Basket Boat in Hoi An: Crab Fishing & Nipa Forest

Basket boats spin in the water like tops, and you learn to paddle one yourself.

A basket boat activity in Hoi An where you paddle through the Cam Thanh Water Coconut Forest and Bay Mau Nipa forest, fish for crabs alongside local fishermen, and watch traditional spinning boat demonstrations. Hotel pickup and drop-off, a guide in English, life jacket, umbrella, fresh fruit and bottled water are included; the experience runs about two hours.

The Experience

Cam Thanh coconut water village sits in the countryside outside Hoi An, and that's where your guide picks you up from your hotel by car. You'll arrive at the restaurant to collect your life jacket, umbrella and raincoat, drink bottled water and eat fresh fruit, then head straight to the bamboo basket boats waiting on the canal. These round vessels are built to navigate the shallow waterways of the Bay Mau Nipa forest, and your guide teaches you how to paddle one before you set out into the water.

Once you're on the canal, the day becomes about watching how the fishermen work. You'll see them demonstrate the spinning motion that makes a basket boat turn in place—a technique that looks effortless until you try it. Then you become a fisherman yourself, casting nets and catching crabs in the same canals where locals have fished for generations. The nipa palm forest surrounds you the whole time, and the guide explains the ecosystem and the history of the village as you move through it.

The two-hour outing ends back at the restaurant, where you'll dry off before the drive back to your hotel. If you're staying in Danang instead of Hoi An, the pickup costs an extra $17 per person, but the rest of the experience stays the same.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Hoi An.
• basket boat ride through the Cam Thanh Water Coconut Forest and Bay Mau Nipa forest.
• life jacket, umbrella and raincoat.
• bottled water and fresh fruit.
• English-speaking local guide.
• crab fishing in the canals.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Hoi An Family Eco Cooking Tour

Is this one for you?Two hours on the water leaves room for other activities in Hoi An the same day—the ancient town, the market, a cooking class—without eating up your afternoon. If you're picking up from Danang instead, budget the extra travel time and add $17 per person to the price.

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Top questions

What exactly is a basket boat and how do I paddle it?

A basket boat is a round, shallow-draft vessel woven from bamboo and shaped like a large basket—designed to float in the shallow canals of the Cam Thanh coconut forest. Your guide teaches you the paddle technique on the water, and you'll practice the spinning motion that lets the boat turn in place.

Do I actually fish for crabs, or just watch other people do it?

You fish for crabs yourself in the Bay Mau Nipa forest canals, casting nets and catching them the way the local fishermen do. The guide shows you the traditional techniques and fishes alongside you.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The activity includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Hoi An, a life jacket, umbrella, raincoat, bottled water, fresh fruit, the basket boat ride, and an English-speaking guide. You don't need to bring fishing gear or safety equipment—everything is provided.

How long does the whole experience take from hotel to hotel?

The activity itself runs about two hours on the water and at the village. Add travel time from your hotel to Cam Thanh and back, which depends on where you're staying in Hoi An.

Is the Cam Thanh coconut forest the same as the Bay Mau Nipa forest, or are they different places?

Cam Thanh is the water coconut village where you start and eat; Bay Mau is the nipa palm forest where you paddle and fish. They're part of the same ecosystem in the countryside outside Hoi An, and you visit both during the activity.