Hoi An basket boat ride and city tour: Private pickup included

Paddle a basket boat through the coconut forest, then walk the streets where three cultures built a trading port

A private Hoi An city tour combines the ancient town's landmarks (Japanese bridge, Chinese Assembly Hall, traditional houses) with a basket boat ride in Cam Thanh Village, where you paddle a coracle through water coconut palms, try crabbing with local fishermen, and eat lunch prepared by villagers. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The tour runs 3 to 4 hours and requires a minimum of 2 people per booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hoi An city and basket boat tour

• Pick up from hotel lobby
• Visit Hoi An Ancient Town
• Explore Japanese bridge and old houses
• Head to Cam Thanh Coconut Village
• Ride basket boat for one hour
• Try catching crabs with fishermen
• Learn to paddle bamboo basket boat
• Enjoy local food for lunch or dinner
• Transfer back to hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel lobby. Your driver takes you first through Hoi An Ancient Town, a trading port founded over 200 years ago that blends Vietnamese, Japanese and Chinese architecture. You'll see the Japanese bridge, the Chinese Assembly Hall, and the old houses that line the streets. The town itself is the landmark, not a series of stops inside it. The locals are known for being exceptionally friendly, and the town's layout makes it easy to walk and absorb the blend of cultures that shaped it.

Then you head about 5 kilometers southeast to Cam Thanh Village, a former fishing village and wartime shelter now known for its water coconut palm forest. Local people help you into a basket boat: a coracle, the unique round vessel that is the most distinctive way to move through these waterways. You paddle it yourself for roughly an hour, learning how to handle the bamboo boat while you drift through the tranquil coconut-flanked channels. Along the way, you have the chance to try crabbing alongside local fishermen, seeing how they work the water and what the village's traditional livelihood looks like.

Lunch or dinner (depending on your tour time) is local food prepared in the village. Afterward, you transfer back to land and return to your hotel. Bring a hat and sun protection. Bottled water is provided. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available if you need one.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• basket boat ride with instruction on how to paddle.
• entrance ticket to Cam Thanh Village.
• local lunch or dinner.
• bottled water.
• crabbing experience with local fishermen.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (10 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupPrivate

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by TTP Henry Travel Hoi An

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see both the ancient town's architecture and the working village that surrounds it. The basket boat ride is what makes the difference, turning a city walk into a full day that includes paddling a traditional coracle and learning how the locals actually fish. The private format means your driver and timing are yours alone, so the pace stays under your control.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years); Infant (under 5).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Japanese bridge in Hoi An, and why is it part of the tour?

The Japanese bridge is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Hoi An Ancient Town, a covered wooden bridge built centuries ago that reflects the town's history as a multicultural trading port. It's included in the city portion of the tour as a key example of the Japanese influence that shaped the town's architecture and character.

How long is the basket boat ride, and what do I actually do in it?

The basket boat ride lasts roughly one hour. You paddle the coracle yourself through the water coconut palm forest, learning how to handle the bamboo vessel as you go. You also have the chance to try crabbing with local fishermen, so it's not a passive boat ride. You're actively doing what the villagers do.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food will I eat?

Yes, local food for lunch or dinner is included in the tour, depending on what time you book. The meal is prepared in Cam Thanh Village by local people, so it reflects what the community actually eats rather than food prepared for tourists elsewhere.

Do I need to be fit or have experience to paddle the basket boat?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Local people help you get into the boat and teach you how to paddle it, so no prior experience is necessary. Infants can sit on an adult's lap during the ride.

What's included in the price, and what should I bring?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the basket boat ride, entrance ticket to Cam Thanh Village, bottled water, and local food are all included. Bring a hat and sun protection. The operator recommends sun cream. Gratuities and alcoholic beverages are not included.

How far is Cam Thanh Village from Hoi An, and how long does the whole tour take?

Cam Thanh Village is about 5 kilometers southeast of Hoi An Ancient Town. The entire tour, including the city portion and the village basket boat ride, takes 3 to 4 hours from pickup to drop-off.