Hoi An to My Son: Private Day Trip & Rice Paper Workshop

Summary

My Son’s ancient temples, Cham history and rice paper making near Hoi An

You’ll get picked up early in Hoi An and travel through quiet countryside to explore My Son’s ancient temples with a local guide. Watch an Apsara dance echo through mossy ruins, then visit a family-run rice paper workshop for hands-on fun (and coffee). Expect laughter, new flavors, and stories you’ll want to retell long after you’re back in town.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is our driver waving at a woman balancing baskets of greens on her bicycle, right outside Hoi An. It was barely sunrise, the air soft and kind of damp — you know that feeling when the world’s still waking up? Our guide Minh grinned at us in the rearview mirror and said something about how early mornings are best for seeing the countryside, before the heat hits. He was right. The road to My Son wound through fields so green it almost hurt my eyes. I kept catching whiffs of woodsmoke from breakfast fires drifting in through the window.

I’d read about My Son temple complex before, but standing there — mossy towers poking out of the jungle mist — felt different. Minh told us stories about the Cham kings who built these temples for Shiva, and he pointed out carvings I would’ve missed on my own (one looked like an elephant but apparently it’s a lion). There was this moment when local dancers started the Apsara performance beside the ruins; their bells jingled in time with birdsong and I just sort of forgot to take photos. The keyword “day trip My Son from Hoi An” had popped up in my searches so many times, but none of them mentioned how quiet it gets between dances, or how the red brick feels warm under your hand.

On our way back, we stopped at a little house where a family makes rice paper by hand. The grandmother laughed when she saw me try to flip one without tearing it (I failed spectacularly). We sat around their wooden table with cups of strong Vietnamese coffee — honestly, I’m still thinking about that bitter-sweet taste — and talked about life in rural Vietnam. Minh translated my clumsy questions about harvest season; everyone seemed amused by my pronunciation. Sometimes these workshops close last minute if the family has something else going on, but ours was open and they made us feel like old friends.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore My Son ruins and local workshop

• Pick up from Hoi An hotel
• Drive through countryside to My Son
• Visit My Son temple complex
• Watch Apsara dance at temples
• Stop at rice paper workshop
• Learn and taste rice paper snack
• Return to Hoi An

Top questions

How long does the day trip from Hoi An to My Son take?

The drive is about one hour each way; expect several hours total including stops.

Is hotel pickup included for this tour?

Yes, pickup is included for hotels within 8km of Hoi An city center.

Can children join this private tour?

Children under 6 are not permitted on this tour.

What if the rice paper workshop is closed?

If closed unexpectedly, an alternate stop will be arranged by your guide.

Are dietary needs like vegetarian or gluten-free accommodated?

Yes, vegetarian, lactose intolerance and gluten-free diets can be catered for (not gluten sensitiveness).

Is entrance to My Son included?

Yes, entrance fees for My Son are included in your booking.

Will I see traditional dance at My Son?

Yes, there’s an Apsara dance demonstration beside the temples during your visit.

What’s included

Your day includes early morning hotel pickup in Hoi An (or meeting point if further), private transport through rural Vietnam with an English-speaking local guide, all entry fees at My Son temple complex including an Apsara dance show, plus a hands-on rice paper workshop at a family home with Vietnamese coffee or tea before heading back into town.