Hoi An Eco-Village: Cooking, Basket Boats & Buffalo Ride

Summary

Hoi An’s herb village with premium cooking & basket boats

You’ll cycle through Hoi An’s lush herb village, meet locals in their fields, try your hand at farming and ride a gentle water buffalo before learning Vietnamese recipes in a rustic kitchen. With basket boat rowing and lunch included, it’s an honest day of laughter and new flavors you’ll remember long after the trip.

What’s the experience like?

“You have to listen to the buffalo — he knows the way better than me,” our guide Minh grinned as we stood in the soft mud of Tra Que. I’d never been this close to a water buffalo before (they’re bigger than you think), and honestly, I was a little nervous. The morning air smelled like lemongrass and something earthy, maybe coriander? We watched local farmers bent over their rows, moving so quietly you almost missed them if you looked away.

We started by cycling through the rice fields — not far from Hoi An’s old town but it felt like another world. Minh waved at every neighbor we passed, shouting greetings I couldn’t quite catch. There was this moment when we stopped for a welcome drink (something sweet and green, still don’t know what it was) and just listened to the wind moving through the herbs. It’s weird how peaceful it gets out here.

I didn’t expect to actually get my hands dirty farming with a local — but there I was, trying to copy their careful movements, getting mud under my nails. Then came the basket boat ride; Minh showed us how to spin in circles (I got dizzy fast), and some kids on shore laughed at my terrible paddling technique. The main keyword here is “day trip Hoi An eco-village” because that’s exactly what it felt like: a real day out, not just ticking boxes.

The cooking class was inside this old wooden house, open to the garden so you could hear chickens clucking while we made rice paper from scratch. My spring rolls looked lopsided but tasted perfect — salty fish in clay pot, crispy pancakes, all that fresh salad. Lunch together felt like sitting down with friends after working in the fields. I still think about that view across the herbs when we finally sat down to eat.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Full Experience Tour Activities

• Cycle through the ricefields
• Enjoy special welcome drinks
• Farm with local farmer
• Row a basketboat
• Buffalo ride experience
• Make rice paper
• Cooking class

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Hoi An eco-village tour?

Yes, private transportation is included for pickup and drop-off.

What dishes do we cook during the class?

You’ll make spring rolls, Vietnamese pancake, salad, and fish in clay pot.

Can infants or small children join this day trip?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller during the tour.

Is this experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes, both transportation options and parts of the activity are wheelchair accessible.

How long does it take to reach Tra Que from Hoi An?

The eco-village is located just outside Hoi An; cycling there takes only a short time.

Do we interact with local farmers during the tour?

Yes, you’ll farm alongside locals in their herb gardens as part of the experience.

Is lunch provided on this private tour?

Yes, lunch is included after your cooking class at Tra Que Water Wheel restaurant.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation for easy pickup and return, all activities like cycling through rice fields, farming with locals, riding a water buffalo and rowing a basket boat. You’ll also enjoy a hands-on cooking class making traditional Vietnamese dishes followed by lunch at Tra Que Water Wheel restaurant before heading back relaxed (and probably full).