Coconut Basket Boat Ride and Floating Lantern Boat by Night

Hoi An’s famous round boats give you two very different views of central Vietnam in one day. In Cam Thanh, you glide through a coconut forest, watch fishing skills, and may try crab fishing. After dark, you float along the Hoai River and send a small lantern away with a wish.

I like the friendly, well-organized staff, especially the helpful English service and the warm welcome with cold water. I also like the strong value: for $11 per person, you get the basket boat, equipment, entrance, and one floating lantern.

The main catch is timing. The basket boat and lantern boat do not run back to back. You must arrange both around separate day and night schedules, and the fishing-net demonstration ends after 3:45 PM.

Key points at a glance

• Two river experiences in one day: A 50-minute Cam Thanh basket boat ride by day and a separate 20-minute lantern boat ride in Hoi An at night.
• Crab fishing is part of the fun: You can try catching crabs from the round boat, with one recent outing producing 10 crabs.
• Arrive early for a quieter river: The operator recommends coming before 9 AM if you want fewer people and a calmer ride.
• The fishing-net display has a firm cutoff: Arrive before 3:30 PM if watching the net casting matters to you.
• The meeting point is easy to miss: Làng Dừa Xanh sits about 100 meters down an alley from the main road.
• Private groups and English support: The host team speaks English and Vietnamese, and staff can arrange the evening boat time.

A day in Cam Thanh’s coconut forest

The first part takes place at Làng Dừa Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour in Cam Thanh. This is not a long excursion. The basket boat ride lasts 50 minutes, which makes it easy to fit into a morning or afternoon in Hoi An.

You board a traditional round basket boat and travel through the coconut forest waterways. The appeal is not speed or distance. It is the change of pace. The river is quiet, the boat moves close to the water, and local boat skills become the main show.

You can expect several small activities rather than one long guided talk. The boat crew may demonstrate how a basket boat spins, show how a fishing net is cast, and help you try crab fishing. You can also take a turn rowing the basket boat and stop for photographs.

The spinning boats are the most theatrical part. The round shape allows an experienced boat driver to rotate the craft, creating a lively moment on an otherwise gentle ride. If you get motion sick easily, keep your eyes on the river and tell the boat driver if you need the spinning kept short.

Crab fishing gives the ride a more hands-on purpose. One outing caught 10 crabs with little trouble, though your result will depend on conditions and luck. It is a simple activity, but it helps you connect with the waterways rather than only looking at them from a seat.

Why the early morning option is worth considering

If you want the peaceful side of the coconut forest, choose a start before 9 AM. The operator specifically points to early morning as the best time for fewer people and a calmer river.

That advice matters. Basket boat rides can feel very different when the waterways are quiet compared with when several boats are gathered in the same area. You may also get better photographs in softer morning light, though the supplied information does not promise a particular weather condition.

The booking time refers to the basket boat ride. When you arrive, tell the staff what time you want to take the floating lantern boat later that evening. The team then arranges the night portion for you.

This setup gives you useful flexibility. You do not have to rush from Cam Thanh to Hoi An’s Old Town, and you can spend the afternoon on another activity. The tradeoff is that you need to keep track of two separate times.

The fishing-net demonstration has a strict cutoff

The fishing-net display is one of the more local details of the ride, but it does not run all day. It ends after 3:45 PM, so arrive before 3:30 PM if you want a reliable chance to see it.

That makes a late afternoon booking less useful if net casting is your main reason for coming. You may still get the basket ride, crab fishing, photographs, and rowing, but you could miss the net demonstration.

I would choose a morning booking if you want the full set of activities. Choose the afternoon only if the timing works better for your Hoi An plans and you are happy to treat the net casting as a bonus rather than a guarantee.

What the staff and boat drivers add

The operation is set up for English and Vietnamese speakers. That is useful here because the experience depends on small instructions: how to sit in the basket boat, when to row, where to look during net casting, and how to handle the crab-fishing attempt.

The staff welcome you with a bottle of cold water. Hats, umbrellas, and life jackets are provided for the basket ride. These are modest details, but they make the visit easier, especially under central Vietnam’s strong daytime sun.

Vu is one of the named staff members associated with the experience. The boat drivers also shape the mood. One recent outing included a skipper who sang while rowing, and another described the driver as funny and helpful while explaining the history of the round boats.

That personality cannot be guaranteed, but it is part of the appeal of a locally run activity. You are not simply being moved through a fixed display. The boat driver may turn the ride into a playful lesson, a fishing attempt, or a short photo session depending on the group.

Finding Làng Dừa Xanh without a wrong turn

The meeting point is Làng Dừa Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour. It is inside an alley, about 100 meters from the main road. Search Google Maps for Lang Dua Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour.

If you use Grab, the listed name is Green Coconut Village Basket Boat Travel Service. Check the spelling before setting off, since similar coconut boat businesses operate in the Hoi An area.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included in the stated package. You need to make your own way to the meeting point, and the price does not cover transport from your hotel.

The provider says the group type is private. That should suit you if you want a more personal pace and do not want to share the boat activity with a large organized group. The information does not specify the maximum number of people in each private group, so ask before booking if group size is important to you.

The evening lantern boat on the Hoai River

The second activity takes place at night in Hoi An’s ancient town, not at the coconut forest. The lantern boat ride lasts about 20 minutes and travels along the Hoai River.

After dark, Hoi An changes character. Lanterns glow around the river and Old Town, and the boat gives you a low, quiet view of the town from the water. It is a short ride, so think of it as a gentle evening ritual rather than a full river cruise.

You receive one floating lantern per person. You can release it onto the river and make a wish for luck and happiness. The act is simple, but it gives the ride a clear local tradition instead of making it only a photo stop.

