A Hoi An countryside adventure by bike

Hoi An is famous for its ancient town but on this tour, I’ll take you out into the countryside to experience the real Hoi An and meet its people. Starting from the historic zone, we pedal out across the river to the villages in Quang Nam Province, where the landscape is covered in beautiful fields and waterways. The roads here can only be explored by bicycle, so it’s very peaceful. If it’s a weekday, sometimes we’ll meet children coming home from school.

Tourists love to stop at houses and meet rural families, like the man who sells herbs and makes strong rice wine, which you must try! You’ll also meet the husband and wife who own the rice paper shop, they will happily show you how to make Banh Beo, a rice flour bowl that’s traditionally eaten for breakfast by farmers. A highlight is the boat trip across a small river, where we often see fishermen cleaning their nets or repairing their wooden boats.

I like to introduce guests to the very old lady and her daughter who make traditional sleeping mats in Hoi An, they’re very friendly and happy to help visitors try the ancient weaving technique. Family chapels are a big part of life in Hoi An, so we’ll also stop to visit one, meeting a veteran who’s over 90 years old and has many fascinating stories about his experiences in the American War.