Most of backpackers prefer Do-it-Yourself travels as perceived to be the cheapest way and most authentic way to explore places. Some would prefer going on a group tour which is sometimes relatively cheaper way to explore many famous places in a short period of time. No wonder there are a lot of tourists who prefer this option. In Hoi An, there are many places to visit and if you have limited time to cover all these beautiful places and also working on a budget, you can go with this option.

Your English speaking tour guide and bus driver will be picking you up from the place you are staying within the center of the town by 4:30 am.

It’ll be an hour and a half on the bus going to the first destination, My Son Sanctuary, considered as holy place for Champas. You will witness the beautiful sunrise in this holy place. A little feel of Angkor Wat of Siem Reap within Central Vietnam. Temples were constructed and dedicated to worship a Hindu god, Shiva or locally known as Bhadresvara. This place was a site for religious ceremonies for Champa kings and burial place for the royalties and national heroes. There are several abandoned and partially ruined Hindu temple with inscriptions in Sanskrit and Cham that are historically relevant.

( My Son Sanctuary – Da Nang to Hoi An tour)

My Son Sanctuary also signifies the faith of Champa descendants. Even being away from their fellow believers and being surrounded by different religions, their faith remains intact with them.

By 8 am, the bus will go to the boat terminal to get back to the town center. On the way, you will be visiting Kim Bong Village. The village’s goal is to provide more employment for the local villagers and still continue the traditions. The village’s talent and skills has been long trusted. Nguyen Dynasty did not put these talents to waste. Craftsmen were asked to create special products for the imperial palace. Until now, the works of the villages are being sold locally and even abroad.

( Kim Bong village – Da Nang to Hoi An tour)

The tour will be finish upon reaching Hoi An old town by 10 am. A little tour around the old town during this time would be nice and you can eat lunch afterwards. You still have a lot of time to visit other places in Hoi an. You might want to rent a bicycle to go around this small town.

Not far from the ancient town is Hoi An Silk Village. It’s hard to miss the large number of clothing stores inside and outside the old town. Most of the materials, if not all, are from the Silk Village which is just a kilometer away.

You will learn how they process silk, from moth until turning it into your favorite clothing. If you’re up for a challenge, these old ladies may even ask you try weaving it yourself.

Next stop will be the famous Water Coconut Village in Cam Thanh. This place served as shelter for both civilians and soldiers during the war, same look of Mekong Delta. But that is not what this small village is popular for, it’s because of its unique Vietnamese bamboo basket boats. You can try getting on one and paddling it yourself to go around the Water Coconuts and get the feel of the daily routines and how villagers live and survive with this waterways. If you have more time, you can also learn the traditional fishing techniques.

And since you are already close to the An Bang Beach, why not dip into the refreshing water of this white beach for a couple of minutes. Get a cold drink and relax those tired muscles.

The beach is about 4 kilometers away from the town center so you might want to get back on the track before sunset if you are not planning to stay for a night in this beautiful beach. Your ticket for Hoi An old town is good within 24 hours so you can visit the town in the evening and see how beautiful it with all the lanterns turned on.

– Budget:

• $10 – Group tour to My Son Sanctuary and Kim Bong Village
• $2 – Bicycle Rental

– Entrance fees:

• My Son Sanctuary – $7
• Hoi An Old Town – $5
• Bamboo Basket Boat Ride – $4 – $5

Tags: Da Nang to Hoi An, Hoi An to Da Nang, Hue to Danang, Da Nang to Hoi An tour, Da Nang to Hoi An by car