Bay Mau Coconut Forest 2026: Basket Boats, Fee & Tips

Bay Mau Coconut Forest (Rừng dừa Bảy Mẫu) is a nipa palm wetland in Cam Thanh, about 5 km east of Hoi An Ancient Town, where visitors ride round bamboo basket boats through narrow waterways. It is famous for the spinning basket-boat shows and fishing demonstrations. The entrance fee is 30,000 VND; the boat ride is paid separately.

Status (checked October 2026): open daily, but October and November are the main flood season in Hoi An, and boat rides can pause during high water or storm warnings. The 30,000 VND sightseeing fee, charged since 2018, is being renewed by Da Nang’s Department of Finance in 2026 at the same level.

Why Bay Mau Coconut Forest is worth seeing:

Basket boat ride: glide through water coconut palms in a thúng chai, the round boat of central Vietnam’s fishermen.
Fun local performances: boatmen spin baskets to music and show net casting and crab fishing with bamboo rods.
Wetland landscape: more than 100 ha of nipa palm near the Thu Bon estuary.
Easy half day: combine with Cua Dai Beach, a cooking class or a cycle through Cam Thanh rice fields.
Family friendly: short, gentle and good for children with life jackets.

Bay Mau Coconut Forest at a Glance

Vietnamese name	Rừng dừa Bảy Mẫu (also Rừng dừa Cẩm Thanh)
Location	Bay Mau area, Hoi An Dong Ward (formerly Cam Thanh), Da Nang city
Distance	About 5 km east of Hoi An Ancient Town; about 3 km from Cua Dai Beach
Known for	Basket boat rides, nipa (water coconut) palms, crab fishing, spinning boat shows
Opening hours	Daily, in daylight hours; most boats run from early morning to late afternoon
Entrance fee	30,000 VND per person; children exempt; basket boat ride extra
Time needed	1–2 hours
Best time	February to August; early morning or late afternoon
Nearby	Cua Dai Beach, Thu Bon River, Hoi An Ancient Town
Find it	Google Maps · Tripadvisor

Is Bay Mau Coconut Forest Worth Visiting?

Yes, for a light, fun hour on the water, especially with children. It is a busy, tourist-focused experience with music and performances at peak times rather than a quiet nature trip, so go early or choose a cooking-class tour that uses quieter channels.

Best for: families, first-time visitors and anyone who wants to try a basket boat.
Skip if: you dislike crowds and loud music, or you want an authentic fishing village with no performances.
Short on time: book a 30–45-minute ride first thing in the morning and continue to Cua Dai Beach.

History of Bay Mau Coconut Forest

The name Bảy Mẫu means “seven mẫu”, an old Vietnamese land unit, because the palm forest once covered only about seven mẫu (a few hectares). Today the nipa (water coconut, Nypa fruticans) wetland covers more than 100 ha along the brackish waterways where the Thu Bon River meets the sea.

For generations the palms supplied leaves for thatched roofs and fish traps, and the channels sheltered fishing families; during the wars the dense palms are said to have hidden local resistance fighters. From the 2010s, local families began offering basket boat rides, and the forest quickly became one of Hoi An’s most visited countryside sights. The palm belt also helps protect the estuary banks from erosion.

Since 1 July 2025 the former Cam Thanh commune has been part of Hoi An Dong Ward, Da Nang city.

What to See and Do at Bay Mau Coconut Forest

1. Ride a basket boat through the palms

Two passengers usually share a round boat paddled by a local boatman or boatwoman. The ride winds through narrow channels shaded by palm fronds, with frequent photo stops.

Man rowing a round basket boat in central Vietnam — Basket boats were traditionally used by local fishermen. Photo: Peter van der Sluijs, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

2. Watch the spinning basket boat show

At the main lagoon, boatmen spin their baskets at high speed to music. You can join for a spin; tip the boatman if you enjoy it.

3. Try crab fishing

Many rides include fishing for small crabs with a bamboo rod and bait, a favourite with children.

4. See net casting

Fishermen demonstrate how to throw a round cast net, a traditional skill used on the river and lagoon.

5. Coconut-leaf crafts

Boat crews often weave rings, grasshoppers or hats from coconut leaves as small gifts.

6. Cycle through Cam Thanh

The flat roads around Cam Thanh pass rice fields, shrimp ponds and village houses, ideal by bicycle from the old town.

