Vietnamese have a deep relationship with the bountiful bodies of water found across the country. Whether it’s the sea or the river, our travel documents the variety of boat designs precious to the livelihood of the people.
📷 Boats in Hoi An, Hue, Da Nang, and Ninh Binh
Unique to the central and southern Vietnam, the round shape boat is called the basket boat. The story goes that historically it was designed to imitate a spherical basket which invalidated claims on fishing boat taxes imposed back then. However, others also say it was built because it was effective as a fishing vessel which offers superior stability, strength, and maneuverability. The boat is made out of bamboo woven together by hand and waterproofed with cow dung and tree sap.