Chan May Port: Basket Boat & Hoi An Tour with Lunch

Row a basket boat, cast a net, and eat what a local family grew

A full-day activity from Chan May Port combining hands-on time in Cam Thanh village (rowing round bamboo boats through the Water Coconut Jungle, trying to catch crabs, and learning Vietnamese fishing) with a foot massage, locally prepared lunch, and a walk through Hoi An's Ancient Town. A live English-speaking guide leads the group through Da Nang's Dragon Bridge and Marble Mountains on the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Dragon Bridge10m
2. Hoi An Ancient Town3m · entry included

Explore Da Nang and Hoi An highlights

• See Dragon Bridge and Marble Mountain
• Visit Cam Thanh village and water palm forest
• Learn to row round basket boats
• Try crab catching and Vietnamese fishing
• Enjoy 30-minute foot massage
• Have authentic Vietnamese lunch
• Walk Hoi An Ancient Town lantern streets
• Visit Japanese Bridge and Chinese Assembly Hall
• Shop in Hoi An Ancient Town
• Drive back to Chan May Port

The experience

The day starts with a drive past Da Nang's Dragon Bridge and Marble Mountains, then heads to Cam Thanh village, where you'll spend the morning doing the work itself. An experienced boat person teaches you how to row the traditional round bamboo basket boats while you move through the Water Coconut Jungle's narrow channels between the palms. You get to try catching crabs and casting a fishing net the way locals do, not watching someone else do it. The village itself has a deeper history (it sheltered civilians and soldiers during the Vietnam-America War), and you'll see the rice fields, water palm forests, and shrimp and crab farms on the way in.

After the water work, a local family offers a cold drink at their home, then you get a 30-minute foot massage before lunch. The meal is prepared by that same family using organically grown ingredients from their land, served in authentic Vietnamese style. This is not restaurant food. It's what they eat.

The afternoon moves to Hoi An's Ancient Town, where you walk the lantern-filled streets and see the Japanese Bridge, an ancient family house, and the Chinese Assembly Hall. There's time to shop (Hoi An is known for it) before the drive back to the port. The full day runs 6 to 8 hours depending on how the group moves through each stop.

What’s included

• Bottles of water and tissue.
• a licensed English-speaking guide (other languages available on request).
• modern air-conditioned transport with an experienced driver.
• authentic Vietnamese set menu lunch prepared by a local family.
• a 30-minute foot massage.
• entrance tickets to the sites.
• and outside gate port fees.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 08:00 and 09:00

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (12 to 85 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tommy Shore Excursions

Is this one for you?This tour works best for small private groups who want to do the activities themselves rather than watch a demonstration. The hands-on time in the boats and the fishing, combined with the locally prepared meal and the foot massage, make it a full sensory day, not a quick stop-and-photograph itinerary.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly do I do in the basket boats?

You learn to row the round bamboo basket boats from an experienced boat person while moving through the Water Coconut Jungle's channels. You also try casting a fishing net and catching crabs the way the villagers do, so you're actively fishing, not observing.

Is the lunch included, and what kind of food is it?

Yes, an authentic Vietnamese set menu lunch is included, prepared by a local family using their own organically grown ingredients and served in traditional style. It's the food they cook for themselves.

What is Cam Thanh village, and why does the tour spend time there?

Cam Thanh is a rural village that sheltered locals and soldiers during the Vietnam-America War. Today it's known for its Water Coconut Jungle, fishing, and farming. The tour focuses on it because it's where you learn and practice the traditional basket boat skills and fishing methods that define the morning.

Do I need to be fit to do this, or is it physically demanding?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The boat rowing and fishing are hands-on but not strenuous. A foot massage is included to help you relax after the morning activities. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.

How long is the drive from Chan May Port, and what do I see on the way?

The drive to Cam Thanh village passes through Da Nang, where you stop to photograph the iconic Dragon Bridge and Marble Mountains. The full tour, including all activities and the return to port, takes 6 to 8 hours.