Central Vietnam · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS
Basket boats, lantern boats, river runs and island speedboats. These 15 cover every way of getting on the water here, priced and timed.
At Bay Mau Coconut Forest, a local boat guide takes two people in a round basket boat through the waterways, with chances to try crab fishing and watch a fishing net cast. The 50-minute ride costs from $3.88 per person. Arrive before 9 a.m. for a quieter river, and budget extra if you want boat spinning or photos.
“well organised. great fun. the boat guys are amazing. lots of singing. an around fun time.”
Spend about four and a half hours combining a Hoi An market visit, a bamboo basket-boat ride in Cam Thanh, a try at net fishing, and a hands-on cooking class. A chef-guide, such as Hai or Ly, teaches four dishes, with recipes to take home. Central Hoi An pickup is offered, and morning and afternoon departures provide flexibility.
“Lý was a great chef and we had a wonderful time cooking Vietnamese dishes. Would highly recommend this tour! 5/5 stars!”
Meet your guide in Hoi An for a market visit, a 40-minute bamboo basket boat ride through water coconut palms, and a hands-on cooking class. You may learn with guides such as Anna, Thao or Linh. Expect seasonal produce, folk songs on the water, and a generous meal of the dishes you prepare.
“We had such a fantastic time on this tour! Thao was so kind and helpful, making it an experience we will remember for a long time & take the delicious recipes back to Ireland! Thank you again Thao 💗”
Meet an English-speaking guide by the Kazimierz Kwiatkowski bust on Tran Phu Street, collect your paper lantern, and walk about five minutes to the dock. Your group of up to five gets its own wooden boat for a 10-to-15-minute ride on the Hoai River. The rower helps light and release your lantern; expect scenery, not guided commentary.
“the guide Mr Linh was on time to give us tickets and guided us to the river. we skipped the queu . perfect 🙂”
Meet at 153 Tran Phu Street near the Japanese Bridge, then walk with staff to the Hoai River for a roughly 15-minute boat ride. Your $8 ticket includes a lantern to release, herbal tea, and a 24-hour eSIM with 8GB of data and 10 minutes of local calls. The river can be crowded, especially during the monthly lantern festival.
“Very nice to explore Hoi An at night on the boat. They had plenty of times to take photos and videos and the guide was very professional”
In Cam Thanh, a local boatman rows you through coconut-palm waterways in a traditional bamboo basket boat. Try rowing, look for small crabs, and watch boat performances, with karaoke sometimes joining the river soundtrack. The ride lasts about one to two hours; hotel pickup may be arranged. Spinning and boat photos can cost extra.
“brilliant fun value for money, we booked a time and just got a Grab to and from danang and into Hoi An. well worth it. shout out to hang too great guide.”
Spend about four and a half hours visiting a Hoi An market, riding a bamboo basket boat through Cam Thanh’s nipa palm forest, trying crab fishing, and cooking Vietnamese dishes with an English-speaking chef. Hotel pickup in Hoi An is included. Classes are small, with a maximum of 11 people, and lunch or dinner departures are available.
“Fantastic experience! Our guide was very funny and we had a blast cooking all of the amazing foods. The coconut boats are fun, we were caught in a rainstorm but it added to the craziness of our experience. 10/10!”
From Cẩm Thanh, ride a traditional round bamboo basket boat through Bay Mau Coconut Forest. Local boat rowers show you how to paddle, help you try crab fishing, and may demonstrate boat spinning and net casting. Hotel pickup is available if selected. Go before 9 AM for a quieter river, or arrive before 3:30 PM to catch the net casting.
“Lovely experience from start to finish and very well organised. Car picks you up from your hotel, you get a detailed briefing and then dropped off back at your hotel. Ding as the coconut boat driver was fantastic, enthusiastic and happy whilst singing songs and taking lots of photos and videos! Highly recommend for a hassle free and fun experience”
This three-hour Hoi An outing combines a guided basket boat ride through the Bay Mau nipa forest with crab catching and a hands-on Vietnamese cooking class. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. Instructors such as Thuy and Li lead the cooking, while local boat rowers add songs, stories, and, sometimes, a lively spin for an extra charge.
“Amazing day. So much fun. I couldn’t believe the value! So much food to eat, met and spoke to interesting people from all over the world and the he banana boat was great!!”
Spend about six and a half hours between Cam Thanh’s water coconut forest and Hoi An Ancient Town. Try traditional net fishing and a basket boat ride, see historic buildings with an English-speaking guide, then have a local dinner and take a short Hoai River boat ride with a flower lantern release. Hotel pickup, drop-off and entrance fees are included.
“Chau was great guide. We visit amazing places, took a lot of photos and fixed unforgettable memories. Highly recommend this guide. Thank you for trip.”
Starting at White Rose Restaurant at 4:30 pm, this four-hour walk pairs Hoi An dishes such as banh mi, white rose dumplings, and cao lau with a 15-minute boat ride and a floating lantern. Groups are capped at 12. Guides include Jackie, Emma, Nancy, Vu, and Quin; tell the operator about dietary needs when booking.
“Amazing food! You have to come hungry. Very different type of cuisine, quite special. Everything went well.”
Travel from central Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary with an English-speaking guide, spend about two and a half hours among its Champa temples, and watch a traditional dance performance. The five-hour trip includes lunch on morning departures or banh mi in the afternoon, plus a short Thu Bon River boat ride back. Guides include Philip, Ben, Lee, Tu and Vu.
“Totally Enjoyed this Trip. HOI AN FOOD TOUR have this trip well tuned for travellers. Mr Philip our Guide was Brilliant and very Informative. Would Totally Recommend to Everyone.”
Leave Hoi An by air-conditioned van for My Son Sanctuary, where an English-speaking guide explains the Cham temples and their Hindu influences. Choose a 5:30 a.m. early start or a 7:30 a.m. morning departure. The outing also includes noodles, a rice-paper-making visit at a local home, and a boat ride back along the Thu Bon River. Guides have included Tony, Vu, Yen and Vo, though your guide may differ.
“Well organised tour. A shame My Son is so crowded and hot. The cultural show was an unexpected bonus. Guide was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Loved the boat ride back to old town.”
This 4.5-hour Hoi An outing pairs a guided market visit with net fishing, crab catching and a basket-boat ride through Bay Mau Coconut Forest. An English-speaking guide and chef lead a two-hour cooking class, then you eat what you prepare. Hoi An hotel transfers, drinks and the forest ticket are included.
“A fantastic day Great tour guide very friendly and knowledgable Good fun Great food Very authentic Picked us up at the hotel went to a local market then on to the fishing for a fun day and good food”
Leave Hoi An by air-conditioned minibus for a guided visit to My Son Sanctuary, where Cham brick towers, stone carvings, and a traditional dance show bring the ancient site to life. Guides vary by date and have included Hai, Tin, Cam, and Ellie. Finish with a 30-minute motorized boat ride on the Thu Bon River.
“Our trip with Hai was wonderful. She Showeinlagen us My Son with all the interesting information and was incredibly friendly and nice. My son also was beautiful and totally interesting. We would definitely recommend to do this tour. The boat trip afterwards was also nice. I think the tour in the afternoon is even better for this, because it was getting dark when we arrived in Hoi An - that was very beautiful. At the next day we saw, that Hai is our guide again, we were so happy! I think that says enough. :) Thank you for the great tour!”
A boat, a kitchen, a bicycle or the old streets on foot.
