My Son plus basket boat turns history playful. I like the guided walk through the temple towers and the bamboo basket ride in Bay Mau’s coconut and mangrove waterways. One thing to watch: the My Son entrance ticket is extra, so it’s easy to overspend if you only look at the base price.

This is one of those full-day trips that mixes serious culture with hands-on stuff. You start early in Hoi An, get a proper guide at My Son (often with great English), watch a Champa performance, then roll into rice paper making and boating.

If you’re sensitive to heat or have high blood pressure, this schedule may feel tough. It moves from walking in open sun to boat time, so plan for sun protection and take it slow where you can.

Key highlights to look for

• Temple towers with a live English guide so you get stories, not just photos
• Champa show at My Son Sanctuary, with performances tied to the site
• Rice paper making in a local house, hands-on and surprisingly fun
• Bay Mau bamboo basket boat through mangroves and coconut canals
• Extra local activities on the water like fishing-net tossing and folk-song moments

Choosing The Right Option: My Son Only vs Bay Mau Basket Boat

Before you book, double-check which version you’re buying. This tour comes in two setups: one focuses on My Son Sanctuary, and the other adds the Bay Mau Coconut Forest basket boat experience. The total price can change depending on which option you choose.

Also keep in mind what’s included vs extra:

• My Son entrance ticket (about 150,000 VND per person) is not included
• If you need pickup from Da Nang instead of Hoi An, there’s an extra 300,000 VND each way for the transfer car (for small groups)

Why this matters: the base price can look like a steal, but the entrance fee and any transfer fee can quietly add up. If you want the bamboo boat day, choose the option that matches that goal so you’re not paying twice for parts of the day.

Getting to My Son Early: Why the 7:30 Start Works

Pickup starts around 7:30–8:00 am in Hoi An (or 7:00 am if you’re coming from Da Nang). The whole point of the early start is simple: My Son is an outdoor site in strong sun. Getting there earlier usually means more comfortable walking and fewer crowds moving through at the same time.

You arrive around 8:45 am and immediately shift gears: comfortable transport first, then electric-car transfer to the temple area. That little detail makes a difference. You’re not burning energy just getting to the viewpoints.

Another practical bonus: this early timing also helps you fit lunch and the later river/forest activities without feeling like the day is collapsing under heat.

Inside My Son Sanctuary: Temple Towers and the Champa Performance

My Son Sanctuary is famous for its brick-and-stone temple towers tied to the Champa kingdom. On this tour, you don’t wander like a lost camera crew. You get a guide who explains what you’re looking at and why it matters.

What I’d call the core experience:

• Explore the main temple group at My Son with your English-speaking guide
• Learn about Vietnamese history and culture through the lens of the Champa site
• Take photos at the best spots in the valley
• Watch a Champa show

Several guides stood out in the feedback you provided. Amy gets praise for being both knowledgeable and fun, and she often balances explanation with giving you time to explore. Van Pham is a standout story-teller: he’s known for sharing his own experiences as someone who worked as an interpreter during the Vietnam War, and he still manages to walk the site despite being 79.

What to consider: the temples sit in a valley, and it can feel warmer or more intense in that enclosed layout. Still, arriving early and having transport help you pace yourself.

Lunch at My Son: The Menu, the Pace, and the Trade-Offs

Lunch lands around 11:40 am at a restaurant near My Son. The meal is typically a noodle setup with options:

• Chicken, pork, or shrimp noodles
• Spring rolls and grilled rice-dumplings (as listed on the menu)
• Fruit, plus tea and bottled water

Vegetarian/vegan options are available.

Balance note: lunch seems good for many people, with multiple comments calling it delicious or among the better tour meals in Vietnam. But there are also a few complaints about portions or that the food wasn’t ideal (cold or fatty). That pattern usually means the restaurant experience can vary depending on timing and crowd level.

My practical advice: treat lunch as fuel, not the highlight. You’re there for My Son and then the boating.

Rice Paper Making in a Local House: More Fun Than It Sounds

After lunch, you leave My Son around 12:30 pm and stop at a local house. This is where you learn how to make rice paper—hands-on, and far more satisfying than watching from the sidelines.

Here’s what you can expect from the structure you were given:

• You get a lesson on how rice paper is made
• You get to try making the product yourself

This stop is one of the best value parts of the day because it’s short, practical, and memorable. Even people who weren’t expecting much from a “food workshop” seemed to enjoy it.

A tip: wear something you don’t mind getting a little messy. You’re working with ingredients and handling the process, not just watching.

Bay Mau Bamboo Basket Boat: Mangroves, Coconut Canals, and Local Games

If you chose the mixed option, your afternoon shifts into a different kind of excitement. Around 15:00–15:30 (timing varies slightly with what you picked), you head to the Bay Mau Coconut Forest village area.

Then comes the signature part: a bamboo basket boat ride with a local boatman through mangrove and coconut waterways. The ride is about 45 minutes, and it’s not just scenic drifting. You’ll be doing stuff.

