Hoi An Countryside Jeep Tour: Food, Crafts & Rural Life

Summary

Hoi An’s villages by jeep with hands-on crafts and home cooking

You’ll ride an open jeep through Hoi An’s countryside, meeting local families and trying your hand at crafts like mat weaving or making rice noodles. Taste homemade rice wine and share a home-style Vietnamese lunch near Tra Que Vegetable Village. It’s a day of laughter, new friends, and small moments you’ll remember long after you’ve brushed the dust off your shoes.

What’s the experience like?

It started with our driver waving from an old army jeep, grinning like he already knew we’d end up dusty and happy. I climbed in next to my friend, and we rattled out of Hoi An Ancient Town — the kind of morning where you can smell woodsmoke and something green, maybe lemongrass? Our guide, Minh, pointed out water buffalo in the fields. He told us about his grandmother’s rice farm. I tried to imagine growing up here, with those endless paddies and the quiet broken only by birds or the odd scooter.

We stopped at Dong Ha Village, where a family showed us how they make rice noodles. The kitchen was warm and smelled faintly sweet. I got flour everywhere trying to help (the grandma just laughed). Then Minh handed me a tiny brush for making votive paper offerings — my attempt looked like a crumpled bird but he said it had “good spirit.” There was this easy way people included us, not as tourists but like distant cousins who’d finally come home for lunch.

The countryside kept changing as we drove — more palms, then riverbanks with kids fishing. At Tra Nhieu village we ducked into a Whale Temple; incense smoke curled around old wooden beams while Minh explained the fishermen’s rituals for luck at sea. We met a mat weaver named Lan who let me try her loom (my mat was crooked but she patted my hand anyway). I didn’t expect to laugh so much over something so simple.

Later we tasted homemade rice wine at another house — sharp and slightly sweet, it burned in my throat but warmed me up inside. Lunch came at a small place near Tra Que Vegetable Village: fresh herbs everywhere, crispy pancakes, grilled pork. I still think about that meal when I smell basil now. The ride back felt slower somehow — maybe it was just all that food or maybe I just didn’t want to leave yet.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Hoi An countryside culture

• Pick-up from hotels in Hoi An
• Jeep ride through rural fields and waterways
• Visit local family in Dong Ha Village
• Try making rice noodles
• Learn to create votive paper offerings
• Travel to Tra Nhieu village
• Visit Whale Temple and learn fishing traditions
• Experience mat weaving at local home
• Observe rice wine brewing process
• Enjoy Vietnamese lunch at local restaurant

Top questions

How long is the Hoi An countryside jeep tour?

The tour is a full day trip starting with pickup from hotels in or near Hoi An Ancient Town.

Is hotel pickup included for this jeep tour?

Yes, pickup and drop-off are included for hotels within 1-2km of Hoi An Centre or Ancient Town.

What activities are included on this day trip?

You’ll visit rural villages, try mat weaving and rice noodle making, see traditional farming, taste rice wine, and have lunch at a local restaurant.

Are entrance fees covered in the price?

Yes, all tickets and entrance fees are included in the tour price.

Is lunch provided during the Hoi An countryside jeep tour?

Yes, lunch at a local restaurant is included as part of the experience.

Is this tour suitable for children or seniors?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels but not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or certain health conditions.

Will there be an English-speaking guide on this tour?

Yes, an English-speaking guide accompanies you throughout the day trip from Hoi An.

What kind of vehicle is used on this countryside tour?

You’ll travel in a Vietnam Army Legend Jeep driven by an experienced driver.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off around Hoi An Ancient Town, all entry fees and permits along the route, hands-on activities like mat weaving or noodle making with local families, helmet and rain poncho if needed (it rained briefly on us), plus a traditional Vietnamese lunch before heading back to town in the late afternoon.