HOI AN Hidden Gems in Rural Villages & River Islands PRIVATE TOUR
Description
An exciting PRIVATE TOUR that’s fun for all ages! Explore the rural villages around Hoi An on a unique route that takes you off the beaten path to meet locals & experience their daily lives. Start your adventure on Cam Kim Island, where you’ll make rice papers & snacks to enjoy. Then, visit another local family to learn the art of incense stick making & try it yourself. After that, head to a peaceful village to weave vibrant bed mats from river reeds. Drive through beautiful rural villages & later stop at a charming coffee shop for refreshments. Then, cross over the stunning views bridge & enjoy a relaxing basket boat ride under the Water Coconut Forest. Zigzag through the fish & shrimp farms and lush rice paddies filled with buffalo and cows, we'll finally explore Tra Que Vegetable Village, surrounded by fragrant herbs. The tour lasts 4 hours without a meal, or 5 hours with a tasty meal. Choose your vehicle: US military jeep/ USSR army jeep/ Modern car.
Tour Options
Itinerary
If you're staying in Hoi An, we'll pick you up directly from your hotel. For guests at hotels in Da Nang, Hoiana Resort and Golf, or VinPearl Resort and Golf South Hoi An, please meet us at our office to start the tour. Contact us via call or WhatsApp, and we'll assist you in arranging a private car transfer for a small surcharge.
Making rice papers and local snacks: Embark on a fun journey from Hoi An, crossing the scenic Thu Bon River to the peaceful Cam Kim Island. Here, you'll meet a delightful 65-year-old couple, masters of traditional rice-making. Roll up your sleeves and help grind rice, then use the rice milk to craft your own rice paper and tasty local snacks. Once the work’s done, enjoy the fruits of your labor, munching on the treats you just made! As you relax, dive into the fascinating daily lives of the islanders and learn about their rich culture and traditions. It’s a hands-on experience with a heartwarming personal touch you won’t forget!
Incense-making family: Step into the heart of Kim Bong village and meet a warm, welcoming family who’s been mastering the craft of incense-making for generations. Get ready for a unique experience as you sit down with them, surrounded by the sweet aromas of herbs and spices, and try your hand at rolling incense sticks using their traditional tools. As you work, the family will share fascinating stories about their trade, their village, and the importance of incense in local culture. By the end, you'll walk away with your own handmade incense and a heart full of Kim Bong's rich history and charm!
Handwoven Traditions: The Mat-Weaving Family Story. Step into the cozy, traditional home of a lovely 70-year-old couple in a peaceful village, where vibrant straw mat-making is a way of life. Sit down with them and get hands-on, weaving your own colorful mat—just like the ones locals sleep on! As you weave, you'll hear stories of their craft and catch a glimpse of daily life in this quiet, charming village. It's a beautiful way to connect with local traditions, learn a timeless craft, and take home your own handmade souvenir from this heartwarming experience!
Stop at a nice coffee house to freshen up and learn about Vietnamese coffee culture. Enjoy a tasty coffee with nice views. Use the washroom before we continue our journey.
Drive over high bridges to take in panoramic views of fish farms, shrimp farms, rice paddies, and big fishing nets at Thu Bon river mouth.
Visit Cam Thanh fishing village in the water coconut forest, hop in the round basket boat, a local fisherman will take you on a relaxing boat trip under the shade of coconut trees. You will use a fishing rod to catch some river crabs for fun.
A quick visit to Tra Que vegetable village to see the villagers growing different vegetables in their gardens. It's a great chance to smell amazing herbs, take pictures and learn about traditional farming methods.
Time to enjoy a delicious Vietnamese lunch or dinner in a riverside restaurant before heading back to your hotel. NOTE: There is a tour option without lunch/dinner as well. Please check different prices and durations when booking.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
✅ Free Pickup & Drop-off: Available at any hotel, homestay, or restaurant in the Hoi An area. ❌ No Free Pickup & Drop-off: Da Nang Hotels Hoiana Resort & Golf Vinpearl Resort & Golf South Hoi An Options for Guests in These Areas: 1. Meet us at our office in Hoi An to start the tour. Address: 67 Tran Quang Khai Street, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province. 2. Book a One-Way Private Transfer from us:
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(564)
Kha was a brilliant tour guide, very friendly and knowledgeable, highly recommend this tour! Perfect half day experience in Hoi An if you like to see local crafts and people.
Kha was very knowledgeable and had good communication skills which made our excursion enjoyable and excellent value for money. Would recommend!
Booked online and had excellent communication throughout the booking and confirmation process.
Kha was very helpful! And extremely fun!
With my elderly parents and a 5 month old baby in tow, we are always looking for well paced activities with air conditioning and rest stops! This tour was amazing! Lanh would often hold my baby as we were making rice paper or incense or whatever the next activity was and the van has nice cold air conditioning to cool down in as we travelled between activities. This tour was the perfect way to be immersed in local culture without the hustle of a typical tour. You’re able to really go at your pace. It’s lovely to support local artisans but also be really hands on with each visit. The lunch offered is exceptional. Much better than most lunches we’ve had on tours.
We had an absolutely fantastic tour with Brian around the countryside and local neighborhoods surrounding Hoi An. It was a wonderful opportunity to experience authentic local life, meet talented artisans, and learn about traditional crafts. One of the highlights was learning how to make rice noodles from scratch, which gave us a real appreciation for the work and skill involved. The tour was both informative and engaging, offering insights into the culture, history, and daily life of the area. We finished the day with a delicious lunch featuring fresh herbs and ingredients grown locally, which was the perfect ending to a memorable experience. Brian was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and entertaining throughout the tour. His passion for the local culture really made the experience special. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Hoi An who wants to see a more authentic side of the region. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 – Highly recommended!
interesting experience out of city. not wise to opt for more costly army jeep during summer as there is no aircon
## ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Stars for Lanh! If you want to escape the crowds and see the **real Vietnam**, book this tour. Our guide, **Lanh**, made the entire experience unforgettable. He was incredibly knowledgeable, funny, and felt more like a friend showing us around than a tour guide. **The Highlights:** * **Authentic Village Life:** We loved meeting local families to learn traditional weaving and rice paper making. * **River Islands:** The scenery on Cam Kim Island and the basket boat ride were breathtaking. * **The Personal Touch:** As a private tour, **Lanh** tailored everything to our pace and shared stories you won’t find in guidebooks. **Don’t miss out—request Lanh for the best experience!**
A good private tour to see and experience a different side of Hoi An. Friendly and knowledgeable guide.
Lanh our tour guide and Reo were so welcoming and accommodating. Lanh is really passionate about the local culture and that shows when he is telling you about it. The local families that we visited were happy to see us and happy for us to take part the their lives. Would highly recommend this tour especially if you can go with Lanh and Reo.
