What the Cam Thanh coconut forest actually is
Cam Thanh is a wetland commune between Hoi An old town and the Thu Bon river delta. The water coconut palm, known locally as dua nuoc, grows in brackish water and sends up clusters of long fronds from a submerged root system. The result is a maze of narrow green channels, maybe two to four metres wide, roofed over by palm leaves. Light filters down in strips. The water is brown, still and shallow.
This is not a jungle. It is a managed landscape. Local families have harvested coconuts here for generations and, since the 2010s, have run boat rides through the same channels. The forest survived the war years and the postwar push for rice land, and it now functions as a buffer zone against saltwater intrusion from the sea. That environmental role is real and worth knowing: the palms protect the inland paddies.
The area sits inside a wider zone that includes the Thu Bon river mouth, the Bay Mau coconut palm area and the fishing village of Cam Thanh. Different operators use slightly different entrances along the same network of channels.
The story behind the round boat
The thung chai, or basket boat, is a genuinely Vietnamese invention with a contested origin story. The most common version credits the French colonial period. French authorities levied a tax on boats, so fishing families built round, woven vessels that technically were not boats. They kept fishing. The tax was avoided.
A second version places the design earlier, as a cheap and stable craft for shallow coastal water where a conventional hull would ground. Both stories circulate in Hoi An, and locals will tell you either one depending on who is talking. What is not disputed is the craft itself: bamboo is woven into a round hull, coated with coconut oil and resin to waterproof it, and rowed with a single long oar in a figure-eight motion. The boat is stable enough to stand in and light enough for one person to carry.
During the Vietnam War, basket boats were used to move supplies and people along the coast at night, when a motorised boat would have been heard. That history is part of why the boats carry a certain weight for Vietnamese visitors, not just a photo opportunity for foreigners.
What you actually see on a ride
A standard ride follows the same rough sequence, though operators vary the route.
You start at a small jetty, usually a wooden platform over the channel. A rower, most often a woman in a conical hat and long sleeves, helps you into the boat. Two to four passengers per boat is typical. The rower stands at one end and works the oar.
The first five minutes are the calmest. The channel narrows, the palm canopy closes overhead, and the noise of the road disappears. This is the part most people photograph. The water reflects green. Small crabs move on the mud banks at low tide.
Then comes the performance section. At a clearing in the palms, a rower will demonstrate the spin: the boat rotates fast enough to blur the background while the rower balances standing up. Passengers are usually invited to try. It is loud, funny and completely staged, and it is also the moment most visitors remember. Some operators also run a short karaoke or music segment on the water.
If you want the quiet version, ask your rower at the start to skip the spinning demonstration. Most will happily row a longer, calmer loop instead. Say "khong quay" (no spinning) and smile.
After the clearing, the route loops back through narrower channels. You may pass crab traps, a small fishing platform, and other boats. The whole ride runs 45 to 60 minutes depending on the operator and how crowded the channels are.
Cam Thanh compared with other basket boat spots
Cam Thanh is not the only place in Vietnam where you can ride a basket boat. It is, however, the most accessible from a major tourist town.
| Location | Distance from Hoi An | Crowd level | Typical price per person | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cam Thanh coconut forest | 5 km | High in peak season | 150,000 to 200,000 VND ($6 to $8) | Convenience, photo ops |
| Bay Mau area | 4 to 5 km | Medium to high | 150,000 to 250,000 VND ($6 to $10) | Slightly quieter channels |
| Tra Que village area | 3 km | Low | 100,000 to 150,000 VND ($4 to $6) | Combining with a cooking class |
| Thu Bon river mouth | 6 to 8 km | Low | Varies by boat | Sunset views, fewer tours |
The practical difference between Cam Thanh and Bay Mau is small. Both sit in the same palm network, and some operators use both names interchangeably. The bigger variable is timing, not location. A 7am ride and a 2pm ride in the same channel are completely different experiences.
If you have already booked a Mekong Delta leg, note that basket boats also appear at places like Ben Tre, where the coconut economy is on a much larger scale. Cam Thanh is the compact, easy version.
Who will love it and who should skip it
This is a good experience for families with children, for photographers chasing green light through palm fronds, and for anyone who wants a low-effort activity close to town. The boats are stable, life jackets are provided at most jetties, and the ride is short enough that nobody gets bored.
It is a poor fit for travellers who dislike staged performances, who want solitude, or who are looking for authentic village life. The spinning demonstration, the tip expectation and the sheer volume of boats in high season can feel like a theme park. If that description irritates you, spend the money on a bicycle ride through the rice paddies instead, or head to Tra Que for a quieter morning.
Travellers with limited mobility should note that getting in and out of a basket boat requires a step down of about 40 cm onto an unstable surface. Ask the operator for help, and choose a jetty with a solid concrete platform rather than a wooden one.
Practical information
Opening hours. Most operators run from 7am to 5:30pm. The last rides leave around 5pm because the light goes quickly under the canopy.
