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If you’re traveling to Vietnam, you should definitely plan to spend a few days in Hoi An. Hoi An is a charming, historic little town with everything you could wish for. We spent several days there and have a special hidden gem for you if you’re looking for a true Vietnam experience with a bit of luck involved.
Day Trip From Hoi An to Tra Que Herb Village
Hoi An is in an incredibly convenient location. It sits right in the middle of Vietnam, making it easy to combine with a stay in northern or southern Vietnam. Or you can do it like we did and travel all the way through Vietnam from top to bottom.
For that, you should plan at least three weeks, preferably more. Here you’ll find our route plan for all of Vietnam.
Arrival in Hoi An
Hoi An welcomed us with a brightly colorful center. In the entire Old Town, motorized vehicles are not allowed, so it’s best to get around on foot or by bike. You can rent bikes at any accommodation.
You’ll find great restaurants everywhere, many of them vegetarian or vegan, and almost all have a lovely terrace surrounded by greenery. The town has plenty of small shops and boutiques where you can buy clothing directly from the designers. Or you can have your favorite outfit tailor-made. Hoi An is charming and likable all around, and it also has a lot to offer culturally.
The Tra Que Herb Village
For us, the highlight was just outside the town. It’s the Tra Que Herb Village.
It’s a, I’m not exaggerating, paradise-like place that you simply have to visit! The Herb Village is a kind of nonprofit farm that provides people there with a piece of land free of charge. On the condition that they farm it organically. And that’s why a lot is grown there now, like fruit, vegetables, and herbs.
For us, it was clear that we didn’t want to rush through it. That’s why we booked the full program in advance via email. We don’t regret a single minute or a single cent. It was definitely one of our best experiences in Vietnam!
The day started with our guide Ngan picking us up at Loc Phat Homestay and taking us to the market to buy a few ingredients for later. Normally you do the tour by bike, but because of my injured knee, we took a taxi.
Just the market visit with Ngan was a lot of fun, and we learned a lot about Vietnamese food.
After that, we headed to the Herb Village together. There, we were allowed to get hands-on with the fieldwork ourselves. Algae had to be harvested from the river, which is used in the Herb Village as the natural, and only, fertilizer. After that, we had to work an entire mini field from start to finish: digging it up, fertilizing it with algae, planting the little seedlings, carrying 20 liters of water, and watering everything.
After a short breather with homemade lemonade, the next task was up: taking the water buffalo for a walk. Regular exercise is very important for water buffalo, and normally the farmers’ children take care of this job. Today, we got to ride them for their walk.
In the meantime, Ngan had prepared two hot plates and laid out all the ingredients for our cooking class. Because next, we got a first-class cooking lesson, and we all had a lot to laugh about.
We made rice paper ourselves and used it to roll the freshest summer rolls we’ve ever had. Filled with freshly harvested herbs from the farm. Such a treat!
After that, we prepared even more cold and hot dishes, including Banh Xeo (traditional Vietnamese omelet with shrimp) and a curry dish.
Then came what was probably the best part of the day. We sat at the table in heavenly peace, lovingly set, and got to eat all those delicious dishes! Slowly, we could start looking back on everything we had experienced throughout the day.
We also promised Ngan over the meal that we would tell everyone about the Tra Que Herb Village, which we were more than happy to do. For the private tour for the two of us, which lasted almost a full day, we paid about 70 euros in total, all inclusive.
After that, we enjoyed two more days in Hoi An. For our onward journey, we took the night train from Da Nang and traveled to Phan Thiet to spend a few more beach days in Mui Ne.
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Hoi An: Tours and Tickets
Do you prefer exploring with a guide who really knows their way around? Then we recommend a guided tour with a local. This way, you can experience Hoi An in a completely different way. On GetYourGuide, you’ll find lots of exciting tours for Hoi An.
How to Get to Hoi An
Most people arrive via the nearest major city, Da Nang. It’s about 30 km away, or roughly a 40-minute drive from Hoi An, and it has an airport with connections all over the country. You can find tickets and schedules on Skyscanner.
Da Nang also has a train station, since the city sits on the North-South rail line. You’ll then need to continue to Hoi An by taxi. You can find all the information on 12go.asia.
However, because I had a small accident shortly before, we took a taxi directly to Hoi An from Hue. You can also visit the imperial city as a day trip from Hoi An. Along the way, you can conveniently add a few sightseeing stops, such as the Cloud Pass, the natural border between North and South Vietnam, and the Marble Mountains. The drive along the coast takes about four hours and costs the equivalent of 30 euros.
Have you ever been to Hoi An or the Tra Que Herb Village? How did you like it?
Photos: © Franziska Philipp/1000travelstories
