pace was good time to absorb what we saw.
we all had a fantastic time and thoroughly enjoyed the tour. One of the best things we had done all trip. Two was an amazing guide and was full of knowledge. If anything we would have loved for the tour to be longer because it was so much fun. Thank you!
I was very impressed with my guide who explained many things about the mandarin houses, tombs and spirit screens etc. He stopped to point out many interesting things – the rice factory, the girl who made things out of paper to burn for ancestors. My cyclo driver was very helpful and gentle as I had hurt my leg and was enable to cycle. The dinner was superb!