The 11 Best Hoi An Ancient Town Tours

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!”

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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.”

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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”

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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!”

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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.”

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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!”

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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.”

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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.”

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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 :)”

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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!”

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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.”

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