About Hoi An Basket Boat
Hoi An Basket Boat is a family-run operator based in the Van Lang hamlet of Cam Thanh, on the fringe of the Bay Mau water-coconut palm forest just outside Hoi An's ancient town. Running since 2015, it has become one of the best-known names for the round bamboo "thung chai" boat experience that puts visitors right in the middle of Hoi An's river-delta landscape.
The signature outing is a roughly 60-minute paddle through the nipa-palm channels aboard a traditional coracle, complete with a spinning-boat performance, crab catching and a demonstration of casting a fishing net. The company also runs a hands-on Vietnamese cooking class, an evening lantern-boat cruise on the Thu Bon River, and a combined daytime-and-lantern package for guests who want both experiences in a single visit.
What sets the operator apart is its direct, community-rooted model: boats are rowed by local paddlers from the surrounding fishing village, and small group sizes keep the experience personal rather than crowded. Booking straight through the operator, rather than a reseller, means guests deal with the people running the boats and support the households that have farmed and fished these waterways for generations.
