Vietnam · HOI AN ANCIENT TOWN TOURS

The 15 Best Hoi An Ancient Town Tours

31 tours  ·  from $6 a head

The old town is small, walkable and completely different after dark. The 15 below cover the daylight heritage walks, the lantern and boat evenings, and the entry ticket questions that come up at the gate.

Hoi An: Vietnamese Foldable Lantern Making Class - Tea, music, and a short lesson in local tradition
Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Hoi An, Workshops

Hoi An: Vietnamese Foldable Lantern Making Class

1.Vietnamese Foldable Lantern Making Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 3,742 reviews · 90 minutes - 2 hours · from $10Our pick

Choose an express or full Hoi An lantern class, then shape, cover, and decorate your own bamboo-and-silk lantern. Your English-speaking instructor and translator explain local traditions, guide each step, and show you how to fold the finished lantern for easy packing. Children from age three can join, and a traditional tea and small host gift are included.

“10/10 recommend ! everything was amazing - the staff are all so helpful and so fun, so helpful with anything you need whilst fully allowing you to do each step on your own!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hoi An Full Lantern Making Class- A special Foldable lantern - Arriving at the Cam Pho workshop
Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Hoi An, Workshops

Hoi An Full Lantern Making Class- A special Foldable lantern

2.Hoi An Full Lantern Making Class- A special Foldable lantern

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,007 reviews · from $15Top rated

At a family-run workshop in Hoi An’s Cam Pho district, you’ll build a foldable silk lantern from 12 bamboo stakes, wire, fabric, and a tassel. Choose a lotus, diamond, sunrise, or sunset shape, learn about local lantern traditions, taste herbal tea, and take home your finished creation. English-speaking instructors guide every step.

“We had a great experience creating a lantern each. Everyone who helped us was brilliant. It was a good laugh, good atmosphere and we would definitely recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hoi An : Hoai River Boat Trip by Night and Floating Lantern - Meeting at the Kazimierz Kwiatkowski bust
Cruises & Boat Tours, Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Hoi An

Hoi An : Hoai River Boat Trip by Night and Floating Lantern

3.Hoai River Boat Trip by Night and Floating Lantern

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,988 reviews · 20 min · from $8

Meet an English-speaking guide at the Kazimierz Kwiatkowski bust on Tran Phu Street. You’ll walk five minutes to the Thu Bon River, board a private wooden boat for up to five people, and release a paper lantern with help from the rower. The short ride is scenic and simple, with no onboard commentary.

“Really enjoyed the River Boat Trip. Was very busy waiting to get on boat but once on was lovely. Would recommend”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hoi An: River Lantern Boat Experience with Free 5G eSIM - Starting at 153 Tran Phu Street
Cruises & Boat Tours, Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Hoi An

Hoi An: River Lantern Boat Experience with Free 5G eSIM

4.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, collect your lantern and tea, then walk five minutes to the Hoai River. Your English-speaking boat guide takes you past Hoi An’s glowing waterfront for about 20 minutes, with time to release a lantern and take photos. The $8 ticket also includes a 24-hour 5G eSIM with 8GB of data and local calls.

“good trip on the boat! very beautiful and memorable experience. long queue to get on the boat, but it's a very popular attraction in hoi an. very worthwhile!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Marble Mountains - Hoi An Ancient Town Sunset Daily Ingroup Tour - The stone carvers before the mountain
Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Marble Mountains Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Da Nang

Marble Mountains – Hoi An Ancient Town Sunset Daily Ingroup Tour

5.Marble Mountains – Hoi An Ancient Town Sunset Daily Ingroup Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 690 reviews · from $33

Join Dacotours from Da Nang for a six-hour evening outing to Marble Mountains and Hoi An. Expect cave shrines, Buddhist statues, stone carving, lantern-lit streets, historic buildings, a local Vietnamese dinner, and guides such as Coco, Chao, Oanh, or Phuc, depending on the date.

“Phuc is an experienced and dedicated tour guide who knows the history very well. He made the tour enjoyable and directions were clear.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Evening Walking Food Tour, folk game and lantern boat - White rose dumplings, banh mi, and the food that defines Hoi An
Cruises & Boat Tours, Food, Food & Drink, Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Street Food Tours, Street Food Tours in Hoi An, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Hoi An, Walking Tours

Evening Walking Food Tour, folk game and lantern boat

6.Evening Walking Food Tour, folk game and lantern boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 665 reviews · from $39

Meet your English-speaking guide at White Rose Restaurant at 4:30 pm for a small-group walk through Hoi An’s Old Town. Taste banh mi, white rose dumplings, cao lau, coffee, and a four-course local dinner, then play bingo or a folk game and take a 15-minute lantern boat ride. Guides may include Emma, Jackie, Nancy, Quin, or Vu.

