THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Cross Long Biên Bridge for a half-day trip to Le Mat, Hanoi’s famed snake village. Taste ten snake dishes, visit a working snake farm and learn local traditions behind snake wine and cuisine.
Cross Long Biên Bridge for a half-day trip to Le Mat, Hanoi’s famed snake village. Taste ten snake dishes, visit a working snake farm and learn local traditions behind snake wine and cuisine.
The van slips across Long Biên Bridge and the city’s clamor loosens its grip—rice paddies and low brick houses step forward, the Red River nearby murmuring as you arrive at Le Mat. A row of low restaurants and a tightly packed snake farm greet you: steam, spices and a faint metallic tang of snake wine that promises something outside the ordinary.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Ha Food Tours · Hanoi, Hanoi
The van slips across Long Biên Bridge and the city’s clamor loosens its grip—rice paddies and low brick houses step forward, the Red River nearby murmuring as you arrive at Le Mat. A row of low restaurants and a tightly packed snake farm greet you: steam, spices and a faint metallic tang of snake wine that promises something outside the ordinary.
Le Mat’s association with snake cuisine goes back generations; local handlers developed techniques for keeping, preparing and presenting snakes both for medicine and meals. Geologically the area sits on the Red River’s alluvial plain—flat, fertile ground that shaped village life and trade routes between Hanoi and its eastern wards.
Culturally, the village blends rural craft with an appetite for the extreme: vendors display bottles of snake wine and chefs prepare ten distinct snake dishes—from spring rolls and stir-fries to soup and grilled fillets—culminating, for the adventurous, a fresh snake-heart shot paired with rice wine. The farm visit shows how snakes are housed and fed, including larger species like cobras kept in controlled enclosures.
Practical guidance: the tour is short (about 3–4 hours) with minimal walking—plan for a half-day between Hanoi’s Old Quarter and Le Mat. Bring anti-allergy medication if you have sensitivities, and ask guides about sourcing and animal welfare if that concerns you. Expect strong flavors, attentive local service, and photo opportunities; be respectful inside farm areas and follow the guide’s safety instructions when near enclosures.
easy.
3–4 hours.
Light activity; suitable for most people who can sit for a meal and step around farm enclosures.
The tour lasts about 3–4 hours and typically includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Hanoi’s Old Quarter.
Dishes are prepared by experienced local chefs; if you have food allergies, disclose them to the guide and decline any raw items such as fresh heart shots.
Vegetarians can join for the cultural and farm aspects, but the tasting itself focuses on snake dishes—request an adjusted meal in advance.
Practices vary; reputable operators use captive-bred snakes—ask the guide for sourcing details and animal welfare practices before booking.
Le Mat developed a distinct snake-handling and culinary tradition over generations, combining beliefs in medicinal benefits with local food practices.
Visitors should favor tours that source snakes responsibly and minimize harm; support operators who follow transparent, humane husbandry and avoid wild capture.
Ha Food Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The van slips across Long Biên Bridge and the city’s clamor loosens its grip—rice paddies and low brick houses step forward, the Red River nearby murmuring as you arrive at Le Mat. A row of low restaurants and a tightly packed snake farm greet you: steam, spices and a faint metallic tang of snake wine that promises something outside the ordinary.
The van slips across Long Biên Bridge and the city’s clamor loosens its grip—rice paddies and low brick houses step forward, the Red River nearby murmuring as you arrive at Le Mat. A row of low restaurants and a tightly packed snake farm greet you: steam, spices and a faint metallic tang of snake wine that promises something outside the ordinary.
Le Mat’s association with snake cuisine goes back generations; local handlers developed techniques for keeping, preparing and presenting snakes both for medicine and meals. Geologically the area sits on the Red River’s alluvial plain—flat, fertile ground that shaped village life and trade routes between Hanoi and its eastern wards.
Culturally, the village blends rural craft with an appetite for the extreme: vendors display bottles of snake wine and chefs prepare ten distinct snake dishes—from spring rolls and stir-fries to soup and grilled fillets—culminating, for the adventurous, a fresh snake-heart shot paired with rice wine. The farm visit shows how snakes are housed and fed, including larger species like cobras kept in controlled enclosures.
Practical guidance: the tour is short (about 3–4 hours) with minimal walking—plan for a half-day between Hanoi’s Old Quarter and Le Mat. Bring anti-allergy medication if you have sensitivities, and ask guides about sourcing and animal welfare if that concerns you. Expect strong flavors, attentive local service, and photo opportunities; be respectful inside farm areas and follow the guide’s safety instructions when near enclosures.