My Experience on a Bike Tour to Cam Thanh & Tra Que Villages | Hoi An

When you live in Hoi An, you end up knowing the Old Town by heart. So when some friends came to visit me for the first time, I wanted to show them something different: the countryside, the rice fields, the villages, basically, what you don’t always see on postcards.

I chose this bike tour offered by Hoi An Découverte because it ticked all the boxes: guide, private tour, and a varied itinerary. No need to speak English or plan anything yourself. You just ride, observe, and enjoy.

It’s a great option if you’re looking for an authentic but accessible experience, without having to head off on your own.

My Experience on the Bike Tour with Hoi An Discovery tours

1. Easy Start by Bike

We left directly from my place in Cam Nam, with the guide arriving with the bikes. Since it was a private tour, it was just me and some friends, which allowed us to take our time and enjoy the ride.

It was their first time in Vietnam, so it was the perfect opportunity to show them a different side of Hoi An.

2. Riding Through the Rice Fields

In less than 10 minutes, we reached the rice fields of Cam Thanh. Even after living here for years, it’s still one of my favorite landscapes, especially in August, which is the best season to see them.

Buffaloes in the water, farmers working in the fields, sweet grandmas saying hello, little paths lined with palm trees… in short, it’s the Vietnam you imagine.

It’s a great warm-up before arriving at the first village.

3. Cam Thanh and the Basket Boat

We arrived in Cam Thanh, a small village known for its water coconut forest. But what few people know is that the locals also use coconut leaves to make roofs and parasols, like the ones you often see on the beaches of An Bang and Cua Dai. It’s a real local craft.

The village also played a role during the war, as Viet Cong fighters used to hide in the forest, making them hard to spot from the air.

In Cam Thanh, you hop into a basket boat, those small round bamboo boats typical of the region. It’s the village’s signature activity. Yes, it’s touristy, but still fun to do, especially in a group. The rower paddles slowly, just before entering the heart of the coconut forest.

Toward the end of the ride, the rower stops in the middle of the water to perform what many call “the basket boat dance.” He spins the boat quickly with a big smile.

Hold on tight if you’re with him, it spins fast, and some of us almost ended up in the water.

It’s clearly a little show meant for tourists, but the mood is light-hearted, and it always gets a reaction, especially from those seeing it for the first time. Personally, I found it a bit kitschy, but my friends loved it.

To wrap things up, he takes a coconut leaf and turns it into a little souvenir, a bracelet or a ring, all made in under two minutes.

4. Coconut Leaf Handicraft Workshop

During the tour, we made a short stop at a local workshop where locals work with Cam Thanh’s water coconut leaves. As mentioned earlier, they use them to make parasols, hut roofs, and small shelters.

You can watch the whole process, ask questions, and get a better understanding of how these leaves are turned into a strong and durable material.

5. Buffalo Break

After the basket boat ride, we made a quick stop to meet the buffalo, an animal that’s still very present in the Vietnamese countryside. In Hoi An, buffaloes are still used to plow the rice fields, especially in rural areas like Cam Thanh.

If you wander around a bit, you’ll see plenty of them.

You can ride one if you want, and even follow it for a few minutes in the water. It’s not just a posed photo, you actually walk with the animal, through the rice fields, at its slow and peaceful pace.

6. From Cam Thanh to Tra Que

After the basket boat ride and the buffalo encounter, we got back on the bikes to continue the tour. The road between Cam Thanh and Tra Que is probably one of the most scenic parts of the route.

You ride through rice field after rice field, sometimes spotting buffaloes bathing or farmers working in the fields.

It’s quiet, green, and stunning, and you barely see anyone else along the way. A perfect stretch to pedal slowly and soak it all in before reaching the final village.

7. Tra Que Village and Local Lunch

Last stop: Tra Que, probably the largest ecological village in Vietnam. This is where they grow the vegetables and aromatic herbs you’ll find in Hoi An’s best restaurants.

We saw how locals water their plots using the famous double watering cans, and we even got to try them ourselves.

We also helped plant a few vegetables, hands in the soil just enough to get a feel for the work of a local gardener for a few minutes.

What I liked most was that everything is still done by hand, without chemicals, and you can see it in the quality of the crops.

The tour ends with a home-cooked lunch, five simple but tasty Vietnamese dishes, all made with fresh ingredients from the garden. A great way to wrap up the morning before hopping back on the bikes.

How Much Does the Cam Thanh – Tra Que Bike Tour Cost?

The price is €52 per person for a private tour in English or French.

Everything is included: a guide, bicycles, basket boat ride, village visits, local lunch, bottled water, and more.

The price decreases if you’re in a group, it’s lower starting from 3 people.

How to Book This Bike Tour in Hoi An

If you want to do this bike tour around Hoi An, you can book directly on the Hoi An Découverte website. It’s simple and quick, and you’ll find all the information about prices, schedules, and what’s included.

✅ What I liked

• The scenery: rice fields, small paths, coconut trees… everything you’d expect from a countryside bike ride.
• The basket boat: it’s touristy, but still fun, especially when you’re with friends.
• Rice fields everywhere: you ride through them from start to finish, and they’re always stunning.
• The guide: clear, friendly, and shared interesting information.
• The buffalo: the moment in the water was really great, not just a posed photo.
• The private tour: more enjoyable and cheaper than some group tours, which is rare.

❌ What I liked less

• The “photo with the buffalo” part can feel a bit staged if it’s just a quick stop for the picture.
• The basket boat show: it’s funny, but you can tell it’s made for tourists.
• The heat in mid-summer: some parts of the route are fully exposed, bring a hat and sunscreen.

My Opinion

This is definitely a great activity to do in Hoi An if you want to see more than just the Old Town. The tour is well organized, not too long, not too rushed, and the fact that it’s in English makes a real difference if you don’t speak Vietnamese.

I think it’s a great introduction to local life, especially for those visiting Vietnam for the first time. And even if you live here, it’s still a very enjoyable experience, especially with friends. The private tour, which is cheaper than many group tours, is a real bonus.

You leave with plenty of great memories, without feeling like you’ve been rushed through a checklist.