Hoi An: Lantern Making, Basket Boat, and Cooking Class

Hoi An’s round basket boats are hard to miss, but this tour pairs the ride with something more hands-on: shopping for cooking ingredients, making a Vietnamese meal, and crafting a lantern to take home. The morning plan runs from about 8:25 a.m. to 2 p.m.; an afternoon version is also offered.

I like two things in particular: you choose ingredients at a local market before cooking, so the meal comes with a little context, and the class covers several well-loved dishes rather than one recipe. The boat ride and lantern activity add variety, making this a practical way to fit three Hoi An experiences into half a day.

One consideration: the basket boat ride can be more lively and tourist-oriented than peaceful, and the lantern activity is brief. Expect to glue fabric onto a lantern frame, not necessarily paint or build the whole lantern from scratch.

What to Know Before You Book

• Market shopping comes first: Your guide takes you to a local market to choose ingredients for the cooking session and explain what you are buying.
• The basket boat ride is not always quiet: It may be a gentle trip through the water coconut forest, or include spinning, singing, and other lively boat-side entertainment.
• Cook several Hoi An favorites: The listed menu includes pho bo, banh xeo, banh cuon, and mung bean soup. Some steps may be demonstrated by the instructor.
• The lantern is a take-home keepsake: The activity is short and focuses on attaching fabric to a lantern, rather than a full painting or lantern-building workshop.
• The price is $15 per person: With transport, guide, meal, boat ride, cooking class, and lantern activity included, it offers a lot for a modest outlay.
• Tell the operator about food needs: Ingredients can be changed for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or allergy-related requirements, but you should advise them ahead of time.

Start at the Market, Not the Kitchen

The morning schedule begins with pickup at the meeting point around 8:25 a.m. and a short trip to a local market. There, you shop for the ingredients used in the cooking class. This is a useful beginning: instead of arriving at a prepared kitchen and following a recipe without context, you can see what goes into the meal and ask your guide about unfamiliar items.

Guides such as Linh, Anna, and Thao have been singled out for explaining ingredients clearly and answering questions. Your guide will vary, but the market visit is a good chance to ask how a vegetable or herb is used in Vietnamese cooking, especially if you are used to a different range of ingredients at home.

The market stop is purposeful rather than a long sightseeing visit. You are there to gather cooking supplies, so don’t expect an extended market tour or a full lesson on every stall. Still, it gives the meal a more local starting point and makes the transition to the kitchen feel natural.

The activity includes transportation between the stops, but hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. Your meeting point depends on the option you book, and the tour ends back there, so check the location before arranging your morning.

A Basket Boat Through the Water Coconut Forest

After the market, the group travels to the Nipa Forest area for a ride in a traditional round bamboo basket boat. The setting and craft are part of the appeal: these unusual, circular boats are a distinctive sight around Hoi An, and the ride gives you a look at the water coconut environment beyond the old town.

The pace and mood can vary with the boat operator. You might get a calm ride and a chance to watch local fishing, or find yourself in a more energetic outing with singing, spinning, and dancing. Some operators spin the boat as a thrill, which can be fun but dizzying. If you prefer a steady ride, say so before setting off.

A crab-fishing demonstration and a dancing frog performance have also been part of some trips. Treat these as possible extras, not guaranteed features. One account noted an additional 100,000 VND for a spinning ride, so ask what is included and whether there is a charge before agreeing to anything beyond the standard boat trip.

The basket boat is the least predictable part of the day. It can be a memorable local craft experience, but the activity may feel staged or noisy if you were hoping for a quiet nature ride. Go in expecting a bit of fun rather than a still-water excursion, and you are more likely to enjoy it.

Cooking Four Vietnamese Dishes

The cooking class begins around 10 a.m. and is the strongest reason to book this experience if food is high on your list. The menu includes pho bo, or beef noodle soup; banh xeo, a crispy Vietnamese pancake; banh cuon, steamed rice rolls; and che, a mung bean dessert or soup.

The class is hands-on, with an instructor guiding you through the steps and helping when chopping or other tasks get tricky. Instructors including Anna, Linh, and Thao have been praised for being patient and clear. The exact guide is not guaranteed, but the format is designed to keep the group involved rather than leave you watching from the sidelines.

Not every element may be cooked entirely by you. The soup broth, for example, can take time and may be started or demonstrated by the instructor, while you work on other parts of the meal. Some participants have described preparing the first dishes themselves and then watching the final items being completed step by step. That balance is sensible for a short class, though it is worth knowing if you expect to make every dish from scratch.

