Basket boats, a cultural icon of Viet Nam, are found throughout the country, from the sun drenched central coast to the southwest waters. Once a simple fishing tool, the boats have become an original attraction to domestic and foreign tourists.

Vung Tau fishermen untangle nets after a fishing trip on coracles. Photo: Dang Kim Phuong/VNP

Coracles used for squid fishing off Khanh Hoa. Photo: Huu Thanh/VNP

A tourist fishes from a coracle off Be Islet in Ly Son Special Zone. Photo: Thong Thien/VNP

Basket boats or coracles were originally made to navigate rugged coastal areas. With its round shaped, keelless design, a basket boat moves flexibly in tight spaces, around complex rocky reefs or through rough nearshore waves where larger boats cannot.

Coracles are woven from bamboo and coated with wood oil to stay watertight. In coastal areas without deep-water ports, coracles ferry ashore fishermen and fresh catches from offshore trawlers. The boats are also used for nearshore netting and fishing, securing daily livelihoods for thousands of coastal families.

Cổ động viên trên thuyền thúng tại cuộc đua thuyền Tứ linh ở Đặc khu Lý Sơn (Quảng Ngãi), Ảnh: Công Đạt/Báo Ảnh Việt Nam

A basket-boat spinning performance at Bay Mau Coconut Forest in Da Nang. Photo: Thanh Hoa/VNP

A traditional fishing means, basket boats now turn into a tourist icon. Photo: Cong Dat/VNP

At popular destinations like the Bay Mau coconut forest in Da Nang, Eo Gio in Binh Dinh, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, a basket boat ride has become a must try experience. Gliding through nipa palm forests, watching thrilling boat-spinning performances with lively music on the water never fails to captivate tourists.

Colorful coracles ready to serve tourists at Bai Ngang, Ly Son. Photo: Trong Chinh

As basket boat tourism grows, fishermen get more income as compared to traditional fishing alone. With viral photos and videos of Viet Nam's unique round boats continuing to trend on international social media platforms, the local culture is brought closer to the world than ever./.

• By Thong Thien   Photos: VNP