Things to See & Do in Tra Nhieu Nipa Palm Forest

At the present, Tra Nhieu Nipa Palm Forest is lesser known, unseen in guidebooks, and much less famous than Bay Mau Coconut Forest in Cam Thanh, east Hoi An. However, visitors can find many similarities between these places. They are two largest forests of nipa palm (water coconut, mangrove coconut, Nypa fruticans or cay dua nuoc) in Hoi An, with an approximately-equal size. Originally, this kind of coconut was not grown here and first seeds were brought by those who moved from southern Vietnam. Thankfully, the natural conditions of Tra Nhieu Village are perfect for them to grow and expense to an intense forest. The village sits on a tip of Cam Kim Island, near the confluence of 3 rivers: Thu Bon River (largest), Truong Giang River, and Ba Ren River. See more information & details

Due to isolation in the past (because of no bridge to the village), Tra Nhieu Nipa Palm Forest still keeps its own intactness and is absolutely free from tourist activities for such a long time. Today, it’s better known by tourists, but not popular yet.

Those who look for a non-touristy experience, Tra Nhieu Nipa Palm Forest is totally worth visiting. En route, rice fields, boat docking areas, hanging fishing nets above river surface, etc are really lovely to see/photograph.

Nowadays, the basket boat tour is the only activity at Tra Nhieu Nipa Palm Forest. It lasts around 30 mins. Firstly, this ride is guided by a local fisherman or farmer who uses hand to row a basket boat, to carry 1 to 2 visitors and go along a beautiful palm-line river (a small branch of Thu Bon River). This river runs through the forest, so visitors will see coconuts on both sides, along with wildlife. Light weight and special shape of the boat (circle) allows it to float easily on the river, not matter the dry or rainy season. Locals use a paddle and a set of skills to row it to go forward. They believe that older generations created it in colonial times, to not pay fishing boat tax for French people. Basket boats are not found anywhere in the world, except Vietnam’s central coast. See more information & details

Besides sightseeing and taking pictures, on the basket boat ride at Tra Nhieu Nipa Palm Forest, visitors can go crab fishing. Local boat rower will give a simple fishing rod with bait and then spot big scrabs to catch. In daily life, crabs are used by his/her family to make crab soup, crab noodle, or crab sauce. This activity looks easy, but to catch one crab which hides well and runs fast, fortune is needed sometimes. It’s the same thing at Bay Mau Coconut Forest. Browse https://hoiandaytrip.com/crab-fishing-hoi-an for more information & details.

As an animal lover or not interested, visitors can tell people to skip crab fishing from the basket boat tour program.

Performance of spinning boats or singing folk songs is not available at Tra Nhieu Nipa Palm Forest. However, local people will make a crown, ring, watch, or grasshopper by folding palm leaves and show visitors;