Bay Mau Coconut Forest Tickets and Prices (2026)

Item	Price
Sightseeing fee (adults)	30,000 VND (about US$1.15)
Children and some priority groups	Free; 50% for the elderly and people with disabilities
Basket boat ride	Paid separately to the boat operator; prices vary by length and group size, so agree before boarding
Tip for boatman or spin show	Optional, usually 20,000–50,000 VND

The sightseeing fee is collected by the Hoi An Dong Public Service Provision Center under a fee set by Da Nang city; boat prices are set by private operators.

How to Visit Bay Mau Coconut Forest, Step by Step

Go early, ideally before 9:00, to avoid tour groups and heat.
Pay the 30,000 VND fee and agree the boat price and ride length at a registered operator.
Put on the life jacket provided and sit low in the centre of the basket.
Enjoy the ride, crab fishing and show; decline extra paid stops politely if you are not interested.
Continue to Cua Dai Beach for seafood or back to Hoi An for lunch.

How to Get to Bay Mau Coconut Forest

From	How	Time
Hoi An Ancient Town	Bicycle via Cam Thanh	About 25 minutes
Hoi An Ancient Town	Grab, taxi or scooter	About 15 minutes
Hoi An riverside	Boat down the Thu Bon River (some tours)	30–45 minutes
Da Nang	Car or tour transfer	About 45–60 minutes

Details on bikes, Grab and boats are in our Hoi An transportation guide.

Best Time to Visit Bay Mau Coconut Forest

When	What to expect
February – April	Pleasant temperatures, green palms; ideal
May – August	Hot and sunny; go early or late, bring a hat
September – December	Rainy season; floods in October–November can stop boats
January	Cool and sometimes drizzly; quieter
Time of day	7:00–9:00 or after 15:30 for soft light and fewer groups

Local Expert Tips for Bay Mau Coconut Forest

These tips come from years of arranging Hoi An tours for international travellers.

Use a registered operator or a reputable tour; agree the full price, including any show or fishing, before you board.
Avoid the 10:00–14:00 window when large groups arrive and music is loudest.
Bring small notes for tips and a waterproof bag for your phone.
For a quieter version, choose a cooking class that includes a market visit and basket boat ride in Cam Thanh.
Combine with a cycle past rice fields and a swim at Cua Dai or An Bang.

Bay Mau Coconut Forest vs Tra Que Vegetable Village

Feature	Bay Mau Coconut Forest	Tra Que Vegetable Village
Experience	Basket boat ride, shows, crab fishing	Herb gardens, farming, cooking class
Atmosphere	Lively, busy at peak times	Calm, rural
Fee	30,000 VND + boat	Free to walk; activities paid
Best for	Families and fun photos	Food lovers and slow travel

Our view: if you only have time for one countryside experience, choose Bay Mau with children and Tra Que for food and quiet; many cooking tours combine both.

Nearby Attractions

Cua Dai Beach: seafood and boats to the islands, a few minutes away.
Cham Islands: snorkelling in the biosphere reserve.
Hoi An Ancient Town: lanterns, assembly halls and old houses.
Thanh Ha Pottery Village: craft village west of the town.
Hoi An Market: ingredients and street food by the river.

Sightseeing in Hoi An for First-Time Visitors: Where Bay Mau Coconut Forest Fits

Two days in Hoi An? On the first day explore the old town, including the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Cantonese Assembly Hall. On the second morning ride a basket boat at Bay Mau, then relax at the beach before an evening food walk from our Hoi An food guide. Read our Hoi An travel tips before you go.

Plan your trip with our Hoi An travel guide and Hoi An tours. Contact Vietnam Tour Expert Team for a free custom itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bay Mau Coconut Forest

1. Where is Bay Mau Coconut Forest?

Bay Mau Coconut Forest is in the former Cam Thanh commune, now Hoi An Dong Ward of Da Nang city, about 5 km east of Hoi An Ancient Town.

2. How much is the Bay Mau Coconut Forest entrance fee?

The Bay Mau Coconut Forest sightseeing fee is 30,000 VND per person; children are exempt, and the basket boat ride is paid separately.

3. How much is a basket boat ride at Bay Mau Coconut Forest?

Basket boat prices at Bay Mau Coconut Forest are set by private operators and vary by ride length and group size, so agree the full price before boarding.

4. How long is the basket boat ride at Bay Mau Coconut Forest?

Most basket boat rides at Bay Mau Coconut Forest last about 30–60 minutes, including the spinning show and crab fishing.

5. Is Bay Mau Coconut Forest worth visiting?

Bay Mau Coconut Forest is worth an hour for a fun basket boat ride, especially with children, but it is busy and touristy at peak times.

6. What is the best time to visit Bay Mau Coconut Forest?

Visit Bay Mau Coconut Forest between February and August, early in the morning or late in the afternoon; floods in October–November can stop the boats.