As one of the famous eco-tourism destinations in Hoi An, Bay Mau Coconut Forest attracts a large number of visitors. Coming to this place, you will enjoy the fresh air of the green coconut forest and the moments of peaceful leisurely boating. In this article, Hanami Hotel Danang will send you some information and experiences about Bay Mau coconut forest tourism in Hoi An, so stay tuned!
Overview of Bay Mau Coconut Forest
According to locals, Cam Thanh coconut forest has existed for about 200 years. At that time, migrants from the Southwest region brought nipa varieties and planted them in this area. With the combination of water and soil, the tree gradually proliferated, growing into a large forest of about 7 ha. The name Bay Mau coconut forest also comes from that (although now the coconut forest covers an area of up to 100 hectares).
This large coconut forest is located next to 03 famous rivers in Hoi An: the Hoai River, Thu Bon River, and De Vong River flowing into the sea. Because this place has salty water suitable for the development of nipa coconuts, the coconut forest here is getting bigger and greener day by day, blending with the charming image of the river, giving visitors the feeling of being in a province somewhere in the Southwest Region.
Hoi An coconut forest was the base of Vietnam’s revolutionary army during the resistance against the French colonialists and the American empire. With the discreet terrain covered by the coconut forest and the clever strategy, our weaker army still brought many victories and glorious victories against the enemy.
Location
Bay Mau coconut forest is located in Cam Thanh commune, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, about 3 km from Hoi An center. Called Bay Mau because, in the past, this coconut forest only had seven acres, now the area of the forest has been more than 200 acres, but the people here are too familiar with the name of this dear Seven Mother.
The tourism area of Bay Mau coconut forest is also known as Hoi An coconut garden, Hoi An Bay Mau coconut forest, or Hoi An Marble Bay coconut forest. The tranquil natural beauty of the green coconut groves, the crystal-clear canals, and the river cruises in traditional basket boats are this location’s main draw for tourists.
- Opening hours: The Bay Mau Coconut Forest is open weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The holiday operation times for the year will be updated later.
- Ticket price:
+ Entrance ticket: 30,000VND/person
+ Renting a basket boat: 280,000 VND/boat for 2 adults and 1 child under 1m tall, 150,000 VND/two people.
Some games and experiences in the coconut forest will charge a ticket fee. The price of game/experience tickets, entrance tickets, and basket rentals will change from time to time.
How to get to Bay Mau Coconut Forest
You have two options for getting to the Bay Mau coconut forest from Hoi An:
- By river: You will board a boat at Bach Dang dock in Hoi An’s old town and travel down the Thu Bon river to the coconut forest.
- By road: From Hoi An, take Tran Nhan Tong street, pass the Cua Dai bridge, then continue for another half kilometer to reach the coconut forest. It just takes about 10 minutes to drive on this road.
From Da Nang city, you can take one of two routes to the coconut forest:
- Route 1: Drive to Hoi An Ancient Town from Dragon Bridge in the direction of Ngo Quyen – Ngu Hanh Son. Then, as described above, you will take one of two routes from the old town to the coconut forest.
- Route 2: Starting from Dragon Bridge, run all the way to Vo Van Kiet Street, then turn right onto Vo Nguyen Giap Street, continue straight until you reach Lac Long Quan Street, turn right onto Tran Nhan Tong Street, and continue straight until you reach the foot of the Cua Dai Bridge. Continue for 500 meters to reach the Bay Mau coconut forest.
The ideal time to visit Bay Mau Coconut Forest
To enjoy the trip to Bay Mau Coconut Forest to the fullest, you can choose one of the three time frames listed below:
- From February to June: the weather in Hoi An is mild and dry, with no blazing sun, making it ideal for a trip to the river’s land.
- From May to July: This time Hoi An Ancient Town has many interesting festivals. You can combine a visit to Bay Mau Coconut Forest with the experience of enjoying the beauty of Hoi An Ancient Town. However, the weather during this time of year is fairly hot and sunny, so you should take that into consideration.
- From August to November: At this time of year, the weather in the Bay Mau coconut forest is pleasant, with little rain. You can go to the full moon, just in time for the beautiful lantern festival.
What makes the coconut forest in Bay Mau interesting?
The Bay Mau coconut forest is known as Vietnam’s second western river. Many travelers were surprised to see the west reappearing in the central land, which is extremely characteristic of the wind and sea.
When you visit the coconut forest, you will be treated to folk entertainment activities as well as lively underwater performances. Come on, let’s find out what’s so fascinating about the Bay Mau coconut forest with Hanami!
Taking a basket boat to admire the coconut forest
Bay Mau coconut forest tourist area has two types of circular boats, a small one that can carry 2 guests and a large one for 4 guests. In your journey, you can listen to many interesting stories about the coconut forest and the dear melody of a Quang folk song far away.