“Excellent food tour… stuffed with goodness at the end… also our guide, Vu, was friendly, enthusiastic, and informative… we wanna go again!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hoi An Ancient Town Walking Tour with a Local - The Japanese Covered Bridge and its famous setting
Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Hoi An, Walking Tours

Hoi An Ancient Town Walking Tour with a Local

7.Hoi An Ancient Town Walking Tour with a Local

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 517 reviews · from $9

Spend about three hours walking Hoi An with a local guide such as Kun, Trang, Anh, or Minh. Visit the Japanese Culture Gallery, Japanese Covered Bridge, Cantonese Assembly Hall, Quan Thang Ancient House, traditional arts theatre, and central market. Expect history, architecture, local tips, herbal tea, and a group of no more than 10.

“Lots of interesting explanations and fun! You get a few little tasters also. Our guide was very nice.”

Check availability →Read our full review

The Lantern Lady: Traditional Lantern Class in Old Town - The 90-Minute Craft Process
Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Hoi An, Workshops

The Lantern Lady: Traditional Lantern Class in Old Town

8.The Lantern Lady: Traditional Lantern Class in Old Town

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 444 reviews · 1h 30m · from $6Best value

At The Lantern Lady workshop in Hoi An Old Town, you choose a 20 cm frame, silk fabric, and lantern design, then build your own souvenir with calm, step-by-step help in English. Thuy and her family guide you without taking over. Choose a foldable lantern to pack home or a paper lantern to float on the river.

“We got the chance to make a 20cm lantern. We were guided through the steps on how to do it. The lady who runs it is very kind. It was very busy because of the weather, but they still tried to ensure everyone was looked after.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hoi An: Local Foldable Lantern-Making Class with Locals - Finding the workshop on Phan Boi Chau Street
Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Hoi An, Workshops

Hoi An: Local Foldable Lantern-Making Class with Locals

9.Local Foldable Lantern-Making Class with Locals

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 410 reviews · 1 hour · from $8

At a local workshop on 3/6 Phan Boi Chau Street, you’ll choose a lantern shape, fabric, and tassel, then build a 20 cm foldable lantern with step-by-step help from English-speaking local instructors. The relaxed one-hour class suits families, couples, solo visitors, and rainy afternoons. Your finished lantern travels home flat.

“Very fun! The music played made it extra funny and entertaining, and the staff were really lovely and energetic :)”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hoi An Ancient Town - Walking Tour with Local Guide - Starting at 95 Phan Chu Trinh Street
Guided, Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Hoi An, Walking Tours

Hoi An Ancient Town – Walking Tour with Local Guide

10.Hoi An Ancient Town – Walking Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 385 reviews · 2h 30m · from $14

Walk Hoi An’s UNESCO-listed old town in a group of no more than 10 with English-speaking guides such as Trung or Duy. Visit temples, assembly halls, heritage homes, museums, the Japanese-covered bridge, and the market, then enjoy local tea or dessert. Bring 120,000 VND in cash for the town entrance ticket.

“Day was great, I have learned a lot about the history and life in Hoi An!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Linh Ung Pagoda - Marble Mountains - Hoi An Ancient Town Daily Ingroup Tour - Linh Ung Pagoda and Lady Buddha above the sea
Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Marble Mountains Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Da Nang

Linh Ung Pagoda – Marble Mountains – Hoi An Ancient Town Daily Ingroup Tour

11.Linh Ung Pagoda – Marble Mountains – Hoi An Ancient Town Daily Ingroup Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 299 reviews · from $39

Starting at 1:00pm, this small-group tour takes you from Da Nang to Linh Ung Pagoda, Lady Buddha, the Marble Mountains, and Hoi An. You’ll visit caves, temples, craft workshops, the Japanese Covered Bridge, assembly halls, an old house, and the night market, with an optional Vietnamese dinner and an English-speaking guide such as Phuc.

“A good afternoon activity. Pictures are not what it looks like in real life, but still well worth the visit.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hoi An: Lantern Making, Basket Boat, and Cooking Class - The market gives the cooking class a useful start
Basket Boat & Coconut Village Tours, Cooking Classes, Cooking Classes in Da Nang, Cruises & Boat Tours, Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Da Nang, Workshops

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

12.Lantern Making, Basket Boat, and Cooking Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 233 reviews · from $15

Spend a half day with guides such as Anna, Linh, Thao, or Luan, shopping at a local market, riding a bamboo basket boat through the Nipa Forest, cooking pho, banh xeo, banh cuon, and che, then making a lantern to take home. The boat ride can be lively, and the lantern class is brief.

