There’s something oddly satisfying about floating in a basket boat. This combo ride at Cam Thanh and Hoi An turns a simple river trip into two very different scenes—daytime coconut forest fun and night lantern glow.

I especially like how the coconut forest experience feels welcoming and hands-on. You’ll spin the round basket boat, cast a fishing net, and even try crab fishing with a guide and a life jacket on.

One thing to consider: the best fishing-net timing is earlier in the afternoon, and you’re also doing the day and night parts at different times. If you’re late, you may miss that specific net-casting moment, so plan your day around it.

Key Points You’ll Care About

• Two rides, two moods: 50 minutes in the coconut forest by day, then a 20-minute lantern sail at night in Hoi An.
• You get the gear: hat, umbrella, and a life jacket for the basket boat portion.
• One lantern included: you release it during the night boat ride and then head toward Hoi An’s night streets.
• English is covered: hosts/guides speak English and Vietnamese, so you won’t be guessing.
• Timing affects the fun: go before 9AM for fewer people, and before 3:30PM if you want net casting.

Coconut Basket Boats at Cam Thanh: What 50 Minutes Really Includes

This is the kind of tour that makes you stop thinking about logistics and start paying attention to what your hands are doing. You start at Làng Dừa Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour and then head into the water around Cam Thanh, an area known for coconut palms and calm waterways.

The basket boat ride runs about 50 minutes, and it’s built around short activities rather than just sitting and floating. I like that you’re not merely a passenger. You get to watch the basket boat spinning, join in with the rhythm of rowing, and try hands-on parts that make the whole thing feel like a local skill, not a theme-park stunt.

The hands-on bits: spinning, net casting, and crab fishing

During the day portion, you’ll experience several activities:

• Basket boat spinning (you’ll see how it moves and how the skipper positions it)
• Fishing net casting (there’s a cutoff time later in the day)
• Crab fishing and rowing (this is where you get to try more than just watching)
• Photo stop (you’ll get a moment to grab pictures in the landscape)

In a good review, the guide named Vu was described as great, and the skipper even sang his way through parts of the ride. If you’re the type who enjoys a bit of personality mixed with practical instruction, this setup tends to work.

How “fun” matches “local”

What makes this boat experience worth your time is that it’s not only about the ride. You’ll actually engage with the methods—how the net is thrown, how crabbing works, and how the boat is controlled. It’s a small chunk of everyday river life, packaged in a way that’s understandable even if you don’t speak Vietnamese.

Also: you’ll be given a life jacket, plus a hat and umbrella. That’s not glamorous, but it’s smart—and it means you can focus on the experience without sweating the basics.

How the Day Works: Switching From Day Basket Boats to Night Lantern Boats

This tour is really two parts on the same day, but they don’t happen back-to-back. The basket boat portion happens during the day (around 50 minutes) in the coconut forest. Then later, you’ll join the floating lantern boat at night (about 20 minutes) around Hoi An.

Here’s the useful mindset: think of the booking time as your anchor for the basket boat. When you book, that’s the time for the day ride. When you show up at the business, you’ll let them know what time you want for the lantern boat, and they arrange that part for you.

That flexibility helps if you want to roam Hoi An at your own pace before dark, or if you’re timing dinner. It also helps if your day schedule is a little messy—more common on vacation than we admit.

Best timing tips (so you don’t miss the best bits)

You have a couple of clear timing options built into how the day ride runs:

• If you want a more peaceful ride with fewer people, choose an option before 9AM.
• If you care about watching the fishing net get cast, plan to be there before 3:30PM, because that activity ends after 3:45PM.

That matters because the day portion has multiple activities packed into one session. If you arrive late in the window, you may still have fun, but you might not get the same sequence.

Floating Lantern Boat by Night: Releasing Your Wish on the Water

At night, the experience switches tone. Instead of coconut trees and daylight instruction, you’re gliding along the river as the town wakes into lantern light.

The lantern boat portion is about 20 minutes. You’ll ride along the Hoai River and get that classic Hoi An feeling: quiet water, colorful lanterns, and the glow reflecting off the surface. The highlight you’re explicitly paying for here is simple and emotional: release your own lantern and make a wish for luck and happiness.

One detail worth noting: the tour description mentions releasing lanterns on the Thu Bon River, while also describing the ride along the Hoai River. In practice, the important part for you is that the lantern release happens during the night sail on the waterways around Hoi An—so bring the moment into focus when you’re on the boat.

What you do right after the boat

Once you finish the lantern ride, you’ll head into Hoi An’s night scene. The tour description points you toward the night market and the Old Town streets, so plan for walking after the boat.

Even if you’re not the type who loves shopping, this part can be great for atmosphere: snacks, small crafts, and streets that feel very different from daytime Hoi An.

Price and Value: Why This Costs $11 (and what you’re actually getting)

The listed price is $11 per person for the combo. That price is low enough that it’s tempting to assume it’s a quick, simple stop. But when you compare what’s included, it makes more sense.

