Hoi An Ancient Town & Cam Thanh Bastket Boat Shore Excursions

The most memorable part of this day is the change of pace. You leave your cruise ship at Chan May Port, pass from city roads into rural Vietnam, then glide through the Bay Mau Coconut Forest in a small round basket boat before reaching Hoi An’s old streets. It is a full day, but it gives you several very different views of central Vietnam.

I like the basket boat ride, which offers a close look at the coconut groves and river culture around Cam Thanh. I also like the generous three hours set aside for Hoi An Ancient Town, enough time to walk, eat lunch, browse shops, and pause instead of rushing from one photo stop to the next.

The main drawback is the travel time. The tour lasts about nine hours, and the hours not spent at Cam Thanh or in Hoi An are used for the round trip from Chan May Port. At $155 per person, it is best value for cruise passengers who want an organized day with port transport, rather than for independent visitors already staying near Hoi An.

Key points at a glance

• A full day from Chan May Port: Pickup and return are arranged at the port, with drop-off about 200 meters from your cruise ship.
• Three hours at Cam Thanh: You’ll see coconut groves, river life, and take a traditional basket boat through Bay Mau Coconut Forest.
• Three hours in Hoi An: The old town visit leaves time for walking, local food, shopping, and photographs.
• Silk making adds local context: The day begins with a stop at a traditional silk-weaving village.
• Practical inclusions: Lunch, bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle, entrance fees, and an English-speaking guide are covered.
• Small maximum group: The tour accepts no more than 20 people, with group discounts available.

From Chan May Port to rural Cam Thanh

This excursion is built for a cruise day in port. Your guide and driver meet you at Chan May Port, and the vehicle returns you inside the port at the end, about 200 meters from your ship. That last detail matters. You do not need to arrange a separate taxi from a town outside the port or walk a long distance with the clock ticking.

The tour starts with a drive toward Hoi An. The remaining time outside the two main stops is used for travel in both directions, so you should think of this as a nine-hour shore day, not six hours of sightseeing. The air-conditioned vehicle and bottled water are useful here, especially since the schedule combines countryside, walking, and a boat ride.

The group limit is 20 people. That is not a private tour, but it is more manageable than a large coach group. An English-speaking guide accompanies you, helping connect the rural stops with the history and daily life of the area.

One practical point is worth noting: the published meeting point is called Chan May Port Car Rental on Đường Vào Cảng Chân Mây, in Mỹ An, Phú Lộc, Huế. The stated arrangement is pickup inside Chan May Port. Follow the provider’s instructions carefully on the day, since cruise-port meeting areas can be confusing.

Silk weaving before the boat ride

The opening visit to a traditional silk-weaving village gives the day a useful human scale. Instead of beginning with only scenery, you get a look at the skill behind local silk-making and the work that turns natural material into fabric.

The details of the silk stop are not fully specified, including how long you will be there. I would treat it as an introductory cultural visit rather than the main attraction. If you are interested in textiles, handicrafts, and traditional work, it may be one of the most rewarding parts of the morning. If your priority is Hoi An’s architecture or the basket boat, remember that this stop uses some of the available time.

It also sets up a contrast that runs through the day. You first see a careful craft practiced by hand, then move into Cam Thanh’s wet, green river environment, and later walk among old merchant buildings in Hoi An. The stops feel different from one another, which helps keep a long shore excursion from becoming a string of similar photo opportunities.

Cam Thanh and the Bay Mau Coconut Forest

Cam Thanh is scheduled for about three hours, making it the first major stop. The area is known for coconut groves, mangrove surroundings, and a river-based way of life. You are not simply visiting a garden. The point is to see how water, trees, boats, and village life fit together.

The basket boat is the signature activity. These small, round boats are a traditional form of local transport, and the ride takes you through the Bay Mau Coconut Forest. From a low seat on the water, the view changes completely. Coconut fronds hang overhead, the boat moves at a gentle level close to the surface, and the river setting feels far removed from the port and the road.

The tour describes the ride as thrilling, but the exact character of the outing can vary. You should expect a hands-on, close-to-the-water trip rather than a long cruise with a formal commentary. If you dislike small boats or have concerns about balance, consider that before booking. The information provided says most people can participate, but it does not give specific details about seating, boarding assistance, or life jackets.

Cam Thanh is also the most activity-focused part of the day. Hoi An asks you to walk and look. Cam Thanh gives you something to do. The three-hour allocation should allow time around the village as well as the boat experience, though the precise sequence is not stated.

There is no separate admission charge listed for Cam Thanh. The tour covers all fees and taxes, so you are not expected to pay an additional entry fee during the planned activities. Personal expenses remain your responsibility, including any shopping or extra purchases.

Lunch with local dishes

Lunch is included and is described as featuring local delicacies. That makes the midday break more than a simple fuel stop, though the restaurant and exact menu are not specified.

I like having lunch built into a port excursion because it removes one decision from a tightly timed day. You do not need to leave the group searching for a restaurant, then worry about getting back to the vehicle. The tradeoff is that you have less control over the menu and timing than you would on your own.

If you have dietary restrictions, ask about them when booking. The available information confirms lunch is included, but it does not state which dishes are served or how special diets are handled. Personal expenses are not included, so plan to pay separately for anything beyond the arranged meal.

Three hours walking Hoi An Ancient Town

Hoi An Ancient Town receives about three hours, and this is the part of the excursion where you can set your own rhythm. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage site with preserved historic buildings, narrow streets, and a mix of cultural influences. Its appeal is not one single monument. It is the feel of moving through an old trading town where architecture, shops, food, and everyday activity sit close together.

