Hoi An: Basket Boat, Fishing & Cooking Class with Market Tour

Summary

Hoi An flavors from market to river to kitchen in half a day

You’ll wander Hoi An’s bustling market with a local guide, paddle through coconut palms in a basket boat, try your hand at fishing and crab catching, then cook (and eat!) classic Vietnamese dishes together in a countryside kitchen. Expect laughter over broken pancakes and new flavors you’ll remember long after heading home.

What’s the experience like?

Ever tried haggling for fresh herbs when you can barely pronounce the names? That’s how our morning in Hoi An started — at the local market, all colors and chatter and those sharp green smells that stick to your fingers. Our guide, Linh, nudged me to try bargaining for chilies (I failed, but she winked like it was all part of the fun). It’s loud there, but in a warm way. You get handed things to sniff or taste without warning. I didn’t expect to laugh so much before 9am.

After that we squeezed into these round bamboo basket boats — honestly, I thought we’d tip over in five seconds flat. The water through Cam Thanh’s coconut palms is quieter than town; you just hear the oars dipping and sometimes a bird calling out. The boatman showed us how to spin the boat (not as easy as he made it look), then helped us toss nets for fishing. My net landed in a heap, but he just grinned and said “next time.” There were purple crabs crawling along the canal edge too — weirdly cute.

Back on dry land, Linh poured us something cold and sweet (I still don’t know what it was) at her family’s bamboo house. The cooking class itself was more hands-on than I expected; we chopped papaya for salad and rolled spring rolls while Chef Hai explained which herbs go with what — he has this way of making even fish sauce sound poetic. My pancake broke on the first try but nobody minded. We ate everything together with extra side dishes they’d already prepared: morning glory greens, soup, rice… I lost track of what belonged to which course. It felt like eating with friends instead of strangers.

I keep thinking about that moment on the water when everything went quiet except for our paddles — you don’t get that kind of calm every day. If you’re curious about Vietnamese food or just want a real slice of Hoi An life (with lunch included), this cooking class tour is worth it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Market, Basket Boat, Fishing, Cooking

• Visit local colorful market
• Take bamboo basket boat trip
• Try traditional net fishing
• Enjoy welcome drink
• Join hands-on cooking class
• Learn to cook 4 Vietnamese dishes
• Eat cooked dishes with side dishes
• Return to hotel

Top questions

How long does the Hoi An cooking class tour last?

The tour runs about 4.5 hours: morning (8:30–13:00) or afternoon (14:30–19:00).

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included in Hoi An.

What dishes do we cook during the class?

You’ll make papaya salad with prawn, deep-fried spring rolls, braised chicken in clay pot with rice, and Vietnamese pancakes.

Are vegetarian or dietary needs accommodated?

Yes, vegetarian and dietary requirements can be catered for if requested in advance.

Do we actually go fishing on this tour?

Yes, you’ll try traditional net fishing and catch purple crabs in the canal during the basket boat ride.

Is this suitable for kids or families?

Yes, everyone can join; infants need to sit on an adult’s lap and specialized seats are available.

What’s included besides cooking?

The experience includes market visit, basket boat trip through Cam Thanh coconut forest, fishing activity, welcome drink, cooking class with four main dishes plus side dishes and dessert.

How big are the groups?

The class is small group only — one group per session for a more personal experience.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off by air-conditioned vehicle, all entry fees and taxes covered up front, bottled water throughout the tour, a welcome drink at the countryside restaurant before your hands-on Vietnamese cooking class (with recipes to take home), plus all eight dishes served together at lunch or dinner before heading back to your hotel relaxed — maybe full enough to skip dinner entirely.