Entrance fee. There is no separate forest ticket. You pay per boat. Prices checked in early 2026 sit at 150,000 to 200,000 VND ($6 to $8) per person for a shared boat, or 400,000 to 600,000 VND ($16 to $24) for a private boat for up to four people. Prices rise during Tet and the summer peak. Confirm the total before boarding, and check whether a tip for the rower is included or expected separately. A 20,000 to 50,000 VND tip is normal.
How to get there from Hoi An old town. The forest is about 5 km east of the old town, off Cua Dai road. A Grab car costs 50,000 to 80,000 VND ($2 to $3) and takes 12 to 15 minutes. A taxi from Mai Linh or Vinasun runs 80,000 to 120,000 VND ($3 to $5). A bicycle takes 20 to 25 minutes on flat roads and is the most pleasant option in the cool hours. Many hotels rent bicycles for 40,000 to 70,000 VND per day. There is no useful public bus for tourists on this route.
How long to allow. Two hours door to door from the old town, including the ride and transport. Add an hour if you plan to cycle and stop for photographs.
Rules and etiquette. Wear clothes you do not mind getting splashed. Sunscreen and a hat are essential between 10am and 3pm, because the canopy does not block everything. Photography is fine everywhere. Do not stand up in the boat unless the rower tells you to. Agree the tip before the ride if you are uncomfortable with ambiguity.
Closures. The forest does not close, but rides stop during heavy rain and after typhoons. Central Vietnam's storm season runs roughly September to November, and flooding in Hoi An is common in October and November. Check the typhoon season guide if you are travelling in autumn.
Best time to go and how to avoid the crowds
The dry season from February to August is the reliable window. Water levels are stable, the light is good, and the channels are navigable. March and April are the sweet spot: warm, mostly dry, and before the domestic summer holiday rush.
The single most useful tip is to go early. The first boats leave at 7am, and between 7am and 8:30am you may share the channels with only a handful of other boats. By 10am in July, convoys of twenty boats move nose to tail. Late afternoon after 4pm is the second-best window, though the light under the palms fades fast.
Avoid the hours between 10am and 2pm in June, July and August. Heat, glare and boat traffic all peak together.
If you are in Hoi An during the rainy months, check the best time to visit Hoi An guide for a realistic picture of what the weather does to outdoor plans.
What to combine with a Cam Thanh visit
The forest sits in a cluster of attractions that work well on one half-day loop.
An Bang beach is 4 km further east, a 15-minute bicycle ride. It has a wide sand strip, beach bars and swimming in the dry season. Pair a morning boat ride with an afternoon at the beach.
Tra Que vegetable village is 3 km northwest, between the forest and the old town. It is a working market garden where visitors can join a cooking class. The combination of basket boats and a cooking class is one of the most popular half-day packages in Hoi An.
Cua Dai beach is closer but has suffered heavy erosion and is less appealing than An Bang for a swim.
Cham Island boat trips leave from Cua Dai pier, a short ride from the forest. These are full-day trips and should not be combined with a basket boat ride on the same day unless you start very early.
For a wider look at what else the town offers, see Hoi An things to do beyond the old town lanterns.
Honest verdict
Is the Cam Thanh basket boat ride worth it? For most first-time visitors to Hoi An, yes, with conditions. Go early, expect a performance, budget two hours, and treat it as a fun, slightly theatrical outing rather than a deep cultural encounter. At 150,000 to 200,000 VND per person, it is cheap by international standards and easy to fit around the old town.
Skip it if you have already done a Mekong Delta boat trip, if you are short on time and prioritising My Son or the old town, or if staged tourist performances annoy you. It is not a hidden gem. It is a well-run, well-known attraction, and it is honest about what it is.
FAQ
Q: How much does a basket boat ride cost in Hoi An? A shared ride costs 150,000 to 200,000 VND ($6 to $8) per person as of early 2026. A private boat for up to four people runs 400,000 to 600,000 VND ($16 to $24). Tips of 20,000 to 50,000 VND for the rower are customary.
Q: How do I get to Cam Thanh from Hoi An old town? A Grab car takes 12 to 15 minutes and costs 50,000 to 80,000 VND ($2 to $3). A taxi costs 80,000 to 120,000 VND ($3 to $5). Bicycles take 20 to 25 minutes on flat roads.
Q: How long does the boat ride last? Between 45 and 60 minutes, depending on the operator and how busy the channels are. Allow two hours total including transport from the old town.
Q: What is the best time of day to go? Between 7am and 8:30am. The channels are quiet, the light is soft and the heat has not built up. Avoid 10am to 2pm in summer.
Q: Is it suitable for children? Yes. Life jackets are provided at most jetties and the water is shallow. Children under five may find the spinning demonstration frightening, so ask the rower to skip it.
Q: Do I need to book in advance? Not usually. Walk-up rides are available throughout the day. Book ahead only during Tet, the summer school holidays in June and July, or if you want a specific operator.
Q: What should I wear? Light clothes that can get splashed, a hat, sunscreen and shoes that stay on your feet. Leave sandals that slip off at the jetty.