Your guide can provide the historical frame, but the free time is just as important. Walk slowly. Look at the building fronts. Step into shops when something catches your eye. Allow time for a snack or a quiet pause instead of treating the old town as a checklist.

Shopping is specifically part of the plan. Hoi An is a good place to look for unusual souvenirs, but the tour does not include purchases, so keep personal spending separate from the $155 tour price. The amount of free time is useful here. A shorter stop would leave you with little more than a guided walk and a few photographs.

The old town can also be the busiest part of your day. The provided information does not promise a private route or uncrowded streets. You may find that the atmosphere changes from calm lanes to more active shopping areas. That is part of Hoi An’s character, but it is worth knowing if you prefer quiet historic sites.

The combination of guide time and free time works well. You get help understanding what you are seeing, then room to follow your own interests. This is especially helpful if one person in your group wants to shop while another prefers architecture and local life.

What the $155 price covers

At $155 per person, this is not a bargain-priced outing in the way a simple city transfer would be. The value comes from combining several services into one cruise-safe day: port pickup, return transportation, an English-speaking guide, lunch, bottled water, air conditioning, and all listed fees and taxes.

The price makes more sense if you are arriving by ship. Chan May Port is not beside Hoi An, and arranging transport, finding a guide, selecting a lunch stop, and watching the ship schedule would take time and effort. Here, those pieces are handled together.

The value is weaker if you are already staying in Hoi An or can arrange local transport easily. You would be paying for the long port transfer even though you do not need it. Group discounts may help reduce the per-person cost for larger parties, but the exact discount is not specified.

The maximum group size of 20 is another part of the calculation. You are paying for a shared excursion, not a private car and guide. In return, the cost is likely more approachable for a couple or family than a private full-day arrangement, while still avoiding a very large group.

Guide support and the cruise-day schedule

The provider is Up Travel Vietnam. The guide is described as English-speaking and experienced. Names connected with the company include Hannah, Lily, also called Linh Linh, and Celina, who is described as a local guide. Those names may help if you have been arranging several tours with the company, but the information does not guarantee which person will lead this particular day.

The company’s communication has been praised for answering questions before departure, including unusual planning questions. That is useful for a cruise excursion, where the meeting point and return time matter as much as the sightseeing. Ask any port-specific questions before you sail, rather than leaving them until the morning of the tour.

The tour begins and ends at Chan May Port. Your guide and driver are expected to return you inside the port, close to the ship. Still, keep your own watch. The stated duration is approximate, and traffic or delays can affect a long road day. The supplied details do not give a guaranteed return time or a ship-delay policy, so confirm the timing against your cruise schedule before booking.

Most people can participate, according to the activity information. Even so, the day includes vehicle transfers, walking in Hoi An, and boarding a small basket boat. Anyone who needs specific mobility assistance should ask the provider in advance, since the available details do not explain accessibility arrangements.

Who will enjoy this shore excursion

I would recommend this day to you if you want a broad first look at central Vietnam without handling the transport yourself. It suits cruise passengers who would rather have a guide, lunch, and return port transfer arranged in one booking.

It is also a good fit if you want variety. The silk village offers traditional craft, Cam Thanh offers a boat ride and rural scenery, and Hoi An offers architecture, shopping, and free time. You get more than one type of Vietnamese experience in a single day.

Families and mixed-interest groups may find the structure useful. One person can enjoy the basket boat, another can focus on food and shopping, and everyone gets time in Hoi An. The maximum of 20 people also keeps the group from becoming enormous.

I would hesitate if you want a slow, deeply focused visit to Hoi An alone. Three hours is enough to get a feel for the old town, but not enough to see every site or linger over every street. I would also hesitate if small boats are uncomfortable for you or if you dislike a long day with considerable road travel.

Booking comes with free cancellation if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded, and changes inside that window are not accepted. Cutoff times use local time.

Should you book this Hoi An day from Chan May?

Book it if you are on a cruise, want a reliable structure, and like the idea of combining a basket boat, village craft, lunch, and Hoi An in one day. The strongest features are the port-to-port arrangement, three hours in the old town, and the chance to see a side of the area beyond its famous streets.

Think twice if your main goal is a long, unhurried visit to Hoi An or if $155 feels high for a shared group tour. The price pays for convenience and coverage, not private flexibility. For the right cruise passenger, that trade is sensible: you step off the ship, see several distinct parts of the region, and return to the port with the major details handled.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Chan May Port Car Rental on Đường Vào Cảng Chân Mây, Mỹ An, Phú Lộc, Huế, Vietnam.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at the same Chan May Port meeting point. The guide and driver drop you inside the port, about 200 meters from your cruise ship.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately nine hours. The remaining time outside the main stops is used for travel between Chan May Port and Hoi An in both directions.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $155 per person. Group discounts are available.

What is included in the price?

Lunch, an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, all fees and taxes, and an experienced English-speaking guide are included.

Is the basket boat ride included?

Yes. The Cam Thanh portion includes a basket boat ride through the Bay Mau Coconut Forest.

How long do you spend in Cam Thanh?

The planned time at Cam Thanh is about three hours. Admission is listed as free.

How long do you spend in Hoi An Ancient Town?

The planned time in Hoi An Ancient Town is about three hours. Admission is included.

What is not included?

Personal expenses are not included. This covers your own shopping and other purchases outside the included services.

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 20 participants.