REVIEW · HOI AN
Coconut Basket Boat Ride and Floating Lantern Boat by Night
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Green Coconut Village · Bookable on GetYourGuide
Coconut boats and lanterns in one day. What makes this combo feel special is the switch from coconut-forest fun to a quiet river ritual in Hoi An’s night glow. I also like how the staff are easy to understand, with English support that helps everything feel simple from minute one.
My favorite part is doing the hands-on coconut basket boat activities, from crab fishing to the boat skills. The only real drawback: you’ll want to budget extra for the Hoi An UNESCO Old Town ticket if you plan to enter it, since it’s not included.
Key things to know before you go
- Two activities, same day: Day basket boat ride, then a night lantern boat portion
- Short and active basket ride: 50 minutes on the water with crab fishing, net-casting viewing, and rowing
- Lantern wish moment: You release a lantern onto the river during the night ride
- Good value for what’s included: Water, life jacket, hat/umbrella, basket ride ticket, and 1 lantern
- Timing affects crowds: Go before 9AM for a calmer experience
- Plan for extra costs: UNESCO Old Town entry is separate
In This Review
- Coconut Basket Boat in Cam Thanh: What Actually Happens in 50 Minutes
- The boat skills part (and why it’s fun)
- A note on pictures
- When to Go in the Day: Avoid Crowds and Time Your Net-Casting View
- Làng Dừa Xanh Meeting Point: Finding the Place Without Stress
- What’s Included on the Basket Boat: The Small Stuff That Improves Comfort
- The Night Half at Hoi An: Lantern Boat on the River, Then Old Town Time
- What you do after the boat ride
- Budget reality: UNESCO ticket not included
- How Much Is This Really Worth? Price vs. What You Get
- Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Should Think Twice)
- Practical Tips That Improve Your Day and Night
- Should You Book the Coconut Basket Boat and Floating Lantern Combo?
- FAQ
- How long is the basket boat ride?
- When does the floating lantern boat happen?
- Where do I meet for the tour?
- What is included in the price?
- Is the UNESCO ticket for Hoi An Old Town included?
- Can I choose what time to do the night lantern boat?
- Are there any restrictions on who can join?
Coconut Basket Boat in Cam Thanh: What Actually Happens in 50 Minutes
This is the kind of tour where you don’t just watch from the shore. You get on a small basket boat and spend about 50 minutes in the Cam Thanh coconut forest area, surrounded by water, palm roots, and that slower pace you don’t get in town.
The day portion starts at Làng Dừa Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour. After a quick setup, you head into the coconut forest waterways with a guide who keeps things moving and points out what’s going on. You’ll also get a photo stop as part of the ride experience, so you’re not scrambling for pictures while the boat is already sliding away.
What I like most is the mix of “sit back and watch” plus “do it yourself.” Some moments are for watching—like the spinning basket boat action and watching the net-casting—while other moments are hands-on, like rowing and trying crab fishing.
The boat skills part (and why it’s fun)
You’ll see the basket boat spinning, and you’ll also have time to row the boat yourself. It’s not complicated, but it feels playful. The boat handles differently than a normal motorboat, so you get this gentle wobble and slow control that makes it feel local rather than staged.
If you’re into fishing-style activity, this is a big plus. You’ll watch casting the fishing net, and then you’ll have an opportunity to do crab fishing. Even if you don’t land a lot, it’s still an experience because you’re learning how people work the water here.
You can also read our reviews of more boat tours in Hoi An
A note on pictures
There can be extra photo offers during the day. One traveler flagged a bank-side photo offer as being 100,000 VND, which suggests you may see optional photo upsells. If you’re budget-conscious, just ask first and decide on the spot.
When to Go in the Day: Avoid Crowds and Time Your Net-Casting View
Timing can make this tour feel calmer or busier, and the operator gives you a clear lever to pull: go earlier.
If you want a more peaceful ride with fewer tourists, choose the option before 9AM. That’s when the coconut waterways are less crowded and the whole experience feels more like you’re borrowing someone’s quiet morning.
There’s also a detail about the net-casting viewing. The viewing ends after 3:45PM, and if you care about seeing that specific activity, plan to arrive before 3:30PM.
Why this matters: basket boat rides are short, and most of the “memory-making” moments are time-sensitive. If you show up late, you might miss a favorite segment and end up mostly watching the last part.
Làng Dừa Xanh Meeting Point: Finding the Place Without Stress
You meet at Làng Dừa Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour. The site is inside an alley, about 100 meters from the main road.
This is one of those meeting points that’s easy to miss if you only look at a big landmark. Use the operator’s map location (Google Map: Lang Dua Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour). If you’re coming via Grab, the listing name shown is Green Coconut Village Basket Boat Travel Service.
Once you’re there, you’ll be greeted in a way that feels organized. Staff are English and Vietnamese, and that matters because it reduces the usual guessing games that happen with short tours.
What’s Included on the Basket Boat: The Small Stuff That Improves Comfort
This tour includes the practical basics you want for a water activity in Central Vietnam: a bottle of water for your welcome drink, plus a hat, umbrella, and life jacket for the basket boat ride.