The best payoff is sitting down to eat what you have prepared. The meal is included, and the menu gives you a taste of different textures and techniques: broth and noodles, a crisp pancake, soft rice rolls, and a sweet mung bean finish. You leave with more than a full stomach, since the methods are simple enough to try again at home.

If you have dietary restrictions or allergies, contact the operator in advance. Ingredients can be changed for vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free needs, and you should also flag allergies such as peanuts. Don’t wait until the class begins to mention them.

Making a Lantern to Take Home

Around 1 p.m., the group transfers back toward Hoi An for the lantern-making activity, with the morning tour scheduled to finish at about 2 p.m. The lantern is a practical souvenir: you make it during the session and take it home, where it can serve as a reminder of the day.

Keep your expectations modest. The activity is described as attaching fabric to a lantern, and it may be shorter and simpler than a full workshop in which you design, paint, and assemble a lantern from the beginning. If painting is the part you most want to try, look for a separate class in town and confirm exactly what it includes.

That short, sweet finish works well after the cooking session. It gives you a quieter change of pace and a tangible keepsake, but it is not the main event for anyone keen on a detailed craft lesson.

How the Schedule Works

The morning version starts at approximately 8:25 a.m., with market shopping at 8:30, the water coconut forest and basket boat around 9, cooking from about 10, and the lantern class after 1 p.m. The stated finish is around 2 p.m. In practice, transfers and the pace of a group can affect timing, so avoid arranging a tight commitment immediately afterward.

An afternoon option is available, starting around 1:25 p.m. and ending about 6:30 p.m. This gives you another way to fit the experience into a Hoi An visit, though the order or pace may differ. Confirm the schedule for your selected option rather than assuming the morning times apply.

The tour is conducted in English and Vietnamese. Comfortable shoes or thongs are recommended, and you will want sunglasses and a hat in the hot season, especially from April through September. During the rainy season, from October through January, bring a raincoat.

Is $15 Good Value?

At $15 per person, the tour bundles transport between activities, a guide, water, tour insurance, the cooking class, a meal, the boat ride, and lantern making. Paying separately for several activities can take more time and planning, so combining them is convenient as well as inexpensive.

Value here comes from the cooking class and the meal most of all. You get to shop for ingredients, learn several recipes, and eat what you prepare. The boat ride and lantern activity broaden the day, though they are less substantial: the boat can be more show than nature outing, and the lantern session is brief.

The low price should not mean you expect a private or highly polished craft workshop. Group size and the exact format can vary, and the activity may feel more enjoyable with a companion or small group. Solo visitors can still take part; one person attending alone found the structured class and shared meal enjoyable.

The overall mix makes sense for a short stay. Rather than spending a whole day on one activity, you get a market visit, a local boat ride, a substantial meal, and a small craft session in roughly half a day. That is a strong deal if you want variety and are happy with a lively, organized excursion.

Who Will Enjoy This Most?

This tour suits curious eaters who want to learn a few recipes, first-time visitors looking for a sampler of Hoi An activities, and families or pairs who enjoy doing things together. The cooking class is the most reliable part for anyone who wants clear instruction and a meal at the end.

It is less suitable if you want a quiet nature experience, an in-depth lantern-making workshop, or a fully accessible outing. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users, and pets are not allowed. If you have limited mobility or strong preferences about the boat ride, ask the operator about the practical details before booking.

Should You Book It?

Book this if you want a good-value half-day that combines food, a bit of local life, and a souvenir you make yourself. The market visit and cooking class give the experience substance, while the basket boat adds a memorable change of scene.

Skip it if your priority is a calm boat ride or a long, detailed lantern workshop. But if you can take the boat’s occasional theatrics in stride and see the lantern as a quick keepsake, this is an easy, varied way to spend part of a day in Hoi An.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $15 per person.

What dishes are included in the cooking class?

The listed dishes are pho bo, banh xeo, banh cuon, and mung bean soup or dessert, called che.

Is the meal included?

Yes. The tour includes a meal, and you eat the dishes prepared during the cooking class.

What time does the morning tour start and finish?

The morning schedule begins with pickup at the meeting point around 8:25 a.m. and finishes at about 2 p.m.

Is there an afternoon option?

Yes. The afternoon option starts around 1:25 p.m. and finishes around 6:30 p.m.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. The meeting point depends on the option booked, and the activity ends back there.

Can ingredients be changed for dietary needs?

Ingredients can be changed for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and allergy-related needs. Advise the operator about your requirements in advance.

What should I bring?

Wear comfortable shoes or thongs. Bring sunglasses and a sun hat in hot weather, and a raincoat during the rainy season.