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DNO - Bay Mau Nipa Palm Forest in Cam Thanh Village, Hoi An, Da Nang has been selected as one of the five Vietnamese candidates for the annual “Best Tourism Villages” Award in 2026 programme by the United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism).
The nomination could put Hoi An’s distinctive ecological and cultural heritage on the global tourism map, giving Cam Thanh a chance to gain international recognition.
Vietnam’s five nominees for 2026 are Lo Village in Dak Lak, Cat Cat Community Tourism Village in Lao Cai, Bay Mau Cam Thanh Nipa Palm Forest in Da Nang, Mang Den Treehouse Village in Quang Ngai and Huu Lien Community Tourism Village in Lang Son.
Among them, Cam Thanh stands out for its riverside village character, where tourism has grown around the pipa palm ecosystem and the traditional way of life of local residents.
According to materials on Hoi An’s heritage, the water coconut forest has existed for around 200 years.
The local community has gradually transformed everyday elements of riverside life into distinctive tourism experiences.
Traditional basket boats, once closely associated with river-based livelihoods, now take visitors through narrow waterways shaded by pipa palms.
Fishing, basket-boat rowing, casting nets, folk singing, “Bai Choi” performances, “Ba Trao” rituals and local cuisine have all become part of the visitor experience.
During the early months of 2026, Cam Thanh continued to highlight its cultural heritage through activities such as “Ba Trao” performances, basket-boat dancing, net casting and “Bai Choi” on the river.
Basket-boat rides have grown popular after 2012, with basket-boat spinning performances being a main highlight. In some areas, boatmen demonstrate their spinning technique upon request, something that foreign tourists lap up.
According to the local authorities, 64 businesses are currently operating in the Bay Mau Nipa Palm Forest area, with around 1,400 basket boats serving visitors.
This tourist attraction welcomes an average of 5,000-6,000 visitors a day, while the figure can reach 9,000 a day during major holidays and Tet.
A new tourism route, “Back to Cam Thanh – Listen to the Nipa Palms Tell Their Story,” is also set to be introduced, combining basket-boat experiences with traditional crafts, cultural performances and community life.
Vietnam already has five villages recognised by UN Tourism in previous editions: Thai Hai, Tan Hoa, Tra Que, Lo Lo Chai and Quynh Son.
If additional Vietnamese candidates receive recognition in 2026, they could further contribute to a network of rural destinations built around green development, cultural preservation and community participation.
For Cam Thanh, the story is already compelling: a destination where tourism grows from the landscape, culture and livelihoods of its people, while seeking to preserve the authenticity that makes the village unique.
Under UN Tourism’s definition of rural tourism, candidate villages must have a low population density, with no more than 15,000 inhabitants, and be located in landscapes where traditional activities such as agriculture, forestry, livestock farming or fishing remain an important part of local life.
They must also demonstrate shared community values and distinctive ways of life.
Applications are assessed by an external Advisory Board of international experts across nine areas: cultural and natural resources, economic and social sustainability, environmental protection, tourism development, governance, infrastructure and connectivity, as well as health, safety and security.