Hoi An: Coconut Forest Boat & Ancient Town Night Walk

Paddling a Bamboo Basket Through Vietnam's Coconut Forest

You paddle your own bamboo basket through a coconut forest, eat a proper dinner of Hoi An specialties, then walk the UNESCO-listed old town at night when lanterns light the streets and the Japanese Bridge. Pickup from your hotel in Da Nang or Hoi An is included, along with transport and all meals, so you show up and the logistics are handled.

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
• Have dinner with local dishes
• Visit Hoi An ancient town and Japanese Bridge
• Walk along Hoai River and enjoy nightlife
• See colorful lanterns in Hoi An Town

The experience

The first surprise is how shallow the water is. You step into a woven basket boat no wider than your shoulders, and the local boatman (who's been doing this since childhood) hands you a paddle and shows you the rhythm. Bay Mau coconut forest sits just outside Hoi An, and it's nothing like the postcard version you imagined. The water is still, the trees crowd in close, and you're actually steering the thing yourself, learning the same technique the locals use. There's a moment when you realize you're not being ferried around. You're part of the work, even if just for an afternoon. Other boats pass, some with performers standing up and rowing in that gravity-defying way, and you watch how they do it before attempting it yourself.

After an hour or so in the forest, you head back to solid ground and into dinner. This is where the day shifts. The meal isn't a tourist approximation. It's Cao Lau (the noodle dish that only tastes right in Hoi An because of the water), Hoành Thánh (shrimp and pork dumplings), Bánh Báo (steamed pockets), and Bánh Vạc (the white rose dumplings that look almost too delicate to eat). You're eating things you've never heard of, and your guide or the restaurant staff will explain what's in each one. It's the kind of dinner that makes you understand why people talk about Vietnamese food the way they do.

Then comes the Hoi An Ancient Town night walk. The town transforms after dark: lanterns hang in front of every house, strung across streets and along the paths by the Hoài River. The Japanese Bridge, the one remaining structure from the 17th-century Japanese settlement, glows softly. You walk without a rigid itinerary, just moving through the old streets, crossing the bridge, watching the water reflect the lights. It's crowded with other visitors, sure, but the lanterns do something to the light that makes the crowds feel less intrusive. The town is a UNESCO site, and you can feel why: the architecture, the layout, the way everything is preserved but still lived in. You're not rushing between checkpoints. You're just walking and looking and occasionally stopping for coffee or a drink.

Pickup is free from Da Nang center or Hoi An center (depending on where you're staying), and the whole day runs with air-conditioned transport between stops. If you want to add Marble Mountain as an option, there's a one-way elevator ticket included, though that's an extra fee. The tour wraps in the evening, and you get driven back to your hotel. It's the kind of day that doesn't feel rushed, even though it covers three distinct things: the forest, the food, the old town.

What’s included

• Bamboo basket boat experience in Bay Mau coconut forest with instruction from local boatmen.
• dinner with local Hoi An dishes including Cao Lau, Hoành Thánh, Bánh Báo, and Bánh Vạc.
• guided walk through Hoi An Ancient Town at night with views of the Japanese Bridge and lantern-lit streets.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• free pickup from Da Nang center or Hoi An center (if Marble Mountain option is not selected).
• all fees and taxes.

Options for this experience

6 options

Excluding Marble MoutainGuide in English · 14:00 and 15:00Group tour, pickup is included

Including Marble MoutainGuide in English · 14:00 and 15:00Group tour, includes pickup

Exclude Marble Moutain-PrivateGuide in English · 14:00 and 15:00Private car and private guide, includes pickup

See 3 more options

Include Marble Moutain-PrivateGuide in English · 14:00 and 15:00Private car and private guide, includes pickup

Excluding Marble Mountain, Russian-speaking guideGuide in English · 14:00 and 15:00Private car, Russian-speaking, dinner included, includes pickup

Including Marble Mountain, Russian-speaking guideGuide in English · 14:00 and 15:00Private car, Russian-speaking, includes 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 14:00 and 15:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 65 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

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 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 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by DIMOTRIP

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to experience three distinct sides of Hoi An (the working landscape, the food, and the old town) in one evening without arranging transport or figuring out where to eat. The free pickup and included dinner remove the planning, and the night walk timing means you see the town when it's lit and alive.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

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 coconut forest boat part?

Around an hour. You learn to paddle the bamboo basket boat yourself with help from local boatmen, and you'll see performances and boat racing from other boats on the water.

What's included in the dinner?

Local Hoi An specialties: Cao Lau, Hoành Thánh, Bánh Báo, and Bánh Vạc. These are dishes specific to the region and not easily found elsewhere.

Is pickup really free?

Yes, if you're staying in Da Nang center or Hoi An center and you don't add the Marble Mountain option. If you add Marble Mountain and stay in Hoi An center, there's a 10 USD fee for a 4-seat vehicle or 12 USD for a 7-seat vehicle.

What is the Marble Mountain option?

An optional add-on that includes a one-way elevator ticket to Marble Mountain. You pay extra if you want it included with your tour.

Do I need to be fit for the bamboo boat?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. However, it's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnant travelers.

Is the old town crowded at night?

Yes, it's a popular UNESCO site and draws visitors in the evening. The lanterns and river setting make it feel atmospheric despite the crowds.

What time does the tour start and end?

The itinerary covers the coconut forest in the afternoon, dinner in the evening, and the old town night walk after dark. Specific start times depend on your hotel location and the operator's schedule.

Is transport air-conditioned?

Yes, all vehicle transport between stops is air-conditioned.