The 8 Best Night Boat Trips on the Hoai River

1.Hoai River Boat Trip by Night and Floating Lantern

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,988 reviews · 20 min · from $8Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide at the Kazimierz Kwiatkowski bust on Tran Phu Street. Walk five minutes to the dock, board a private wooden boat for up to five people, and release a paper lantern with help from the rower. Expect a simple 10 to 15 minute ride, not a narrated cruise.

“super easy to meet at the pick up point. good to note it's only 3 people per boat. so if you have a bigger group you will be split. this saves you haggling with boat drivers or paying an inflated price, however you could definitely just show up on the day without booking as well.”

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2.My Son Sanctuary and Thu Bon River Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 653 reviews · 5 hours · from $16

Travel from Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary with an English-speaking guide such as Philip, Ben, Lee, or Tu. Explore Cham tower temples, watch an Apsara performance, enjoy lunch or banh mi, then cruise back along the Thu Bon River.

“everything was perfect & nicely organized but the highlight was our guide (bruce) lee. he was such a knowledgeable, cool & fun guy that made everyones trip worthwhile”

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3.Hoi An Lantern Boat Ride on the Thu Bon River

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 169 reviews · 20 min · from $8

Meet an English-speaking host by the Kazimierz Kwiatkowski bust, walk five minutes to the Thu Bon River, and board a wooden boat for a 15-minute night ride. You will light one flower lantern, make a wish, and release it among Hoi An’s glowing riverside lights.

“The booking team were excellent, clear, flexible, and professional. Sadly, the actual boat ride was ruined by the operator, who was loud, rude, and aggressive. He screeched at us, made a huge fuss over nothing, took our phone to “help” with photos but deliberately took blurry, creepy shots, then shooed us away when we said thank you. Left us feeling gross and upset instead of magical, avoid.”

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4.Hoai River Night Boat Trip and Floating Lantern

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 32 reviews · 15 min · from $10

Meet an English-speaking greeter near 140 Tran Phu Street, board a wooden boat for up to four people, and spend 15 minutes on the Hoai River with a floating flower lantern. After making a wish, stroll through Hoi An’s night market. Expect a short, simple outing rather than a long cruise.

“Was unable to make it on my original booking but they were able to accommodate for the next night. Super helpful and was a quick and easy activity. Highlight was them assisting me in still getting the lantern and night boat trip”

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5.Night Boat Trip and Release Lantern at Hoai River

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 30 reviews · 20 min · from $8

Meet your English-speaking greeter at the statue at 140 Tran Phu Street, then share a silk-lantern boat with up to four people for 15 to 20 minutes. You will release one candlelit paper lantern on the Hoai River before walking through Hoi An’s Old Town on your own.

“Le service est très médiocre. Le guide sur le bateau n’est pas aimable et ne parle pas un mot d’anglais, il est donc difficile de pouvoir communiquer. Il a été très expéditif quant à la mise à l’eau de la lanterne et le tour a duré moins de 15 min.”

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6.My Son Sanctuary – small group tour and Thu Bon river cruising

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · from $31Top rated

Start with hotel pickup in Hoi An, then explore My Son Sanctuary with an English-speaking guide such as Lin, Misa, or Thuy. Afterward, enjoy a local lunch and cruise the Thu Bon River back toward Hoi An. Expect about six hours, a group of up to 14, and a 150,000 VND sanctuary admission fee.

“The tour guide was very nice despite a difficult job of keeping everyone going and together! But…. This was because the tour group was way to big (17 people) not a small tour as advertised. We also got told that it wasn’t worth seeing some oRead more”

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7.Hoi An By Night with Boat Trip and Foot Massage

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · from $39

Meet guide Nancy and her husband at Hoachampa Coffee & Tea for a four-hour evening in Hoi An. You’ll eat local specialties, watch the sunset when weather allows, cruise the Bach Dang River, explore the night market, play a traditional game, and finish with a 15-minute foot massage.

“the boat ride along Han River was most memorable… we saw Old Town Hoi An all lit up in all colors, especially the lanterns.. everything so pretty.”

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8.Half-day Hoi An Photo Tour with Lantern Release at Hoai River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $81

Meet at 06 Nguyen Thai Hoc for a four-and-a-half-hour private photo walk through Hoi An. An English-speaking guide explains the town and Cau Pagoda, while a photographer captures you among mossy walls, bougainvillea houses, alleys, and old-town symbols. Finish with a boat ride and lantern release on the Hoai River.

“Excellent tour in Hoi An - This is my fantastic experience! the lantern release at Hoai River offered beautiful photo opportunities. A must‑do for photography lovers in Hoi An”

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