Private Shore Excursions from Chan Port – Basket Boat- Foot Massage- Hoi An City

The most memorable part of this private shore excursion is the shift from modern Da Nang to rural Cam Thanh, where you learn to row a round bamboo basket boat through channels lined with water palms. I like that the day combines hands-on village life with Hoi An’s famous old streets, rather than giving you only a drive-by view of central Vietnam. I also like that lunch, entrance fees, and a foot massage are built into the price.

The main drawback is time. A 6 to 8-hour tour from Chan May Port covers a lot of ground, so stops at My Khe Beach and Da Nang’s landmarks are brief. You should also be comfortable with moderate activity, changing vehicles or roads, and a full day away from the ship.

Key points to know before booking

• You learn to row a traditional basket boat in Cam Thanh’s water coconut forest, with help from an experienced local boat person.
• Fishing is part of the fun, with chances to try catching crabs and learning how to cast a fishing net.
• Da Nang sightseeing is photo-focused, including My Khe Beach, Man Thai Fishing Village, Dragon Bridge, and Marble Mountains.
• Hoi An receives the proper walking time, with the Japanese Bridge, an old family house, a Chinese Assembly Hall, lantern-filled streets, and shopping.
• The tour is private, so only your party takes part, and group discounts may make the $154 price more appealing for several people.
• Guide requests may be possible, since the provider has praised the flexibility of guides such as Trang and driver Lu on its private tours, though a specific assignment is not guaranteed.

From Chan May Port to Da Nang’s coastal sights

Your day begins at Chan May Port, officially listed at Chan May Port Joint Stock Company in Loc Vinh Commune, Phu Loc District. The tour ends at the same meeting point, an important detail for anyone planning around a ship departure.

The drive takes you toward Da Nang and Hoi An in an air-conditioned car or minivan. A licensed English-speaking guide accompanies you, and other languages can be requested. Bottled water, tissues, and Wi-Fi are provided.

The first sightseeing section is designed more for orientation and photos than for long visits. You pass Man Thai Fishing Village and stop at My Khe Beach, formerly known as China Beach. You also see Dragon Bridge and Marble Mountains from the route.

I like this opening because it gives you a quick look at several sides of the region. Man Thai connects the modern coastal city with its fishing traditions. My Khe gives you a sense of Da Nang’s broad beachfront. Dragon Bridge adds a distinctly modern landmark, while Marble Mountains introduce the limestone hills that have long shaped the view around the city.

The listed stop is only about 10 minutes, so keep your expectations in check. You are not getting a long beach walk or a full visit to Marble Mountains. This is a chance to stretch your legs, take pictures, and hear the guide explain what you are seeing before continuing south.

For a private shore excursion, this short stop can work well. Your time is precious, and the real activities come later. Still, anyone hoping to explore each Da Nang sight at length should choose a tour built around the city itself rather than one that also includes Cam Thanh and Hoi An.

Cam Thanh and the story of the water coconut forest

The tour continues to Cam Thanh village, a rural area associated with Vietnam’s war years. The village served as a shelter for local people and a hiding place for soldiers during the Vietnam-American War. That background gives the boat ride more meaning than a simple amusement stop.

On the way, you pass changing rice fields, shrimp and crab farms, and a forest of water palms. These views show how closely food production and waterways shape daily life in the countryside around Hoi An.

At the village, a local family provides a cold drink before the boat activity begins. This pause is useful after the road journey, especially in warm weather, and gives you a brief look at family-run hospitality without turning the visit into a formal museum stop.

The boat itself is a small, round craft made from bamboo. Local boat people help you learn how to row it through the narrow waterways. The design looks simple, but a circular boat does not move quite like a normal canoe. You may need a few attempts to get your stroke under control, which is part of the appeal.

This is the most hands-on part of the day. You are not simply watching someone row. You get to try the technique yourself, move through the palm-lined channels, and take part in activities connected with the local water environment.

You can also try catching crabs and learn how to cast a fishing net from the boat. The exact success of those activities will depend on conditions and your own timing, so treat them as practical demonstrations and playful attempts rather than a guaranteed catch.

The water coconut forest makes the setting feel quiet and rural, but the activity is not entirely peaceful. The boat ride is a popular experience, and the guide’s support matters. Since the tour includes an experienced local boat person, you should have help with steering and the mechanics of the craft.

The boat portion lasts about two hours, making it the longest scheduled part of the excursion. That gives you enough time to try the boat, see the palms, and take part in the fishing activities without rushing through them.

You should bring a sense of humor and be ready for a little awkwardness. A round boat can turn unexpectedly, and rowing requires coordination. The tour requires a moderate level of physical fitness, so it may not suit anyone who has difficulty balancing, sitting low, or using their arms for a sustained activity.

Vietnamese lunch and a foot massage

After the Cam Thanh experience, you receive an authentic Vietnamese set-menu lunch. The supplied information does not specify the dishes, so you should not book this expecting a particular menu or dietary arrangement unless you confirm it in advance.

The meal is valuable because it is included rather than added as another expense during a long port day. It also keeps the schedule practical. You do not have to spend time searching for a restaurant between the village and Hoi An.

A set menu can be less flexible than ordering from a full restaurant menu. If you have food restrictions, ask the operator before booking, since the available information does not confirm special dietary options.

The included foot massage provides a change of pace after the boat ride and before the walking portion in Hoi An. It is a simple but sensible addition to a day that involves road travel, sitting in a low boat, and walking old streets.

