Hoi An: Lantern Making, Basket Boat, and Cooking Class

We’re excited to share the vibrant cultural experience of Hoi An with you. This immersive tour offers a unique chance to partake in traditional Vietnamese activities – from lantern making to a scenic basket boat ride and a hands-on cooking class. With an expert local guide leading the way, you’ll dive deep into the region’s rich heritage. What might surprise you most? Let’s find out together as we uncover the enchanting sights, sounds, and flavors of this beloved destination.

Key Points

• This 5.5-hour tour in Hoi An offers a comprehensive cultural experience, including lantern making, bamboo basket boat ride, and a cooking class.
• The tour is priced at €27.72 per person, with a maximum of 10 participants, and is fully refundable up to 24 hours in advance.
• The itinerary features a local market visit, traditional dish preparation, and a lantern-making workshop, with transportation, meals, and an English-speaking guide included.
• The tour starts at 8:25 AM with pickup at 11 Hoang Dieu Street, and includes a bamboo basket boat ride and a cooking class focusing on dishes like pho bo, banh xeo, and banh cuon.
• The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users, and the lantern-making activity may be less engaging, though the overall tour is highly rated by past participants.

You can check availability for your dates here:

Tour Overview and Pricing

The tour package offers a comprehensive Hoi An experience, covering lantern making, a bamboo basket boat ride, and a hands-on cooking class.

Priced at €27.72 per person, the 5.5-hour tour is perfect for small groups, with a maximum of 10 participants. It’s fully refundable up to 24 hours in advance and allows flexible booking.

The itinerary includes a market visit, traditional Vietnamese dish preparation, and a lantern-making workshop.

Explore a market visit, traditional Vietnamese dish preparation, and a hands-on lantern-making workshop on this immersive cultural adventure.

Transportation, meals, and an English-speaking guide are provided, ensuring a hassle-free and immersive cultural adventure.

Itinerary Highlights

The tour kicks off at 8:25 AM with pickup from the meeting point at 11 Hoang Dieu Street in Hoi An. We’ll visit the local market to gather ingredients for the cooking class. Next, we’ll enjoy a bamboo basket boat ride through the serene Water Coconut Forest. The cooking class begins at 10 AM, where we’ll learn to prepare traditional Vietnamese dishes like pho bo, banh xeo, banh cuon, and che. After lunch, we’ll head to the lantern-making class to create our own unique souvenirs. The tour wraps up around 2 PM.

| Itinerary Highlights | Time |

| — | — |

| Visit local market | 8:30 AM |

| Bamboo basket boat ride | 9:00 AM |

| Cooking class | 10:00 AM |

| Lantern-making class | 1:00 PM |

Included Services

This tour includes a variety of services to enhance your experience.

You’ll receive a refreshing bottle of water throughout the day. Transportation is provided for convenient pickup and drop-off at your hotel. The tour also includes insurance coverage for your peace of mind.

Enjoy delicious Vietnamese dishes during the cooking class. An English-speaking guide accompanies you, ensuring you understand the activities.

The lantern-making workshop is included, allowing you to create your own unique souvenir. Plus, there are no hidden extras – gratuities are the only additional cost you’ll need to consider.

Participant Guidelines

Although this tour isn’t suitable for wheelchair users, we recommend wearing comfortable shoes, sunglasses, and a sun hat to make the most of your experience.

Pets aren’t allowed, but dietary restrictions, including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free, can be accommodated.

The tour provides a bottle of water, transportation, tour insurance, meals during the cooking class, and an English-speaking guide.

You’ll also receive hotel pickup and drop-off.

Please note that the lantern-making activity has received mixed feedback regarding the level of involvement, so be prepared for a more passive experience during that part of the tour.

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Customer Feedback

This tour has received excellent feedback from past participants, with an impressive 4.9/5 rating based on 115 reviews.

Reviewers consistently praise the cooking class for the delicious food, particularly highlighting the "best steamed rice paper roll" they’ve ever had. The basket boat ride is also noted as a fun activity.

However, the lantern-making experience received more mixed feedback, with some participants finding it less engaging. As one reviewer from Norway noted, "Enjoyed the cooking class and basket boats, but lantern making was less involved."

The tour seems to offer a well-rounded and enjoyable experience overall.

Lantern Making Experience

The lantern-making class, which takes place during the latter half of the tour, allows participants to create their own unique Vietnamese lantern.

Guided by an expert instructor, we learn the traditional techniques and materials used to craft these iconic paper lanterns.

Though some reviews suggest the activity level is less involved, it’s still a rewarding experience to design and assemble our personalized lanterns.

With the vibrant colors and intricate patterns, we take pride in our handmade creations, which make for wonderful souvenirs to remember our Hoi An adventure.

Basket Boat Ride

Next, we embark on a peaceful bamboo basket boat ride through the serene Water Coconut Forest.

Gliding effortlessly across the calm waters, we immerse ourselves in the tranquil surroundings. The bamboo boats provide a unique and authentic experience, allowing us to navigate the lush, verdant landscape.

As our guide skillfully maneuvers the boat, we admire the towering coconut palms and observe the local wildlife.

This serene activity offers a welcomed respite from the hustle and bustle, inviting us to slow down and appreciate the natural beauty of the region.

Cooking Class

Following the basket boat ride, we visit a local market to gather the ingredients for our hands-on cooking experience.

We learn to prepare three traditional Vietnamese dishes:

• Pho Bo – a savory beef noodle soup

• Banh Xeo – a crispy turmeric-infused fried pancake

• Banh Cuon – delicate steamed rice paper rolls

Under the guidance of our expert instructor, we chop, mix, and cook these regional specialties.

The aromas fill the air as we plate our creations, then savor each bite.

This interactive cooking class offers a delicious way to immerse ourselves in the flavors of Hoi An.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Bring My Own Ingredients for the Cooking Class?

While the tour includes the ingredients for the cooking class, we’re afraid you can’t bring your own. The class is designed to teach traditional Vietnamese dishes, so the ingredients are carefully selected to provide an authentic experience.

Is There an Option to Extend the Tour Duration?

Unfortunately, there’s no option to extend the tour duration. The 5.5-hour itinerary is fixed, covering the lantern making, basket boat ride, and cooking class activities. However, we can accommodate dietary restrictions if you let us know in advance.

Do I Need to Bring My Own Cooking Equipment?

No, you don’t need to bring your own cooking equipment. The tour includes all the necessary equipment and ingredients for the cooking class. We’ll have everything set up and ready for you to learn and prepare the traditional Vietnamese dishes.

Can I Purchase Additional Lanterns After the Workshop?

We understand you may want to purchase additional lanterns after the workshop. While the tour does not include this, you’re welcome to inquire with the tour guide about opportunities to buy extra lanterns on your own during the experience.

Is There an Age Limit for the Basket Boat Ride?

There’s no age limit for the basket boat ride, but participants should be able to get in and out of the boat comfortably. We recommend checking with the tour provider if you have any concerns about mobility.

The Sum Up

We’ve experienced the vibrant culture of Hoi An through an immersive tour featuring lantern making, a bamboo basket boat ride, and a hands-on cooking class. At €27.72 per person, this 5.5-hour adventure offers an unforgettable day exploring local markets, scenic waterways, and traditional Vietnamese cuisine with an English-speaking guide and convenient hotel pickup.

You can check availability for your dates here: