A part of the Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve’s buffer zone, Cam Thanh nipa palm forest has a history of protecting and providing for the people of Hoi An City thanks to its impressive ecosystem and, more recently, through ecotourism. 

Located in Cam Thanh Commune of Hoi An City in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam, the Cam Thanh nipa palm forest begins at the mouth of the Thu Bon River and extends into the adjacent water paddy fields.

It is a popular ecotourism destination that allows tourists from around the world to experience the distinctive ecology of mangrove forests.

Currently, the 300-hectare forest welcomes a total of 3,000 visitors each day, mainly Koreans, Taiwaneses, and domestic tourists.

The area’s bustling tourism scene generates revenue for hundreds of businesses and more than 1,000 households involved in the coracle-making industry.

A coracle is a type of traditional Vietnamese boat which is round and woven using bamboo.

One of Hoi An City’s most ancient crafts, making houses from bamboo and nipa palm, was recently recognized as national intangible cultural heritage.

For the people of Hoi An, the Cam Thanh nipa palm forest is not about scenery, but serves as an inseparable part of local life, thanks to its palm trees, which provide food and materials to build homes, unique local crafts, furniture, and souvenirs. 

The forest is second only to Hoi An Pedestrian Street in terms of the number of tourists who have returned since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

During wartime, the Cam Thanh nipa palm forest served as an important base of resistance.

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