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VietnamDescription and Is it Worth Visiting
Boat trip on the Thu Bon River in Hoi An is perhaps the most popular and recognizable activity for any tourist who comes to this city. Essentially, Hoi An stands on water, and its tourist heart is precisely this river, more precisely, its channel between the historical center and An Hoi Island. It is here that you will see all those postcard views with ancient houses, lanterns, and bridges that make the city so photogenic.
To be honest, we believe that now it's hard to call this boat trip a romantic, secluded journey. There are so many boats with tourists, especially in the evening. So many that traffic jams form on the water!!! Today it is more of a well-established conveyor belt than a quiet adventure. But on the other hand, to visit Hoi An and not see it from the water is to miss something important. So we'll tell you how to organize it.
How to take a boat ride in Hoi An: practical information
Doing this independently is as easy as pie. In the evening, when it starts to get dark and the lanterns light up, simply come to the central embankment. Boatmen and touts will start inviting you for a ride even as you approach. The key here is not to rush with the first offer. The lowest fixed prices are usually at a small ticket booth that operates right on the embankment. There is often a queue for it, but it moves quickly. The standard trip lasts about 20 minutes and costs approximately from 170,000 dong per boat. They row on traditional Vietnamese rowing boats (not round ones), which adds authenticity. If you want to ride on traditional round boats, you need to go to another place in the Coconut Village, read more about this at the link.
We advise going at sunset or immediately after dark (after 17:00), when the lights turn on and the city transforms. This is the most atmospheric, though also the most crowded, option. If crowds don't appeal to you, you can try to arrange a daytime trip with a boatman. During the day, the ticket booth usually doesn't work, so the price needs to be discussed individually. However, the river will be much calmer, and you can examine the architecture without haste.
If you come as part of a tour group from Da Nang or another city, then the boat trip is likely already included in the program. In this case, they will simply bring you and seat you.
There are also more expensive options like a dinner cruise on a large motorboat, but that's a different story. For a first-time acquaintance with the city from the water, a standard short trip is quite enough. Yes, it's mass-produced, but these views of Hoi An's lights reflecting in the water have become a classic for a reason.
🕐 Opening hours
You can take a boat ride during the day or in the evening, but it's most beautiful after dark.
💵 Entrance fee / ticket price
There is a fixed and negotiable price. Tickets for a 20-minute ride at a fixed price on wooden rowing boats:
- Boat for 1-3 people – 170,000 dong / 6.46 USD.
- Boat for 4-5 people – 220,000 dong / 8.36 USD.
At the end of the ride, the boatmen will expect tips. Larger boats and private longer tours are at a negotiated price from 500,000 dong.
🚶 How to get there
The boats depart directly from the embankment from various places almost along the entire length of the embankment both from the central side (embankment on the map) and from the embankment on An Hoi Island, but most points are near the bridge to An Hoi Island (An Hoi Bridge), as this is essentially the most touristy epicenter of Hoi An. Here in the evening, an improvised ticket booth with a table and chair operates; you can find it by the queue of tourists. Here the prices are fixed, as indicated above.
Also, while walking along the embankment, touts and boatmen offer rides on private wooden boats and larger cruise boats.