Hoi An Herping Tour

Hoi An Herping Tour
Viet Herping / Central Vietnam · Hoi An

Hoi An Herping Tour

Hoi An herping tour: a focused private night session for reptiles and amphibians on accessible routes near Hoi An, with a guaranteed White-lipped Pit Viper and no long transfers.

Meet Your Expert Guide

Nguyễn Minh Phú

Nguyễn Minh Phú

Founder, Viet Herping · Co-founder, Viet Snake Rescuer

From

  • $61
per person · 4 guests

Group size

30% deposit by Wise, balance in cash (VND) to your guide on the day. Reschedule up to 3 times free; deposit valid 6 months.

Questions before you book? WhatsApp +84 963 258 366 or email contact@vietherping.com. Returning guests get 5% off any tour.

Overview

The Hoi An herping tour is one private evening for guests staying in Hoi An: about five hours in the field for reptiles and amphibians along accessible routes, with a chance of other nocturnal wildlife.

A private car collects you in Hoi An at 18:30, with the pick-up point confirmed at booking. Your Viet Herping guide gives a safety briefing and field etiquette, a flashlight is provided for each guest, and your guide instructs every interaction and photograph.

Hoi An or Da Nang?

Hoi An is the route where snakes are met more reliably, which is why it carries the guarantee. The Da Nang herping tour runs further north for less commonly seen species, including three venomous snakes. Both are private night sessions.

Field conditions and difficulty

We rate this tour Easy. The routes are accessible and the pace is slow. Wear closed shoes and long trousers; a flashlight is provided for each guest. Routes and timings may change based on weather, access rules and animal activity.

Safety and responsible herping

Any animal interaction is guided by the tour guide; please follow instructions for safety at all times. The guaranteed pit viper is venomous and is observed only. We do not bait, provision or move animals for photographs. Every tour carries a first aid kit and runs under a written emergency protocol.

How to book the Hoi An herping tour

To book the Hoi An herping tour, send us your preferred dates and group size on WhatsApp or by email at contact@vietherping.com. We reply with availability and the booking steps. 30% deposit by Wise, balance in cash (VND) to your guide on the day. Reschedule up to 3 times free; deposit valid 6 months. See the booking policy for the full terms.

Viet Herping logo, operator of the Hoi An herping tour

Want different dates, pace or target species? We build private trips around what you want to see and when you can travel.

Ask for a tailor-made trip

Highlighted Species

One species is guaranteed. The rest of the list is based on local records and varies by season and conditions. Snakes are split into venomous and harmless groups for safety.

Highlight species on this tour

White-lipped Pit Viper Trimeresurus albolabris

Venomous Guaranteed

The one venomous snake on the Hoi An list and the species we guarantee on this tour. A green pit viper, observed and photographed at the distance your guide sets.

Cu Lao Cham Kukri Snake Oligodon culaochamensis

Recorded

A kukri snake named after the Cham Islands off Hoi An, and one of eleven harmless snakes on the local list.

Tokay Gecko Gekko gecko

Recorded

A large, loud gecko and one of thirteen lizards and geckos recorded here. Often heard before it is seen.

Harmless snakes recorded

  • Asian Sunbeam Snake (Xenopeltis unicolor)
  • Brahminy Blindsnake (Indotyphlops braminus)
  • Common Wolf Snake (Lycodon capucinus)
  • Copperhead Rat Snake (Coelognathus radiatus)
  • Indo-Chinese Rat Snake (Ptyas korros)
  • Jodi's Pipe Snake (Cylindrophis jodiae)
  • Ornate Flying Snake (Chrysopelea ornata)
  • Siamese Red-necked Keelback (Rhabdophis siamensis)
  • Taiwan Kukri Snake (Oligodon formosanus)
  • Yellow-spotted Keelback (Fowlea flavipunctata)

Lizards, frogs and turtles recorded

  • Common Butterfly Lizard (Leiolepis belliana)
  • Spotted Butterfly Lizard (Leiolepis guttata)
  • Oriental Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor)
  • Forest Garden Lizard (Calotes emma)
  • Common Sun Skink (Eutropis multifasciata)
  • Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris)
  • Asian Painted Frog (Kaloula pulchra)
  • East Asian Bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus chinensis)
  • Guenther's Frog (Sylvirana guentheri)
  • Green Paddy Frog (Hylarana erythraea)
  • Spot-legged Tree Frog (Polypedates megacephalus)
  • Tubercled Pygmy Frog (Microhyla butleri)
  • Chinese Softshell Turtle (Pelodiscus sp.)

