Hoi An: Basket Boat & Lantern Release with Flower Class

Bamboo boats, wishes, and a river full of floating light

You ride a bamboo basket boat through a coconut forest, try casting nets and watching local fishermen spin their boats, eat two famous Hoi An dishes, make your own flower lantern by hand, and release it onto the Hoai River at dusk while hundreds of others float past. The tour includes your guide, all materials, and transport from your hotel, leaving the evening free to explore the lantern-lit Ancient Town on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hoi An basket boat and lantern experience

• Ride basket boat in Coconut Forest
• Watch basket boat spinning performance
• Try catching crabs and casting nets
• Eat Bánh Xèo and Ram dishes
• Create flower lantern and write wish
• Release lantern on Hoai River

The experience

The basket boat wobbles the moment you step into it: that split second where you think you might tip, but you don't. It's a round bamboo vessel, the kind you see nowhere else, and your guide steadies you with a hand while explaining that fishermen have been spinning these things through the Coconut Forest for generations. The water is still, the palms are thick, and then someone demonstrates the spin: a quick, practiced rotation that sends the boat turning in place. You try it. Your arms feel the resistance of the water, and suddenly you understand why this takes skill. The Bay Mau Coconut Forest is quiet enough that you hear the paddle hit the water, the rustle of fronds, and the guide's voice telling you about the villages here, about crab nets, about how this place used to hide soldiers during the war.

After the boat, there's food: Bánh Xèo, which is a crispy pancake folded with shrimp and bean sprouts, and Ram, which is a spring roll fried until it cracks when you bite it. You eat standing or sitting, depending on where the tour has you at that moment, and the guide points out the textures, the way the wrapper shatters, the herbs that go into the filling. It's not a cooking class. It's a tasting that happens between activities, which somehow makes it feel more real. Then comes the flower lantern workshop. You're handed materials (tissue paper, a wire frame, maybe some flowers), and shown how to fold and glue. Your lantern won't look like the ones in the photographs. It'll be a little lopsided, maybe the petals won't sit quite right, but that's the point. You write a wish on a small card and tuck it inside.

As the sun drops, you board a traditional lantern boat on the Hoai River. The water is dark now, and the ancient town behind you is lit up in gold and red. Other boats are already out there, and the water is starting to fill with floating lanterns: hundreds of them, maybe thousands, drifting downstream. You hold your lantern over the edge, say your wish quietly or not at all, and let it go. It bobs for a second, then catches the current. The moment it leaves your hands is the part people remember. After that, the tour technically ends, but Hoi An Ancient Town is right there. The night market is open, the streets are crowded with lanterns hanging from every shop, and you can wander as long as you want. Hotel pickup is included on the way back.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and return transport in Hoi An, a bamboo basket boat ride through Bay Mau Coconut Forest with a local fisherman's spinning demonstration, the chance to try casting nets, local food tasting of Bánh Xèo and Ram, a guided flower lantern workshop where you create and decorate your own lantern, a traditional lantern boat trip on the Hoai River, and the release of your handmade lantern onto the water. Your local guide is with you throughout, and all materials for the lantern are provided.

Options for this experience

2 options

Join in GroupGuide in English · 15:45Pickup is included

Private TourGuide in English · 15:30This is a private tour, offering a personalized Hoi An experience designed specifically for you and your group. Includes private car pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 15:30 and 15:45Last departure this season: 23 Dec

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Hoi An Lantern Boat Tour

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to experience Hoi An's most iconic evening ritual without arranging boats, food, or timing yourself. The fixed itinerary handles the logistics, which is what leaves you free to linger in the Ancient Town afterward if you want to.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

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 a basket boat and is it safe?

A basket boat is a round, shallow vessel woven from bamboo, unique to Central Vietnam. It's stable once you're seated, and guides help you in and out. It's suitable for all ages and fitness levels, though it's not recommended for people with poor cardiovascular health.

Do I need to know how to cook or have experience with lanterns?

No. The flower lantern workshop teaches you step-by-step, and your guide shows you how to fold and assemble it. First-timers make lanterns every night on this tour.

What happens after I release my lantern?

The tour ends on the lantern boat, but you're free to explore Hoi An Ancient Town for as long as you want. The night market, shops, and lantern-lit streets are all within walking distance, and your hotel pickup can be arranged for whenever you're ready to leave.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. The tour includes pickup from your hotel in Hoi An and return transport at the end of the evening.

What food is included?

You'll taste Bánh Xèo (a crispy Vietnamese pancake with shrimp and vegetables) and Ram (crispy spring rolls). These are two of Hoi An's most famous local dishes.

How long does the tour last?

The structured tour runs through the lantern release. After that, you can explore Hoi An Ancient Town at your own pace for as long as you wish before heading back to your hotel.

What if the weather is bad?

The basket boat ride and lantern boat trip depend on calm water conditions. Check with your tour operator about their weather policy and rescheduling options when you book.