A basket boat ride through coconut channels sets a tasty tone fast, and then you’re at a cooking house learning Vietnamese dishes you can repeat at home. I like that this tour mixes Hoi An’s signature Cam Thanh area with a real hands-on vegetarian cooking class rather than just watching. I also like that hotel pickup from both Da Nang and Hoi An means you can skip the hassle and focus on food and the water.

One thing to consider: you share the table with meat eaters, even though you’ll cook vegetarian dishes. If you want a fully separate vegetarian-only setup, this is worth thinking about.

Key highlights at a glance

• Hotel pickup from Da Nang and Hoi An to keep the start simple
• Bay Mau Coconut Forest basket boat ride through narrow village channels
• Crab fishing practice using rods and special nets
• Cook 4 vegetarian dishes and eat what you make
• No market tour, so it stays focused on cooking and boating
• Small group cap (15 people) for a more comfortable class experience

From Da Nang pickup to Cam Thanh Village: the easy start that matters

This tour is built for people who don’t want to figure out transport first. You get picked up either from Da Nang city or from Hoi An center, then transferred to the cooking house in Cam Thanh Village. That timeline matters because it keeps you from arriving scattered, hungry, and stuck in the wrong place.

Plan around a total running time of about 3 hours 30 minutes. Morning starts around 8:45 am in Da Nang or 9:15 am in Hoi An, with the boat and cooking class following shortly after. If you’re choosing between the two daily slots, I’d lean morning if you want a calmer pace and fewer crowds in your schedule.

What I’d expect you to feel

You’ll move from city pickup to rural setting with minimal fuss. Once you’re at Cam Thanh, the tour shifts from travel mode into hands-on mode—first water, then cooking.

Bay Mau Coconut Forest by basket boat: the part you’ll remember

The basket boat portion is 45 minutes, and it’s the classic way to see the waterways near Hoi An. You’ll row through the small channels of the Bay Mau Coconut Forest area, where the view is all about mangroves, palms, and the narrow rhythm of village life.

This isn’t just a photo stop. The ride is slow enough for you to take it in, but active enough that you’re not sitting bored for half an hour. If you’ve done boats before, this one still feels different because you’re moving through tight channels where the shoreline is close.

Why this is good value for your time

A lot of tours sell you “a boat ride” but don’t pair it with anything meaningful. Here, the boating ties directly into the local food story—same region, same daily setting, then you cook with the flavors you just learned to respect.

Crab fishing in the canals: fun, hands-on, and a little messy

After the boat ride, you get to try crabbing. The setup is simple but interactive: you catch crab with rods and special nets. It’s a chance to understand how local people work with the water, not just how they talk about it.

I like that this isn’t marketed as extreme sports. It feels more like a chance to participate in a routine skill—grab, adjust, try again. You’ll likely get at least a little water-splash energy, so it helps to go with the mindset that you’re doing an activity, not just observing.

One practical consideration

Crab fishing is hands-on, but the tour doesn’t spell out gear details beyond the rods and nets. I’d wear comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting wet, and I’d keep your belongings secured and minimal.

The vegetarian cooking class: 4 dishes you can actually make again

The cooking part is where the tour justifies its price. You cook 4 dishes, and you eat what you prepare. The class runs at around 10:30 am for the morning group or 4:30 pm for the afternoon group, which gives you enough time after the boat and crab fishing to switch gears into kitchen mode.

Also important: this is a vegetarian menu experience. You’ll learn and cook vegetarian dishes even though the class and table may include meat eaters. The tour is clear about that, and it’s a big deal for anyone with dietary needs.

What’s on the vegetarian menu

Your vegetarian cooking menu includes:

• Pho chay (vegetarian noodle soup)
• Fried spring roll
• Vietnamese Pancake
• Green papaya salad

You’ll also see the wider menu concept through the tour description, including classic Vietnamese flavors like the Vietnamese pancake style (often known as banh xeo in wider tourism) and papaya salad.

What you learn beyond recipes

Even though you’re cooking vegetarian versions, you’ll still pick up the structure of Vietnamese cooking: balance, fresh herbs, crunchy-sour salads, and sauces that pull everything together. That’s the real win. You’re not just collecting dishes; you’re learning how the flavors fit.

