The 14 Best Lantern Boat Rides in Hoi An

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.River Lantern Boat Experience with Free 5G eSIM

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,819 reviews · 20 min · from $8

Meet at 153 Tran Phu Street near the Japanese Bridge, collect your lantern and tea, then walk five minutes to the Hoai River. Your English-speaking team arranges the boat, helps with photos, and gives you about 20 minutes on the water, including a lantern release. The ride is simple, scenic, and best after dark.

“We had the best time on the Hoai River Boat Trip! It was quick and easy to meet our boat once we had shown our tickets. Having the paper lantern included in the boat ride made the experience even easier! We just needed to meet at the meeting point and everything was ready for us. Such an awesome experience!”

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3.Evening Walking Food Tour, folk game and lantern boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 665 reviews · from $39Top rated

Meet your English-speaking guide at White Rose Restaurant at 4:30 pm for a small-group walk through Hoi An’s Old Town. Try banh mi, white rose dumplings, cao lau, coffee, and more, then play bingo, ride a shared lantern boat, and finish where you started.

“Lots of food options, well organized tour. Enjoyed the uniqueness of each stop. Nancy was great! Would recommend”

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4.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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5.Basket Boat Tour, Hoi An city, boat trip and lantern release

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 138 reviews · from $39

Spend about five hours with an English-speaking guide such as Tin Tin, Emma, or Thuy, visiting Hoi An’s old town, Bay Mau Coconut Forest, and the night market. The tour includes hotel pickup in central Hoi An, dinner, a short basket-boat ride, a shared lantern boat, and one floating lantern.

“Tingh Tingh was an excellent guide, Thank-you so much, she made the day extra special. Great value for money”

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6.Lantern Boat Trip & Release Lantern

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 131 reviews · 20 min · from $7Best value

Meet Minh or a local coordinator at 37 Nguyen Phuc Chu, then take a private 20-minute boat ride along the Hoai River. See Hoi An’s lantern-lit old town, release one paper lantern per person, and take photos from the water. The ride is short, affordable, and easiest before the 7 to 8pm rush.

“Had a great experience, very well organised. The guy who organised everything was very friendly and helpful. Gave us a meeting point which made everything run very smoothly. The lanterns and boat tickets were ready to go which was great. Definitely recommend :)”

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7.Discover Hoi An by Bamboo Basket and Lantern Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · from $29

Spend about two hours combining a round bamboo basket boat ride in Bay Mau Coconut Forest with crab fishing and a lantern cruise on the Hoai River. Guides such as Nhan, Anh, and Thuan add local stories, humor, and hands-on help. Hotel pickup in Hoi An is offered.

“very good experience, Ahn was very funny and helpful!”

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8.Hoi An Lantern Making Class with Lantern Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · from $18

At a two-hour workshop near Hoi An Ancient Town, English-speaking artisans guide you through making a foldable bamboo and paper lantern. Ms. Le is especially praised for her patient teaching. You will also make a floating candle, release it on the water, and take your lantern home.

“The class was great, she was very friendly and helpful. I enjoyed making the lanterns and she made sure we got back safely from our boat ride.”

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9.Sunset Paddle and Lantern Town

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 50 reviews · from $32

From hotel pickup in Hoi An, paddle from Cam Thanh through coconut-palm waterways and local villages toward Lantern Town. Guides such as Tam and Long provide safety advice, local stories, photos, water, refreshments, equipment, and a drybag. The trip lasts about 2 to 3 hours.

“Fantastic afternoon!!!! With the rainy season, the river levels were up and I was lucky enough to get a sunny day to kayak the Thu Bon River and it did not disappoint. I ended up on a private tour as it is end of season and rain turns tourists awaRead more”

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10.HoiAn Walking Tours Night market, Colourful Lanterns, Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 36 reviews · from $60

Explore Hoi An’s old town from late afternoon into evening with a private guide, visiting Phuc Kien Assembly Hall, Tan Ky House, the Japanese Covered Bridge, local market, and night market. Dinner and a lantern boat ride are included, with pickup offered and a four-hour schedule.

“Lovely tour guide, and great experience. Lantern boat ride was beautiful and the food was good. Thank you for a nice night”

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11.Hoi An Lantern Cruise/Boat Private Sunset/Special Event By Lotus

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 36 reviews · from $17

Join Captain Co for a private 40-minute cruise on Hoi An’s Thu Bon River, limited to your group of up to 12. See Cam Nam Bridge and Hoi An Market, stop near Moon Bridge, release two lotus lanterns per person, and enjoy photos, water, and lifejackets.

“Excellent experience throughout! Our guide met us with a nice drink a few minutes early for our private boat trip. We were on a larger boat. But, it was all just for us, with seats right up front. We were given lanterns to release on two occasiRead more”

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12.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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13.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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14.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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