Kayaking and cycling in Hoi An: Thu Bon River and countryside

Paddle and pedal through Hoi An's countryside and waterways in one day

A full-day cycling and kayaking tour in Hoi An starts with a bike ride from Kong's Bike Store through rural villages and farmland to Cam Thanh, then shifts to paddling the Thu Bon River's tranquil coconut palm canals. You'll stop for refreshments at a local café, kayak past fishing boats and lush banks, eat a home-cooked lunch of cao lầu and white rose dumplings at a family home, and cycle back to your hotel by 4pm. The tour runs daily with an English-speaking guide, bikes for all ages including kids, and groups of up to eight people.

The Experience

The day starts at 8:00 AM from Kong's Bike Store with a ride along quiet countryside roads toward Cam Thanh. You'll pass rice paddies, coconut palm groves, and small villages where farmers work their fields and water buffalo graze. The route is flat and rural, built for a steady pace rather than speed. A break at a local café in Cam Thanh gives you time to cool down with a drink before the kayaking begins.

Once on the water, you paddle through the Thu Bon River and the shaded canals lined with coconut palms. The waterways are calm and easy to navigate, even for first-time kayakers. Fishing boats, riverbanks thick with vegetation, and the quiet of the canals make for steady photo stops. This is the perspective most visitors to Hoi An miss—the town and its surroundings from the water instead of the street.

Lunch happens at a local family's home, where you eat signature Hoi An dishes: cao lầu, white rose dumplings, and bánh xèo. The meal is home-cooked, not restaurant plating. After eating, you cycle back through the same scenic trails, arriving at your hotel around 4:00 PM. The full day is seven hours from start to finish.

What’s included

• Professional cycle and tour guides in English.
• Trek bikes sized for all ages, including kids' bikes and specialized infant seats.
• kayaking on the Thu Bon River and Cam Thanh canals.
• a cool drink at a local café.
• a home-cooked lunch of cao lầu, white rose dumplings, and bánh xèo at a family home.
• all cycling and paddling on a single day with return to your hotel by 4pm.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Kong's Adventures

Is this one for you?You pedal and paddle yourself on this tour, not watch from a vehicle—the guide leads the route and paces the day, but you operate both the bike and the kayak. It suits anyone who wants to move through the countryside under their own power and see Hoi An from the water, and it works for families with kids because bikes and kayaks scale to all ages and the pace stays easy on both.

Top questions

Can I bring my kids on the Hoi An cycling and kayaking tour?

Yes. Children are welcome from age one, and the tour provides bike sizes for all ages, including kids' bikes and specialized infant seats. Discounts are available for children age seventeen and under.

What's the Thu Bon River kayaking like for someone who's never paddled before?

The Thu Bon River canals are calm and tranquil, designed for an easy, relaxing paddle. The waterways are shallow and protected by coconut palms, so even first-time kayakers can navigate them without difficulty.

How long does the whole tour take from start to finish?

The tour runs seven hours total, starting at 8:00 AM from Kong's Bike Store and returning to your hotel around 4:00 PM, with breaks for refreshments, kayaking, and lunch built into the day.

What do we eat during the tour?

You'll have a cool drink at a local café in Cam Thanh, then a home-cooked lunch at a family's home featuring cao lầu, white rose dumplings, and bánh xèo—signature Hoi An dishes. Let the operator know about any dietary requirements when you book.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The cycling is on flat, peaceful countryside roads, and the kayaking is on calm, easy waters, but both activities involve several hours of steady movement.

Is the guide included, and what language do they speak?

Yes, an English-speaking professional guide leads the tour. The guide handles both the cycling and kayaking portions and can answer questions about the villages, farming, and local life you pass along the way.