Cam Thanh Basket Boat and Water Coconut Village is one of the amazing attractions in Hoi An city. The Water Coconut Village has a rich history of the two wars in Vietnam.
This blog post will introduce you to not only Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village but also its surroundings. We also provide many local tips, interesting activities, and costs for you. Please bookmark the blog and put it on your trip design.
General information about Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village
Distinctions of the Water Coconut Village
The first impression about Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village is the hundred-hectare coconut forest. It is well known as Bay Mau which has been rising for over 200 years.
The coconut forest in Hoi An can grow favorably due to the suitability of temperature and fertility of the land here. To explain, Bay Mau is the meeting point of Quang Nam’s three big rivers. They are:
- Thu Bon River.
- Truong Giang River.
- De Vong River.
Therefore, Bay Mau’s land contains a lot of silt and is suitable for the water coconut in Hoi An. The coconut has a sweet taste as well as high yields.
The coconut forest has been home to a wide range of aquatic animals for hundreds of years. Furthermore, it has safeguarded Cam Thanh villagers from sea waves and also protected the world biosphere reserve of the Cham Islands.
For locals in the south of Vietnam, the coconut forest in Hoi An gives a familiar impression as the Mekong Delta. The difference is just that instead of traveling by wooden boats in the Mekong Delta, visitors will sit on basket boats (Thung chai) to go to the Water Coconut Palms in Hoi An.
The coconut forest in Hoi An stretches from Cam Thanh coconut village to Cua Dai. It’s a thrill to sit in a basket boat and weave beneath the water coconut palms in Hoi An while floating on the water. It is a nice chance to witness a different rural life and blend into nature here.
Besides that, you can ask the tour guide to sail the boat yourself. It is the best way to enjoy fresh air, see fish swimming under the surface, or see birds nesting. You can also walk to immerse yourself in the beautiful pace of a riverside countryside, such as Cam Thanh Coconut Village.
History of the Basket Boat and Coconut forest Hoi An
As we introduced at the beginning, Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village has a rich history of the American war in Vietnam. It was a fierce battlefield.
In both the French and American wars, Hoi An authorities had chosen Bay Mau as a revolutionary base. Thanks to the hidden terrain, the Vietnamese army easily implemented guerilla tactics to win several important fights.
Many times, the French attempted to destroy all of these coconut trees during the war. However, the coconut forest in Hoi An quickly revived right after.
Like in the war against the US, Bay Mau was still chosen to be a Vietnamese revolutionary base. Many Vietnamese and Americans were killed during the fight.
After all, the coconut palms in Hoi An have contributed to the glorious victories of the army. Moreover, people in Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village are praised as brave defenders of the Bay Mau steel ramparts.
Cam Thanh Water Coconut Villager’s life today
Nowadays, Cam Thanh Basket Boat and Coconut Village is famous for supplying the most seafood products for Quang Nam. Thanks to Bay Mau which is a meeting point of the three big rivers of Quang Nam, has a rich seafood biosphere.
While the forested area has been reduced to 58 ha, locals still preserve the water coconut palms in Hoi An.
Despite the fierceness of two previous wars, you will see the different lives of the locals in Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village. Visiting the water coconut village, you will have a chance to learn some traditional fishing techniques and enjoy the peace of a Vietnamese rural area.
The best way to travel to Cam Thanh Basket Boat and Water Coconut Village
There are two choices for you to get to Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village:
By waterway
From Bach Dang Pier, you can take a boat and go straight to the Water Coconut Village. You can buy a boat ticket at Hoi An market.
By road
From the ancient town, you can rent either a bicycle or motorbike to get to Cam Thanh Coconut Village. It is just 3 km from Hoi An center. Hence, it is a nice way to discover the beautiful village.
We highly recommend you cycle to the Coconut Forest in Hoi An. On the straightaway to get to Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village, you can see many coconut-roofed houses. Additionally, you can stop anywhere to capture some of the best pictures of local’s lives.
What to see in Cam Thanh Basket Boat and Coconut Village
The Coconut Forest Hoi An (Bay Mau)
Bay Mau Water Coconut Forest is one of the most well-known attractions when visitors come to Hoi An. It is a nice chance to discover the brackish water ecosystem.
The most interesting thing to do here is take a basket boat tour. You will have the opportunity to learn how to row the boat, catch seafood traditionally, and do other activities. Interestingly, the tour guide can make some beautiful handicraft stuff from water and coconut leaves during the trip for you.
Not done yet! You will have an unforgettable experience seeing local people “dancing” with the boat in the river. But no worries! You will be carefully equipped with life jackets.
In the coconut forest of Hoi An, you can experience the daily lives of Vietnamese fishermen in Cam Thanh Coconut Village. Therefore, make sure to bring your camera or your phone to capture unique things about the water, coconut palms, and Hoi An.
