Hoi An Birding Cruise

Experience the wild side of Hoi An with our sunrise Birding Cruise, the best way to enjoy the tranquil beauty of dawn and discover the region’s rich birdlife. Spot vibrant kingfishers, graceful herons, colourful bee-eaters, barbets and more on this peaceful journey. Perfect for wildlife lovers, nature photographers and families alike.

Details

Summary
— 3hr~ River Cruise (Dawn or Dusk Options)
— Bookings Available Year-Round
— Departs from Hoi An or Da Nang
— Recognised eBird Hotspot
— Optional Homestay Breakfast Included
— Private tours for individuals or small groups with options for larger groups available upon request

Prices Starting From:
Single Person: $220 per person
Group of 2: $122 per person
Group of 3: $92 person
Group of 4: $78 per person

Hoi An Birding Cruise

Code: DNSD02 | Categories: Birding, Boat & River Cruises | Locations: Da Nang / Hoi An

Summary:

Step aboard the iconic Hoi An Birding Cruise by Next Continent and discover the hidden wild world of Hoi An’s bird life. Winding through the stunning Thu Bon River and the tributaries that lead through Hoi An and out into Cua Dai Bay, this immersive birdwatching experience offers an unforgettable glimpse into one of central Vietnam’s richest ecosystems, all within the stone’s throw of the UNESCO-listed Ancient Town of Hoi An.

Operated by the Next Continent guiding team and piloted by our captain, whose family have been living on the river for generations, the Hoi An Birding Cruise offers exclusive access to the ecosystems of the Thu Bon River year-round. With departures available daily, including magical sunrise and sunset cruises, this is your opportunity to witness the ever-changing colours, sounds, and bird life of Central Vietnam.

From your front-row seat on the water, you’ll glide through wetlands, mudflats, scrubland and urban forest habitats, all teeming with life. Watch breeding colonies of herons, egrets, bitterns and night herons, flocks of terns fishing, kingfishers diving, bee-eaters hawking overhead, and clouds of migratory shorebirds, whilst laughingthrushes, barbets, cuckoos, bulbuls, mynas, munias and weavers are all found along the shorelines. With the average outing observing 45~ bird species, it’s a birdwatchers paradise, not to mention a photographer’s dream.

All cruises are led by our team of expert guides with professional accreditation and safety training, who share deep insights into local ecology, traditional cultures, and biodiversity of the area. Every cruise is different, shaped by the seasons, the weather, and the whims of the wildlife, making this one of our most popular tours among returning guests

Whether you’re a birder, wildlife photographer, nature lover, or part of a group eager to discover Hoi An’s wild side, our Hoi An Birding Cruise is a must-do experience in Vietnam.

Your Journey Starts Here

Itinerary

Pre-dawn – Pickup from your accommodation in either Da Nang or Hoi An.
Just after first light – Arrive at our private jetty.
5:30–5:45 AM – Boat departs for a two-hour cruise along the Thu Bon River, exploring key birdwatching locations and diverse habitats.
Around 9:00 AM – Return to the dock. Optional: Enjoy a delicious, freshly prepared traditional Vietnamese breakfast and locally brewed Vietnamese coffee, hosted by our homestay partners.
After breakfast – Return transfer to your hotel or preferred drop-off location.

Prefer sunsets to sunrises?
This tour is also available as a sunset experience. Please see our booking form for details.

Key Target Species & Other Wildlife Highlights

In the short time that we’ve been running this tour, our team has racked up over 100 species, with everything from ducks, dove, cuckoos, shorebirds, plovers, herons, egrets, bitterns, birds of prey, bee-eaters, kingfishers, shrikes, tailorbirds, starlings, bulbuls, weavers, flycatchers, munias, wagtails, pipits and more.

Typically, we record approximately 40-60 species per trip, with an ever evolving cast of characters depending on the time of year, weather and local conditions.

A few standout regulars include Lesser Whistling Duck, White-browed Crake, Little Ringed Plover, Red-wattled Lapwing, Tibetan Sand Plover, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Common Redshank, Oriental Pratincole, White-winged Black Tern, Asian Openbill, Cinnamon Bittern, Black-crowned Night Heron, Purple Heron, Osprey, Blue-tailed Bee-eater, Common Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Dollarbird, Coppersmith Barbet, Freckle-breasted Woodpecker, Long-tailed Shrike, Racket-tailed Treepie, Zitting Cisticola, Black-browed Reed Warbler, Masked Laughingthrush, Black-collared Starling, Bluethroat, Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker, Chestnut Munia, Red-throated Pipit and Oriental Greenfinch.

For more detail, please check out eBird Hotspot.

