Da Nang/ Hoi An: My Son Holyland & Rice Paper Making Tour

My Son’s brick temple towers are the heart of this trip, but the day keeps moving beyond the ruins: you’ll make rice paper at a local home, eat Vietnamese food, then approach Hoi An by boat on the Thu Bon River. That mix gives you history, a hands-on stop, and a river arrival in one outing.

I like two things in particular: the varied route, which makes the drive out to My Son feel like part of a broader day, and the chance to watch an Apsara dance after exploring the sanctuary. I also like that the rice-paper lesson and lunch bring you into local homes rather than keeping the day entirely on the road.

One thing to check before booking: the tour description includes an English-speaking guide at My Son, but one past booking described having free time at the site without a guide. If guided interpretation is essential to you, confirm exactly how your visit will be led.

Key points to know

• My Son gets about two hours: Enough time to walk roughly 2 kilometres through the sanctuary and see a traditional Champa performance, though the site entrance fee is extra.
• The outing is more than a ruins visit: Rice-paper making, a home-style lunch, and a Thu Bon River boat ride round out the day.
• The boat ride is a short final leg: The listed schedule allows about 30 minutes on the river before arrival in Hoi An.
• Budget for the entrance ticket: My Son admission is 150,000 VND per person, not included in the $27 tour price.
• Pickup area affects the cost: Hotel pickup and drop-off in Hoi An are included, while Da Nang and some locations outside central Hoi An carry an added charge.
• Expect a full morning and early afternoon: Pickup is around 7:00 to 7:30, with the return to Hoi An scheduled for about 13:30.

My Son’s Cham towers set the tone

My Son Sanctuary is a group of temples built by the Champa Kingdom, and it gives this day its strongest historical focus. The tour allows about two hours there, with roughly 2 kilometres of walking through the site. That is a useful amount of time for a first visit, but wear comfortable shoes and be ready to walk rather than treating this as a quick roadside stop.

An English-speaking guide is listed to explain the site’s history, and a traditional Apsara dance is part of the visit. Together, those elements help put the temples in a cultural context rather than leaving you to look at old brickwork without much explanation. The performance also adds a live element to what is otherwise a walking visit.

There is an important detail to settle before you go. A past customer described the outing as a round-trip transfer with time to explore independently, while the tour plan describes a guide at My Son. The pickup and drive worked well for that customer, who found two hours at the site sufficient, but the differing descriptions make it sensible to confirm whether your specific departure includes a guide throughout the visit or leaves you to explore on your own.

The sanctuary entrance costs 150,000 VND per person, paid separately. Add that to the tour price when comparing options. If you want the site’s historical stories, make sure you know whether the guide will be with you; if you’re content to walk at your own pace, independent time may suit you just fine.

An early pickup makes the timing work

Pickup is scheduled between 7:00 and 7:30, followed by the drive to My Son. The tour puts arrival at about 9:00, so you have a relatively early start but reach the sanctuary before the day’s later activities. The listed overall duration is 330 to 390 minutes, or roughly five and a half to six and a half hours.

The included hotel pickup and drop-off apply to Hoi An, with the tour describing a 100-kilometre round trip. Pickup is also offered across a broad set of areas, including Da Nang, but locations outside Hoi An city centre can bring an extra fee. The stated surcharges are 300,000 VND for two to three people, 350,000 VND for four to five people, and 450,000 VND for five to fourteen people. Confirm your exact address and charge before booking; the phrase outside Hoi An city centre can cover more than one neighborhood.

The drive is part of the value, not just a way to get to the main stop. The German customer who described a transfer-only arrangement said the trip took a little over an hour each way and praised the pickup contact, polite driver, and comfortable ride. That is a useful reminder that reliable transport matters on a day with several stops and a fixed schedule.

The experience can be booked as a private or small-group outing. The information does not give a group-size limit for the small-group option, so ask if the number of people in the vehicle is important to you. Either way, you’ll spend a fair amount of the morning travelling between places, making a dependable pickup plan especially valuable.

Rice paper turns a quick stop into a hands-on one

At about 11:45, the group heads to a local house for a rice-paper-making lesson. You get to try making the thin sheets yourself, and the activity notes that you can enjoy your own handmade product later. That small practical detail makes the stop more than a photo break: you get a brief look at a familiar part of Vietnamese food through the work involved in preparing it.

The description does not say how long the lesson lasts or spell out each step, so keep expectations modest. It is a short activity within a packed day, not a long cooking class. Still, it offers a change of pace after the temple walk and a chance to connect with local people in a home setting.

The timing matters. The schedule places the return to the van at 12:30, which leaves a fairly compact window for the lesson. If you enjoy trying a craft or food-making activity, this stop adds welcome variety. If your main aim is an in-depth class, this probably is not the right format.

Lunch is served at another local home

After the rice-paper stop, the group travels to a different local house for lunch. The meal is described as traditional Vietnamese food, with cold herbal tea, fresh air, and time to relax before the boat ride. The exact dishes are not specified, so you should not plan around a particular menu.

I like the way lunch breaks up the return journey. A meal at a local home feels more personal than eating at a roadside restaurant, and it gives you a pause between walking at My Son and getting on the river. But the schedule moves quickly: the van returns around 12:30, and the boat trip is set for 13:00. Treat this as a short lunch stop rather than a leisurely afternoon meal.