What more is in the Water Coconut Village?
Visit Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village
Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village is famous for the handicraft careers of local people. You will be amazed by the skillful hands of artisans who make many special products from coconut.
We highly recommend tourists participate in a bamboo workshop. There, you can learn how to make some items from bamboo as well as coconut. They may include spoons, chopsticks, or even the process of making a thatched roof with coconut leaves.
Besides that, you can find many souvenir shops that sell crafted products. These shops contribute to the ecotourism of Cam Thanh coconut village in general and Hoi An in particular.
From $1 to $5, you can buy many cheap items for your loved one. It will be a meaningful gift from Hoi An. Additionally, by buying these products, you are contributing to the growth of the village and preserving its culture.
Buffalo Riding
Riding a buffalo is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you should try while visiting Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village. You can also try the same thing in the Vegetable Village in Hoi An.
For Vietnamese farmers, buffalos are their best friends in the field. Moreover, they are very friendly but work extremely hard with the locals.
It may be your first time to see this animal. So, let’s get some experience with the Vietnamese farmers on the buffalo’s back!
Be A Local Farmer
Experiencing a day of Cam Thanh coconut villager’s will be a beautiful memory for you and your family. It will be totally different from the glorious cities that you have been to before.
Stepping your foot into the mud, growing rice, and catching fish, you can experience everything when you visit the water coconut village.
Besides that, you can enjoy the peace of the Vietnamese countryside’s atmosphere. It will help you escape from the city’s noises with singing birds and fresh air.
Cooking classes
One of the highlighted local services is the cooking class with local master chefs. For families and couples, it is a good time to bonding with each other and having a nice time together.
The local master chef will show you how to cook Vietnamese traditional dishes such as:
- Hoi An spring rolls
- Mango salads
- Vietnamese rice pancakes
- Coconut rice, etc.
After the class, you can enjoy your own dishes or order from the restaurant’s menu. Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village provides the most seafood in the area. Hence, there are many fresh seafood specialties with reasonable prices.
Specialities in Coconut Forest Hoi An
Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village is not only famous for its forest but also many local specialties. This area provides various types of seafood at a reasonable price.
Some local specialties you can try here are:
- Frog hotpot
- Fried frogs with lemongrass and chilies
- Garlic and Butter Snails
- Garlic and Butter Pincers/Crabs
- Beer Steamed Shrimp, etc.
For foreigners who have not tried these dishes before, you also have thousands of choices on the menu. Sipping with a glass of beer and watching the scenery will be the best moment here.
More specially, you can enjoy the seafood in huts made of coconut leaves. These huts are built right on the surface. Therefore, you will feel like having lunch or dinner while floating in the water.
Do not forget to try the water coconut fruit! It is the best thing in Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village. Water coconut Hoi An has a sweet, fresh taste with a very clear juice that cannot be found anywhere else.
Moreover, you can eat the copra after finishing the coconut juice. The copra is extremely smooth, sweet, and firm. You can ask the seller to chop the coconut for you.
Here is a local tip: If your team has many people, you can buy a coconut chamber for a cheaper price.
Local recommendations and expenses
The best time to visit Cam Thanh coconut village
The best time to visit the water coconut palms Hoi An is from January to July . Thanks to the cool weather, it will help you better enjoy Cam Thanh coconut village.
Besides that, from August to December, it is the Vietnamese’s rainy season. Therefore, you may experience sudden rains if you travel during these months.
Moreover, August to December is also the hottest time in the south of Vietnam. Thus, if you are planning to travel in those months, make sure to prepare sunglasses, hats, and sun cream to reduce the sunny effects.
Tips and costs
Through this blog, you may notice there is a lot of information about the boat tour. It is also the most interesting activity in Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village. To get in the boat, you will need to enter the village first!
- The entrance fee for visiting Cam Thanh Coconut Village is 30 000 VND ($1.20).
- The basket boat tour is around 150 000 VND/pax ($4.00) – from 50 to 60 minutes (free life jacket).
The last boat order is 4 P.M.. But it is the best time for taking a boat trip!
You may enjoy the sunset in the river during your trip. Furthermore, because of the last tour, hence, the tour guide will not try to finish it quickly. It means you will have more time to discover about the river’s history, its beauties, or talk to the tour guide.
If you arrive in the morning, we highly recommend booking your lunch in the huts or villager’s houses. The more people you have, the cheaper price it is.
Conclusion
Cam Thanh Water Coconut Village is one of the most historical and beautiful attractions in Hoi An. It is an extremely rare attraction that is considered sustainable tourism in Hoi An.
Through this blog, you are introduced to everything about the coconut forest Hoi An, Cam Thanh Coconut Village, and many special things here. The Water coconut village should be added to your “ what to do in Hoi An ” list!
We believe that, with this information, you can design your best trip to visit Hoi An. Good luck and enjoy your trip!