Discover The Most Detailed Travel Guide Hoi An Cham Island
1. Overview
Hoi An Cham Island (Cu Lao Cham) is an ideal destination for those who love the blue sea, wild nature, and outdoor activities. Located about 15 km from Cua Dai beach, Cu Lao Cham consists of 8 large and small islands in Tan Hiep commune, Hoi An city, old Quang Nam (now Tan Hiep commune, Da Nang city).
The island cluster covers an area of up to 15.5 km². 90% of the island’s area is covered by vast green forests. In October 2003, the Cu Lao Cham nature reserve was established and is one of 15 marine reserves in Vietnam. With its natural value and historical relics that have existed for hundreds of years, in 2009, Cu Lao Cham was officially recognized by UNESCO as a world biosphere reserve.
Reference entrance fee to Cu Lao Cham:
- Entrance fee: 2.75 USD/person;
- Ecological fee: 0.76 USD/person.
2. The ideal time to travel to Cham Island
The climate in Hoi An Cham Island is divided into two distinct seasons: the rainy season (from September to February) and the dry season (from March to August).
- Dry season: Beautiful sunny weather and clear blue sea, ideal for swimming and snorkeling. This is also the peak tourist season.
- Rainy season: Big waves, rough sea, and many boat trips to the island are limited.
The best time to explore Cu Lao Cham is from April to August, when the sun is bright yellow, the sea is emerald green, and the weather is stable.
3. How to get to Hoi An Cham Island
3.1. Travel from Hoi An to Cu Lao Cham
To get to Cham Island from Hoi An, visitors often depart from Cua Dai port:
- Wooden boat: takes about 90 minutes, suitable for visitors who want to slowly admire the sea view, and the ticket price is about 3-4 USD/trip.
- High-speed canoe: only 20-25 minutes, fast and convenient, ticket price ranges from 7 to 10 USD/trip.
- Cua Dai port address: End of Au Co and Lac Long Quan street, Cua Dai ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province.
- Note: Canoes usually depart in the morning (around 8-9am), while wooden boats depart earlier (around 7am). Visitors should book tickets in advance, especially during peak season from April to August.
Speedboats to Cu Lao Cham have become one of the only and attractive means of transport for tourists who love to explore the ocean. (Source: internet)
3.2. Getting around Cu Lao Cham
The most popular and convenient means of transport here is motorbike, with prices ranging from 3.03 to 7.58 USD/day at local motels or motorbike rental service establishments.
Visiting the islands by boat costs from 18.95 to 56.85 USD/trip.
4. Activities not to be missed at Hoi An Cham Island
4.1. Discover impressive tourist destinations on Cu Lao Cham Island
Hoi An Cu Lao Cham impresses with its pristine beauty, blue sea, white sand, rich forests, and fresh air. This place gathers many unique attractions, both close to nature and closely associated with local culture and beliefs.
Eo Gio is the most beautiful place to watch the sunrise and sunset on the island, with a view of green mountains and the vast ocean.
The ancient Cham well, over 200 years old in Cam hamlet, is a rare source of fresh water, believed by locals to bring luck in love.
Hai Tang Pagoda, a sacred ancient pagoda located at the foot of the western mountain, is a place for tourists to sightsee, worship Buddha, and find peace. If you come in the summer, you will admire the bright red “ngô đồng” flower road stretching across Bai Lang, Bai Xep, and Bai Huong, creating a romantic natural picture.
The Swallow Nest Ancestor Temple in Bai Huong is a typical architectural work, reflecting the traditional beliefs of the residents of the Cu Lao Cham coastal area.
Since 2022, the festival “Cu Lao Cham – mùa hoa ngô đồng đỏ ” has been held and maintained annually. (Source: Báo Đà Nẵng)
4.2. Swimming and relaxing on the white sand
The beaches in Cham Island are famous for their pristine beauty and crystal-clear water. Some beautiful beaches you should visit:
Ong Beach: has a long stretch of fine white sand, clear blue water, straight coconut trees, and green sea spinach beds. Here, you can swim and participate in games such as parasailing, rowing boats, motorbikes on the sea, etc.
Bai Xep is a beautiful, pristine beach with clear blue water. This place has some of the most beautiful coral reefs in Cu Lao Cham.
Bai Chong: Has a fine white sand beach, straight rows of coconut trees, and multi-shaped rocks stacked on top of each other like symbols of husband and wife, yin and yang, etc.
Bai Huong is a pristine fishing village, located at the foot of a deep green natural forest. This is an ideal place for visitors to explore the life of fishermen and enjoy fresh seafood.
Bai Huong is known by its ancient name of Phu Huong village. (Source: internet)
4.3. Scuba diving to see coral
One of the most memorable experiences at Hoi An Cham Island is scuba diving. The coral reefs here are dense, colorful, and have a rich ecosystem. Visitors can choose:
- Snorkeling (shallow diving): suitable for beginners, price from 10-15 USD/person.
- Diving (deep diving): for those with diving certificates or with instructors, price from 30 to 50 USD/person.
4.4. Sea walking to see marine life in Hoi An Cham Island
Sea walking is an activity to explore the world under the ocean for non-swimmers of different ages. No need to bring air tanks or flippers; visitors just need to wear an oxygen helmet and follow the instructions of the expert to start the journey of discovery. This activity offers the opportunity to admire the rich marine ecosystem and creates the feeling of entering a natural aquarium.
- Location: Cu Lao Cham Marine Reserve, Tan Hiep Commune, Da Nang City.
