The Elephant Springs Vietnam is easily one of the most beautiful hidden treasures of Vietnam. This natural spring that cascades into fresh water pools from a water fall is located 53 kilometers outside of Hue, roughly a 1 hour drive (included in the duration). It is also located just 20 kilometers from the infamous Hai Van Pass, a road deemed by Top Gears Jeremy Clarkson as “a deserted ribbon of perfection – one of the best coastal roads in the world”. Over recent years, it has become incredibly popular with tourists and locals as a place to come and relax especially on hot days and enjoy some beer, food and fresh water. However, it still has the feeling of being untouched and not completely overrun like many other popular destinations.

30 minutes drive to next location (included in the duration) Lap An Lagoon, also known as An Cu Lagoon or Lang Co Lagoon, is a brackish water lagoon with fantastic natural scenery located on the banks of Lang Co Bay, in Lang Co town, Thua Thien Hue province. This place is also one of 12 iconic lagoons for the central region of Vietnam! The location of the lagoon is also exceptional when it is on the Hai Van – Bach Ma massif, right at the boundary of the North and South climate regions. Therefore, the temperature of the lagoon ranges from 18–31 °C. It will also be quite cool in the early morning or early evening – Ideal times to visit Lang Co Lagoon.

20 minute drive (included in the duration) A contender for the most famous road in Vietnam, the Hai Van Pass is a short but scenic route winding around a mountainside above the East Sea, on the central coast. Đèo Hải Vân – Ocean Cloud Pass – is famous for a number of reasons: as a geographic and political boundary between ancient kingdoms; as a climatic divide between the tropical south and the subtropical north; and as a strategic military post during times of war, both ancient and modern. But, most recently, the Hai Van Pass is famous, quite simply, as a great road trip linking the popular central Vietnamese destinations of Hoi An, Danang, and Hue.

Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes drive. Marble Mountains is a group of five limestone peaks situated seven kilometres from downtown Da Nang. The five karsts (called Ngu Hanh Son in Vietnamese) are named after the five elements: Kim (metal), Thuỷ (water), Mộc (wood), Hoả (fire) and Thổ (earth). Over centuries, Marble Mountains has held special significance for the people of Central Vietnam. The ancient Cham revered the karsts as a spiritual site, and Vietnamese emperors from Hue and legendary generals passing through paid visits to the peaks, adding to their store of legends. Today Marble Mountains is home to a network of caves, tunnels, towers, and pagodas built by Mahayana Buddhists and the Nguyen Dynasty Kings. The structures and shrines blend harmoniously with nature: Vine tendrils drip from above, frangipani and poinciana trees drop their blossoms on the stone paths, and the pagodas’ ornate roofs sparkle in the tropical sun. It’s a setting that easily captures the imagination.