The Best Things to Book in Hoi An: Tours, Classes & Boat Rides

Hoi An is small but packed: a lantern-lit UNESCO town, world-famous tailors, a brilliant food and cooking-class scene, basket boats and rice paddies, beaches and ancient ruins — all within a short ride. This is our complete, bookable directory of every Hoi An activity, grouped by type, with what each costs and where to book it. Scan the table for the full picture, then dive into the section that fits your trip. (Planning it all? Start with our complete Hoi An travel guide and the Hoi An itinerary.)

1. Every Hoi An Activity at a Glance

The full menu. Here’s every major Hoi An activity, its type, a rough price and where to book — the rest of the guide goes deeper:

2. The Old Town & Culture

Hoi An’s beating heart is its UNESCO Ancient Town, best on foot:

• The Ancient Town ticket (≈120,000₫) covers the heritage sites — the Japanese Covered Bridge, old merchant houses, assembly halls and museums.
• Wander the lanes early before the crowds, or late for the lanterns.
• What to see and do is in our things to do in Hoi An guide; getting in (it’s a pedestrian zone) is in our getting around guide.

3. Lanterns & the River

The activity Hoi An is famous for happens every evening:

• The lanterns: at dusk the Old Town goes car-free and the streets and river glow with silk lanterns.
• A river boat & floating a candle: take a small boat (≈50,000₫) and release a paper lantern on the Thu Bon.
• The An Hội night market for snacks, lanterns and souvenirs.
• A lantern-making class: make your own silk lantern to take home.
• The full-moon Lantern Festival (once a month) turns it up to eleven.

4. Countryside, Cycling & Water

Just outside the lanes lie the rice paddies and water-coconut palms:

• A basket-boat ride through the Cam Thanh water-coconut forest — paddling, spinning boats and crab-fishing; great fun for all ages.
• The Tra Que herb village: cycle out to the organic gardens, try farming and a herbal foot soak.
• Cycling the paddies: flat, scenic back-roads — many stays lend bikes free.
• Pair it with the rides in our things to do guide.

5. Food & Cooking

Eating and cooking are headline Hoi An activities:

• A cooking class: usually a market tour and often a basket-boat trip, then you make cao lầu, white rose or fresh spring rolls.
• A street-food tour: a local guide and the dishes you’d never find alone.
• Just eating: the famous cao lầu, white rose and Bánh Mì Phượng — all in our what to eat in Hoi An guide.

6. Tailoring & Shopping

Hoi An’s signature activity is having clothes made:

• Custom tailoring: a suit, dress or shirt made to measure in a day or two — order early so there’s time for fittings. The how-to, prices and best shops are in our Hoi An tailors guide.
• Leather & shoes: custom bags, jackets and made-to-measure shoes.
• The market & night market for souvenirs, silk and crafts.

7. Spa, Massage & Wellness

Hoi An is a lovely place to slow down:

• Spa & massage: from affordable foot massages to full spa days — a perfect break between fittings and sightseeing.
• Herbal foot soaks at Tra Que and yoga at the beach.
• Beach time at An Bang to recover — see below.

8. Beaches

The coast is a short ride from the Old Town:

• An Bang Beach: the liveliest, with bars, seafood and swimming, ~15 minutes by bike.
• Cua Dai Beach: quieter, with bigger resorts.
• Loungers, water sports and seafood shacks along the sand.

9. Day Trips & Excursions

Some of the best activities near Hoi An are a short trip away:

• My Son Sanctuary: ancient Cham temple ruins, best at sunrise — about an hour away.
• The Cham Islands (Cu Lao Cham): a snorkelling and beach boat trip.
• The Marble Mountains & Da Nang: caves, viewpoints and the city, on the way back to Da Nang.
• How to reach them is in our getting around Hoi An guide.

10. Family Activities

Hoi An is wonderful with kids:

• The basket boats and lantern-making.
• Beach days at An Bang and gentle cycling through the paddies.
• A family cooking class and floating lanterns on the river at night.

11. How to Book, Save & Plan

Get the best price and a smooth trip:

• Book classes & day trips online ahead — cooking classes, basket boats and My Son are usually cheaper and guarantee a spot.
• Compare Klook and KKday: both list the major Hoi An experiences; prices and combos differ, so check both (the boxes throughout).
• Order tailoring on day one so fittings fit your schedule.
• Save evenings for the lanterns — don’t schedule over them.
• Put it all together with our Hoi An itinerary and pick a base with our where to stay guide.

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