- Ticket price: 40 – 60 USD / person.
- Time: 20 – 30 minutes / time
- Note: You should book the tour 1-2 days in advance; it is not suitable for people with heart disease, high blood pressure, or pregnant women.
4.5. Camping in Cu Lao Cham
If you stay overnight in Cu Lao Cham, you can rent a tent to camp on the beach. Around 9-10pm, there are often fun activities, exchanges, and campfires. At night, you can lie down and watch the starry sky—a wonderful sight that we will hardly see in the city.
4.5. Explore Tan Hiep market and experience the life of Cu Lao Cham fishermen
Coming to Cu Lao Cham, visitors have the opportunity to experience the rustic life of fishermen through many interesting activities. A stop not to be missed is Tan Hiep market, where the bustling scene of buying and selling fresh seafood, dried seafood, and unique souvenirs made from snail shells and seashells takes place. Prices at the market are often cheaper than on the mainland because everything is caught and sold by fishermen on the same day.
In addition, you can join fishing tours and row basket boats to relax and admire the peaceful island scenery. Experiencing life with fishermen, learning how to weave nets, mending fishing nets, and preparing dishes from the seafood you catch will bring a close, memorable feeling on the journey to explore Cu Lao Cham.
Fishing is an interesting activity you should not miss when coming to Cu Lao Cham (Source: internet)
4.6. Explore the primeval forest
After enjoying the waves, you can explore the primeval forests and rugged ravines here. When following the trails up the mountainside, you will be immersed in a cool green space, enjoying the beauty of wild orchids, etc. Visitors can also visit the gentle and poetic Da and Tinh streams.
4.7. Attending the traditional festival of Cu Lao Cham Island
On the island cluster, people mainly live by fishing and exploiting birds’ nests. Therefore, there are two major festivals on the island: the praying for fish festival (April 3rd of the lunar calendar) and the death anniversary of the founder of the Cu Lao Cham bird’s nest industry (March 9th and 10th of the lunar calendar).
The bird’s nest industry death anniversary festival has two parts: the ceremony part is to worship the founder of the bird’s nest industry, and the festival part has tug of war, culinary competition, blindfolded pot smashing, etc. At the praying for fish festival, after the ceremony part, there will be additional performances of singing “hát bội”, singing Cheo Ba Trao, and other attractive activities such as shaking baskets, boat racing, and exploiting products, etc.
4.8. Enjoy fresh seafood
Cu Lao Cham always makes a special impression on food lovers because it has many delicious and attractive dishes, such as “mực một nắng”, “ốc tượng”, “ốc vú nàng”, stone crabs, oysters, abalone, and “cá chình”,etc. In particular, fragrant and fatty “ngô đồng”seeds, fresh wild vegetables, and flavorful “mắm cá cơm” are also delicious dishes that cannot be missed when coming to Cu Lao Island.
Restaurants and eateries are often concentrated in tourist areas; here are some addresses for your reference:
- Dan Tri Restaurant: in Bai Lang;
- Dao Nho Restaurant: in Bai Ong;
- Hai Quynh Restaurant: in Bai Ong;
- Bai Chong Restaurant: in Bai Chong.
Lady’s breast snail – specialty of Cu Lao island (Source: internet)
5. Hoi An Cham Island Travel Experience: Day Trip or Overnight Stay?
If you are short on time, a day tour to Hoi An Cham Island is a suitable choice. Visitors will depart in the morning from Cua Dai port, experience swimming, snorkeling, and a seafood lunch, visit the fishing village, and return to Hoi An in the afternoon.
On the contrary, if you want to fully enjoy the peaceful beauty of the island, you should choose to stay overnight. Experience sleeping in a homestay or camping on the beach, participating in a seafood BBQ with fishermen, and watching the starry sky will bring unforgettable memories.
Suggested itinerary for Hoi An Cham Island, 2 days, 1 night:
- Day 1
08:00: Depart from Cua Dai port by canoe.
09:00: Snorkeling at Bai Xep.
11:30: Seafood lunch at Bai Huong.
14:00: Visit Hai Tang pagoda and the Champa ancient well.
17:00: Relax, swim, camp.
19:00: BBQ seafood with fishermen, watch the stars.
- Day 2
06:00: Wake up early to catch the sunrise on the sea.
07:00: Light breakfast with banh it la gai and dried seafood.
08:30: Experience a fishing tour or rowing a basket boat.
11:00: Return to Cua Dai port – Hoi An.
6. Combining Hoi An and Cham Island
One of the interesting points of the trip is the combination of Hoi An ancient town and Cham Island. During the day, visitors can immerse themselves in the clear blue water, swim in the sea, dive to see the coral, and feel the rare wild beauty of Cham Island. When the afternoon falls, there is nothing more wonderful than returning to Hoi An, leisurely strolling on the streets with colorful lanterns, watching the poetic Hoai River, and enjoying typical street food.
This combination brings a complete experience, both exploring the nature of the sea and islands and immersing in the unique cultural and historical space. This is the perfect journey for visitors to feel all the beauty of Hoi An and Cham Island in just one trip.
Hoi An Ancient Town lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River, showcasing timeless architectural works (Source: Internet)
7. Conclusion
With its blue sea, white sand, vibrant coral reefs, and unique traditional culture, Hoi An Cham Island is a must-see destination on your journey to explore Central Vietnam. Whether you just go for the day or stay overnight, you will bring back unforgettable memories. Don’t hesitate; let Asia Luxury Travel plan today for you to have the best trip.
8. Contact :
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