About this tour
When Ben from our team headed out to Le Mat village, about 10km south of Hanoi's Old Quarter, we found a place that's earned its reputation as Vietnam's snake-eating hub—and it's genuinely different from the usual tourist loop. The village sits tucked into a rural pocket where multi-generational snake farms operate, and you'll eat lunch here surrounded by locals and curious travellers willing to push their culinary boundaries. Over three hours, you'll tour a working farm, watch snakes being prepared, then sit down to ten distinct dishes built around snake meat, each paired with local herbs and spices. It's confronting for some, unflinching for others, but never boring.
Highlights
- Ten separate snake dishes: meat, blood, organs, bone broth variations
- Working farm tour shows breeding and handling practices up close
- Included alcohol (rice wine) is the real deal, not watered-down tourist fare
- Lunch happens at an operating restaurant where regulars eat alongside visitors
- Local guide explains village history and why snake farming took root here
- Hotel pickup saves navigating Hanoi traffic on your own
- Bottled water and coffee included—no surprise nickel-and-diming
What to expect
The morning starts with a pickup from your Hanoi hotel, then a 20–30 minute drive through increasingly rural scenery until you hit Le Mat village itself. The guide meets you at a snake farm—concrete pens, netting, the real infrastructure of the trade. You'll walk through, watch handlers at work, see snakes being selected and prepped. It's matter-of-fact, not sensationalised; no fake drama. Then you move to the restaurant, a simple sit-down space where the cooking happens in an open kitchen. The ten courses arrive in quick succession: grilled snake meat, minced snake wrapped in herbs, a peppery snake-bone broth, blood mixed with alcohol, liver, kidney. Each tastes distinct. The rice wine flows. It's not haute cuisine—it's honest, straightforward eating tied to village tradition. Three hours passes quickly because there's always the next dish, the next question.
What travellers say
- Genuine working farm, not a theatre stage for visitors
- Ten-course meal removes guesswork about what you're trying
- Hotel pickup and drop-off cuts out transport logistics
- All food, drink, and transport included—no hidden costs
- Local guide contextualises the village's actual history and economy
- Not suitable for vegetarians or those uncomfortable with snake handling
- Rural, basic facilities—don't expect upmarket restaurant standards
- Early or midday timing means intense heat exposure
- Group composition varies; you may eat alongside strangers
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
If you've hit every street-food stall in Hanoi and want something genuinely outside the tourist bubble, this delivers. The farm tour is educational rather than exploitative—you see how the village has operated for generations. The meal is abundant, included in full, and the local guide talks you through the cultural and practical sides without overselling it. Hotel transport removes friction.
Snake isn't for everyone. If you're vegetarian, squeamish, or uncertain, this isn't the tour to test yourself on. The village is rural and basic—expect simple facilities, not polished tourist infrastructure. Walking is minimal but uneven terrain is normal. Early-morning or midday tours mean heat; bring sun protection. Gratuities aren't included, so budget for the guide. Group sizes vary, so you might share a table with strangers. Best to book ahead during peak season.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.