Cam Thanh Village lies in Hoi An Dong Ward, Danang, at the confluence of the Thu Bon, Truong Giang and Lo Canh Giang rivers before they meet the sea, forming a unique brackish-water ecosystem.
Its best-known attraction is the Bay Mau Coconut Forest, where a maze of waterways shapes a popular river tourism destination. In 2025, Forbes ranked Cam Thanh 20th among the world’s 50 most beautiful villages, the only representative from Vietnam on the list.
In recent years, the forest has become a thriving eco-tourism hub, with local businesses enhancing the area using natural materials such as bamboo, wood and buoys to attract visitors.
In 2024, Tripadvisor listed basket boat rides through the Bay Mau Coconut Forest among the world’s 25 most appealing boating experiences.
Visitors can navigate the nipa palm waterways by basket boat, watch traditional net casting, catch crabs and snails, enjoy folk performances including ba trao singing, and take part in environmental activities.
Beyond sightseeing, tourists can watch the “basket boat dance”, in which fishermen spin the round boats 180 degrees on the water, showcasing their skill.
Some visitors also opt for high-speed spins, though rowers warn the experience may not suit those prone to vertigo or heart conditions.
At the site, visitors can also try catching crabs, freshwater prawns and goby fish themselves, adding a hands-on element to the experience.
About 1,000 residents in Cam Thanh are currently involved in basket boat tourism services, according to preliminary figures.
For those preferring to stay on land, narrow village lanes offer cycling routes past lotus ponds, shrimp farms and shaded roads lined with nipa palms.
Local authorities said surveys in the Bay Mau Coconut Forest have identified untouched areas suitable for quieter, nature-based tourism. New routes are expected to combine traditional arts, local life and revolutionary history, helping diversify tourism products and ease pressure on crowded sites.
Cam Thanh is also known for houses built from bamboo and nipa palm leaves. Residents harvest and dry leaves daily, weaving them into roofing panels using traditional methods.
In nearby rice fields, visitors can try buffalo riding. Le Nhien, 61, a local resident, said tourists had long stopped to photograph buffalo herding scenes, prompting travel companies to develop related services in partnership with farmers.