Top 12 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. You’ll walk five minutes to the dock, board a private wooden boat for up to five people, and release one paper lantern per person with help from the rower. The ride lasts 10 to 15 minutes and is scenic rather than narrated.

“This was well worth booking… the normal queue for the boats was long and chaotic. My guide messaged me earlier in the day with meeting point, so met there and he escorted us down to the river and immediately onto a boat. No messing around, was great experience”

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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, where English-speaking staff lead you to a short Hoai River boat ride. Your ticket includes a lantern, herbal tea, and a free 24-hour eSIM with 8GB of data and 10 local-call minutes. Expect roughly 20 minutes on the water, photo stops, and an easy walk through Hoi An’s Old Town at night.

“Very well organised easy to find and hassle free . Was glad I paid for this in advance as I didn’t have to worry about anything”

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3.My Son Sanctuary and Thu Bon River Boat Trip

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

Travel from Hoi An to My Son Sanctuary with an English-speaking guide such as Philip, Ben, or Lee, then see a Champa dance and return by Thu Bon River boat. The morning tour includes a local lunch with vegetarian options. The afternoon tour includes banh mi, so eat lunch beforehand.

“Our tour guide was the best, knowledgeable and could answer all questions.”

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

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

This five-hour Hoi An outing pairs My Son Sanctuary with a sunset cruise on the Thu Bon River. Your English-speaking guide, such as Lam, Tin, Thao, or Van, explains Cham culture, temple history, and local life before you board for BBQ skewers, fruit, and rice liquor, or a banh mi. Hotel pickup, bottled water, and drop-off are included.

“The tour was really good and our guide Tin made it! He was so knowledgeable and full of facts and history. It wouldn’t have been as good without him”

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5.PRIAVATE DaNang CITY TOUR-FOOD TOUR-Sunset BOAT TRIP on Han river

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 63 reviews · from $100Top rated

Start at 1:30 pm with hotel pickup in Da Nang or Hoi An, then visit Marble Mountains, Am Phu Cave, Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village, My Khe Beach, Linh Ung Pagoda, and Han Market. Finish with local food and a one-hour Han River boat ride past nine bridges. Guide Long has led this route.

“We had a great time with Pacific Boat team to visit all most beautiful destinations of the city.Long is a superb guide who is helpful and smart.The place was well worth to visit and very comfortable with group only 8 persons.Highly recommend”

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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, make a wish, and watch it drift toward the sea. The ride is short, simple, and best paired with a walk through Hoi An’s night market.

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

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

Travel from Da Nang to My Son Sanctuary with an English-speaking guide in a small group of up to 13. Spend time among Champa tower temples, watch a traditional Apsara dance, eat at a local house on the morning trip, or enjoy Vietnamese bread during the afternoon boat ride back to Hoi An.

“Very knowledgeable guide Mr Simon. Thanks a lot to him.”

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8.Authentic Mekong Delta: Tuk Tuk, Rowing Boat, Biking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.2 · 9 reviews · 8 hours · from $18

Spend eight hours traveling from Ho Chi Minh City into the Mekong Delta by air-conditioned van, motorboat, rowing boat, tuk tuk, and bicycle. You will visit Vinh Trang Pagoda, Qui Islet, a coconut candy workshop, a tropical fruit garden, and a Garden-Pond-Cage farm. Lunch, fruit, water, entrance fees, and an English or Vietnamese guide are included.

“loved the boat ride and lunch. really great tour and the guide really trys to make sure you have a great experience. very friendly and I highly recommend”

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9.HoiAn Small Boat By Night on Bach Dang River

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · from $9

Meet at 94 Bach Dang in Hoi An’s old town for a simple 20-minute private boat ride on the river. Choose sunset for photos or nightfall to release a lantern and make a wish. A local guide, coffee or tea, and mobile tickets are included, but confirm pickup details before booking.

“Unfortunately I didn’t go on this boat trip. It was very disorganised, I waited for 90mins and the boat still wasn’t ready. I ended up just booking another boat and it was an absolutely beautiful experience. I would recommend people just going down to the water and booking a boat while you’re there, it is much easier!”

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10.Hoai River Boat Trip by Night with Release Lantern

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · from $9

Meet your greeter at 142 Tran Phu Street and walk to the dock for a 20-minute shared boat ride on the Hoai River. You receive one flower lantern to release for luck and peace. The boat holds one to four people, and the outing finishes back at the meeting point, near Hoi An’s night market.

“It is a must do activity in Hoi An. In the evening the atmosphere becomes so magical. It is highly recommended. I just want to mention that it might not be necessary to book a tour online. During the evening, there are many people around selling the tour at that moment. When you have time, you can easily organise it over there.”

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11.Da Nang/Hoi An: Coconut river boat tour & Lantern Festival

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 4 reviews · from $31

Travel from Da Nang or Hoi An to My Khe Beach, Stone Carving Village, Cam Thanh Coconut Village, and Hoi An’s old town. You’ll row a round basket boat, watch a spinning performance, make coconut-leaf objects, eat dinner, and see the lantern-lit Nguyen Hoang Night Market. Choose a guided package or driver-only option.

“It was varied and we were shown and told a lot. The individual activities, especially in Hoi An, fascinated us.”

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12.Amazing My Son Sunset & River Cruise Tour From Hoi An/DaNang

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $27

You’ll leave Hoi An in a small group for My Son Sanctuary, walk about 2 kilometers among Champa temples, watch an Apsara performance, and try making rice paper. After a Vietnamese banh mi, a boat carries you down the Thu Bon River toward Hoi An at sunset. English guidance, hotel pickup, and drop-off are included in Hoi An, with some location surcharges.

“the organization was good, the guide was very helpful. Doing the excursion in a small group was an added value”

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