# Hoi An in One Day: Coconut Basket Boat, Ancient Town & Lantern Boat (Prices)

By Prashant & Sunaina · 12 July 2026 · https://www.psvlogs.in/blog/hoi-an-travel-guide

> Our day in Hoi An, Vietnam: coconut basket boat price, Japanese Bridge, lotus tea, lantern boat cost, leather bags and tailoring, bargaining tips and what to eat.

Hoi An was our favourite city in central Vietnam, *far* better than Da Nang. Our only regret is that we gave it one day instead of two.

Watch the vlog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FazdB_OzaQw

## Getting there

From Da Nang it's about **35–40 minutes** by Grab.

## Start with the coconut basket boat

We made the mistake of going to the Old Town first. **Do the coconut boat first**: it's about 5.5 km from the Old Town. Search "coconut boat tour" in Grab and you'll arrive at a row of operators all selling rides.

- Quotes ranged from **90,000 to 150,000 VND per person**. We went with an operator with good TripAdvisor ratings at **90,000 per person**.
- Included: watching the boat spinning, a net-fishing demo and crab catching. **Spinning yourself costs 100,000 extra.**
- Go late afternoon, because midday is hot and humid.

The round boats and the coconut forest are a genuinely different experience. Even if you've done the Trang An or Tam Coc boat rides in Ninh Binh, do this.

## The Ancient Town

Walk it rather than taking a buggy (buggies cost a few hundred thousand dong). The Old Town is small, and wandering at your own pace is the best part. Come towards evening.

- **Japanese Covered Bridge**: Hoi An's most famous landmark, linking two cultures.
- **Lotus tea at Mot**: on the way to the bridge. Expect a long queue. About **20,000 VND**.
- **Rice paper cake**: chicken or vegetarian, about 10,000 VND.
- **Coconut ice cream in the shell**, which comes with free coconut juice.

## Lantern boat at night

The most famous thing in Hoi An. Wait until dark, when the river glows.

- **Fixed price: 220,000 VND per boat** (we were four). No bargaining.
- About **20 minutes**.

## Shopping & tailoring

- **Leather bags**: genuine leather, about **US$30–150**. Many shops quote in dollars because of all the foreigners.
- **Custom shoes and clothes**: Hoi An is famous for made-to-measure suits and dresses. **They need at least 24 hours**, so stay overnight.
- **Bargain hard: start at 50%.** We were quoted 350, offered 150 and paid 200.
- **Buy bags here, not in Da Nang.**

## Where to stay

If you can, **stay one or two nights in Hoi An**. There's good food, good vibes and good shopping. See our [Da Nang 3-day plan](https://www.psvlogs.in/blog/da-nang-3-day-itinerary) for how it fits together.

## FAQs

**How much is the Hoi An basket boat ride?**
We paid about 90,000 VND per person after comparing a few operators. Boat spinning cost 100,000 VND extra.

**How much is the lantern boat in Hoi An?**
A fixed 220,000 VND per boat for our group of four, for about 20 minutes. There's no negotiation.