Considered as a “Western region in the heart of Hoi An”, Bay Mau Coconut Forest is a famous eco-tourism area, a destination not to be missed in the journey to explore Hoi An – Da Nang. Coming here, you will experience sitting in a basket boat to visit the green coconut forest in the middle of a peaceful river space, admire the basket dance, boat racing and enjoy attractive local specialties. In this article, we will provide you with some useful information and experiences of traveling to Bay Mau Coconut Forest in Hoi An!
General information of Bay Mau Coconut Forest
Bay Mau Coconut Forest
Address: Group 2, Can Nhan Village, Cam Thanh Commune, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province
Opening hours: 7:00 – 17:00 daily
Bay Mau Coconut Forest or Cam Thanh Coconut Village is a famous eco-tourism destination, attracting visitors with wonderful natural experiences with immense rivers, immense coconut forests and rustic basket boats. With a prime location, it only takes you 5-10 minutes by car to get here from the ancient town, or about 40-45 minutes from Da Nang (about 30km away).
Located right at the foot of Cua Dai Bridge, Bay Mau Coconut Forest is the final convergence point of the Thu Bon River before flowing into the sea. From here, visitors can admire the scenery of Cua Dai beach and in the distance the poetic Cu Lao Cham island. This is not only the intersection between the river and the sea, but also a unique mangrove ecosystem, where thousands of green coconut trees create a beautiful scene, bearing the mark of the West in the heart of Quang Nam.
History of Bay Mau Coconut Forest
The Bay Mau Coconut Fores has a history of more than 200 years associated with the migration and reclamation journey of people from the Southwest region. When arriving in this fertile land, the migrants brought with them water coconut varieties and began planting them on the riverside land. With ideal natural conditions, the water coconut trees quickly grew and formed a large forest of about 7 acres (equivalent to 7 hectares). The name “Bay Mau Coconut Forest” was born from there, although the current area has expanded to more than 100 hectares.
The forest has now transformed into a must-visit eco-tourism destination for anyone traveling to Hoi An
Not only does it have environmental worth but it also relates to Vietnamese history. Despite the difference in power with the enemy, this woodland was a significant revolutionary base of the Vietnamese army and people during the resistance fight against French colonialism and American imperialism. Many great successes were noted here.
Nowadays, this area has been transformed into a beautiful eco-tourism destination mostly recognized for its peace and appeal by using the great natural beauty of the huge coconut forest. Bay Mau coconut forest is among the well-known locations in Hoi An since visitors swarm to appreciate this amazing surroundings.
Bay Mau coconut forest ticket price
Reference Ticket Price List for Bay Mau Coconut Forest Tourist Area
Entrance ticket price:
- Adults: 30,000 VND/person
- Children from 5-9 years old: 15,000 VND/person
- Children under 5 years old: Free
Renting a basket boat ticket price:
- Vietnamese visitors: 200,000 VND/2 people/1 basket.
- International visitors: 250,000 VND/2 people/1 basket.
- Children from 5-9 years old: 50,000 VND/person
- Children under 5 years old: Free
- For international visitors weighing over 100kg, each basket can only hold 1 person to ensure safety.
The Bay Mau coconut forest ticket price includes free sightseeing activities at the eco-tourism area (from 7 am to 5 pm). When buying a basket boat ticket, there will be a rower, visitors are equipped with conical hats, life jackets, and umbrellas. The travel time on the basket boat is 50 minutes round-trip. Visitors will have the opportunity to visit the coconut forest and watch the basket dance performance from the boatmen.
The above ticket price does not include services such as food, shopping, etc. If you want to enjoy the cuisine or participate in folk games such as fishing, crab fishing, etc., visitors need to pay a separate price with the fishermen, the game organizer or the restaurant in the coconut garden eco-tourism area.
