Private Car to Bay Mau Coconut Forest: Where to Start and What to Ask

Bay Mau Coconut Forest sits in Cam Thanh commune, about 6 km from the Hoi An old town and about 35 km from Da Nang. The main draw is a basket-boat ride through the water-coconut channels near the Cua Dai river mouth. Cam Thanh has several boat docks, and they differ in parking, services and how easily a car can reach them. The right plan depends on the dock you choose, where you start and how you handle the entrance and boat tickets.

Distance and drive time from each starting point

Drive time changes a lot depending on where you start:

• From the Hoi An old town: about 6 km, roughly 12 to 15 minutes by car. The route runs along Tran Hung Dao or Cua Dai, then turns onto Tran Nhan Tong to reach the eco-area.
• From Da Nang city: about 35 km, 45 to 50 minutes by car. The most convenient road runs along Vo Nguyen Giap and Lac Long Quan, then crosses the Cua Dai bridge on Vo Chi Cong or uses Tran Nhan Tong.
• From Da Nang International Airport: about 32 km, around 45 minutes. This works well if your group wants to go straight to the forest after an early flight.

If the group includes older people or young children, a private car with a driver keeps everyone in an air-conditioned cabin, away from the coastal sun, and lets them rest for the whole drive.

Telling the basket-boat docks apart in Cam Thanh

The forest area spreads across Cam Thanh commune, with several boat docks along the river branches:

• Van Lang dock: the largest and busiest dock in Cam Thanh. It has a wide, concrete car park, so 7-seat and 16-seat vehicles can drive in, turn around and leave without blocking the road.
• Cua Dai bridge and Con Toc dock: close to the bridge pier and the bigger river branches. The air is open and the dock is near homestyle riverside restaurants. It suits groups who want to combine the boat ride with a family lunch.
• Small private docks down village lanes: some village lanes are only wide enough for a motorbike or a small 4-seat car. A 7-seat or 16-seat vehicle cannot turn there, so the car will have to stop at the lane entrance.

The practical advice is to choose a large dock with a proper car park, such as Van Lang. Give the driver the dock name before pickup so the car goes straight to the car park and does not end up in a dead-end lane.

Entrance and basket-boat charges

Costs at Bay Mau are split between items set by the local authority and items set by the boat operators:

We do not quote these fares here, because the local authority and the boat operators set them and they can change. Ask at the counter for the current price on the day.

For safety, each basket boat carries at most 2 adults and 1 child under 5, which keeps the boat balanced on the water. Larger groups split into several boats that paddle side by side, so everyone stays within reach and it is easy to take photos of each other.

During the ride, rowers often perform a spinning basket dance and a short cast-net fishing demonstration. These are informal folk performances. Tipping is entirely voluntary and depends on how much guests enjoyed the show.

How pickup and coordination with a Sun Travel driver works

Agreeing the timing with the driver saves time and effort on the day:

• Pickup at your hotel: the Sun Travel driver collects the group from the lobby of your hotel or apartment in Da Nang or Hoi An at the agreed time. The driver helps load luggage and a baby stroller into the boot.
• Luggage during the boat ride: bulky bags, spare clothes and dry shoes can stay in the car with the driver while you ride the basket boats, so you go on the water carrying only what you need.
• Calling the car back: when the rowers start turning back towards the dock, about 10 to 15 minutes before you land, send a message to the driver. The driver starts the car, runs the air conditioning and waits at the dock gate, so you do not have to stand in the sun.

What to wear and bring for the river trip

A few practical items make the trip more comfortable:

• Light clothes: choose breathable, quick-drying clothing. Sandals with a back strap, or soft-soled shoes with good grip, are best when you step in and out of a wet basket boat.
• Sun protection: wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen before you get on the boat, because the river reflects a lot of sun during the day.
• Waterproof phone pouch: bring a waterproof pouch or dry bag for your phone or camera, so you can film the basket dance without splashes.
• Cooler hours: the two best times for a basket-boat ride are early morning, from 7:30 to 9:30, when the morning mist is lifting, and late afternoon, from 3:30 to 5:30 pm, for the warm light on the water.

To compare vehicle costs, see the private car rates or the Da Nang to Bay Mau route page. If you need a car for several stops in one day around Hoi An, the chauffeured car service in Central Vietnam covers that.