Hoi An is an expanding country town surrounded by paddy fields farmed mainly by women in ‘coolie’ hats growing rice, verdant fields full of herbs and vegetables worked by water buffalo and a river where fishermen use methods unchanged through generations.
It has beautiful beaches and old port overlooking the East Sea. But the real attraction of Hoi An is its historic Old Town dating mainly from the 15th – 19th centuries, it possessed the largest harbour in S.E. Asia back in the 1st century.
Hoi An’s Old Town is recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and offers outstanding sightseeing opportunities with a rural twist to our visitors. Hoi An is some 35km from Tien Sa port. It can absorb your day with ease so Xuan Tu’s Private Shore Excursion is a full 8 hours long and also offers a snapshot of today’s Vietnam as we journey through the vibrant city of Da Nang on way to Hoi An.
She was a delight to be with for the day and she really gave us the full flavour of what it was like to live in Da Nang and Hoi An. We went to places where I am sure most tourist trips do not go. (In particular those off Cruise Ships, the feedback of which was not so good and very expensive!)
– client TripAdvisor review
We start your excursion by greeting you shipside at Tien Sa port, and in our modern air conditioned vehicle with professional driver we drive through the outskirts of Da Nang – your guide will already be busy pointing out highlights of this ever expanding city. Our driver takes the seafront road passing My Khe beach voted as one of the ‘top-10’ world beaches by Forbes magazine. Da Nang is a city comfortable with itself and its THE place in Viet Nam that most people aspire to live – and its my hometown! We shall make frequent comfort stops during the day to freshen-up if required.
Arriving in Hoi An we cross the Thu Bon River by private boat to Cam Kim Island where you will experience AUTHENTIC Vietnam: visiting a carpentry village with its apprentices, wooden boat builders and local homes where families still make rice paper, noodles and woven mats by traditional methods – you WILL be invited to try your hand! In this part of your excursion you will be welcomed as friends by locals who speak little or no English, and who lead a basic lifestyle little changed over the years. Its important to note that these are not tourist attractions, but genuine rural Vietnamese homes and families who are happy to share their lives for just that brief moment with you.
Returning into Hoi An we embark on our walking tour of its charming Old Town, including visits to a temple, old houses with a mix of Vietnamese, Chinese, Hindu, Japanese & Portuguese influences, some dating back to 1780 and not forgetting the famous Japanese Bridge built in 1719. Hoi An is a shoppers paradise and not all are its famous tailors and shoe shops! Look out for Hoi An’s famous lanterns which adorn its streets and buildings, they are a good souvenir of your visit here from the lantern shops. Hoi An’s Central Market is a perfect choice to see local food – during the day you will be offered a typical Vietnamese lunch at an excellent local restaurant or snacks along the way if required. This is something we will discuss on our way to Hoi An as we are conscious you will have dinner on-board when you sail!
We must eventually say goodbye to this most pretty of Vietnam’s towns and at the end of your memorable day retrace our steps and return you safely to port in plenty of time for your ship’s departure.
My ‘Hoi An Private Shore Excursion’ fee includes;
- ‘Meet & Greet’ at Tien Sa port
- a full 8 hour private guided tour in English
- all entry fees, boat fees & Old Town renovation fee
- cold, bottled mineral water
- moist towellettes
- use of a modern air conditioned vehicle & my professional driver
- donations to rural families visited which are used mainly for children’s schooling & shoes etc
My fee excludes;
- any meals & drinks taken during the tour (bottled water is free of charge)
