Hoi An: Full-Day Local Life Tour + Cooking & Lanterns

Summary

Hoi An local life day tour with cooking, lanterns & laughter

You’ll fish for crabs in a basket boat with local fishermen, cook Vietnamese specialties in a family kitchen, and wander Hoi An’s ancient streets glowing with lanterns. Enjoy lunch from your own hands and relax with an herbal foot massage — all guided by locals who make you feel right at home. It’s an experience you’ll remember long after you leave Hoi An.

What’s the experience like?

"Try not to fall in!" That’s what our guide, Minh, grinned as I wobbled into the round basket boat at Bay Mau coconut forest. The morning air was sticky-sweet — you could smell river mud and something herbal from the trees. We spun out onto the water with a fisherman who didn’t speak much English but laughed every time I missed a crab. It’s harder than it looks, honestly. My hands still smelled faintly of brine after we got back to shore.

We headed to a family home for the cooking class — I’d never made Banh Khoai before (it’s like a crispy rice pancake), and my attempt looked more like scrambled eggs. The “local master chef” judged us all with a straight face but then cracked up when my friend tried to flip hers onto the floor. Lunch was what we cooked — spring rolls, pancakes, plus coconut water straight from the shell. There was this quiet moment after eating where we just sat there, feet soaking in warm herbal water while someone massaged my ankles. I didn’t expect that part at all.

Later we wandered through Hoi An Ancient Town — lanterns everywhere, even in daylight they glow somehow. Minh pointed out old Japanese and Chinese houses; he told stories about traders and showed us how to spot which doorways belonged to which community. The market was loud and bright and full of smells I couldn’t name. At the theater, I lost track of time during a Champa dance performance — it felt like everyone else did too.

Before heading back, we tried making our own lanterns (mine is lopsided but still on my shelf). There’s something about Hoi An that sticks with you — maybe it’s the way people smile when you try their language or just how slow everything feels by late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Fishing and Cooking Experience

• Fishing crabs at Bay Mau water coconut forest
• Cooking class and lunch with local specialties
• Foot massage with local herbal medicines

Day 2 — Hoi An Ancient Town Tour

• Visit Hoi An ancient town highlights
• Enjoy local theater performance and games
• Make lanterns and visit Hoi An market

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Hoi An day trip?

Yes, hotel pickup is included for this full-day tour in Hoi An.

What do you cook during the Hoi An countryside tour?

You’ll learn to make dishes like Banh Khoai (rice pancakes) and Nem ran (fried spring rolls).

Are meals provided on this Hoi An local life tour?

Yes, lunch is included — you eat what you cook during the class at a local family home.

Do I need experience to join the cooking class?

No experience needed; locals guide you through each step.

Is this tour suitable for children or infants?

Yes, infants can join; prams or strollers are allowed and infant seats are available.

Will we visit Hoi An Ancient Town on this day trip?

Yes, exploring Hoi An Ancient Town is part of the itinerary.

Is there a guide on this private wine tour?

An English-speaking local guide leads the entire day trip.

Are entrance fees included in the price?

All fees and taxes are included in your booking.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup by private car, all entry fees and taxes, two bottles of water per person, hands-on cooking class with lunch at a fisherman’s home (plus fresh coconut water), basket boat ride for crab fishing with locals, lantern-making workshop, guided stroll through Hoi An Ancient Town and market visits — all led by an excellent English-speaking guide before returning in comfort at day’s end.