Franz ElizApart from food, Hoi An offers many fun outdoor activities for tourists to enjoy, including the coconut boat. It is also known as a basket boat and can be enjoyed in Coconut Forest. This popular local activity is available year-round.
It can get quite hot and humid in Hoi An during summer, making the coconut boat ride uncomfortable for some. Fortunately, coconut guides provide their passengers with hats and, usually, umbrellas. Sit tight, enjoy a ride through Coconut Forest, and spectate coconut boat dance shows.
This year, I had the opportunity to experience Hoi An’s coconut boat ride. If you’re interested in trying it or wonder if it’s worth it, then keep reading. I’ll discuss the activity in more detail and share my experience.
About Hoi An’s Coconut Boat Ride
The coconut boat ride in Hoi An is an outdoor activity in which a local boat navigator and up to 2 to 3 passengers ride a basket boat (Thung Chai) resembling a coconut along the Bay Mau Coconut forest. During the tour, travellers can experience the local fishing culture and some fun sightseeing.
The boats are made of bamboo, are round and small, and well-balanced. These are the boats that are often seen in Vietnamese seashores. It’s hard not to notice them when visiting popular places like Mui Ne, Hoi An, and Da Nang.
Bay Mau Coconut Forest looks similar to the Delta Mekong. The only difference is the type of boat used in the area. The waterways are calm, so getting seasick is unlikely.
Getting There Yourself
The coconut boat location is quite a distance from the centre. I got there by bicycle and it took me nearly an hour. Hoi An can get quite hot and humid in summer, so getting there by bicycle was a tiring and sweaty journey.
You may consider getting there by motorbike, whether with Grab Bike or on your own. Alternatively, you can book a tour which includes your transport.
Along the way, I saw a local lady on a motorbike. She had a flyer in one hand and offered to show the way. It was initially frustrating as she seemed to be going off-route amid the hot and humid weather. But in the end, we arrived at the coconut boat jetty.
After having the bicycle parked, I got onto the boat right away. There was no waiting.
Coconut Boat Highlights
The coconut boat ride may take between 30 minutes and an hour. Now, what does the ride offer? The following discusses some of the highlights:
Sightseeing and Photography
As soon as you board the boat, your coconut boat guide provides you with a vest and a conical hat. Your guide might also have an umbrella, which is ideal in summer. Then, you will explore Coconut Forest, enjoy a relaxing sightseeing experience, and admire various plants, including coconut trees.
Your guide might stop now and then to give way to other boats to pass by. Take this opportunity to snap memorable photos of you on the boat. Your guide will likely offer to help you take a photo. Coconut boat guides know exactly where to take the best shots.
Coconut Boat Shows
After 5 minutes of paddling, you’ll come across a fishing village and more coconut boats. You’ll also see fishermen casting out fishing nets.
My boat guide signalled one of the fishermen to put on a show for us. He then cast out his fishing net and we clapped our hands. After that, we moved on amongst the crowd.
You may hear loud disco music from afar. As you get closer, you’ll notice crowds of tourists watching coconut boat performers dancing on their boats.
My boat lady was very happy-go-lucky. As soon as Psy’s Gangnam Style started playing, she said, “Baba Gangnam Psy”. That was so adorable.
I remember how enthusiastic everyone was watching these performances. The dancers swayed swiftly with their boats and used their paddles to help them move in a circular motion quickly. A spectator is welcome to get into a boat with the performer.
Note: Such a stunt can cause motion sickness in some people.
Tipping
After a dance show, spectators are expected to leave some tips. That said, bring some cash and some small change with you. It’s up to you how much you want to give. You might also want to tip your boater later if you’re pleased with their service.
Later, my boat guide also put up a show and moved her boat in a similar manner – just not as extreme. I caught myself feeling sick right after. Motion sickness caught me. Yikes!
Is the Coconut Boat Ride Expensive?
The Hoi An coconut boat ride is generally not expensive, costing between VND150,000 and 200,000 per boat. Each boat can accommodate up to 3 people. There’s a VND30,000 entrance fee per person on each trip. Those travelling alone might find the ride (plus the entrance fee) expensive.
In general, the boat ride is affordable especially when shared, but one thing to note is that you may spend a little more on tipping your boat guide and the dance performer.
Is it worth it? To me, the Coconut Boat ride in Hoi An was worth it. It was a unique experience and I had fun. My boat lady was bubbly, happy-go-lucky, and helpful. She made the trip even more fun with her positive and fun attitude. And of course, it was fun as I had a fun companion with whom I shared the experience.
That said, I do recommend doing the boat ride with friends or family. But even if you’re coming alone, you might enjoy it as much as I did.
Special thanks to Abed for being part of this journey!
If there’s one thing I wished could’ve been better was the ride along the forest. It was rather short.
To Take a Coconut Boat Tour or Not – That Is the Question
As mentioned earlier, I went to Coconut Forest by bicycle. Getting there is easy and all you need is GPS. Upon arriving at Coconut Forest, you should see boat operators who will likely invite you to take a ride.
Alternatively, you can get there with a guide via a tour. Coconut boat tours can be booked online or via tour operators in Hoi An. Some hotels help promote these tours, so you can always check with your hotel. Coconut boat tours cost about VND150,000, which may sometimes include a cooking class or local lunch at an additional cost.
The tour usually features a coconut boat ride with a local guide, fishing training, making leaf origami, and watching coconut boat dance shows.
Although you can simply get a local boat guide to take you, it might be worth considering taking a tour instead if you’re interested in learning more about the area and getting involved in memorable local activities included in the tour.
Are Coconut Boat Rides Available Year-Round?
Coconut boat rides are available year-round, so Coconut Forest often has tourists visiting the area, usually from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I found summer in Hoi An too humid, so I wouldn’t want to return to the city in summer again. That said, no more coconut boat rides in summer for me!
Although you can ride coconut boats in any season, I recommend doing so in autumn or spring when the weather is cooler and less humid.
Final Thoughts
Hoi An’s coconut boat rides are worth considering if you’re looking for a relaxing but fun outdoor activity in Hoi An. They’re all-age-friendly.
The waterways are calm at least until loudspeakers can be heard blasting Gangnam-style and Asian disco music. While the area can be packed with tourists, the route back to the boat jetty is mostly calm and quiet.
Overall, the coconut boat ride is a very touristy attraction. So, if you don’t like the crowd, you might want to give the ride a pass.