Lunch that feels like farm-to-table: eating while it’s still real

After you cook, you get a traditional lunch—described as made with ingredients fresh from the garden. That matters more than it sounds. When you’re cooking with fresh ingredients and then eating soon after, the food tastes like it belongs together, not like it was staged for tourists.

You also avoid the typical “wait, then eat buffet” experience. This meal is tied to effort you just completed in the kitchen, which changes how you experience it.

What you’re tasting

Expect the meal to move between warm comfort and bright freshness:

• Pho chay brings the soothing broth-and-noodles side.
• Spring rolls add crunch and savory depth.
• The Vietnamese pancake gives you that savory, pancake-style bite.
• The papaya salad brings the sharp, tangy contrast that makes everything feel lighter.

Price and value at $29: what’s included and what to plan for

At $29 per person, this is one of those deals that works if you care about both halves: water activity plus cooking. You’re paying for:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off (Da Nang city and Hoi An center)
• Basket boat ride (about 45 minutes)
• Cooking class where you cook 4 dishes
• Water during the experience

That’s a lot packed into a short window. If you’ve ever tried to piece together a boat ride plus a cooking class on your own, you know the cost and timing can get messy fast.

Budget extras to remember

Not included:

• Tips
• A Lunar New Year surcharge: 150,000 VND per person (for Jan 26–Feb 3)

I’d treat tips as a normal part of the day rather than a surprise fee. And I’d check your dates if you’re traveling during Lunar New Year week, because the surcharge can affect your total.

Who this vegetarian Hoi An experience suits best

This is a great fit if you want the classic Hoi An area experience but with a vegetarian focus. I think it’s especially good for:

• Food-first travelers who want real cooking instruction, not just sampling
• People short on time who still want two major activities in one outing
• Couples and small groups who appreciate a maximum group size of 15
• Anyone staying in Da Nang or Hoi An who wants pickup to do the heavy lifting

Who might want to think twice

If you need a fully vegetarian-only table setup, the shared seating is a factor. You cook vegetarian food either way, but you won’t have the space entirely to yourself.

Also, this tour has no market tour. If you love browsing produce and snacks at a market, you might prefer a different style of food tour.

Logistics that affect your experience (without stealing your day)

The tour runs with two time windows:

• Morning: Da Nang pickup around 8:45 am, Hoi An center pickup around 9:15 am
• Afternoon: Da Nang pickup around 2:45 pm, Hoi An center pickup around 3:15 pm

Return timing is tight:

• Back to Hoi An hotel around 12:30–12:45 (morning) or 6:30–6:45 (afternoon)
• Then to Da Nang hotel around 1:15–1:30 (morning) or 7:15–7:30 (afternoon)

Weather can matter here because it’s an outdoor boat + fishing experience. If the weather isn’t suitable, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

And you’ll get a mobile ticket, with confirmation received at booking.

Should you book the vegetarian cooking class and basket boat ride?

Yes, I’d book it if you want a no-stress way to experience Cam Thanh and Vietnamese home-style cooking in one go. The biggest selling point is the balance: you’re not only riding a boat or only following a recipe. You row, try crab fishing, then cook a vegetarian meal and eat it while it’s fresh.

I’d hesitate only if you require vegetarian-only dining space and you’re very sensitive to being seated with meat eaters. If that’s you, look for a strictly vegetarian class or a setup that doesn’t share seating.

If you can handle that one compromise, this is one of the better ways to get real local flavor in a short day—especially when pickup from both Da Nang and Hoi An is included.

FAQ

How long is the Hoi An vegetarian cooking class and basket boat ride?

It’s about 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.).

What time does the tour start?

There are two daily slots: pickup from Da Nang around 8:45 am or 2:45 pm, and pickup from Hoi An center around 9:15 am or 3:15 pm.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included, from both Da Nang city and Hoi An center.

How long is the basket boat ride?

The basket boat riding portion is about 45 minutes.

Do they include crab fishing?

Yes. You’ll try catching crab using rods and special nets.

What vegetarian dishes will I cook?

The vegetarian menu includes Pho chay (vegetarian noodle soup), fried spring roll, Vietnamese pancake, and green papaya salad.

Is there a market tour?

No market tour is included.

Will I cook with meat eaters at the same time?

Yes. The tour notes that you share the cooking class and table with meat eaters, but you learn and cook vegetarian foods.

What is the price?

The price is $29 per person.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Is cancellation free?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, it won’t be refunded.