Hoi An Countryside: Bike Tour, Kim Bong Carpentry & Lantern Making

Summary

Hoi An bike ride to Kim Bong village with mat weaving and lantern craft

You’ll pedal through Hoi An’s countryside with a local guide, visit Kim Bong Carpentry Village for hands-on wood carving, try your hand at mat weaving and lantern making with welcoming locals, and share lunch by the river. Expect laughter, imperfect crafts, and genuine moments you’ll remember long after you’ve left Vietnam.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me was the sound — not traffic or city noise, but the soft click of our bicycle wheels over dirt paths and the low hum of crickets somewhere in the green. Our guide, Anh, waved us off from Hoi An and promised we’d see “the real countryside.” I wasn’t sure what that meant until we passed a woman tending water buffalo in a field so wide it looked like it went on forever. The air smelled faintly of wet earth and something floral I couldn’t place. My shirt was already sticking to my back — Vietnam’s humidity is no joke — but honestly, I didn’t care.

We stopped at Tra Nhieu Fishing Village, where old men were mending nets by hand. One grinned at me when I tried to say hello in Vietnamese (I think I butchered it). Then we crossed to Kim Bong Carpentry Village — you could hear the tap-tap of woodwork before you saw anything. Inside one shop, a craftsman let me run my fingers over a carving he’d just finished; it was rough around the edges but so detailed. He laughed when I asked how long it took him (“many years,” he said). The private bike tour felt more like visiting distant relatives than being on some scheduled route.

Lunch was at this tiny place by the river — plastic chairs, bowls of noodles with herbs so fresh they almost bit back. Anh told us about her grandmother weaving mats out of rushes; apparently, that’s still a thing here. We got to try weaving ourselves. My mat was lopsided but the woman teaching us smiled anyway and patted my hand like she’d seen worse (she probably had). There was also a lantern-making class — sticky glue everywhere, colored silk stretched tight over bamboo frames. Not as easy as it looks on Instagram, trust me.

I still think about that slow afternoon light slanting through rice fields as we rode back toward Hoi An. It wasn’t perfect — my legs were tired and my mat looked like modern art gone wrong — but honestly? That’s what made it feel real.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Bicycle tour and rural culture discovery

• Bicycle tour through Tra Nhieu village
• Explore Kim Bong carpentry village
• Discover boat building business
• Cross immense rice fields
• Take pictures of rural scenes
• Meet local families
• Learn to make colorful woven mats
• Make rice noodle and rice paper
• Practice traditional wood carving

Top questions

How long is the bike tour from Hoi An to Kim Bong Carpentry Village?

The cycling part takes about half a day including stops at Tra Nhieu Fishing Village and Kim Bong Carpentry Village.

Is lunch included on this Hoi An countryside tour?

Yes, lunch at a local restaurant with traditional Vietnamese cuisine is included.

Do I need to be an experienced cyclist for this tour?

No, travelers should have moderate fitness but expert cycling skills aren’t required.

Are vegetarian meal options available?

Yes, you can request vegetarian meals in advance for lunch.

What activities are included besides biking?

You’ll join mat weaving and lantern making classes plus wood carving in Kim Bong village.

Is pickup included for this day trip from Hoi An?

No hotel pickup is mentioned; meeting point details are provided after booking.

Can children join the private bike tour?

The tour is suitable for most ages but not recommended for pregnant travelers.

Are entrance fees or tickets included?

Yes, all entry tickets for workshops and villages are included in the price.

What’s included

Your day includes use of bicycles for countryside touring from Hoi An to Tra Nhieu Fishing Village and Kim Bong Carpentry Village; hands-on classes in mat weaving, lantern making, and wood carving; bottled water throughout; all entry tickets; an English-speaking local guide who shares stories along the way; plus lunch at a riverside restaurant with vegetarian options available if you ask ahead.