Note: Information on opening hours and ticket prices may change depending on the time. Please refer to the official website of the Bay Mau Coconut Forest Eco-tourism Management Board for the latest information
How to get to Bay Mau Coconut Forest
From Hoi An city, you have 2 ways to get to Bay Mau coconut forest:
- By river: Take a boat at Bach Dang wharf in Hoi An ancient town, the boat will take you to the coconut forest down the Thu Bon river about 5km to reach Bay Mau coconut forest. If you like to experience sitting on a boat to see the surrounding natural scenery and the daily life of Hoi An people, this will be a reasonable choice for you.
- By road: Starting from Hoi An, take Tran Nhan Tong street, continue across Cua Dai bridge and go another half kilometer to reach the coconut forest. This route will take about 10 minutes by car.
Best things to do at Bay Mau Coconut Forest
Explore the Coconut Forest on a Basket Boat
Glide through the coconut forest on a traditional basket boat
Taking part in a journey by basket boat is a great way for you to explore the beauty of the Bay Mau coconut forest. Different from the small boats or boats commonly seen in the Southwest, the Bay Mau coconut forest in Hoi An impresses visitors with its unique round basket boats, simple but extremely safe. Sitting on small basket boats weaving through the green coconut groves and enjoying the fresh air is a unique experience and is loved by many visitors.
These boats will take visitors on a tour of the clear river channels, with coconut trees stretching out in the middle of the river on both sides. Here, visitors have two types of basket boats to choose from, a small one for 2 guests and a large one for up to 4 guests. During the journey, you will listen to interesting stories about the coconut forest and enjoy the familiar melodies of a Quang folk song.
Enjoy the Basket Dance in the River
Watch skilled locals perform thrilling basket boat dances on the river
The highlight of the basket boat journey is the spectacular basket boat dance performed by the boat rowers. With their excellent balance, they spin the basket boat on the water at high speed, creating unique and exciting performances. In addition, the “rowing artists” also organize exciting boat races, where you can cheer and shout to motivate the rowers. The cheers on the shore combined with the strong movements of the artists and the constant movement of the boat on the water create a bustling atmosphere.
You can also try to change the feeling by registering to experience sitting on a basket boat with the performers, experiencing the feeling of spinning and shaking strongly of the basket boats. Remember to hold on to the side of the boat if you don’t want to fall into the water.
Make Handicrafts from Coconut Leaves
Try your hand at making fun handicrafts from coconut leaves with local artisans
One of the interesting and unique activities in Bay Mau coconut forest is making souvenirs from coconut leaves. Right from the moment you step into this area, the boatmen will enthusiastically introduce and guide you to make lovely handmade gifts such as coconut leaf hats, grasshoppers, rings or delicate bracelets. Handmade gifts from coconut leaves carry simplicity and rusticity but are no less elaborate and beautiful. They are truly creative and unique works that are not inferior to any luxurious gifts. These small gifts are not only simple but also show the cuteness, hospitality and simplicity of the people of Quang Nam.
Enjoy the Fishing Net Casting Performance
Enjoy a lively performance of traditional fishing net casting in the heart of the coconut forest
One should not miss seeing the nearby fishermen throw their fishing nets. Watching a net cast into the middle of the sea would most definitely be unusual and fascinating for guests who are not familiar with the river or sea. Visitors at Bay Mau Coconut Forest will be able to sit on boats and immediately enjoy the scene of artists throwing fishing nets.
You will witness the impressive moment when the large net is cast into the middle of the river, and if you want, you can also participate in casting the nets directly. In particular, you can enjoy this casting net performance at dusk, when the sunset brings with it the orange-yellow sunlight, creating a poetic and magical space. It is a great time to capture beautiful moments with lifetime photos.
Experience Fishing in the Coconut Forest
Try your hand at traditional fishing in the heart of the coconut forest
Like the Mekong Delta, Bay Mau coconut forest is abound in numerous kinds of fish. Here you can register to engage in fishing activities If you want to experience the feeling of relaxation and excitement while waiting for the fish to bite. You can enjoy fishing, cruise in a basket boat, and also take in the cool environment from the breeze. The landscape is really amazing. Alternatively you may hold a fishing rod, unwind on a little bridge across the canal and watch for the fish to bite. The locals can directly on the spot prepare the fish you capture into mouthwatering cuisine, so offering a fresh and distinctive dining experience.
