Top 14 Hoi An River Cruises

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 the rower’s help. Expect a short, atmospheric ride with no onboard commentary.

“We enjoyed our boat ride at the height of Tet. We were met by a guide who took us to the point where we caught a boat for 20 minutes. From start to finish we felt safe and looked after with life jackets and a confident rower. It was busy on the river but we loved the atmosphere of the lanterns and sending a candle downstream. It was delightful. Pity the modern Irish venues played such loud music which was inappropriate for Tet. This was a lovely end to our stay in Hoi An.”

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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. An English-speaking team leads you to a traditional boat for a 20-minute evening ride, lantern release, and photos. The $8 ticket also includes a 24-hour 8GB eSIM.

“The boat trip was beautiful seeing all the lanterns on the water and the beautiful lit up building around the canal. I would highly recommend this”

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3.My Son Sanctuary and Thu Bon River Boat Trip

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

From Hoi An, you’ll visit My Son Sanctuary with an English-speaking guide, watch a Cham dance, and learn how its temple towers served the Champa Kingdom. Choose a morning tour with a local lunch or an afternoon trip with banh mi, then return by boat along the Thu Bon River.

“Amazing , good information, nice guide, not fast paced and amazing lunch”

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4.My Son Sanctuary & Sunset River Cruise BBQ or Banhmi

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 345 reviews · 5 hours - 330 minutes · from $18

You’ll leave Hoi An at 12:30 for My Son Sanctuary, where guides such as Thao, Van, Tin, and Lam explain Cham culture, temples, and wartime stories. After a traditional Cham performance, finish with a sunset Thu Bon River cruise, choosing a BBQ meal or banh mi.

“The guides provide us from abundance information. He had knowledge about the religion and had knowledge about Vietnamese culture. The side was marvellous. The boatride was cute. Guide self provide us very fast of delicious barbecue.”

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

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

Meet an English-speaking greeter at the Kazimierz Kwiatkowski bust, walk five minutes to the dock, and board a wooden boat for a 15-minute ride. You’ll release one flower lantern per person, with Hoi An’s night lights reflected on the water.

“Le type du bateau nous a même pas informé de faire un vœux avant la mise à l’eau de notre lanterne… 🙄 Il les a allumées dès le début 🤦‍♀️, manque de charme. Décevant”

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6.Hoai River Night Boat Trip and Floating Lantern

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

Meet an English-speaking greeter opposite 140 Tran Phu Street, board a wooden boat for up to four people, and spend 15 minutes on the Hoai River. Light one flower lantern per person, release it toward the sea, then walk through Hoi An’s night market.

“É stato tutto molto veloce. Dopo un minimo ci hanno fatto accendere la lanterna e metterla in acqua alla velocità della luce. Sconsiglio fortemente questa esperienza perche, nonostante il basso prezzo, non ne vale assolutamente la pena!”

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7.Night Boat Trip and Release Lantern at Hoai River

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

Meet your English-speaking greeter at 140 Tran Phu Street, then share a silk-lantern-decorated sampan with up to three other people. Your 15 to 20 minute Hoai River ride includes one floating paper lantern, with Old Town and night-market time afterward.

“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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8.Danang: My Son Sanctuary and River Cruise 7.30 am/12.30 pm

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 20 reviews · 5 - 6 hours · from $33

Travel in a small group of up to 13 to My Son Sanctuary, see ancient Champa tower temples and an Apsara dance, then return toward Hoi An by boat. The morning option includes lunch at a local home; the afternoon option includes Vietnamese bread and possible sunset views.

“Way too much hidden fees, way too expensive, in the end it’s coming 2x expensive”

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9.Hoi An Boat Lantern With Release Flower Hoai River At Night

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · 20 min · from $5Best value

Meet Mr. Viet’s team at 153 Tran Phu, exchange your mobile voucher for a physical ticket, then take a 20-minute private boat ride on the Hoai River. You’ll receive one flower lantern and a water or soft drink. English support is available.

“Fun little evening activity - a must-do during your Hoi A visit.”

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10.Private night boat Trip & release lantern on river

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 15 reviews · 15 min · from $8

Meet your English-speaking greeter at 142 Tran Phu Street for a private Hoai River boat ride, limited to five people per booking. You’ll receive one flower lantern, release it for luck and peace, then explore Hoi An’s night market and Old Town independently.

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11.Da Nang or Hoi An: Countryside Bike & Basket Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 270 minutes - 6 hours · from $36Top rated

Ride quiet village roads with an English-speaking guide such as Tony, Man, or Mr. Cu, then take a basket boat through Cam Thanh’s coconut forest, try traditional fishing, and share a Vietnamese meal. The route is mostly flat, but summer heat makes a morning start the smart choice.

“Choose the morning outing because of the heat (August). Bike ride with hotel pick-up on flat terrain, not difficult. We enjoyed the rice fields with a pleasant light breeze, our guide was very attentive and patient throughout the outing. We discovered a little bit of the peasants' life with rice cultivation, presented in a fun way, working the land with buffalo and scrapers, followed by planting rice plants... Then, as indicated in the description, and as planned, we went coconut basket boating and crab fishing... very enjoyable! To round it all off, we had a Ban Xheo cooking workshop and a tasting around a delicious and flavorful meal. Return to…”

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12.Night Boat Trip and Floating Lantern on Hoai River

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 13 reviews · from $8

Meet your English-speaking greeter at the Kazimierz Kwiatkowski bust on Tran Phu Street, walk to the dock, and board a wooden boat for 15 minutes on the Hoai River. You receive one flower lantern to release with a wish. Boats hold one to five people, with long waits possible from 18:30 to 19:30.

“Great boat ride and lantern. Guide took us there and picked us up. Hoi An is amazing”

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13.Basket Boat Tour by River Boat and Lantern Release

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 11 reviews · 2 hours · from $19

You’ll cruise from 40 Bach Dang Street to Bay Mau Coconut Forest, then ride a traditional basket boat through its waterways. Mr. Bai may operate the boat, and your English-speaking driver handles the outing. Return at sunset for river views and a lantern release.

“The experience was good. The guide was super nice and attention with us . He took us to a channel during the sunset. Nice spot . We just had to wait around 45min for the boat , but the experience was nice .”

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14.Lantern Boat Ride on the Hoai River

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 10 reviews · 15 min · from $8

Meet your English-speaking greeter at Kazimierz Kwiatkowsky Square, near 140 Trần Phú, for a 15-minute Hoai River boat ride. You receive one flower lantern, make a wish, and release it into the night. The $8 experience is short, simple, and best suited to an evening in Hoi An’s old town.

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