For the basket boat ride, you typically get:

• Entrance ticket for the basket boat activity
• Hat, umbrella, and life jacket
• Welcome water

For the lantern boat ride, you get:

• 1 floating lantern per person

And the tour experience itself covers two river sessions plus the shift into Hoi An’s evening streets. What’s not included is also important:

• Hoi An UNESCO entrance ticket (listed as 120,000 VND/ticket)
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Alcoholic drinks and any other extras

So the value equation is this: you’re paying for the boat activities and the lantern, while keeping you flexible to decide whether you want to pay for UNESCO sites separately. If you’re already spending time in the Old Town area and need that ticket, budget for it. If you don’t, you can still enjoy plenty without feeling “nickel-and-dimed.”

Where You Meet (and Why It Matters More Than You’d Think)

You meet at Làng Dừa Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour. The key detail: it’s inside an alley about 100 meters from the main road. That’s the kind of thing that can turn a calm morning into an awkward half-hour of searching if you’re not ready.

On Google Maps, the listing name is:

• Lang Dua Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour

On Grab, it’s:

• Green Coconut Village Basket Boat Travel Service

If you’re arriving by taxi or motorbike, take 30 seconds to check you’ve got the correct alley. You’ll save time and keep the day smooth.

What to Bring (So You Don’t Get Irritated Mid-Ride)

This tour gives you key river safety comfort for the basket boat. Still, you’ll want to show up prepared for sun and basic comfort.

Bring:

• Sunscreen
• Comfortable clothes

The hat and umbrella help with sun, but your skin will still thank you if you apply sunscreen first. Wear something you can move in and that you don’t mind getting a little wet.

Not allowed:

• Pets

Also, the tour is not suitable for people over 309 lbs (140 kg).

Group Size, Energy, and the Human Side

This is listed as a private group, which usually means you get more personal attention than on a mass tour. You’ll also have a host/greeter who speaks English and Vietnamese, which is a real help during the hands-on parts.

The reviews you shared include a few consistent themes worth leaning into:

• The welcome is warm, and people mention ice-cold bottled water.
• Guides can be engaging—one skipper sang while leading the ride.
• Crab fishing can be productive; one person mentioned catching 10 crabs relatively easily during their session.
• Organization matters: one review described the flow as smooth from start to finish, with help moving between the day activity and the night plan.

That “we’ve got you” feeling is the difference between a fun river day and an exhausting one.

Possible Drawback: Photos Can Add Up (and You Can Say No)

One caution I’d flag is the potential for paid extras. In a review, a photo attempt came from the bank and cost 100,000 VND. It didn’t sound like a scam, but it also wasn’t free, so don’t assume every picture is included.

If you like photos, ask what’s included before you pose. If you don’t care, you can politely decline. You’re already paying for the main experience—your wish, your lantern, your river time.

Who This Tour Suits Best (and Who Might Want Something Else)

This combo is ideal if you want:

• A hands-on river experience rather than a purely passive sightseeing ride
• A low-stress way to see Cam Thanh by day and Hoi An at night
• Clear communication in English (and Vietnamese)

It may not be perfect if:

• You’re very time-sensitive and hate splitting your plan into day and night slots
• You only want one specific part (because the basket and lantern rides happen at different times)

If you’re traveling with family, it can be a fun way to create a shared memory. If you’re traveling solo, the private group style can still feel friendly and structured.

Should You Book Làng Dừa Xanh’s Coconut Basket + Lantern Ride?

Book it if you want the best kind of vacation day: active, local, and then rewarded by a night scene that’s pretty without needing a huge time commitment.

Choose this tour especially if:

• You like river activities with real instruction
• You want the lantern release moment (and you don’t want to plan it yourself)
• You appreciate guides who keep things organized and communicative in English

Skip or rethink if:

• You’re arriving late and can’t make it before the net-casting cutoff
• You don’t want any chance of paid photo add-ons
• You rely on hotel pickup (since it’s not included)

If you do book, I’d aim for before 9AM for a calmer boat ride. Then later, keep your night flexible so you can enjoy Hoi An streets after the lantern sail.

FAQ

How long is the coconut basket boat ride?

The basket boat ride takes about 50 minutes on the river.

How long is the floating lantern boat ride?

The floating lantern boat ride is about 20 minutes on the river at night.

What does the tour cost?

The price is listed as $11 per person.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No, hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

What’s included in the price?

You get a welcome bottle of water, hat, umbrella, and life jacket for the basket boat ride, an entrance ticket for the basket boat ride, and 1 floating lantern per person for the night boat.

Is the Hoi An UNESCO entrance ticket included?

No. The UNESCO ticket is listed as 120,000 VND per ticket.

What should I bring?

Bring sunscreen and comfortable clothes.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at Làng Dừa Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour, inside an alley about 100 meters from the main road. Google Maps name is Lang Dua Xanh Coconut Basket Boat Tour.

Can I choose the time for the lantern boat?

Yes. When you come to the business, you tell them what time you’d like to join the floating lantern boat, and they arrange it.

Is this tour suitable for heavy people?

No. It’s not suitable for people over 309 lbs (140 kg).