In Hoi An and Quang Nam, rice fields are a part of everyday life. All year we watch the rice fields transform, from brown soil to tiny green shoots to glowing green stalks that finally sprout golden grains of rice. One day the harvesting begins, and the air is filled with sweet scents as field after field is mowed – and the cycle starts again. If you want to get up close to the rice fields, here are five cafes to check out in Hoi An.
Roving Chillhouse
At Roving Chillhouse, low lounge chairs offer front-row seats to the vast swaying rice paddies of Cam Chau. Sofa beds, wood platforms, and tables set around a rustic wooden house invite patrons to laze around and soak in the panoramic views. Roving Chillhouse has a wide selection of juices, tea and coffee, as well as wine and cocktails if you fancy a sundowner.
TIP: Visit in May or August just before the harvest season if you want to see golden rice paddies in Hoi An and Quang Nam.
Xóm Chiêu
A classic Vietnamese road-side cafe, humble Xóm Chiêu is a local favorite. On a quiet street, makeshift chairs and tables sit under the shade of a weeping fig tree, right on the edge of rice fields. Aside from the usual (and delicious) Vietnamese coffee concoctions, Xóm Chiêu also serves fresh juices, teas, and a mean rau má đậu xanh (pennywort juice with mungbean.)
Chic Chillax
Chic Chillax is a popular choice for families with young children. Scattered across this garden cafe are exhibits showcasing traditional Vietnamese life, and zigzagging wooden paths leading to creative sculptures and displays. Choose one of the colorful outdoor tables overlooking grazing buffaloes and families of ducks, or head to the second floor for an even wider view.
TIP: Chic Chillax hosts an afternoon market on weekends with live music, activities for children, and vendors selling special Vietnamese dishes.
Xoài Macrobiotic Living
Xoài is a charming yoga studio and cafe hidden inside an alley in Cam Chau. Leave your shoes at the door, and step through this lovely country house to the back porch that opens onto a vast rice field. Xoài offers guests a menu of delicious vegetarian meals and plant-based coffees, all freshly prepared on site. Settle down on the back porch for a few hours of serenity.
The Field Restaurant & Bar
The Field is an idyllic countryside restaurant surrounded by sweeping rice fields in Cam Thanh. The restaurant is known for its local sourcing and sustainable practices, and the menu covers family-style Vietnamese dishes as well as herbal teas, healthy juices, and Vietnamese coffee. Only a five-minute drive from the Ancient Town, The Field is a delightful find for nature lovers.