[Updated in November 2024] ‘Basket boat’ is a small round bamboo boat used by fishermen in central Vietnam, including Hoi An. Here, locals use it to carry visitors to explore the water coconut forests and participate in fascinating activities on rivers, such as boat spinning (that is viral on social media). This boat tour is a unique experience and a must do for many visitors today. Now, let’s HoiAn Day Trip Company provide all the information that you need to know about the basket boat and basket boat ride in Hoi An.
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• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Must Knows about Basket Boat Ride in Hoi An
– Location: Bay Mau Water Coconut Forest, Cam Thanh Village, Hoi An, Vietnam and Tra Nhieu Nipa Palm Forest, Duy Vinh commune, Duy Xuyen district, Vietnam
– Other name(s): coconut boat ride/tour/trip, coracle boat ride/tour/trip, round boat ride/tour/trip, circle boat ride/tour/trip
– Duration: 30-60 mins
– Price:
– Availability: sunrise to sunset, except flood or typhoon days
– Reason(s) to do: a fun & unique experience in Hoi An’s countryside
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/basket-boat-ride-hoi-an
– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/zalo/line)
– Fact:
Better to Know about Hoi An’s Basket Boat
Basket boat (round boat, circle boat, coconut boat, coracle boat) is a small round-shaped bamboo boat and fishing vessel that is unique to central Vietnam. In Vietnamese language, it’s known as ‘thuyen thung’ (meaning ‘basket boat’) or ‘thung chai’. Chai is the name of a tree producing the milk that is used by locals to mix with kerosene to paint the boat and by that, it’s able to be waterproof. By the way, at some places, artisans use cow or buffalo dung and painting to do this work.
The most popular story to explain about the origin of the basket boat is that local fishermen wanted to make a smaller and lighter boat than common fishing boats to not pay taxes for French colonists. Somebody believes that this is a heritage from Cham people who were good at fishing and traveling in the sea before Vietnamese arrivals.
Local fishermen will use basket boats to row on small, narrow, shallow or winding waterways, instead of large and wide rivers. One to three adults can sit in one basket boat. At the fishing harbour, this boat carries people across shallow water to go to big fishing ships which dock in deeper waters. Today, the basket boat is the vehicle carrying visitors to discover the palm forests of Hoi An.
Due to special shape and size, rowing the basket boat requires a paddle and a set of skills. Therefore, visitors often choose to go with a local, instead of doing it on their own, for safety reasons.
Water Coconut Forests in Hoi An Vietnam
Water coconut (exactly called ‘nipa palm’) is a kind of mangrove that grows in the brackish water. Hoi An is by the sea, so it’s possible to observe this plant here. According to locals, it appeared in the city because those who moved from southern Vietnam brought it besides them. Later, first coconut trees develop and become forests.
There are two water coconut forests in Hoi An:
– Bay Mau Coconut Forest at Cam Thanh commune, 6 kilometers east of Hoi An city centre, the largest water coconut forest in the area
– Tra Nhieu Nipa Palm Forest at Duy Vinh commune, 7 kilometers south of Hoi An city centre, the least touristy water coconut forest in the area
Basket Boat Ride in Cam Thanh Coconut Village
Bay Mau Coconut Forest
Bay Mau Coconut Forest lies in the estuary of Thu Bon River, and near its influence with De Vong/Co Co River and Truong Giang River. It’s in Cam Thanh Village, 7-8km away from Hoi An city centre. Its name means ‘seven acres’ that symbolize its massive size.
Because Bay Mau Coconut Forest is dense, swampy and nearly isolated, it’s chosen to be the hiding place for local communists during the French war (1940s-1950s) and the American war (1950s-1970s). Additionally, it has a plexus network of waterways, making strangers get lost easily.
A boat tour on secret canals through Bay Mau Coconut Forest allows visitors to see the nature, feel the serenity & fresh air, know about axotic palm trees, and find out the reason why people hide in it in the wartime. Sure, it’s good for pictures.
Spinning Boat, Crab Fishing & Other Activities
Within 30-50 minutes, a basket boat tour in Cam Thanh Village includes: (1) visiting Bay Mau Coconut Forest by small & peaceful canals, (2) watching ‘spinning boat’ performance, (3) watching how local fishermen catch fish by net, (4) learning how to go crab fishing, or occasionally (5) listening to Quang Nam’s folk songs. There are many photo/video opportunities as well.
