Hoi An: Coconut Forest Boat & Ancient Town Night Tour

Bamboo boats and lanterns: a half-day in Hoi An's two worlds

You paddle a bamboo basket boat through the Bay Mau coconut forest, learning the technique from locals and watching boat racing; eat dinner with fresh local dishes; then walk through Hoi An's ancient streets at night when the lanterns are lit and the Japanese Bridge and riverside come alive. Hotel pickup from Da Nang and all entry fees are included, and you're back by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Coconut Forest and Hoi An Town

• Visit Bay Mau coconut forest
• Explore water coconut forest on bamboo boats
• Learn to paddle bamboo basket boats
• Watch bamboo basket boat performances and racing
• Visit Hoi An ancient town and Japanese Bridge
• Walk along Hoai River street
• Enjoy Hoi An nightlife and lanterns

The experience

So you're standing in a bamboo basket boat that's maybe three feet across, and the guide hands you a paddle and just... lets you figure it out. The Bay Mau coconut forest is quiet except for the water lapping against the sides, and the trees are so thick overhead you lose track of which way is back. Local people paddle past, some doing it their whole lives, and you realize pretty fast that this isn't a tourist thing pretending to be local. It's just how people move through here. You'll learn the rhythm of it, watch boat racing if the timing works out, and honestly, your arms will feel it later.

After that comes dinner, which lands somewhere between a meal and a lesson in what people actually eat in central Vietnam. The food changes depending on what's fresh, but it's not the sanitized version. It's the real thing, and it tastes different when you've just come off the water. Then the light starts to go and you head into Hoi An Ancient Town, which is when the place transforms. The lanterns come on (red, gold, white) hung across the streets and reflected in the Hoai River, and the whole town looks like it's glowing from inside. The Japanese Bridge is there, one of the few pieces of Japanese architecture left standing, and the streets narrow enough that you feel like you've stepped into something that's been here for centuries, which it has. This is a UNESCO site, but at night it doesn't feel like a museum. It feels like a town where people still live and eat and walk around.

The whole thing runs from afternoon into evening, with air-conditioned transport picking you up from your Da Nang hotel and bringing you back. It's not rushed (you get real time in the forest and real time in the town), but it's also not an all-day commitment. If you're based in Da Nang and want to see what Hoi An is actually about without spending the night, this covers both the natural side and the cultural side in one trip.

What’s included

• Bamboo basket boat ride through Bay Mau coconut forest with paddling instruction and boat racing.
• dinner with local Vietnamese dishes.
• guided walk through Hoi An Ancient Town at night with lantern-lit streets and the Japanese Bridge.
• air-conditioned vehicle pickup and return from your Da Nang hotel.
• all entry fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (9 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 8 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Vietnamese

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Danang Hoian Private Tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying in Da Nang and want to see Hoi An's two sides (the natural forest and the historic town) in one afternoon and evening without arranging separate transport or tickets.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 8 years); Infant (under 5): 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.

How long is the whole tour?

It's a half-day experience, typically running from afternoon into early evening. Exact timing depends on your hotel pickup location in Da Nang.

Do I need to know how to paddle a boat?

No. Local guides teach you how to paddle the bamboo basket boats, and it's part of the experience. The boats are stable and designed for this.

Is dinner included, and what kind of food is it?

Yes, dinner is included. The menu features local Vietnamese dishes and changes based on what's available, reflecting what people in the region actually eat.

What is the Japanese Bridge?

It's a historic wooden bridge in Hoi An's ancient town, one of the few remaining structures of Japanese origin in Vietnam and now a symbol of the town.

Will I see the lanterns lit up?

Yes. The tour is timed so you walk through Hoi An at night when the lanterns are hung across the streets and reflected in the river.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, the tour includes air-conditioned vehicle pickup from your Da Nang hotel and return transport.

Can I do this tour if I'm not very fit?

The paddling is gentle and the walking is at a normal pace on flat ground. The tour is suitable for most fitness levels, though it's not recommended for people with serious heart or cardiovascular conditions.