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(575)
We had a fantastic time on this tour with Kha. He was very informative and spoke great English. We had a good driver and felt very safe. The tour takes you out of the city area into rural areas where you see a different perspective of village life. We had such a good time and I would highly recommend this tour with Kha!
Excellent tour with Kha!!! He was articulate and knowledgable. This tour was the best one we’ve been on so far. Kha was great and informative. We saw so many things and did activities. My daughter who is 12yo loved it. Being in the Jeep was extra special and cool. The driver was great and very safe. We enjoyed seeing all the rural aspects of the local people and attending the local restaurant for lunch. 5 stars is not enough for this trip!!!
Our guide, Trang, and driver, Trieu, were outstanding. From the moment the tour began, they made us feel welcome and ensured we had a memorable and authentic experience. Trang was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and engaging, providing fascinating insights into the local culture and traditions throughout the day. The tour took us through a village near Hoi An’s Old Town, where we were able to watch demonstrations of how local foods and traditional products are made. Meeting the local villagers and learning about their crafts and way of life was a real highlight and gave us a much deeper appreciation of the region. Lunch was at a wonderful local restaurant, where we enjoyed a delicious selection of traditional dishes. It was one of the best meals we had during our stay and a fantastic opportunity to sample authentic local flavours. Another standout stop was Cavalry Coffee. We were so impressed by the quality of the coffee and the welcoming atmosphere that we returned in our own time later in the trip. It quickly became one of our favourite places in Hoi An. Overall, this was a well-organised, informative and enjoyable tour. Trang and Trieu were an exceptional team, and their warmth, professionalism and local knowledge made the experience truly special. Thank you for helping create such wonderful memories of Hoi An.
Great day out, sensational guide, Kha. The jeep was surprisingly comfortable
Our family of 4 took the tour with Trang. Being a local to the area she shared fascinating insights into the culture and way of life of the people living there. We were entertained the whole time with the humorous stories from her personal life which she so generously shared. Would recommend this tour without hesitation.
Amazing to spend the day in the countryside, meeting artisans and immersing ourselves in local life. Our host Fairy was exceptional - warm, lively, knowledgeable and eager to share her culture. Our driver was great too and being in a 1960’s jeep added to the experience. The tour was a highlight in Hoi An for us. Highly recommend and worth the cost.
We had a jeep ride today. Our guide Kha and driver Jo have given us a very nice experience. We have been to more places than what was offered on the tour. They stopped when we wanted to take pictures and also took pictures themselves that they shared with us. I would definitely recommend this tour and hope to have Kha as a guide.
The guide has good knowledge of the region/country and knows the places to visit. Very good, good English and nice person (Kha).
We had a great time with our guide Thanh and our driver (who was very impressive! He maneuvered through some very tight alleys in a stick shift and drove through a crazy downpour!) The families we visited were very friendly and Thanh was informative and funny, we learned a lot on this tour. The length of time at each stop was perfect, I was worried it would be too short based on the itinerary but it ended up being exactly right. A big rainstorm hit while we were driving between spots in the open jeep but the driver stopped and quickly got us rain ponchos and was a very good driver despite the poor visibility. They were so great that the rain wasn’t even an issue! We also appreciated that there was no pressure to buy anything additional, Thanh made sure we knew that all of the families were paid as part of the tour fee that we initially paid (although we did end up getting some souvenirs at each stop because we liked them!)
We really enjoyed our tour! Our guide, Thanh (apologies if I spelled it incorrectly!), was super fun and friendly, we really enjoyed learning about local culture from him. The USSR Jeep was really cool, even though we got drenched in a downpour. The driver was skilled, and also really nice! My 18 year old son liked this tour just as much as my 25 year old daughter did, so it’s a good option for mixed age and interest groups. Definitely a great way to see more of the area than just the tourist districts, and I’d highly recommend this tour.