What’s Provided & What to Bring

Our team provides life jackets, drinking water, coffee / tea, a bird field guide, and spare hats if needed. We also have spare binoculars available for guests who don’t have their own, just make sure you let us know in advance!

If you have them, we recommend bringing binoculars and a camera to make the most of your birding experience. Birders, our team will also complete an eBird checklist and share it with your account at the conclusion of the tour.

For clothing, we suggest lightweight, breathable attire and comfortable footwear with good grip. Even during dawn and dusk cruises, sunscreen is recommended, especially on clear, sunny days. Sunglasses are also useful for reducing glare off the water.

Optional Traditional Vietnamese Breakfast On The River

For those who want the full experience, we offer a delicious post-tour breakfast featuring a fresh, homemade spread of traditional Vietnamese dishes. Enjoy stir-fried noodles, classic family-style meals, or vegetarian noodle and rice options. Fresh fruit, orange or lemon juice, coffee and water.

Group Size

This is a private tour for individuals or small groups only. Our boat can accommodate up to 10 people, in addition to our guiding team and crew.

Photography Opportunites & Notes

Excellent bird and landscape photography opportunities are available, both for serious camera users and those equipped with smartphones. For the serious bird photographers, we recommend a telephoto lens of 400mm or more. If you have a variety of equipment, if unsure what to bring, or want tailored advice based on your gear, feel free to contact our expert team — we’re happy to help you prepare for the best possible shots.

hoi-an-birding-cruise-next-continent-thumbail

Discover More in Central Vietnam

If this tour caught your eye, you might also enjoy some of our other experiences in the region, each with its own unique focus and highlights. Below are some of our most popular and recommended options, perfect for discovering more of what Central Vietnam has to offer. Thinking of doing more than one? Let us know and we’ll be happy to create a customised package to suit your journey.

Red-shanked Douc Langur Safari: Adventure in Son Tra

Discover the vibrant world of the Red-shanked Douc Langur on a guided journey through the Son Tra Peninsula, home to one of the last strongholds of this critically endangered and strikingly beautiful primate. Travel winding coastal roads, explore hidden jungle gullies, and enjoy opportunities to observe and photograph these charismatic monkeys in their natural habitat. Whether you prefer the ease of a comfortable vehicle or the thrill of riding by motorbike, this tour offers a unique chance to connect with one of Vietnam’s natural icons.

Hoi An After Dark: Owls & Nightjars Spotlighting Tour

Discover Hoi An After Dark on our Nocturnal Spotlighting Tour. The perfect experience for birders, wildlife photographers and nature lovers to get up close and personal with some of Vietnam’s unique and rarely seen nocturnal creatures. Running year-round, this tour highlights species such as the Indian Nightjar, Savanna Nightjar, Collared Scops Owl, and Eastern Barn Owl — alongside an array of fascinating reptiles, amphibians, moths, and more!

Da Nang Birding Tours

Discover the rich birdlife of Da Nang on one of our expertly guided birding tours. From coastal forests and mountain slopes to wetlands, dunes, sandflats, and river systems, this region supports a remarkable diversity of resident and migratory bird species. Whether you’re a dedicated birder, a passionate wildlife photographer, or a curious nature enthusiast, our tours provide some of the best birding experiences in Vietnam. Half Day, Full Day, Spotlighting and Custom Tours available.

Tailor Your Experience

Looking to enhance your experience? Whether it’s adding an extra day, making an additional stop, arranging pick-up from a distant location, hiring a camera, or combining your tour with another one of our amazing experiences, we’ve got you covered. Get in touch today, and let our experts craft a private, customised itinerary with dates and prices tailored to your needs

Tour Reviews

We recently did the Next Continent Hoi A Birding Cruise. Our guides were Hoang and Thanh who were absolutely fantastic. Thanh gave us a great commentary throughout the trip providing interesting information about all of the birds. Hoang has incredible eyes and spent most of the time finding extra species time and time again. Highlight was probably the Masked Laughingthrush as it was our very first laughingthrush species, though the kingfishers were excellent too. Thanh made sure we got into the perfect position to watch the sunset at the end of the day too. A great birding tour, definitely recommending!

We booked the sunrise tour on the recommendation of a local homestay who had previous guests rave about this experience. Huy was such an excellent tour guide and the environment was so stunning with all the beautiful bird life amongst the traditional Vietnamese fishing boats, just so beautiful! Cant recommend enough.

A wonderful experience. Saw loads of bird life and learnt heaps. The guides were very knowledgeable and happy to answer all of our questions. A great way to see the birds and a more natural side to Vietnam for sure.