In the beginning and the end of this tour, visitors will have a look at an authentic Vietnamese fishing village (large fishing boat, nets,…) as well as a rural village where houses have a palm-leaf roof.
The most stunning activity is watching spinning boat performance in which a local man stands in the basket boat and spins it non-stop for a few minutes. He uses his legs to push and spin the colorful boat and uses his hands to spin the paddle. The viewers can’t take off their eyes while he is doing (because it’s amazing & ‘crazy’). No doubt, visitors like this most and post it a lot on social media. We would like to remind you that it’s free to watch or take photos, but if you want to join the ‘spinner’, it’s needed to pay a small fee (or tipping). People often like to give 50,000 VND/time for this experience.
Going crab fishing is another activity that many travelers are interested in. After the spinning boat performance, the boat will go to a different corner inside Bay Mau Coconut Village. There, the local man shows how to catch small crabs by a fishing rod and bait as earthworm (by basic English or body language). Following his demonstration, visitors do it themselves and he/she still helps to point out where the crabs are. The thing to have fun here is that crabs run so fast or hide in tiny holes, so the ‘hunters’ need to be very patient. Today, crabs are not used for food, so of course, after catching them, we must give them back to nature. If don’t want to hurt them, it’s possible to skip this activity or just see them from the boat.
While on board, passengers can learn how to row the basket boat. Due to its shape (round) and its lightweight, it’s not easy to keep the balance & move forward. This is definitely a new experience.
Basket Boat Ride Price
The price of a basket boat tour in Cam Thanh Village (aka Coconut Village) ranges from 250,000 to 400,000 VND per boat. One boat can carry 2 adult passengers maximum (plus one local man who rows the boat). If traveling with kid, if he/she is under 5 years old or under 1m high, it’s possible to go on the same boat with parents. For kids above 5 years old or above 1m high, he/she may need a separate boat.
Each adult and children above 15 years old, also need to pay the entrance ticket to visit Bay Mau Coconut Village (not to enter the village!). Its price is 30,000 VND.
Where to Find a Basket Boat in Cam Thanh Village?
Visitors can go to Cam Thanh Coconut Village (near Cua Dai Bridge) and then see the locals to use their basket boat ride, or contact us by +84968009827 to reserve the boat tour in advance. Our office is in the Cam Thanh Village.
Basket Boat Ride in Tra Nhieu Fishing Village
Tra Nhieu Fishing Village has a water coconut forest too. It’s 7-8km away from Hoi An city centre by car or 30 mins by boat. It lies on a tip of Cam Kim Island, so it’s embraced by the river on three sides. Local inhabitants here plant rice or other crops, catch fish (both rivers and sea), and go to Hoi An, to earn a living. For such a long time, there is no bridge to the island, making this village isolated. By that, the rural scenery and lifestyle of the people here are unchanged. Its nipa palm forest is also untouched and has been healthy.
Because of being lesser known than Bay Mau Coconut Village, Tra Nhieu Coconut Forest is more peaceful. For those who prefer a non-touristy activity, this is a good place to go.
The basket boat tour in Tra Nhieu Coconut Forest is around 30 mins long.
Cam Thanh Village vs Tra Nhieu Village: Which is Better?
Tips to Note Before Take a Basket Boat Ride
– Visitors should avoid scammers when arriving at Cam Thanh Coconut Village.
– In the dry season, visitors should bring sun cream, sun glasses, hat/cap/umbrella, and bottles of water. In each boat, it’s possible to see a conical hat or umbrella, so it may not help to bring them anymore if booking a basket boat tour.
– In the wet season, visitors should bring rain poncho/jacket, sandal or waterproof shoes, and check the weather forecast carefully. In each boat, it’s possible to see rain poncho or umbrella, so may not help to bring them anymore if book a basket boat tour.
– Visitors do not break the palms for any reason.
Is Basket Boat Ride in Hoi An Worth It?
It’s totally worth it to do the basket boat ride in Hoi An Vietnam.
Photos, Videos about Basket Boat Rides in Hoi An
Here are beautiful photos and videos about basket boat rides in Hoi An:
