Int’l visitors captivated by Vietnamese nipa palm destination, one of world’s most beautiful villages

The destination ranked 20th among the world’s 50 most beautiful villages in 2025, according to a list compiled by Unforgettable Travel Company and published by Forbes.

Located just a short distance from the UNESCO-listed heritage town, Cam Thanh Nipa Palm Forest, also known as Bay Mau Nipa Palm Forest, lies in an area where the river meets the sea.

It is surrounded by the confluence of three rivers – Thu Bon, Truong Giang, and Lo Canh Giang – before they flow into the East Vietnam Sea.

The mixing of freshwater and seawater has created a distinctive brackish-water ecosystem, featuring vast stretches of lush palms rarely found elsewhere.

The destination has been selected as one of five Vietnamese representatives to participate in the 2026 Best Tourism Villages initiative organized by UN Tourism.

Having expanded its tourism services around 2003, Cam Thanh Nipa Palm Forest now welcomes an average of 4,000-5,000 visitors from around the world every day.

Despite rapid urbanization in neighboring areas, the nipa palm forest has largely retained its pristine, green landscape.

A key factor behind its enduring appeal over more than two decades is the community of local basket-boat rowers, often regarded as true artists of the waterways.

Nguyen Thanh Dung, a local boatman who has worked in the trade for more than 10 years, said his working day typically runs from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, during which he takes an average of four to five groups of visitors on boat trips.

“Visitors come from all over the world, including Western countries, the Philippines and South Korea,” he said.

“South Korean tourists are particularly fond of this service.

“The highlight that visitors look forward to most is the spinning basket-boat performance.”

Performing spins in a traditional basket boat are not particularly difficult, he said.

However, boatmen must pay close attention to safety to ensure that visitors do not lose their personal belongings during the experience, he added.

Green escape from urban hustle

Travel preferences among young people are shifting, with many increasingly moving away from heavily commercialized destinations in favor of pristine green spaces where they can relax and relieve stress.

Bach Thao, a 23-year-old visitor from Ho Chi Minh City, said the peaceful riverside scenery offered a welcome escape from the pressures of urban life.

“Living in a big city, I often feel overwhelmed by rapid urbanization and the dense concentration of buildings,” she said.

“However, when I come here, the vast waterways and lush surroundings immediately make me feel more relaxed and at ease.”

Thao also noted that affordable services were a major attraction for young travelers.

For VND150,000 (US$5.8) for two people, visitors can enjoy a complete boat trip through the nipa palm forest, watch traditional basket-boat performances, and listen to simple yet captivating folk songs.

New cultural tour to offer deeper local experience

To further diversify its tourism offerings, Hoi An Dong Ward is preparing to introduce a new tour at Cam Thanh Nipa Palm Forest.

The cultural experience, titled ‘Coming to Cam Thanh - Listening to the Stories of the Nipa Palm Trees,’ is expected to officially launch in November.

The tour aims to preserve the area’s pristine natural environment while showcasing the traditional cultural life of the local community.

Visitors will travel aboard traditional basket boats, gently navigating through the dense nipa palm canopy before stopping at three cultural experience sites.

At these stops, visitors can enjoy traditional folk performances and have opportunities to engage directly with the daily lives and traditional crafts of 23 long-established local households.