The coconut forest is famous for its basic but incredibly safe basket boats, which will take you on a trip through the river channels with clear water lined by coconut palms spreading out to the river’s center. The ambience is calm and relaxing. Don’t forget to take some photos as a souvenir while you’re sitting on the boat admiring the view!
Admire the basket dance performance in the river’s middle
The image of a craftsman sitting on a basket boat and moving the oars, making the boat and the surrounding water move, will be a memorable experience. The scene will probably make you think of the image of a skillful ferryman alone reaching out to the waves in the midst of a storm.
The cheers on the shore, combined with the strong movements of the artist and the constant movement of the boat on the water, created a bustling atmosphere. You can sign up to sit on that boat and feel the movements of the basket boat.
Experience interesting folk games
The Bay Mau coconut garden tourist area will allow tourists to participate in exciting and appealing traditional activities such as keeping balance while riding bicycles across the river, boat racing, tug of war, blindfolded beating of rice pots, and so on. If you visit Bay Mau Coconut Forest – the miniature West of Hoi An, – you must try these games, which are simple but guaranteed to be a lot of fun.
Making keepsakes out of coconut leaves
Coconut leaves were not only used for wrapping cakes, lighting fires, and roofing roofs; they were also used to make toys for children in the old days. When you visit the Bay Mau coconut forest, you will have the opportunity to make rings, locusts, caps, and flowers out of coconut leaves.
The gifts are made from rustic coconut leaves, but they are just as detailed and gorgeous as other lavish gifts. If you wish to make your own gift, you can ask the artisans to guide you.
Casting nets to catch fish at Bay Mau Coconut Forest
It will be a fascinating experience for tourists who are not from the river or the sea to see a net cast in the midst of the river. Visitors to the coconut forest will be able to sit on the boats and watch the craftspeople cast their fishing nets.
Visitors will be able to watch as the large net is thrown into the middle of the river and, if desired, directly cast the fish. You may enjoy this fishing in the afternoon since, owing to the sunset and the yellow-orange afternoon sun, the surrounding space becomes increasingly poetic, making it ideal to capture some stunning photographs.
Fishing in the coconut forest
You can experience fishing in order to enjoy the calm sensation of waiting for the fish to bite while fishing and enjoying the chilly weather. You will be able to fish on a basket boat while admiring the coconut forest, the scenery, and the fresh breeze.
Some tips when visiting Bay Mau Coconut Forest
You should get ready to bring a few things in order to enjoy your trip to the Bay Mau coconut forest to the fullest.
- Some dry food and water to enjoy the view without being distracted by hunger.
- A phone or camera to save beautiful and idyllic images of the Bay Mau coconut forest
- A hat to cover your head, as most activities take place outdoors.
- A small umbrella in a bag or a conical hat on rainy days
- Cash and ID for necessary cases
- Medicine to prevent seasickness because the highlight of the tour is sitting in a basket boat and watching the green coconut trees.
What to wear when visiting Bay Mau Coconut Forest
Your exciting activities and experiences in the Bay Mau coconut forest will largely take place on basket boats and in the water; the space here is also extremely rustic, so you only need to wear comfortable clothes to enjoy the game to the fullest.
You can wear sweat-wicking t-shirts, shorts, sneakers/sandals, and avoid clothes that are too long or have too many long straps.
Cuisine in the Bay Mau Coconut Forest
Visiting the Bay Mau coconut garden isn’t enough to have a good time; you also need to try the cuisine here to enjoy the trip to the fullest.
Grilled fish
Characterized by the river region, the Bay Mau coconut forest has a fresh yield. You can experience dishes from stingrays, mackerel, birds, and so forth. Among fish dishes ranging from braised to cooked soup, grilled fish with a faint charcoal aroma may be the most tasty and well-received by tourists.
Nipa palm sweet soup
One of the most well-known dishes in the coconut forest is coconut water sweet soup. The dish is cool and mildly sweet, making it ideal for days spent exploring the coconut forest.
Salad with banana flowers
This is a rustic delicacy from the Bay Mau coconut forest. The dish has merely sliced banana flowers, shrimp, and pork mixed with fish sauce, but if you eat one piece, you’ll want to eat more.
Grilled chicken in corn husks
Marinated chicken is wrapped in corn husks and cooked over charcoal. This delectable dish is wrapped in rice paper, topped with raw veggies, and then dipped in a unique sauce. Grilled chicken is delicious and aromatic because it is marinated with spices and wrapped in highly fragrant corn husks, and it is difficult to resist when eaten with rice paper and veggies.
If you visit the Central Region and visit Hoi An and Da Nang, you must not miss the Bay Mau coconut forest in Hoi An. In the midst of the magnificent Central, you will witness the panorama of a true miniature West. Hopefully, Hanami has helped you sense the beauty of the Bay Mau coconut forest through this post, as well as given you more encouragement to explore this land.
