We will be moving from Hoi An to Hue - and are looking for a private tour operator who will provide a transfer/day trip with sightseeing along the way. It appears there are here are scores of options!

Anyone here have a recommendation they have personal experience with? If not, what's the best way to choose a provider and arrange this? Should we wait and ask at our Hoi An hotel - or make arrangements now for early January? I know we can go through Viator or Trip Advisor, but sometimes those tours are one-size-fits-all and can be disappointing.

Thanks!

We have always arranged something with our accommodation in either Hue or Hoi An which will likely be a bit cheaper than and organised tour. Accommodation owners have a vested interest in making sure you don’t get ripped off. It has always worked out fine for us. Perhaps just ask and price up the options

These days many driver guides will speak passable English but if not, it isn’t a problem. The main stop off points are well known - Hai Van pass ( make it clear you want to go over the pass and not through the tunnel!) . Marble Mountains and often a lunch stop at Lang Cao beach (it would take a braver man than me to eat the seafood there!) . You could also include the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang.

other experiences worth looking at are Easy Riders for a motorbike trip and the train from Da Nang to Hue - very scenic.

A tour operator is NOT necessary, you just ask your Hoi An hotel to reserve a taxi for you. Make sure the driver is told to stop for a visit of the Marble Mountain (great view of the coastline from the top) end surrounding countryside to go on top of the Pass of the Clouds (fantastic panorama), NOT through the tunnel), Have lunch in one of the two large restaurants over the lagoon of LUNG CO. (superb sea food)

Is Marble Mountain only worth a waystop? About how long? From what I understand there are five peaks with a lot of features such as caves, shrines, pagodas.... seems like it's a destination unto itself.

I would say allow 2-3l hours. There are four caves, a few pagodas and a couple of viewpoints. There is even an elevator! I can’t imagine spending a whole day there.

There are two mountains, but only one can be visited. One climbs by elevator or a lot of steps starting from the small plazza with a lot of shops selling statues