Hoi An, at the rhythm 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 the historic center of Hoi An. The bicycle ride takes you through peaceful countryside where rice fields, small paths, and traditional homes reveal another side of the region—quieter and more rural.

Upon arrival in the market-gardening village, locals welcome you with simplicity before inviting you to discover their working environment. Here, crops are maintained using traditional methods, perpetuating farming know-how passed down through generations.

After putting on the work clothes of local farmers, you head to the gardens to take part in the various everyday tasks. With the guidance of a village farmer, you learn how to prepare the soil, fertilize the land with natural fertilizers, plant the vegetables, and then water the young seedlings. This immersion helps you better understand the close connection between the people of Tra Que and their land, as well as their hands-on, artisanal growing methods.

Once the work is done, a relaxing moment awaits you in a local home. You enjoy a herbal foot soak prepared using organic ingredients grown on-site: lemongrass, Dinh Lang leaves, wild lemongrass, or betel. A simple, soothing ritual that naturally extends this immersion into the village’s everyday life.

The discovery continues with a cooking class held at a local family’s home. In a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, you learn how to prepare several Hoi An specialties using vegetables freshly harvested from the Tra Que gardens. This experience introduces Vietnamese cuisine in a very hands-on way, closely tied to fresh produce and family traditions.

Beyond the recipes, this moment especially highlights an approach to cooking deeply rooted in sharing and passing things on. The techniques are simple and precise, and reflect everyday cooking with a love for the natural flavors of the ingredients.

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

In the afternoon, you then head to a lantern-making workshop, one of the most iconic symbols of Hoi An. Accompanied by local artisans living with disabilities, you discover the different steps involved in creating these colorful lanterns that light up the streets of the town at dusk.

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

The final part of the day takes you to the fishing village of Cam Nam, where the river continues to shape much of local life. Less well-known than the historic center of Hoi An, this village offers a more authentic glimpse into the everyday life of residents who still rely largely on activities related to fishing.

Alongside local fishermen, you discover some traditional techniques used day to day. The experience helps you better understand the role of the river in the region’s economy and lifestyle, while observing an environment that remains simple and preserved.

You then take part in an introduction to fishing and learning to handle the nets with the advice of the locals. Without artificial demonstrations, this moment focuses above all on exchange and on discovering know-how passed down from generation to generation.

At the end of the afternoon, you’re taken back to your hotel in Hoi An. Through these encounters and everyday experiences, the day reveals another side of the destination: more human, more lively, and deeply connected to local traditions.