Hoi An to My Son & Thanh Ha Pottery: A Genuine 2025 Tour Review

Hoi An’s old town is, like, totally captivating with its lanterns and yellow-walled buildings. You could spend days just soaking it all in, right? But eventually, you start to wonder what’s out there, beyond the charming streets. Well, I was in that exact spot and decided to book a day trip that combined two very different places: the ancient ruins of My Son Sanctuary and the hands-on craft of Thanh Ha Pottery Village. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if cramming both into one day would feel too rushed. This tour is, actually, a very popular option for people staying in Hoi An. So, I figured, let’s see what it’s really like. I mean, combining crumbling, centuries-old temples with a place where people still make things by hand seemed like a pretty cool contrast, you know?

Setting Off from Hoi An: What to Expect in the Morning

The day, obviously, started with a hotel pickup. I was told to be ready at 8 AM, and the air-conditioned minibus was, seriously, right on time. Our guide, a friendly guy named Minh, greeted everyone with a big smile. As a matter of fact, his warm welcome really set a good tone for the rest of the day. The group was sort of small, maybe around 12 people, which was a huge relief for me. We weren’t packed in like sardines, so it felt a bit more personal. The drive out of Hoi An was pretty interesting. You watch the scenery change from bustling town streets to rice paddies and little villages. Minh, by the way, used the drive to give us a bit of a primer on what we were about to see, but he did it in a storytelling way that was actually engaging. It wasn’t like a boring lecture or anything. He just sort of pointed things out and told us little stories about local life. The bus itself was really clean and the AC was a lifesaver, because it was already starting to get pretty warm outside.

Stepping into the Past at My Son Sanctuary

Arriving at My Son Sanctuary feels, in a way, like you’ve been transported to a different time. It’s nestled in this green valley surrounded by hills, and it’s really quiet and peaceful. After a short ride on an electric buggy from the main entrance, you walk into the temple complex itself. And honestly, it’s quite a sight. These reddish brick towers, some crumbling and covered in green moss, just sort of appear out of the jungle. Our guide explained that this was the political and religious center of the Champa Kingdom for, like, a really long time. He pointed out the incredible carvings on the temples, some of which are surprisingly detailed even after all these centuries. He also didn’t shy away from the more recent history. As a matter of fact, he showed us the huge bomb craters left over from the war. Standing inside one, you get a really powerful sense of the site’s destruction and its resilience. It’s frankly a bit heavy, but it’s a part of the story. I was glad he shared that. You’ll definitely want to wear your most comfortable walking shoes for this part of the trip. The ground is uneven, and you do a fair amount of walking, pretty much all under the sun.

A Hands-On Experience at Thanh Ha Pottery Village

After the quiet and historical vibe of My Son, Thanh Ha Pottery Village was, sort of, a complete change of pace. We drove back towards Hoi An and stopped at this little village right on the riverbank. Unlike the silent ruins, this place was alive with the sounds of people working. You walk through narrow pathways, past stacks of finished pottery drying in the sun and old, dragon-shaped kilns. It was just a little less grand than My Son but no less interesting. The real highlight, obviously, was getting to try it ourselves. We were led to a spot where a master artisan sat at her wheel. She made shaping a perfect little vase look ridiculously easy, which, by the way, it is not. Then, it was our turn. Sitting down at the spinning wheel and feeling the wet, cool clay in your hands is a seriously fun experience. My attempt at a bowl looked more like a lopsided plate, but honestly, it was all about the laugh. You even get to keep your creation, which is a really neat souvenir. They also gave us these little clay whistles shaped like animals, a traditional gift from the village, which I thought was a nice touch.

Food, Timing, and Overall Tour Flow

So, a big question with any day tour is always about the food, right? For this one, lunch was included and it was, actually, pretty good. We stopped at a local family-run restaurant on the way back from Thanh Ha. It wasn’t anything fancy, just simple, authentic Vietnamese food. We had dishes like fresh spring rolls, chicken with rice, and a tasty vegetable stir-fry. It was definitely a good way to recharge after all the walking. In terms of timing, the whole day felt more or less well-paced. I was initially worried it would be a rush, but we had enough time at both My Son and the pottery village. You get maybe two hours at the ruins, which is a decent amount of time to see the main temple groups and listen to the guide. The pottery village stop was a little shorter, maybe an hour or so, but that felt about right. At no point did I feel like we were just being herded from one spot to the next. The group size, you know, really helped with that. With a smaller group, it’s just a lot easier to ask questions and move around without feeling like you’re in a massive crowd.

Is This Tour the Right Choice for You?

So, at the end of the day, is this specific tour a good fit for your Hoi An itinerary? Honestly, if you’re someone who loves history but also enjoys getting involved in a local craft, then this is pretty much a perfect day out. It offers a really great balance between seeing something ancient and profound and doing something creative and fun. It’s especially good if you’re traveling with kids or teenagers; the pottery-making part is basically guaranteed to be a hit. The combination of culture, history, and hands-on activity is what makes it a really memorable experience, you know? On the other hand, if you’re not a fan of the heat or have mobility issues, you might find the walking at My Son Sanctuary a little challenging. It’s quite exposed, and the paths are a bit rugged. Still, if you come prepared with a hat, sunscreen, and water, it’s totally manageable for most people. I mean, it’s a day trip that genuinely gives you a much broader picture of the region around Hoi An, showing you a piece of its ancient soul and its living, breathing culture.

“The best part was feeling the history at My Son and then making my own piece of it, however wobbly, at Thanh Ha. It’s like connecting with the past and the present all in one day.”

Key Takeaways from the Day:

Excellent Balance: The tour successfully mixes the deep history of My Son with the interactive fun of Thanh Ha village, so it never gets boring.
Hands-On Fun: Getting to try the potter’s wheel is a definite highlight and creates a very unique, personal souvenir.
Comfort and Convenience: Hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle with a knowledgeable guide makes the whole day pretty much stress-free.
Be Prepared for Sun: My Son Sanctuary is very open, so a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water are absolutely essential items.
Small Group is a Plus: The smaller group size made the entire experience feel more personal and less like a typical, large bus tour.

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