Included activities listed for this tour can include:

• Boat spinning and dancing
• Karaoke (yes, really)
• Throwing fishing nets with locals
• Traditional folk song performance
• Fishing crabs along the river

Why this works: it turns nature into an active cultural experience. You’re in the canals with the boatman, and the small-scale interactions feel more real than a staged show.

Safety/comfort note: some people skip the basket boat extension because it’s hot. If you get heat stressed easily, plan to shade up before your turn and take breaks whenever your guide gives you the chance.

Thu Bon River Boat Ride and Old Town Return Timing

Even if you don’t add the Bay Mau basket boat, the day usually includes a boat transfer back to Hoi An via the Thu Bon River. After rice paper making, you’ll take a boat around 13:30 pm, then arrive roughly 14:00–14:30 at the boat station in Hoi An old town.

From there:

• If you did only the My Son + rice paper making + river boat version, the minivan takes you back to your hotel
• If you added the basket boat option, you’ll continue into the Bay Mau portion first, then return later

Either way, the river boat time is a nice change from the temple walking. It gives your legs a break and makes the whole day feel less like a checklist.

Price and Logistics: Where the Real Costs Show Up

At a listed price of $18 per person, this can feel like a bargain. But the math only makes sense if you understand what’s extra.

What you should budget for:

• My Son entrance ticket: about 150,000 VND per person (not included)
• Da Nang pickup: extra 300,000 VND each way (if relevant)
• The basket boat option: your booking option changes the price, so confirm you’re paying for the day you actually want

Value question to ask yourself: do you want the day to be mostly temple walking, or do you want the full mix of temples plus bamboo boating and village activities? If you want the boat experience, pay for the option that includes it so you’re not scrambling later.

Transport is a real part of value here. You get:

• hotel pickup and drop-off in Hoi An
• air-conditioned vehicle
• electric car transfer to the temples

That means less hassle and less “how do I get there” stress.

Who This Trip Fits Best (and Who Should Rethink It)

This tour is a strong match if you want:

• a structured visit to My Son with explanations in English
• hands-on learning (rice paper making)
• a fun nature-and-culture finish in Bay Mau’s waterways

It may not fit as well if you:

• have high blood pressure (this is explicitly listed as not suitable)
• struggle with heat and long stretches in the sun

It’s also a good fit for couples or solo visitors who want a guide, a set plan, and minimal organizing. And if you like stories, look out for the guides who share personal context. Van Pham’s background adds real emotional weight to the site.

Tips to Make the Day Feel Easy

Here’s how I’d set yourself up for success based on the schedule and the places involved:

• Use sun protection early. You’ll start at 8:45 am and walk in open areas.
• Bring water and wear breathable clothes. Bottled water is included, but you’ll still want comfort.
• Expect the day to move in blocks: My Son → lunch → rice paper stop → boats. It’s not “wander whenever.”
• If you’re booking from Da Nang, factor the 300,000 VND each way transfer fee so the budget matches reality.
• If the bamboo basket boat is a must for you, pick the mixed option up front. It’s the biggest “wow” moment for many people.

Should You Book This My Son and Basket Boat Tour?

I’d book it if you want one day in Hoi An that hits three different flavors: historic Champa temples, local food craft at a house, and a bamboo boat ride through mangrove/coconut channels.

Skip it (or choose carefully) if you’re heat sensitive, have high blood pressure, or you’d rather spend your time at My Son without the extra village boating activities.

If you do book, do two things: confirm your option includes the Bay Mau basket boat if that’s your priority, and budget for the My Son entrance ticket since it’s not included.

The payoff is a day that doesn’t feel one-note. You end with your head full of stories and your camera full of movement—temples in the morning, rice paper in the middle, and bamboo boat energy in the afternoon.

FAQ

Is the My Son Sanctuary entrance ticket included?

No. The My Son entrance ticket is not included and is listed at about 150,000 VND per person.

Are there different tour options for My Son and the basket boat?

Yes. There are two options: one that visits My Son Sanctuary, and another that mixes My Son with the Bay Mau Coconut Forest bamboo basket boat.

What time does the tour start from Hoi An?

Pickup starts around 7:30–8:00 am in Hoi An. The schedule is designed so you arrive at My Son around 8:45 am.

If I’m staying in Da Nang, what’s the pickup cost?

Da Nang pickup adds an extra 300,000 VND each way for the transfer car for small groups (as stated in the tour information).

What happens at My Son during the visit?

You explore the temple towers with an English-speaking guide, learn Vietnamese history and culture, take photos at good spots, and watch a Champa show.

Does the tour include lunch, and is there a vegetarian option?

Yes. Lunch is provided around 11:40 am and includes noodles and sides. Vegetarian/vegan options are available.

What is the rice paper making part like?

After lunch, you stop at a local house and learn how to make rice paper, with time to create your own hand-made product.

Is the bamboo basket boat ride included in every option?

No. The bamboo basket boat in Bay Mau Coconut Forest is included only if you book the mixed option.