“Thank you very much to Lin it was perfect, we had so much fun !”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hoi An Lantern Boat Ride on the Thu Bon River - Boarding a traditional wooden boat
Cruises & Boat Tours, Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Hoi An

Hoi An Lantern Boat Ride on the Thu Bon River

13.Hoi An Lantern Boat Ride on the Thu Bon River

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 169 reviews · 20 min · from $8

Meet your English-speaking greeter at the Kazimierz Kwiatkowski bust near 140 Tran Phu Street. Walk five minutes to the river, board a wooden boat for 15 minutes, and release one flower lantern while Hoi An’s Old Town glows around you. Boats hold one to five people, with waits likely at peak time.

“Le type du bateau nous a même pas informé de faire un vœux avant la mise à l’eau de notre lanterne… 🙄 Il les a allumées dès le début 🤦‍♀️, manque de charme. Décevant”

Check availability →Read our full review

Marble Mountains - Hoi An Ancient Town Afternoon Tours FROM DANANG(15H30-21H) - Climbing through Marble Mountains before sunset
Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Marble Mountains Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Da Nang

Marble Mountains – Hoi An Ancient Town Afternoon Tours FROM DANANG(15H30-21H)

14.Marble Mountains – Hoi An Ancient Town Afternoon Tours FROM DANANG(15H30-21H)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 162 reviews · from $37

Start with a guided visit to Marble Mountains, including Tam Thai and Linh Ung Pagodas and sacred caves, then eat a Vietnamese dinner in Hoi An. Guides such as Tim and Quik lead the evening, with hotel pickup, bottled water, air-conditioned transport, and free time among the lanterns and riverside streets.

“Well organised. Guide was friendly and informative. All the spots in the itinerary were comfortably covered.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Hoi An: Lantern and Coffee Making Class - The coffee lesson starts with the Phin
Coffee Experiences, Hoi An Ancient Town Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Hoi An, Workshops

Hoi An: Lantern and Coffee Making Class

15.Lantern and Coffee Making Class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 154 reviews · 3h 30m · from $24

Spend 210 minutes learning to brew five Vietnamese coffees with a Phin filter, including coconut, egg, and Hue salt coffee, then walk to a nearby family-run workshop to make a foldable lantern. English-speaking instructors, local craft masters, cookies, tea, water, and coffee are included. Tam helps guide the lantern session.

“We had an absolutely delightful experience at a family-run lantern-making and Vietnamese coffee workshop in Hoi An! The workshops were perfectly organized, and the warm, welcoming atmosphere made the experience even more enjoyable. The lantern-making session was creative and engaging. The family guided us step-by-step, making it easy to craft our own beautiful lanterns. The Vietnamese coffee-making workshop was equally fun and delicious. Learning the traditional brewing techniques and tasting the rich, flavorful coffee was a treat. If you’re in Hoi An, this is a must-try experience. You’ll leave with a handcrafted lantern, a newfound appreciation for Vietnamese coffee, and wonderful memories...”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Hoi An Ancient Town Tours

★ 5.0Da Nang to Hoi An ancient town by private transfer36 reviews
★ 5.0MARBLE MOUNTAIN-AM PHU Cave & HOI AN -Colourful Lantern Boat RideFrom $8527 reviews
★ 5.0Hoi an Coconut Boat & Hoi an Ancient Town From Da nang or Hoi anFrom $4826 reviews
★ 5.0Hoi an Coconut Boat & Hoian ancient Town Tour From Danang orHoianFrom $4827 reviews
★ 5.0Explore Hoi An ancient town and local villages with a local guideFrom $10418 reviews
★ 5.0Private HoiAn Ancient Town Night Market Street food tour by NightFrom $4919 reviews
★ 5.0RoundTrip transfer to Hoi An ancient town by private car30 reviews
★ 5.0Private Danang City and Hoi An Ancient Town from Cruise PortFrom $11918 reviews
★ 4.6Night Boat Trip and Release Lantern at Hoai RiverFrom $830 reviews
★ 4.3Hoai River Night Boat Trip and Floating LanternFrom $1032 reviews

Keep browsing

Cu Chi Tunnels Tours42Hue Imperial City Tours22My Son Sanctuary Tours46Water Puppet Shows19Historical Tours24Train Street & Old Quarter Tours71
Scroll to Top

Where to go, and what to do when you get there

Pick a stretch of water, a road, or a kitchen.

On the water

Ha Long CruisesNinh BinhThe MekongBasket BoatsDinner Cruises

On two wheels

Hai Van PassThe Ha Giang LoopJeeps & VespasCyclingHanoi by Motorbike

At the table

Street FoodCooking ClassesEgg CoffeeMarketsWorkshops

Older Vietnam

Cu Chi TunnelsThe Hue CitadelMy SonHoi An Ancient TownWater Puppets