Hoi An Basket Boat Ride Review: Is It Worth It?

Alright, so you’re planning a trip to Hoi An, Vietnam, and you’ve, like, probably stumbled upon pictures or videos of these, almost totally round boats zooming around a, well, what seems to be a flooded coconut forest, right? It’s the Hoi An basket boat ride, also sort of sometimes referred to as a ‘thung chai’ ride. Honestly, it looked super cool to me too, so I checked it out. This is, like, what I discovered.

What Exactly Is a Basket Boat, Anyway?

Alright, so, basically, these basket boats, they are these circular, quite sturdy vessels that look a bit like, maybe, a giant woven bowl. I think they’re more traditionally constructed from bamboo and then, they are waterproofed using resin and, perhaps, other natural materials, you know? They’re really pretty unique to central Vietnam, very much a piece of the, let’s say, maritime culture ’round here. What is super interesting is that they’re, you know, pretty important to the area’s fishing communities. Because bigger boats get taxed, but these smaller basket boats? Well, they don’t! So, yeah, there’s that.

Historically, fishermen have sort of been using these boats for, you know, near-shore fishing, and to, almost totally transport goods. Nowadays, very, very many of the basket boats in Hoi An are used, typically, for tourist experiences. These tours tend to focus, maybe, on paddling through the waterways of the nearby coconut forests. That, and watching some, quite showman-like boat handlers perform spins, and tricks.

Adventures Await at the Coconut Forest

Just a little outside Hoi An’s ancient town, basically about a 15-minute drive, is this spot called the Bay Mau Coconut Forest. Sometimes, you may hear it as the Cam Thanh Coconut Forest, too it’s almost the same thing, you know? Back in the day, during the Vietnam War, this, very nearly flooded forest acted kind of as a hiding spot for the Viet Cong soldiers. Nowadays? Well, this has become, in some respects, a really pretty famous eco-tourism destination.

Visiting involves hopping on one of those basket boats and then, very leisurely being paddled through narrow channels carved directly into the dense, sort of jungle-like environment. The, you know, almost totally towering coconut palms create this really, almost ethereal, green tunnel effect. And I would also argue it’s a great spot for snapping photos, honestly! What really adds to the experience, in my view, is when the local boatmen, also known as boatwomen, decide to show off their spinning skills. This is that they will literally spin your boat very, very fast in circles, sometimes almost throwing you out! Now, I should mention, the degree to which you experience that “entertainment” is kind of, somewhat, up to your bargaining skills with the individual doing the paddling.

What to Expect on Your Basket Boat Ride: The Details

Okay, so what exactly can you expect if you go? Most tours kind of typically last around 45 minutes to an hour, it tends to be a decent chunk of time. The basket boats can usually hold about two adults quite comfortably. If you are a family with small kids, maybe squeeze one small one extra, I would suggest. Many tour operators include a pick-up service from your hotel in Hoi An and also drop-off. That really helps, especially if you’re, arguably, not keen on arranging your own transportation with local taxis, you know?

As you glide down the river ways, be ready to spot a number of things! You may see, for instance, local fishermen casting their nets. Also? You may encounter some, actually, surprisingly loud Vietnamese music blasting from, possibly, random boats. As I mentioned, sometimes you can expect, you know, skillful displays of basket boat spinning! Some boat drivers may also make shapes for you out of palm leaves. Think like, somewhat, the shapes of rings, or, perhaps, bracelets, or even cute little grasshoppers. I thought that was a, I would say, kind of very interesting personal touch, honestly.

And this, basically, needs a callout. Prepare to potentially get asked to tip the boat person! In many instances, if you, say, enthusiastically applauded their spinning abilities? Yeah, they absolutely will expect it. What I found, however, is that the pressure for tips is, maybe, generally quite friendly, rather than overly aggressive.

Booking Your Tour: Tips and Considerations

Alright, here’s something you need to know, right? You can pre-book tours online using a site like Viator, GetYourGuide or Klook. Often, booking like this can be very slightly more expensive than booking once you arrive locally. If you value, you know, a little convenience and the security of having everything sorted in advance? Pre-booking might well be just perfect for you.

If you feel brave? Once you get close to the Coconut Forest area, you will almost totally be approached by a seemingly never ending stream of locals offering the same tour, only, quite potentially at a better rate, than the tour people, that is. The art of negotiation is definitely going to come in handy, that, and, well, a touch of some of the basic Vietnamese phrases! So you understand what’s being said to you! That said, use some common sense here. If the price seems very, very low? Perhaps ask yourself why. Or, if somebody is, just a little, pressuring you quite hard to take their trip? Also, arguably, ask yourself why!

One thing that’s rather important? All tours are, possibly, more or less the same experience. Don’t think that just a slightly fancier website, you know, actually equates to an “amazing” once-in-a-lifetime excursion. It just isn’t, I wouldn’t say.

Making the Most of Your Visit: Some Handy Pointers

A few things you should know for a, basically, smoother trip! So, very often, mornings offer a cooler experience than afternoons, that and less crowds, that is. I would also argue that the light is better for some photos, in some respects. If you do go in the afternoon, consider that it gets rather hot out there! Be sure to hydrate and very thoroughly apply sunscreen. It’s sort of very easy to get a sunburn out there. Also? Mosquitos are really fond of the coconut forest! If you tend to attract them, applying mosquito repellent is something to absolutely keep in mind, definitely!

As is often the case in Vietnam, bringing smaller denomination bills is really convenient, certainly when it comes to, like, tipping. Having some smaller notes to hand will remove the hassle of hoping your boat person can give you change. And I suggest you embrace the somewhat touristy nature of the event. This really isn’t some kind of, I would say, incredibly authentic cultural experience, at the end of the day. That said? This can still be an amazing fun time, though!

Something, I’d suggest you bear in mind too it’s almost if you visit during the wet season? Be very aware that the water can, for instance, look quite murky and brown! Visiting during a sunnier spell will show this eco-attraction off in a, more or less, better light. One further thought, by the way. Please be aware that these environments are somewhat fragile. So please avoid littering, or in any other way polluting the area, definitely.

Is the Hoi An Basket Boat Ride Worth It? Final Thoughts

Okay, is it worth it? If you, like, really dig, pretty much, interesting cultural experiences, want cool photos and, arguably, want something fun to do for a few hours outside of the main tourist drag? It can absolutely be worth it, definitely. However, should you anticipate something deeply moving, perhaps that takes you to the cultural heart of Vietnam? Well, I mean, I’d argue you might potentially feel a little bit let down. What you’re getting is mostly a bit of tourist-aimed fun, to be honest.

The basket boat experience, arguably, is rather short, so if you’re okay with that? And can haggle a reasonable price that suits your budget? Do it! I really believe it does add a great, maybe, interesting memory to your trip. Should you anticipate it, just a little, perhaps differently? And it could miss the mark a, quite noticeable, amount. I hope that, well, helps you make your mind up, certainly.

Key points about the Hoi An Basket Boat Ride

• Discover how the basket boats came to exist, as well as the Bay Mau Coconut Forest’s past during wartime.
• Have realistic expectations. In other words, understand you’re joining a, perhaps slightly touristy, event, which is totally still pretty fun.
• Figure out whether you would sooner pre-book your trip online, or bargain for a better rate when you arrive.
• Be prepared for both mosquitos, as well as, somewhat pushy tipping expectations!
• Decide what is an appropriate rate for your enjoyment. Make certain that the quoted rates seem viable.

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