Play Special Folk Games
Experience the joy of Vietnamese folk games with locals in a lively setting
The journey to explore Bay Mau coconut garden still has many exciting activities waiting for you! Why not experience the fun and equally attractive folk games from challenges that require dexterity such as balancing bicycles across the river, boat racing, to exciting physical games such as tug of war, blindfolded rice pot smashing…
Coming to Bay Mau coconut forest – a miniature West in the middle of Hoi An, you must experience these games, although simple but guaranteed to be incredibly fun. Let yourself immerse yourself in the beautiful West, where coconut trees are scattered, and enjoy the typical rustic lifestyle. This is the ideal destination for the whole family to participate in traditional games and enjoy the joyful and exciting atmosphere.
Enjoy Local Delicacies
Savor authentic local dishes after your coconut forest adventure
Arriving at Bay Mau coconut forest, guests cannot miss the chance to savour freshly made seafood cuisine using locally caught products straight from the nearby sea. Popular meals among customers are dishes such sour clam soup, grilled fish in foil, steaming snails with lemongrass and tamarind prawns. Even the most picky guests will be delighted by the rich taste of the ocean, rustic cooking techniques, which help to preserve seafood freshness.
Apart from that, Bay Mau coconut forest presents well-known rustic cuisine from Hoi An, flavored with Quang Nam countryside. These comprise chicken rice, Cam Thanh fish sauce, cool coconut water tea, crispy banana flower salad, or aromatic sticky rice cake with gai leaves. These meals not only improve the menu but also provide an opportunity for guests to discover more about the regional gastronomy.
> > > While Bay Mau Coconut Forest offers a refreshing slice of nature, your journey doesn’t have to stop there. Let’s make the most of your time, dive into unforgettable Hoi An tours that showcase the town’s history, flavors, and local life.
Some useful tips for your first trip to Bay Mau Coconut Forest
Pocket some useful experiences below will help you have the most complete journey to explore Cam Thanh coconut village:
- The dry season, which runs January through September annually, is the most perfect time to visit Bay Mau coconut forest. Hoi An experiences beautiful weather, bright blue sky, light sunshine, no rain, extremely handy for travel and engaging in fascinating activities in the coconut grove at this period.
- The weather in Hoi An is almost hot all year round and the coconut forest is an outdoor area, so remember to bring a portable rechargeable fan, hat, jacket, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- When buying tickets for a basket boat, visitors can rest assured because the boat owner has provided life jackets and conical hats. Visitors need to follow the instructions of the boat driver to ensure safety.
- Early in the morning or after 4 pm, visitors should enjoy walking and snapping pictures at Bay Mau coconut forest. The temperature at this period is cool, ideal for outdoor activities.
- Arriving in the Bay Mau coconut forest eco-tourism site, guests will engage in numerous outdoor activities after the boat trip. You should so take great care with your possessions; it is advisable not to pack expensive items or jewellery to prevent losing or dropping them during the trip.
- Ask the boatmen to row slowly or pack seasickness medicine to assist you feel more at ease if you develop motion sickness when boarding the basket boat.
- To make it simpler for you to play games in the coconut forest, pick light, comfortable clothing including shorts, t-shirts, trainers. To guarantee the security of electrical equipment, pack a waterproof bag and extra set of clothes.
- Consult and ask for prices, clearly agree before participating in any fun activities or renting services in the coconut forest.
Surely remember to see the Bay Mau Coconut Forest Hoi An when you arrive to the Central area and head to Hoi An and Da Nang. Apart from a perfect spot to unwind, this offers you a fantastic chance to discover the rich legacy and culture of Central Vietnam. In the middle of the lovely Central region, you will be able to enjoy the landscape of a miniature of the West.
Hopefully, this article will help you feel the beauty of the Bay Mau coconut forest, and give you more motivation to visit this land. If you plan to explore this unique forest in the near future, contact us today to plan your own trip.
Read more:
