Local boat operators said water levels in the area's waterways had fallen to their lowest in years, exposing mudflats and sandbanks along routes that are typically crowded with tourists.
The Bay Mau Coconut Forest, often dubbed a mini Mekong Delta for its maze of waterways and basket boat rides, is one of central Vietnam's best-known tourist attractions.
Tam, a 57-year-old basket boat operator, said the problem first emerged in early June. Water levels typically begin to fall from around 2 pm and remain low until early evening, coinciding with peak tourist hours.
"The low water levels have affected our work significantly, and incomes have fallen by 20-30 per cent" he said.
In some sections, operators have to get out of their boats and drag them through shallow water. Some visitors have also been discouraged by muddy conditions and the smell of exposed sediment.
Local residents attributed the situation partly to heavy flooding in 2025, which deposited large amounts of silt in the waterways, raising riverbeds and restricting water flow.
Prolonged hot weather and the effects of El Niño have further reduced water levels, they said.
A local tourism business owner said visitor numbers had fallen by about 20% as some tourists chose not to take the tours after seeing the shallow waterways.
To keep routes open, some tourism operators have hired excavators to carry out temporary dredging in heavily silted sections.
Huynh Xuan Tranh, an official at the public service centre responsible for managing the coconut forest, said authorities were working with local businesses to dredge key waterways and restore navigation for basket boats.
He added that a longer-term dredging programme could be included in future public investment plans to support tourism activities in the area.
