Hoi An Snakes & Vipers: 1-Night Herping Tour

Beyond the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An’s ancient town lies a world of extraordinary and rare wildlife. Designed for herpers, wildlife photographers, tourists, and families alike, this nocturnal experience reveals an opportunity to connect with spectacular creatures such as pit vipers, keelbacks, tree snakes, frogs, geckos and more

Details

Summary
— 3hr Urban Herping Tour
— Choose Your Ride: Motorbike or Car
— Bookings Available Year-Round
— Departs from Hoi An or Da Nang
— Private tours for individuals or small groups with options for larger groups available upon request

Prices From: (Motorbike / Car)
Single Person: $100 / $195 per person
Group of 2: $70 / $105 per person
Group of 3: $76 per person (car option only)
Group of 4: $62 per person (car option only)

Hoi An Snakes & Vipers: 1-Night Herping Tours

Code: DNSD11 | Categories: Herping | Locations: Da Nang / Hoi An

Summary:

This focused, one-night tour is designed for visiting herpers, wildlife watchers, and curious travellers, families, and nature lovers. Based in Hoi An, we target high-value snake species in a range of productive lowland habitats including rice paddies, scrubland, canals, and semi-natural forest edges.

Led by our expert local herping guides with years of field experience, this night walk uses high-quality spotlights and headlamps to search for key species such as White-lipped Pit Viper (Trimeresurus albolabris), Asian Sunbeam Snake (Xenopeltis unicolor), Yellow-spotted Keelback (Fowlea flavipunctata), Copperhead Rat Snake (Coelognathus radiatus), Siamese Red-necked Keelback (Rhabdophis siamensis), and Indo-Chinese Rat Snake (Pytas korros), along with amphibians like Günther’s Frog, Asian Bullfrog, and various toads.

Herping is conducted either by car (default for groups) or by motorbike for solo travellers or pairs looking for an efficient, safari-style approach. For two guests travelling by motorbike, a second guide is included to maximise coverage and target encounters.

Though the focus is snakes, the broader diversity of nocturnal life in these habitats often includes frogs, spiders, owls, nightjars, and more. Each night is shaped by recent conditions and current activity, and no two outings are the same.

This tour is ideal for those seeking quality field time, with short periods time, allowing flexibility without committing to a full itinerary. Pickup is available from Hoi An or Da Nang with the tour starting at approximately 7.30pm and running for around 3hrs.

Tour Pace

This easy and accessible tour is suitable for everyone, from children to older adults. It includes visits to several key locations (each night is different!) all with minimal walking on flat, well-maintained paths. Head torches are provided to ensure you’re safe and can see where you’re going.

Key Target Species & Other Wildlife Highlights

Snakes:
Asian Sunbeam Snake (Xenopeltis unicolor), Jodi’s Pipe Snake (Cylindrophis jodiae), Copperhead Rat Snake (Coelognathus radiatus), Indo-Chinese Rat Snake (Ptyas korros), Yellow-Spotted Keelback (Fowlea flavipunctata), Siamese Red-necked Keelback (Rhabdophis siamensis), White-lipped Pit Viper (Trimeresurus albolabris), Golden Tree Snake (Chrysopelea ornata)

Geckos:
Common Four-clawed Gecko (Gehyra mutilata), Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus), Flat-tailed House Gecko (Hemidactylus platyurus)

Amphibians:
Asian Painted Frog (Kaloula pulchra), Asian Common Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus), East Asian Bullfrog (Hoplobatrachus chinensis), Paddy Field Frog (Fejervarya limnocharis), Guenther’s Frog (Sylvirana guentheri), Green Paddy Frog (Hylarana erythraea), Round-tongued Floating Frog (Occidozyga martensii), Common Southeast Asian Tree Frog (Polypedates leucomystax), Spot-legged Tree Frog (Polypedates megacephalus)

Bonus Non-Herp Targets:
Mainland Leopard Cat, Eastern Barn Owl, Indian Nightjar, Savanna Nightjar, Collared Scops Owl

Group Size

Private tours are available for individuals or small groups, with options for larger groups on request. Solo herpers or pairs may choose to travel by motorbike with our guides instead of by vehicle. This option reduces costs slightly, shortens travel times, and provides access to a few additional areas.

Photography Opportunites & Notes

Excellent wildlife photography opportunities are available, both for serious camera users and even those equipped with smartphones.

For guests with a serious interested in photographing reptiles, amphibians, and insects, a standard macro lens is ideal. If you’re unsure what to bring or want tailored advice based on your gear, feel free to contact our expert team — we’re happy to help you prepare for the best possible shots.

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Discover More in Central Vietnam

If this tour caught your eye, you might also enjoy some of our other herping experiences in the region, each with its own unique focus and highlights. Below are some of our most popular and recommended options, perfect for discovering more of what Central Vietnam has to offer. Thinking of doing more than one? Let us know and we’ll be happy to create a customised package to suit your journey.

Duy Son: 1-Night Herping Tour

Go deeper into central Vietnam’s untamed wilds on this specialist 1-night herping tour in the Duy Son Highlands. Far from the city lights and tourist trails, this off-the-beaten-track experience is designed for serious herpers and reptile-focused photographers in search of Vietnam’s rarer and more cryptic targets. From pit vipers and bubble-nest frogs to endemic geckos and other forest specialists, this intense one-night outing is one of our most popular herping tours in Central Vietnam.

Bach Ma 2-Night Herping Tour

One of Vietnam’s most underrated endemic herping zones, this tour of the Annamite Mountains features a spectacular array of high-value target species including rare snakes, range-restricted amphibians, endemic tortoises, and even some species yet to be formally described. Join us for the ultimate herping adventure in Central Vietnam on this all-inclusive tour.

Da Nang Peninsula: 1-Night Herping Tour

Step into the spectacular nocturnal world of the Da Nang Peninsula, where the forest comes alive after sunset. This short but high-yield herping adventure offers the chance to encounter a remarkable array of reptiles and amphibians including leaf turtles, vipers, pythons, geckos, frogs, toads, and more! Whether you’re a dedicated herper, wildlife photographer, curious traveler, or family with a taste for the wild, this popular tour provides a rare window into the extraordinary diversity of Vietnam’s often-overlooked nighttime herpetofauna.

Tailor Your Experience

Looking to enhance your experience? Whether it’s adding an extra day, making an additional stop, arranging pick-up from a distant location, hiring a camera, or combining your tour with another one of our amazing experiences, we’ve got you covered. Get in touch today, and let our experts craft a private, customised itinerary with dates and prices tailored to your needs

Tour Reviews

Absolutely amazing tour! I went from Hoi An with Next Continent’s guide Hoang, who is incredibly passionate about his snakes. I knew right from the get-go that this guy was absolutely all over it. Almost within 5 minutes we had our first White-lipped Pit Viper, followed almost immediately by Siamese Red-necked Keelback. For the next hour or so, we slowed down a bit with a few frogs and bugs, but then the pinnacle with an incredibly beautiful Asian Sunbeam Snake, high on the want list so incredibly happy.

Fantastic experience with a super knowledgeable guide. Amazed by Hoang’s skill at snake spotting particularly in thick Vietnamese jungle. Top highlight was a super fat Burmese Python at the last stop, but really enjoyed the Vogel’s Pit Vipers and the beautiful Golden Tree Snake.

Best night out for herpers and nature people. We had such a great time we ending up doing both the Da Nang and Hoi An herping tours on different nights. Thanks Hoang and Tien for being our guides!