Bảy Mẫu Coconut Forest: basket boats on our doorstep

Slow Stay House sits in Cẩm Thanh village, right next to one of Hoi An’s best-loved sights: the Bảy Mẫu Coconut Forest. In Vietnamese it’s called Rừng dừa Bảy Mẫu, and on local signs and tour flyers you’ll often see Khu du lịch sinh thái Rừng dừa Bảy Mẫu, the Bảy Mẫu Coconut Forest Ecotourism Area.

What the name means

Rừng dừa means coconut forest.
Bảy mẫu (or “7 mẫu”) means seven hectares, the size of the original grove.
Cẩm Thanh is the village and commune where the forest grows.

What to do there

Ride a basket boat. The round bamboo boats are called thuyền thúng. Local boatmen paddle you through narrow canals lined with water coconut palms.
Watch the spinning. The boatmen spin their basket boats at high speed, sometimes with music playing along the river. It’s loud, silly and great fun.
Try crab fishing. Using traditional nets and a little bait, you can try catching the small purple crabs that live among the palms.

Tips for long-stay guests

Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when it’s cooler and calmer.
Most tours start from the riverbanks along the main road, a few minutes from the house.
Agree on the price before you get in the boat, and bring cash.

Afterwards, the cafés and restaurants of Hoi An Old Town are only about 10 minutes away. Have a question about the area? Send us a message.