Apart from the guaranteed White-lipped Pit Viper, sightings depend on temperature, rainfall and field activity, and cannot be guaranteed.

Trip Report & Destination

Field notes and photos from our nights around Hoi An, written up after each trip.

All trip reports →What each group recorded, with dates and photos.Trip reports Da Nang herping tour →The night route for less commonly seen species. From $62.Da Nang Son Tra Monkey Mountain wildlife tour →A daytime half-day for red-shanked douc langurs. From $69.Son Tra All central Vietnam tours →Every tour we run in the centre, on one page.Central
 

Viet Herping is run by field herpetologists who research and rescue Vietnam's snakes, and the same people lead you into the field. This trip is one Vietnam herping tour among several in central Vietnam: compare every herping tour Vietnam has on our list by region, or ask us to build a tailor-made route. A portion of the revenue from each tour supports reptile conservation through Viet Snake Rescuer.

Ready to book? Send us your dates, your group size and the species you most want to see. We will confirm availability and tell you honestly what a night here produces at that time of year.

Message us on WhatsApp

Last updated: 2 October 2026 · Written by Nguyen Minh Phu, Founder of Viet Herping and Viet Snake Education, Co-founder of Viet Snake Rescuer.

Schedule

Timing varies by season, weather and target activity.

  1. 18:30

    Pick-up in Hoi An

    Transfer to the herping area by private car.

  2. ~19:15 – ~00:15

    Night herping session

    Typically about five hours in the field.

  3. ~00:15 – 01:00

    Return

    Drop-off at your hotel.

Transfers

Included Private car, pick-up and drop-off in Hoi An.

Equipment

Flashlight One for each guest.

Group

Private From solo travellers to small groups.

Payment

USD shown · VND paid USD is indicative; the final amount is settled in VND at the confirmed rate.

Questions

Frequently asked

Price & Service

Hoi An herping tour price, per person (USD)

The rate drops as your group grows.
Group size 1 guest 2 guests 3 guests 4 guests
Price per person $184 $99 $75 $61

A 30% deposit by international transfer (Wise) secures your date. The 70% balance is paid in cash in Vietnamese dong to your guide on the day, at an exchange rate we confirm in writing four days before departure. The deposit is non-refundable but transferable: evening and one-night tours can be moved up to three times free of charge, with no notice period, and the deposit stays valid for six months from your original date. Full terms: booking policy and cancellation and refund policy.

What is included

Included

  • Viet Herping guide, with safety briefing and field etiquette
  • Flashlight for each guest
  • Night access fee
  • Private car transportation, pick-up and drop-off

Target Species Guarantee: White-lipped Pit Viper

Yes. We guarantee you will see a White-lipped Pit Viper (Trimeresurus albolabris) on this tour.

The guarantee is met when the animal is seen alive, in the wild, during the tour, by you or anyone in your group, and confirmed by your guide. If that does not happen, your next attempt is free: same tour, same guarantee, valid for six months, with no limit on attempts. The free attempt covers the guided session and what your original booking included; it does not cover accommodation or long-distance travel you need in order to return. Full terms are in our Target Species Guarantee policy.

The species is set by Viet Herping, not chosen by guests.

Other Cat Tien options

If this one is not the fit

Son Tra Monkey Mountain Wildlife Tour: Half Day

SCHEDULE

Half Day/ 5 Hrs

PACKAGE

Guide + Transfer

LEVEL

Easy

FROM

$69 /pax · 4

Monkey Mountain wildlife tour on the Son Tra Peninsula: a private five-hour daytime trip from Da Nang or Hoi An to see the red-shanked douc langur in its natural habitat.

See more

Da Nang Herping Tour: Night Wildlife Watching

Da Nang herping tour: one private evening of night wildlife watching for reptiles, amphibians and nocturnal mammals, with private car pick-up in Da Nang City.

See more