In Hội An, you may sometimes get the sense you’re surrounded by water. That’s because even when it’s not the rainy season (when water comes from above, below, and sideways) Hoi An is bounded to the sea, and carved through with sleepy rivers and canals, sea estuaries and mangrove swamps, fish ponds and wet rice fields.
Water gives Hoi An its incredibly fertile soil for its farms and fields. Water, in the form of rivers, was also responsible for bringing trade and prosperity to Hoi An long ago. Today, the city’s waterways are still an integral part of the fabric of local life. And the best way to understand this, is to get out on the water. Here are some ideas for on-the-water adventures.
Kayaking in Cam Thanh
Kayaking on the rivers and in the nipa mangroves of Cam Thanh is quite a different experience from kayaking on the sea. It’s easy even for beginners to paddle Hoi An’s calm, glimmering green rivers. The reward for this easy labor is scenes of fisherwomen collecting crabs in the mangroves, amber fishnets gaping over the water, sultry canals shaded by leafy palms, and flocks of aquatic birds resting in the trees.
TIP: Join Hoi An Kayak Tours’ river clean-up tours and community-based excursions for a deeper appreciation of life along Hoi An’s waterways.
Riding the waves on the beach
An afternoon at the beach is a great way to unwind after sightseeing. An Bang Beach fills with locals and travelers in the late afternoon, while Tan Thanh Beach a few steps away offers a calmer perspective on the action. To get out on the water, you can rent a stand up paddleboard from The Deckhouse, a surfboard from Salt Pub, or book a windy ride on a single-sail catamaran from .
Basket boating through the mangroves
Over the years, the nipa palm forest in Cam Thanh has protected villagers from storms, floods, sea erosion, and even wars. The original size of the planted forest gave the area the name ‘Bảy Mẩu’ (seven hectares), although the palms have since multiplied to spread over 140 hectares. Basket boat tours not only provide income to the local community, they’re also an eco-friendly activity that’s hard to resist. Glide through a corridor of dense green leaves as you learn about this important ecosystem and how it’s come be relied on by the local people.
TIP: Basket Boat Cafe is a hidden gem right by the water. The cafe can book a basket boat ride for you with a local fisherman. Come back after for a cold coffee served with a prime view of the lush nipa palms.
Sunset cruises on the river
Hoi An becomes even more magical as day turns to dusk. Brightly colored lanterns bathe the town in a lovely glow, while local ladies head home from the market on tiny motored sampans. Hop on a wooden boat just before sundown to catch evening breezes of the water, and see the quiet countryside along the Thu Bồn River. You might stay aboard for a dinner cruise, or clamber onto dry land again the historic market quay in the Ancient Town.
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