Here’s my TLDR (summary) having been to Hoi An’s famous coconut boats through the Bay Mau Coconut Forest:
- I think it’s worth going if you have time. But if your itinerary is already bombarded with stuff and you are struggling to fit it in, it is ok to give it a miss.
- I booked my coconut boat ride through Klook, and think it’s the best option to do it.
- Best way to get there is by ordering a GRAB (ride hailing app) but beware of the common “scam” (Read below)
My Experience In Bay Mau Coconut Forest
The Cam Thanh Coconut Village or easier known as the Hoi An Coconut Village (because not many of us remembers all the Vietnamese names) is a popular ecotourism spot with these beautiful dense coconut groves.
That natural landscape in the Bay Mau Coconut Forest is my main reason for visiting. It’s a pretty special scene even within Asian. Not one of those things you see everywhere.
Tourism In Hoi An’s Coconut Village
First thing to know is that this is a very touristic spot. There is almost no other attractions around the area. So if you are coming here, you are coming for this.
Despite this being a traditional village with actual inhabitants, this is not the place to see tranquil, quiet local life in my experience. You have might have better luck in the rice fields if that’s what you are looking for.
Tourism has developed drastically here and it’s a touristic spot with big tour groups coming in and out. There is nothing wrong with that – just have the right expectations.
How To Get To Cam Thanh Coconut Village
If you are not taking any package tour that includes transportation from your accommodation, then calling a Grab Taxi or Grab Bike will be the most logical option.
It isn’t exactly too far from the old town area. A grab bike takes around 20 minutes max and cost me around USD$1+ one-way. That’s the most convenient and cost-effective way to get there.
IMPORTANT! TAKE NOTE!
The most important thing to note if you are taking GRAB – know that many of the coconut boat operators work with drivers to bring them customers.
So it is likely (which happened to me as well) that the Grab driver will try to take you to a specific operator whom they work with, even if you have marked a different destination on the app.
As I said, there is almost no other highlight attractions in the area apart from the coconut village. So they know you are visiting for this specific purpose. And the boat ride in Bay Mau Coconut Forest is the main highlight here.
As such, if you have a booking beforehand, mention that to the driver so he knows he cannot “sell you off” to another operator LOL.
Make sure you DOUBLE CHECK the location on Google Maps when they are dropping you off. Don’t just get off.
I thought things felt wrong when my driver started to call out to one of the staff where he’s stopping. I quickly checked Maps (without getting off the bike) and told him this is not the right place and I already have a booking. He then sheepishly apologized and drove me to the right spot.
The Coconut Boat Ride Experience
Which Operator To Go With
This is a main reason why I prebooked through Klook.
There’s a lot of reviews and comments about tourists getting ripped off in terms of pricing. The one on Klook has a good review, plus the price is cheap or in a reasonable range compared to others I’ve heard getting scammed.
If you don’t want to have to hunt around and negotiate prices under the intense heat, then I recommend just booking through Klook. The system do need a min. of 2 pax if you are buying just the boat ride.
So if you are alone like me, just get the boat + coconut option which allows a 1 pax booking; still cheap in my opinion.
At the entrance of the village, there’s an entry ticket booth and they might ask you to pay an entry fee. I didn’t get asked, but if you have a Klook booking, just show them that and you don’t have to pay it.
The Basket Boat Experience
The “check-in” was pretty seamless. I dropped off at Hahn Coconut (the operator they work with) which has a Klook sign outside. They just checked and took a photo of the booking on my app, and we’re ready to go.
The experience you get essentially depends on your “boat captain”. Overall, I feel mine was pretty good, covering all the aspects I expected. The only big downside was that he smoked a couple times while rowing the boat, which I did not enjoy but appreciated that it was hard work after trying it myself.
The three main performances that you will see are:
- Boat Spinning: They will take you to a spot where there are people performing “acrobatics” with the coconut boat, basically spinning it round and round.
- Karaoke: Appealing to all the Asian tour groups, this is a loud karaoke singing session.
- Net Casting: You will get to see a fisherman setting up a fishing net and flinging it out like they traditionally would for fishing.
Some optional things that you might/might not experience:
- The boat captain will take you to photo spots and help you take photos.
- They show you how to row the boat and let you attempt it. (Spoiler: It’s very difficult, for me at least)
- They might do the acrobatic spinning a few times to let you experience the thrill.
What I liked about mine was that he did not stick with big groups. I did not feel like we were constantly jostling for spots like some others experienced. My boat really only joined groups when watching the performances.
He also did not ask for tips, nor did I get asked to tip the performers, which I know many travelers have complained about on their rides.
Personally, apart from the boat spinning, I didn’t really care for the other performances. My main objective was to admire the landscape which I certainly did.
I would love to have heard more insights about the place and tradition. That said, I also expected that this wasn’t a tour for that.
Most of the boat rowers only speak basic English, and honestly, most tourists probably aren’t here for factual information. A lot of the big tour groups really enjoy the merry making, photo taking and music. It’s all part of the fun for them.
So that is what the operators are used to providing, and thus what you should expect when doing this by yourself.
I also don’t think the ride was a full hour, but I thought the time frame was just nice. I probably wouldn’t want to spend a full hour on the boat anyway.
Coconut juice at the end was a good conclusion (included if you booked the boat + coconut option)
When To Visit?
For the coconut boat ride, I recommend doing it early in the morning. I got there around 8+am and was probably one of the first boats out. As I was ending my ride, it got increasingly crowded with big tour groups.
It is going to be hot, so the earlier the cooler. You definitely don’t want to visit right in mid day if you can help it. Expect to be exposed under direct sunlight for most of the ride.
You should be given one of those Vietnamese style hat to wear during the ride, but definitely still apply sunblock. And I recommend bringing a bottle of water. Sunglasses is a good accessory to have as well, although I didn’t end up using mine.
Then I went for a satisfying breakfast at one of my favorite restaurants in Hoi An on my way back to town.
Things To Do In Cam Thanh Coconut Village
Basket Boat Ride In Bay Mau Coconut Forest
As mentioned, this is the main activity here, and what most tourists are here for. If you are already here in the village, then it is a no-brainer to at least try it. For the price I paid, I think it’s cheap for a boat ride on a uniquely shaped boat through a rather special landscape.
Vietnamese Cooking Classes
The other popular thing to do in Hoi An coconut village is taking a cooking class. You will find many tours combining both activities, including on Klook. However, there are places offering culinary classes in town as well, so it’s not the only spot to do it.
Visit Or Not?
I think it’s a pretty nice experience to go for. The landscape is stunning and worth seeing from the waters. Great photo opportunities for sure. But it is also not such a must-do that you go out of the way for if you are limited on time.
