Hoi An, at the pace of the villages

The day begins early in the morning, when your guide meets you at your hotel before heading to the village of Tra Que, just a few kilometers from Hoi An’s historic center. The bike ride takes you through peaceful countryside, where rice paddies, small paths, and traditional houses reveal another side of the region—quieter and more rural.

Upon arrival at the market-gardening village, the locals welcome you simply and invite you to discover their working environment. Here, crops are maintained using traditional methods, perpetuating agricultural know-how passed down for generations.

After putting on the work clothes of local farmers, you head into the gardens to take part in the day-to-day tasks. Under the guidance of a village farmer, you learn how to prepare the soil, fertilize the earth with natural fertilizers, plant vegetables, and then water the young shoots. This immersion offers a better understanding of the close bond that links the people of Tra Que to their land and their artisanal farming methods.

Once the work is done, a moment of relaxation awaits you in a local home. You enjoy an herbal foot bath made from organic ingredients grown on site: lemongrass, Dinh Lang leaves, wild lemongrass, and betel. A simple, soothing ritual that naturally extends this immersion into village life.

The discovery continues with a cooking class hosted by a local family. In a friendly atmosphere, you learn how to prepare several Hoi An specialties using the vegetables freshly harvested from the Tra Que gardens. This experience offers a very hands-on way to explore Vietnamese cuisine, closely tied to fresh produce and family habits.

Beyond the recipes, this moment above all highlights a way of cooking deeply rooted in sharing and passing things on. The gestures are simple and precise, reflecting everyday cooking that celebrates the natural flavors of the ingredients.

Lunch is then shared with your hosts around the dishes you prepared together. In this family setting, without any staging, the experience takes on a particularly human dimension and allows you to continue the exchanges begun throughout the morning.

In the afternoon, you then join a lantern-making workshop, one of Hoi An’s most emblematic symbols. Accompanied by local artisans with disabilities, you discover the different stages involved in making these colorful lanterns that light up the city streets at dusk.

Using bamboo and fabric, you learn how to create your own piece while discovering the precision and patience required for this traditional craft. This activity also supports a local community committed to preserving this know-how while promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities.

The final part of the day takes you to the fishing village of Cam Nam, where the river continues to set the pace for much of local life. More low-key than Hoi An’s historic center, this village offers a more authentic glimpse into the daily lives of residents who still largely rely on fishing-related activities.

Alongside local fishermen, you discover some of the traditional techniques used in everyday life. The experience provides a better understanding of the river’s role in the region’s economy and way of life, while observing an environment that has remained simple and unspoiled.

You then take part in an introduction to fishing and handling nets under the guidance of the locals. Without any artificial demonstration, this moment focuses above all on exchange and discovering know-how passed down through generations.

In the late afternoon, you are driven back to your hotel in Hoi An. Through these encounters and everyday experiences, the day reveals another side of the destination: more human, more vibrant, and deeply connected to local traditions.