That’s not just nice—it’s useful. Sun and wind off the water can hit harder than you expect. The hat/umbrella combo means you spend less time thinking about shade and more time actually doing the activities.
Also bring sunscreen and comfortable clothes. It’s a short ride, but you’ll still want gear that dries easily if you get any mist or water splash.
You can also read our reviews of more evening experiences in Hoi An
The Night Half at Hoi An: Lantern Boat on the River, Then Old Town Time
After the day’s coconut forest portion, you’ll switch to the night activity in Hoi An. The floating lantern boat part is about 20 minutes on the river.
As dusk falls, you’ll be on a traditional-style boat with lanterns around you. Then comes the signature moment: you release your own lantern and send a wish for luck and happiness as it drifts away.
One detail in the tour description is that the lantern wish release is tied to Thu Bon River, while the ride is described along the Hoai River. Either way, you’re doing the same meaningful action: placing your light onto the water during the night ride in the Hoi An area.
What you do after the boat ride
The ride is only one piece. After you finish the lantern boat portion, you get time to enjoy Hoi An at night—specifically:
- the night market
- and a walk through the Old Town streets
You’re basically getting a “river ritual” followed by “people-watching + food browsing + lantern-street photos.” If you like your evenings active but not exhausting, this setup works well.
Budget reality: UNESCO ticket not included
Hoi An’s UNESCO Old Town entrance ticket is not included, listed as 120,000 VND per ticket. If your plan is to walk into the Old Town areas that require the ticket, add that cost to your total.
And it’s worth checking what you’ll actually enter. Some visitors are happy with outside wandering, while others want full Old Town access.
How Much Is This Really Worth? Price vs. What You Get
The price is listed at $11 per person, which is low for a two-part day/night plan that includes:
- basket boat entrance ticket
- ride-day comfort gear (life jacket, hat, umbrella)
- water for a welcome drink
- 1 lantern per person for the night boat
- English/Vietnamese guided support
That value comes from the structure: you’re paying once for a complete “day activity + night activity” experience, not just a single boat ride.
Where you may spend extra:
- Hoi An UNESCO Old Town ticket (120,000 VND), if you enter
- alcoholic drinks (not included)
- hotel pickup/drop-off is listed as not included, though the staff may coordinate movement between parts in practice
So the smartest way to judge value is this: if you want both the coconut forest boat fun and the lantern ritual without organizing separate tickets and timing yourself, the package price is genuinely attractive.
Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Should Think Twice)
This is a great fit if you:
- want something active but not physically intense
- like water activities with real local flavor (coconut forest + fishing-style moments)
- enjoy a night experience that blends a short ride with an easy walk after
It might be less ideal if you:
- hate optional upsells related to photos
- know you’ll want heavy time inside UNESCO Old Town areas and don’t want to pay extra
- are sensitive to scheduling (because the day portion is tied to your booking time)
Also note the limits: it’s not suitable for people over 309 lbs (140 kg), and pets aren’t allowed.
Practical Tips That Improve Your Day and Night
These are the small things that matter with this specific two-part schedule.
- Plan the day for calm: If possible, aim for a before 9AM start for fewer people.
- If net-casting is a must, go earlier: Try to arrive before 3:30PM.
- Pack for sun and light mess: sunscreen + comfortable clothes do the job.
- Ask your lantern time question immediately: You’ll choose when you want to join the night lantern boat when you arrive at the business, and they arrange the timing.
- Bring cash for the extras: UNESCO ticket and optional photo offers can come up quickly.
One more note from experience-based feedback: tipping is typically possible if you feel the guide/driver did a great job, but it doesn’t need to be stressful. Just know it exists as an option.
Should You Book the Coconut Basket Boat and Floating Lantern Combo?
If you want a Vietnam day that feels hands-on in the morning and dreamy at night, I’d book this. The value is strong for the mix of activities, and the English support makes it easier than many rural-area tours.
Book it especially if you’re the type who likes doing things with your hands—rowing the basket boat, trying crab fishing, and then ending the day with a lantern wish on the river.
Skip it or adjust your expectations if you’re hoping for long, laid-back Old Town time without any extra ticket costs. The UNESCO ticket isn’t included, and the night portion after the boat ride is time for walking and browsing, not a guided deep-dive inside every single venue.
FAQ
How long is the basket boat ride?
The basket boat ride is about 50 minutes on the river during the day.
When does the floating lantern boat happen?
The floating lantern boat happens at night in Hoi An, with a ride time of about 20 minutes.
Where do I meet for the tour?
You meet at Làng Dừa Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour, inside an alley about 100 meters from the main road. It is listed on Google Map as Lang Dua Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour.
What is included in the price?
Included items are a welcome bottle of water, hat/umbrella/life jacket for the basket boat ride, the basket boat ride entrance ticket, and 1 floating lantern per person for the night boat.
Is the UNESCO ticket for Hoi An Old Town included?
No. The Hoi An UNESCO entrance ticket is not included, listed at 120,000 VND per ticket.
Can I choose what time to do the night lantern boat?
When you book, the basket boat time is set. When you arrive at the business, you tell them what time you’d like for the floating lantern boat, and they arrange it.
Are there any restrictions on who can join?
The tour is not suitable for people over 309 lbs (140 kg). Pets are also not allowed.
