Hoi An Private Cooking Class & Basket Boat Tour with Chef
Hands-On Vietnamese Cooking and River Adventure in Hoi An
You’ll shop at a bustling Hoi An market, cruise through coconut groves by basket boat, then cook (and eat!) classic Vietnamese dishes with a local chef. It’s hands-on, relaxed, and full of real flavors—perfect if you want to experience Hoi An like a local.
3h 30m
Step-by-step itinerary
Market, Boat Ride, and Cooking Class
- Explore local market and buy ingredients
- Basket boat ride in coconut forest
- Watch coracle boat performances
- Make souvenirs from palm leaves
- Boat shaking and crab-catching activities
- Hands-on cooking class at Lantern Restaurant
- Enjoy the dishes you cooked
The Experience
The morning air in Hoi An always feels a bit sticky, but that’s part of the charm when you’re heading out to the local market. Our guide, Chef Thanh, greeted us with a grin and led us through narrow aisles packed with herbs, fish, and chatter. I tried bargaining for fresh mangoes—let’s just say the vendor was amused by my attempts. The smell of basil and fish sauce lingered on my hands even after we left. Thanh explained how to pick the best shrimp for our salad, pointing out which ones were caught that morning.
Next up: the basket boat ride. I’d seen these round boats before but never tried one. Climbing in felt wobbly at first, but soon we were gliding past tangled coconut palms. The water was calm except for the occasional splash from a crab scuttling nearby. Local artists spun their boats in dizzying circles—kids on the shore cheered them on. Thanh showed us how to weave little grasshoppers from palm leaves; mine looked more like a squashed bug, but it made me laugh.
Back at Thanh’s home kitchen, we got to work. He made everything look easy—chopping mango for salad, rolling pork spring rolls so tight they didn’t fall apart in the pan. My first attempt at pho ga noodles was clumpy, but Thanh just winked and showed me how to fix it. Lunch was loud and lively; everyone swapped stories while we dipped crispy rolls into sweet-sour fish sauce. The fruit platter at the end tasted extra sweet after all that effort.
What’s included
Your hotel pickup and drop-off (in Hoi An), English-speaking chef guide, all ingredients for cooking, basket boat ride through the coconut forest, lunch with drinks—all sorted so you can just enjoy the day.
Operated by Lantern Restauarnt & Cooking Class
Traveler reviews
Compare the 13 similar options
Hoi An Private Cooking Class & Basket Boat Tour with Chef★ 4.76 (34)3h 30mENUS$ 42
Hoi An: Basket Boat, Lantern Making & Cooking ClassBoard a traditional basket boat through Cam Thanh's coconut forest, craft a lantern, and cook four local dishes with a guide. Hotel pickup included, small groups, full day.★ 4.97 (262)4h 30mENUS$ 30View ›
Cooking Class Hoi An: Market, Basket Boat & 4 DishesCook 4 Vietnamese dishes in Hoi An with market visit, bamboo basket boat fishing, and English guide included—you eat what you make plus four prepared sides.★ 4.97 (4,715)4h 30mEN · VIUS$ 29View ›
Hoi An Cooking Class: Market Tour and Basket BoatLearn to cook Vietnamese dishes at Cocolocal Farm in Hoi An with pickup and guide included★ 4.99 (604)5hEN · VIUS$ 36View ›
Hue Imperial City Day Trip: Citadel & Coastal Pass TourFull-day tour from Da Nang to Hue with English-speaking guide, entrance fees and lunch included; cross the Hai Van Pass8hEN · VIUS$ 325View ›
Hoi An: Vietnamese Coffee Making Class & 5 Brew StylesLearn to brew 5 Vietnamese coffees with a Phin filter in Hoi An, including black coffee, egg coffee & salt coffee. Small group class with English guide and herbal tea.★ 4.97 (678)2hENUS$ 15.39View ›
Hoi An Basket Boat Ride: Water Coconut Forest with Local GuidePaddle a bamboo basket boat through Hoi An's water coconut forest with a local guide, learning traditional fishing techniques while exploring mangrove★ 4.94 (394)2hENUS$ 12View ›
Hoi An: Market, Basket Boat & Cooking ClassHalf-day cooking experience in Hoi An with market shopping, bamboo basket boat through coconut forest, and Vietnamese cooking class. Lunch included, English guide.★ 4.96 (127)3h–4hENUS$ 17.10View ›
Hoi An Ancient Town Walking Tour with a Local GuideThree-hour walking tour of Hoi An's UNESCO-listed old town with an English-speaking local guide★ 4.98 (775)3hENUS$ 11.86View ›
Hoi An Lantern Making Class with Boat Ride: craft and release your own lanternCraft your own bamboo lantern in Hoi An and release it on the river at dusk. This 2-hour class includes hotel pickup and a private boat ride to experience a local tradition.★ 4.90 (124)2hENUS$ 19.27View ›
Hoi An Cooking Class with Basket Boat & Crab FishingMorning or afternoon class in Hoi An: market shopping with a local guide, basket boat ride through the nipa forest catching crabs★ 4.99 (1,624)4h 30mENUS$ 29View ›
Basket Boat Ride in Hoi An Coconut Forest: Learn to PaddlePaddle a traditional basket boat through Hoi An's coconut forest while watching fishermen cast nets, trying crabbing, and learning local techniques from your guide.★ 4.92 (1,160)2hEN · VIUS$ 5View ›
My Son Sanctuary tour: sunset boat on Thu Bon RiverWalk the ruins of My Son Sanctuary with a local English guide, then boat back to Hoi An at sunset on the Thu Bon River while enjoying a Champa dance performance.★ 4.85 (603)5hENUS$ 22View › 
Top questions
Is this cooking class suitable for beginners?
Absolutely! Chef Thanh explains each step clearly and helps everyone out—no experience needed.
Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Please let us know your needs when booking; we’ll do our best to adjust recipes where possible.
How long does the whole tour take?
The full experience usually lasts about 5 hours, including transfers and lunch.
What should I wear or bring?
Light clothing is best—it can get warm at the market and on the river. Bring sunblock and your appetite!
Hoi An Private Cooking Class & Basket Boat Tour with Chef
3h 30m · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 42 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.7634 reviews
