If you visit Hoi An or Da Nang in central Vietnam, you must not miss taking a basket boat ride which is really a unique experience.
I was a bit apprehensive at first when my friends brought it up as I was worried about motion sickness. However, the river is lined with coconut forests which means that there are no large waves. I was further reassured after I saw other visitors having an enjoyable and safe time on the river.
History of the basket boats
In the colonial past, when the French arrived in Vietnam, they began taxing the owners of boats. Most of the poor Vietnamese fishermen who could not afford to pay the taxes, came up with a new type of boat: the basket boat or “Thung Chai”.
The basket boat is made of bamboo and palm leaves in the shape of baskets. Therefore, it could not be counted as a boat. Fortunately, their idea seemed to work during that time. And ever since then, these vessels have been a feature of the landscape of central Vietnam.
The boats have a diameter of approximately two metres. Despite its ‘demure’ look, the boat is steady and it can move surprisingly fast through the calm waters. These circular vessels are waterproof too.
The basket boat is now a huge tourist attraction after gaining popularity with visitors who posted their experiences on social media (as long as their phones do not fall into the water so be careful with your phones or cameras).
Sense of serenity as you float down the river
We were helped onto our boat from the wooden jetty. Only two adults are allowed on board, together with the paddler. Our paddler who was a friendly and hardy looking woman, welcomed us with a big smile and gave us the Vietnamese conical hats to wear as well as life jackets.
Keeping balance as well as propelling the boat is not easy, so some skills and great arm strength are definitely required. Our paddler then guided us through a network of water coconut palms to view attractions and entertainment that have been set up along the river.
I felt a sense of serenity in a very tranquil and relaxing atmosphere as we floated down the river even though the river was dotted with other boats. There was never any feeling of over-crowding or any elements that posed a danger to our safety. To me, the coconut forests were the real attraction as you float by them.
Attractions on the river
The first stop is a live singing performance where a passenger can go up to the mini stage to dance and sing along.
This was followed by a trawling presentation by a local fisherman who threw a large net impressively over the water.
Next stop – the official photographer awaits us from across the river and our paddler asked us to pose for photographs and we can then view the photos after the ride to see if we wanted to purchase a photo and they will print out an enlarged copy for you to bring home.
Spin Me Right Round
The highlight of the ride is definitely the Spinning Boat or Basket Boat Dance which is pretty exhilarating and fun to watch. Extremely skilled paddlers shake and spin the vessels within minutes, wowing everyone who watched in awe you can hear the word ‘Wow’ being exclaimed by many guests.
You can hop onto the Spinning Boat but certainly it is not for everyone. I do not know about the passenger that was being twirled around at a high speed, he looked like he was hanging on for dear life. The performance also reminded me of the retro song ‘You Spin Me Round Like A Record’ or Flo Rida’s ‘Right Round’!
You can watch a video here.
Try your hand at catching crabs and paddling
On the way back to the jetty, our paddler gave us simple fishing rods and we thought we had to catch some fish but it was really small local fiddler crabs that you should be trying to catch. We did not have any luck catching any though.
We also tried our hand in paddling the boat whilst on the journey back. We were given small paddles but then you then realise how difficult it is to paddle the boat.
We gave our paddler a nice tip as we were very pleased with her skills, strength and cheerful attitude. She then waved the banknote in the air with pride, and trying to show off to her fellow paddlers. I hope the other guests also tipped their paddlers generously as these are hard-working folks who work tirelessly at their trade to make an honest living.
The cost of the boat ride averages about US$5 to US$10, depending on the season. The ride lasts about 45 minutes and time goes by quickly.
Useful tips
- Always wear a life jacket provided to you, to ensure your safety.
- Remember to wear sunscreen. Check the local weather forecast for updates. We were lucky to have really nice weather when we visited in early March – blue skies, no rain and the wind blowing gently around us.
- You do not have to bring your own hat as the Vietnamese hat will be provided.
- Dress in practical clothing and shoes for ease of movement and safety.
- Hang on to your phone and belongings carefully to make sure they do not fall into the water.
- Do not stand up on the boat during the trip or you may fall into the water. Do not shake the boat.
- Follow instructions given by your paddler even though he or she may not speak English, they will use hand signs to tell you what to do such as posing for photos.
This is part 3 on our series on travels to Hoi An. You can read Part 1 https://ftnnews.com/travel-news/tours/a-resort-in-the-clouds-ba-na-hills-in-vietnam/ and Part 2 https://ftnnews.com/destinations/asia/vietnam/vietnams-hoi-an-turns-on-its-magic-at-night/ here.
