Cam Thanh in a nutshell
Cam Thanh lies southeast of Hoi An old town, where the Thu Bon, Truong Giang and Co Co river systems meet before Cua Dai. A local heritage center describes the Bay Mau forest as roughly 3 mi (5 km) from the town center, a rough description rather than a measured route. Today the area belongs to Hoi An Dong ward in the city of Da Nang.
The "coconut forest" is mostly nipa palm, the water coconut, which grows along canals and rivers. Visitors ride round basket boats through it. According to the heritage center, local revolutionary forces used the forest as a base in the wars against France and the United States. The old defenses no longer exist, so there are no wartime remains to visit.
For the old town, lanterns and beaches, see our Hoi An guide. This site is independent. It is not run by the city, the ward or any boat or tour operator.
What to do around Cam Thanh
Four guides, each with prices and practical notes for 2026.
Basket boat rides
Prices, what is included, noise, weather and which pier to go to.
Cooking classes
Packages with a market visit and a basket boat, and what they cost.
Tra Que vegetable village
Herb and vegetable gardens about 3 km from the old town.
Bike tours
Half-day rides through rice fields and villages to the coconut forest.
Our picks: Cam Thanh tours
A basket boat ride, a cooking class with a farm visit and a countryside bike tour.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tra Que cooking class and farm experience
Three dishes per guest, dessert or a drink, a foot and shoulder massage and the recipes are included. Hotel transfer and extra food and drinks are not.
Check availability →
Morning countryside bike tour
A group of up to 8 with a licensed English-speaking guide, a mountain bike, helmet and accident insurance. All activities and entry fees are included, tips are extra.
Check availability →
Basket boat ride through the coconut forest
Water, entry, a hat, an umbrella and a life jacket are included, with 50 minutes in the coconut forest. Hotel transfer depends on the option, and alcohol and tips are extra.
Check availability →Cam Thanh and Hoi An tours
Basket boat rides, cooking classes and bike tours around Hoi An, with live prices and availability.
Entry and changes in 2026
Where older blog posts may be out of date.
A set fee for the forest
Da Nang city council decision 94/2026/NQ-HDND of July 31, 2026 sets the visiting fee at VND 30,000 per person and visit. A council notice of September 14, 2026 confirms the amount. The fee is for entering the forest, and the boat ride is a separate service.
Who is exempt
The published text exempts children under 16 and students under the education law, plus some groups of Vietnamese citizens, such as people aged 60 and over. A driver guide from August 2026 still mentions a child rate of VND 15,000 for children about 1 to 1.3 m tall. Ask your operator how children are handled.
More ticket counters
Since June 1, 2026 the management has run two extra ticket counters, according to the newspaper Tuoi Tre. The aim is to spread out visitors and stop entry without a ticket. Some operators include the entry fee in the ride price, so ask before you buy it twice.
A new themed route
A route called Ve Cam Thanh, Nghe dua ke chuyen was announced for a trial in the fourth quarter of 2026. Check with your operator whether it has started before you plan around it.
Getting to Cam Thanh
A driver guide from August 2026 gives 4 to 5 km (2.5 to 3 mi) from the old town, or 10 to 15 minutes by car. One operator puts its pier about 7 km (4.5 mi) out, or 20 to 25 minutes by bike or motorbike. Both figures are rough, because the forest has several piers rather than a single entrance. Go to the pier named in your booking.
Grab lists Hoi An as a service area, but that does not promise a car at every pier or a ride back, so check the fare in the app and arrange the return in advance. If you would rather cycle, read about the bike tours that include a boat ride in Cam Thanh.
When to go
The nearest weather reference is Da Nang, averaged over 1991 to 2020. February to April brings less rain than the months after it and lower daytime highs than summer: April averages 88°F (31°C) and 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while July reaches 94°F (34°C). October is the wettest month at 658 mm (26 in), and September and November are also very wet. This is a long-term average, not a forecast.
The national tourism website suggests Tra Que for February to April and September to December. The second window falls in the rainy months, so heavy rain can still change your plans. One operator says it cancels or moves rides in heavy rain, strong wind or dangerous conditions. Our Hoi An weather guide has the full picture, and the basket boat page has a month-by-month table.
More independent Vietnam guides
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place.
Ha Long Bay
Cruises, caves and the quieter Bai Tu Long Bay.
Cat Ba Island
The island, its national park and kayaking in Lan Ha Bay.
Hoi An
The lantern-lit old town, My Son and the beaches.
Hue
The Imperial City, royal tombs and the Hai Van Pass.
Sapa
Treks through rice terraces, Fansipan and the Ha Giang Loop.
Nha Trang
Beaches, island trips and the Po Nagar towers.
Phu Quoc
Beaches, the Hon Thom cable car and island hopping.
Can Tho and the Mekong Delta
Floating markets, river towns and trips from Saigon.
Cam Thanh: frequently asked questions
Where is the Cam Thanh coconut forest?
It lies southeast of Hoi An old town, roughly 4 to 7 km (2.5 to 4.5 mi) away depending on the pier, at the meeting of the Thu Bon, Truong Giang and Co Co river systems. It is also called Bay Mau.
How much is the entry fee in 2026?
The fee is VND 30,000 per person and visit under a city council decision that has applied since August 10, 2026. Children under 16 are exempt in the published text. Many ride prices already include the fee.
How much does a basket boat ride cost?
One operator lists USD 5 per person for about 55 minutes with entry and a cold drink. Another lists VND 90,000 per person with entry and a life jacket. Both ask for at least 2 people. Prices can change, so confirm when you book.
Is the coconut forest the same place as Tra Que?
No. Tra Que is a separate vegetable village about 3 km (2 mi) from the old town on the Co Co River. Many bike tours combine both. See our Tra Que guide.
Is it quiet on the water?
Not always. A 2025 report describes designated music areas and continuing noise complaints. Ask your operator which pier and route are quieter.
Is visitcamthanh.com an official tourism site?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to the city of Da Nang, Hoi An Dong ward or any boat or tour operator.