The boat journey also puts you close to Hoi An’s night activity. Afterward, you can walk through the night market, look at handicrafts and souvenirs, and sample local food. Those Old Town activities are not part of the $11 package, so plan to pay separately for anything you buy or eat.

The evening section is best for atmosphere and photographs. It is not the part to choose if you want a long commentary about Hoi An’s past. The supplied details promise the river ride, lantern release, and access to the surrounding Old Town area, but not a full historical tour.

The two-part schedule needs some planning

This experience is sold as one package, but the activities happen at different times. The daytime basket ride lasts 50 minutes. The night boat lasts 20 minutes. They take place on the same day unless you contact the provider and ask to split them across two days.

When you book, the selected time is for the basket boat. At the meeting point, tell staff when you want to join the floating lantern boat. They arrange the evening time around availability.

I like this arrangement more than a tightly packed schedule. You have space between the two activities for lunch, rest, shopping, or a visit to Hoi An’s Old Town. Still, you should not treat the lantern ride as an automatic extension of the morning tour. Confirm the evening time before leaving the basket boat meeting point.

If you want to see fishing-net casting, the best plan is an early or mid-afternoon basket ride that finishes before the cutoff. If quiet water matters most, choose before 9 AM. The best time depends on which part you value more.

Is $11 good value?

At $11 per person, this is an inexpensive way to combine two recognizable Hoi An experiences. The basket boat portion includes the entrance ticket, life jacket, hat, umbrella, and welcome water. The night portion includes one floating lantern per person.

The price is especially fair if you want a short introduction rather than a half-day tour. You get local boat activities, some time on the river, and a separate evening view of Hoi An without paying for a longer package.

There are extra costs to remember. The Hoi An UNESCO entrance ticket is listed at 120,000 VND per ticket and is not included. Alcoholic drinks and any other expenses are also extra. Hotel transport is not included, so add your own cost and time for reaching the meeting point.

One point deserves care: a published review described pickup and return, but the stated tour terms say hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. I would follow the written meeting-point information and arrange your own transport unless the operator confirms something different.

What to bring and what to expect physically

Bring sunscreen and comfortable clothes. You will spend 50 minutes outdoors on the river, and the daytime sun can be strong. The provider supplies a hat and umbrella, but sunscreen remains your responsibility.

A life jacket is provided for the basket boat ride. The experience is not suitable for anyone over 140 kilograms, or 309 pounds. Pets are not allowed.

You should be comfortable sitting in a small round boat and taking part in light activities such as rowing and crab fishing. The information does not give a detailed accessibility assessment, so contact the provider directly if you have mobility or balance concerns.

The ride is short, which helps if you are unsure about basket boats. It also means you should not expect a long nature trip through the entire coconut forest. The value comes from the mix of local activity, boat handling, fishing demonstrations, and the evening lantern ritual.

Who will enjoy this experience most?

I would recommend it to first-time Hoi An visitors who want a compact introduction to two familiar local experiences. Families may enjoy the spinning boat, crab fishing, and lantern release, though very young children should be watched closely around the water.

It also suits couples looking for a quiet night activity after a more playful afternoon. The lantern ride is short, so you can easily continue into the Old Town afterward.

Photographers should choose their time carefully. Early morning may offer calmer surroundings, while the night ride provides lantern-lit views. The best photo opportunities depend on weather, crowd levels, and the boat driver’s exact route.

I would be less keen on it if you want a long cultural lecture, a full-day river trip, or transport handled from your hotel. This is a short, activity-based experience. Its strength is variety and price, not depth or extensive sightseeing.

The consistently high rating, with eight five-star ratings recorded, fits the main strengths of the operation: friendly staff, smooth arrangements, an entertaining boat driver, and good value. The practical lesson is to book for the timing you want, arrive at the correct alley, and confirm the evening lantern time in person.

Should you book the Coconut Basket Boat and Floating Lantern Boat?

Book it if you want an affordable two-part Hoi An experience with hands-on activities by day and a calm river ritual at night. The strongest reasons are the low price, English-speaking staff, private-group format, crab fishing, and the flexibility to separate the two rides.

Choose an early start if peace and fewer people matter most. Arrive before 3:30 PM if the fishing-net demonstration is essential. If you want easy hotel transport or a long guided tour, this package may not fit.

For most visitors with a spare morning and evening in Hoi An, I think it is a sensible buy. Just remember that the $11 price does not include the 120,000 VND Old Town entrance ticket, hotel transport, or personal spending.

FAQ

How long does the basket boat ride last?

The basket boat ride lasts 50 minutes on the river in Cam Thanh’s coconut forest.

How long does the floating lantern boat ride last?

The floating lantern boat ride lasts 20 minutes on the Hoai River in Hoi An’s ancient town.

Do both activities happen at the same time?

No. The basket boat ride takes place during the day, and the floating lantern boat ride takes place at night. Both are arranged for the same day unless you ask the provider to split them across two days.

What time does the booking refer to?

The time selected when you book refers to the daytime basket boat ride. At the meeting point, tell the staff what time you would like to take the floating lantern boat.

What happens during the basket boat ride?

You can watch basket boats spin, see a fishing net cast, try crab fishing, row a basket boat, and take photographs.

When should I arrive to see the fishing-net demonstration?

Arrive before 3:30 PM. The fishing-net activity ends after 3:45 PM.

What is included in the price?

The package includes a bottle of water, a hat, an umbrella, a life jacket, and the basket boat entrance ticket. It also includes one floating lantern per person for the night boat.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to reach Làng Dừa Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour yourself.

What should I bring, and who cannot join?

Bring sunscreen and comfortable clothes. Pets are not allowed, and the activity is not suitable for people over 140 kilograms, or 309 pounds.