Aboard · HOI AN BOAT TOURS
Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 hoi an boat tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.
Spend about 50 minutes in a traditional basket boat at Bay Mau Coconut Forest with an English, Vietnamese, or Chinese-speaking guide. You can paddle, try crab fishing, watch fishing nets being cast, and add the famous boat spin. Guides such as Ding, Hung, Kim, and An are known for their energy and photo help.
“very fun hour out on the water. My guide Ding was really funny and made the trip. would recommend!”
Spend 4.5 hours exploring Hoi An’s market, riding a bamboo basket boat through Cam Thanh’s nipa palms, trying net fishing, and cooking four Vietnamese dishes. Guides such as Hai, Ly, Lily, and Phuong lead relaxed, hands-on classes for groups of up to 12.
“This is a must do. Fabulous cooking class paired with a Coconut Boat ride. Cooking class was extremely well run. Quick trip to the market, enjoyable boat ride. Wasn’t on my to do list but was pleasantly surprised. Cooking was such fun. Great group of people and easy to follow instructions. Fabulous tasty food. What a highlight”
Meet your English-speaking guide at the Ivegan shop for a market visit, 40-minute bamboo basket boat ride, and hands-on cooking class. Guides such as Anna, Thao, Linh, and Thuy teach dishes including bánh xèo, bánh cuốn, phở, and chè. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly ingredients can be arranged.
“Excellent. Cooked 4 different dishes & very glad I skipped lunch tasting it all. Tried different things”
Meet your English-speaking host at the Kazimierz Kwiatkowski bust, receive a paper lantern, and walk five minutes to the Thu Bồn River. Your private wooden boat carries your group for about 10 to 15 minutes, with help lighting and releasing the lantern. Guide Linh and Phuoc Ho have both been praised for clear communication.
“Really enjoyed the River Boat Trip. Was very busy waiting to get on boat but once on was lovely. Would recommend”
Meet at 153 Tran Phu Street near the Japanese Bridge, then walk with the English-speaking team to the Hoai River. Your 20-minute boat ride includes a floating lantern, herbal tea, photos, and a free 24-hour eSIM with 8GB of data and 10 local-call minutes.
“Very beautiful and calming experience, our guide was kind and explained the importance of the lantern release.”
Spend 4.5 hours with an English-speaking guide such as Lily, Rose, or Hami, visiting a local market, riding a coracle through Cam Thanh’s coconut palms, making a lantern, and cooking Hoi An dishes. Hotel pickup, transport, lunch, and your finished lantern are included.
“Cooking activities were great with family and then tasted delicious! Lanterns look as good, if not better than some of those in shop”
At Cam Thanh fishing village, an English-speaking guide such as Nam, Lai, or Hang takes you by bamboo basket boat through coconut-lined waterways. You can row, catch small crabs, watch boat spinning and fishing demonstrations, sing karaoke, and enjoy hotel pickup if arranged.
“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.”
Start with hotel pickup in Hoi An and an early visit to My Son Sanctuary, where an English-speaking guide explains Champa history and temple towers. Add a cultural performance, Vietnamese lunch, rice paper making at a local home, and a Thu Bon River boat ride. Groups are limited to 14.
“Nick was an excellent tour guide and made this day fantastic. His English was excellent and he made the tour very interesting and fun. We got to the temple earlier than the crowd, this meant we were some of the first in there which was amazing as it gets very busy. Nick providing us with lots of history and answered all our questions whilst cracking jokes and making it a thoroughly enjoyable tour. I highly recommend this tour and Nick as the guide!”
Meet at Ba Tran Basket Boat & Cooking School for a 50-minute ride through Hoi An’s Bay Mau water coconut forest. A local guide rows through narrow canals, helps you try crab fishing and net casting, and may add music, dancing, karaoke, or boat spinning. Water is included, but transport is not.
“Staff were very friendly and definitely well worth the money. Overall very funny experience”
Spend three hours near Hoi An with Hangcoconut, combining a Bay Mau nipa-forest basket boat ride with a hands-on Vietnamese cooking class. Local boat guides add crab fishing, songs, photos, and optional spinning, while chefs such as Thuy teach you to prepare several dishes before you sit down to eat.
“Great value for money, we loved the cooking class and basketboat combo. The cooking class was informative and delicious , great forel vegetarians. The basketboat guide was so friendly and funny :)”
Travel from Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary with an English-speaking guide such as Philip, Ben, Lee, or Tu. Explore ancient Cham temples, watch a short Apsara performance, eat lunch or banh mi, then return by boat along the Thu Bon River.
“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.”
Spend an afternoon exploring My Son Sanctuary with a small group of up to 13 people, then return toward Hoi An by boat. Guides such as Hai, Ellie, Tin, and Cam bring the Cham temples to life, while the included bánh mì, water, air-conditioned minibus, and hotel pickup keep the outing easy.
“An amazing excursion with our host, Hai. She is brilliant and explained the history of the place with so much enthusiasm. Very punctual in pickup. 100% recommend.”
You’ll visit My Son Sanctuary with guides such as Thao, Tin, Van, and Lam, see a traditional Cham performance, and return to Hoi An by sunset boat. Choose a BBQ meal with Vietnamese coffee or a simpler banh mi option. The sanctuary ticket costs extra.
“My family enjoyed the tour very much. Han was great! very polite and informative throughout the entire time. Definitely recommend it for small groups.”
Meet an English-speaking chef such as Trang, Mo, Kieu, or Hon for a hands-on Hoi An cooking class. Visit a local market, ride a bamboo basket boat through Bay Mau coconut forest, and prepare four Vietnamese dishes using traditional tools and techniques.
“It was very fun and informative. We could learn a lot and got a lot of insights!”
Spend four hours with an English-speaking local guide such as Jackie, Nancy, Quin, or Emma, tasting seven Hoi An dishes at four stops. You will walk through the Old Town, ride a traditional boat, release a flower lantern, and join a lively Bai Choi or bingo-style game.
“The food was super delicious. But even more important were the explanations from our guide Jackie about the details about each of the dishes, the ingredients and background about the restaurant owner. And on top of that we could experience the lantern boat tour and super exiting BINGO!”
Pick a river, a coast or a harbour.