Drinks beyond the included bottle of water are not covered. The tour information specifically lists drinks as excluded, so bring cash if you expect to buy anything. Sunscreen and a camera are also on the suggested packing list, and cash is useful for the sanctuary entrance fee and any extra costs.

The Thu Bon River brings you into Hoi An

At about 13:00, you board a boat on the Thu Bon River, described as the largest river in Central Vietnam. The ride is scheduled to take around 30 minutes, with a cool breeze and river views before arrival in Hoi An at about 13:30. It is a short cruise, not a long river excursion, but it gives the journey home a different feel from simply retracing the road in a van.

The boat ride also makes the route feel purposeful: you travel from the inland temple site toward Hoi An by river for the final leg. The tour promises views of Hoi An from the boat, though it does not specify the exact landing point or whether the boat passes particular landmarks. Think of it as a scenic arrival, rather than a detailed sightseeing cruise.

Drop-off is available in Hoi An and a number of surrounding areas, with Da Nang also listed. As with pickup, check that your hotel is covered and whether an added transport fee applies. The schedule gives a 13:30 arrival, but the overall duration range is wider, so leave some flexibility after the tour rather than booking a tight onward connection.

What the $27 price covers, and what it does not

At $27 per person, the tour bundles several activities that would take time and planning to arrange separately: transport, an English-speaking guide, lunch, the rice-paper lesson, a river boat trip, and a bottle of water. For someone staying in Hoi An and wanting to see My Son without organizing a vehicle, that package can offer solid value. The variety is part of the appeal: you get archaeological history, a practical food activity, a meal, and a river transfer in one half-day-plus outing.

The main extra cost is clear and significant enough to include in your budget: 150,000 VND for My Son admission. Drinks are also extra. Holiday surcharges of 100,000 VND per person are listed for specified Vietnamese public holidays, including Lunar New Year dates, January 1, and April 30 to May 1. Check the date details when booking if your visit falls near a holiday.

The price is less straightforward if you need pickup outside central Hoi An. The additional transport fee ranges from 300,000 to 450,000 VND depending on group size, so the total can change substantially for a small party. Compare the final amount, including your entrance ticket and any pickup charge, rather than judging value from the headline price alone.

The activity offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those terms add flexibility, but the most practical question remains whether your pickup is included and whether you’ll have a guide at the sanctuary.

Who should choose this day out

This tour suits you if you want a convenient, varied introduction to My Son and prefer a day with several different kinds of stops. It is especially useful if you’re based in Hoi An and want transport handled for you, while adding local food and a river ride rather than making the sanctuary the whole outing.

It may not suit you if you need a slow visit at My Son, want a long cooking class, or prefer to spend more time on the river. The itinerary is tightly timed, and the walk at the sanctuary is about 2 kilometres. The tour is not suitable for people with back problems, pre-existing medical conditions, or those over 95 years old, according to its stated restrictions. It runs rain or shine, so bring comfortable shoes and sunscreen and be prepared for changing weather.

The tour has a 5 out of 5 rating based on four reviews, including a German customer’s detailed praise for the pickup, driver, and two hours at My Son, and a short positive note from a French customer. That is encouraging, but four ratings are a small sample. I would put more weight on the practical details: the confirmed guide arrangement, your pickup cost, and the extra entrance fee.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want My Son, a taste of home-based food activities, lunch, and a river ride in one organised day, and you’re comfortable with an early start and brisk timing. The included transport and varied stops make the $27 base price attractive for a Hoi An pickup.

Before paying, confirm whether your departure includes an English-speaking guide at My Son, check the exact pickup surcharge if you’re outside central Hoi An, and set aside 150,000 VND for admission. If those details work for you, this is a practical way to connect the Cham temples with local food and the river route back to town.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The stated duration is 330 to 390 minutes, or about five and a half to six and a half hours. The schedule runs from a 7:00 to 7:30 pickup to an estimated 13:30 arrival in Hoi An.

What time is hotel pickup?

Pickup is scheduled between 7:00 and 7:30. The exact time depends on your pickup location.

Is My Son Sanctuary admission included?

No. The entrance fee is 150,000 VND per person and is paid separately.

Is a guide included at My Son?

An English-speaking guide is included, and the tour plan describes a guide explaining My Son’s history. One past customer described exploring independently, so confirm whether your departure includes a guide at the site.

What activities are included after My Son?

The tour includes a rice-paper-making lesson at a local house, lunch at another local house, and a boat trip on the Thu Bon River to Hoi An.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch with traditional Vietnamese food is included. Drinks are not included, apart from the listed bottle of water.

Does pickup in Da Nang cost extra?

Yes. Pickup or drop-off in Da Nang or outside Hoi An city centre carries an extra charge. The stated amounts are 300,000 VND for two to three people, 350,000 VND for four to five people, and 450,000 VND for five to fourteen people.

How much walking is there at My Son?

The walking distance at the site is about 2 kilometres. Comfortable shoes are recommended.

What should I bring?

Bring a camera, cash, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes. The tour runs rain or shine.