I would view the massage as a short relaxation break, not a spa treatment. The tour includes a foot massage, but it gives no stated length or details about the setting. That uncertainty is minor for most people, but it matters if the massage is your main reason for booking.

Walking through Hoi An Ancient Town

The final major stop is Hoi An Ancient Town. Here, the pace changes from countryside activity to a guided walk through lantern-filled streets and historic buildings.

You visit the Japanese Bridge, one of Hoi An’s best-known landmarks. You also see an old family house and a Chinese Assembly Hall. These stops help explain the town’s mix of architectural and cultural influences.

The appeal of Hoi An is not only the individual buildings. It is the chance to walk through a compact old center where streets, houses, assembly halls, and shops create a setting very different from modern Da Nang. A guide can help connect the buildings to the town’s past, while you get time to look around at your own pace.

Shopping is part of the plan. Hoi An is famous for it, and the tour gives you some free time after the guided walk. The available details do not promise a specific amount of shopping time, so keep purchases modest if you need to return to the ship on a strict schedule.

This stop is listed as about three minutes in the supplied schedule, but that clearly cannot describe the full walking visit. The full tour lasts 6 to 8 hours, and the description says you walk through the Ancient Town, see several sites, and have time to shop. Treat the three-minute figure as an inaccurate or abbreviated listing detail rather than a realistic measure of your Hoi An visit.

The return drive begins after the town visit and takes you back to Chan May Port. Build in care around the ship’s all-aboard time. The operator supplies port permits and returns you to the meeting point, but you should still tell the guide your ship’s schedule at the start of the day.

What the $154 price really covers

At $154 per person, this is not a budget city transfer. It is a full private shore day with transportation, guide service, multiple attractions, lunch, a foot massage, water, entrance tickets, and port permits included.

The price makes more sense for a small group than for one person traveling alone. Group discounts are available, and a private vehicle spreads the transportation cost across your party. You also avoid paying separate admission fees and arranging a taxi between Chan May Port, Cam Thanh, and Hoi An.

The strongest value comes from variety. In one day, you get coastal Da Nang views, a rural village activity, a meal, a massage, and an old-town walking tour. You are paying for convenience as much as for the individual stops.

The tradeoff is depth. You will not explore Da Nang’s landmarks in detail, spend a full day at Marble Mountains, or devote all your time to Hoi An. The tour works best if you want a broad introduction to the area from the port.

The private format adds real value. Only your group takes part, which can make it easier to manage the pace, ask questions, request a specific guide if available, and spend more or less time shopping. The operator has highlighted flexibility on other private tours, and one past booking used the same driver, Lu, for two excursions and an airport transfer while requesting guide Trang again after enjoying her work at Ba Na Hills. That does not guarantee Lu or Trang for this outing, but it suggests that guide requests may be worth making when you book.

Who will enjoy this shore excursion most

I would recommend this tour to first-time visitors who want to see both Da Nang and Hoi An without arranging several separate transfers. It suits couples, families, and small groups that value a private vehicle and a guide over the lowest possible price.

It is also a good match for anyone who prefers doing something rather than only looking at monuments. Rowing the basket boat, trying a fishing net, and visiting the palm forest give the day a physical, local focus.

Families should consider the moderate fitness requirement. The supplied information does not set a minimum age, so you will need to judge whether everyone in your party can manage the boat activity and walking in Hoi An.

This is less suitable if you want a slow day. The route covers Chan May, Da Nang, Cam Thanh, and Hoi An, so road time is part of the experience. It is also not ideal if your priority is a long visit inside Marble Mountains, a beach day, or detailed shopping in Hoi An.

The tour is private, but the schedule is still organized around several set components. If you want to skip the massage, spend extra time at the beach, or focus on shopping, ask about adjustments before booking.

Practical details that matter on a port day

Confirmation is provided at booking, and free cancellation is available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

The meeting point is Chan May Port Joint Stock Company in Mỹ An, Phú Lộc, Hue, Vietnam. The activity ends back there. Because the port is outside central Hoi An and Da Nang, a private excursion removes the need to find local transport after leaving the ship.

Wear clothing that allows easy movement and shoes suitable for walking. The information only states that a moderate fitness level is needed, but the combination of a low boat, rowing, village paths, and old-town streets makes practical clothing a wise choice.

Take the included water, and remember that the first beach and Da Nang stops are short. Your best photographs may come quickly, so keep your camera ready when the vehicle stops.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want a well-rounded private day with rural activity, Vietnamese food, a little relaxation, and Hoi An’s main sights. The basket boat ride is the tour’s most distinctive feature, while the private vehicle and included lunch make the long route easier to manage.

Think twice if you want a deep visit to one place. Da Nang receives only brief photo stops, and Hoi An shares the day with Cam Thanh. For most small groups arriving at Chan May Port, though, the combination offers a practical way to sample several sides of central Vietnam in one outing.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

The tour starts at Chan May Port Joint Stock Company in Loc Vinh Commune, Phu Loc District, Hue, Vietnam. It ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the excursion last?

The tour lasts approximately 6 to 8 hours.

What is the price?

The listed price is $154 per person. Group discounts are available.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What transportation is provided?

Transportation is provided in a modern air-conditioned car or minivan with an experienced driver.

Is a guide included?

Yes. A licensed English-speaking guide is included. Other languages can be requested.

What food and relaxation activities are included?

An authentic Vietnamese set-menu lunch and a foot massage are included.

What will I do in Cam Thanh?

You will visit the water coconut forest, learn to row a traditional round bamboo basket boat, try catching crabs, and learn how to cast a fishing net.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.