# Cham Islands near Hoi An > The Cham Islands (Cù Lao Chàm) are a small archipelago 15–20 km off Hoi An and a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Plan a full day: the speedboat from Cua Dai pier takes 20–30 minutes, then it’s beaches, coral snorkeling and a fishing village. Entry is 70,000 VND plus a 20,000 VND island fee, sold 7:00–16:00. Boats run reliably from March to August. Web page: https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/cham-islands - City: [Hoi An](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an), Vietnam - YesGo score: 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 4 h - Opening hours: Ticket office 7:00–16:00 daily; boats depend on the weather and are cancelled in rough seas - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry fee: 70,000 VND - Island sanitation fee: 20,000 VND - Free: Under 16s and students; everyone on Tết, 29 March, 26 May and 2 September - Ticket office: 7:00–16:00 - Season: March–August; boats often don't run September–February - Speedboat from Cua Dai: 20–30 min; about 350,000 VND return including both fees - Day tour from Hoi An: ≈ $35–40: pickup, boat, fees, lunch, snorkel gear - Payment: Cash in VND for fees and food; cards rarely work on the island - Not allowed: Plastic bags, catching wildlife, touching or breaking coral - Coordinates: 15.95056, 108.68194 - Facts checked: 05.11.2026 ## Key facts - **2009** — UNESCO named Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An a World Biosphere Reserve (source: Da Nang Department of Tourism (danangfantasticity.com); English Wikipedia) - **7–8 islands** — in the group; only the largest, Hon Lao, is inhabited (source: Hoi An Centre for Cultural Heritage Conservation (7 islands); English Wikipedia (8 islands)) - **≈ 15–20 km** — offshore from Hoi An (source: Hoi An Centre for Cultural Heritage Conservation; English Wikipedia) - **2005** — the Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area was set up (source: ICSF (International Collective in Support of Fishworkers); nongnghiepmoitruong.vn) - **1,317 ha** — area of Hon Lao, the main island (source: English Wikipedia; ICSF) - **18th century** — Hai Tang Pagoda built on the western slope of Hon Lao (source: English Wikipedia (1753); vnexpress.net (1758)) - **Swiftlet nests** — harvested from the island cliffs — the archipelago’s traditional trade (source: Da Nang Department of Tourism; English Wikipedia) - **No plastic bags** — a reserve rule for everyone landing on the islands (source: Da Nang Department of Tourism; junglebosstours.com) - **Tan Hiep** — the island commune, now part of Da Nang city (source: English Wikipedia; Da Nang People’s Council Resolution 16/2026) > **From September to February, boats may not sail** The good season is March to August, when the sea is calm and clear. From September to February central Vietnam gets heavy rain and storms, and Cham Islands trips are often cancelled, sometimes the evening before. In those months book a tour with free cancellation and keep a spare day. ## Is the Cham Islands trip worth it? Yes, if you want a day in the sea: it’s the clearest snorkeling within easy reach of Hoi An, and the boat ride is short. The village, the pagoda and the market are a pleasant extra rather than the reason to go. Skip it if you get seasick — the speedboat bounces hard on open water — and skip it in the rainy season, when the water turns murky and trips get cancelled. If you only have one day in Hoi An, spend it in the Ancient Town instead. Want the islands to yourself? Stay the night. After about 15:00 the tour groups leave and Hon Lao goes back to the fishermen. ## Cham Islands tour price and entry fees The fixed charges are official: a **70,000 VND** reserve entry fee and a **20,000 VND** island sanitation fee. Under a Da Nang People’s Council resolution in force since 10 June 2026, children under 16 and students pay no entry fee, and entry is free for everyone on Tết, 29 March, 26 May and 2 September. Unofficially, a return speedboat ticket from Cua Dai with both fees comes to about 350,000 VND. Group day tours from Hoi An run about $35–40 and usually include hotel pickup, the boat, fees, snorkel gear and a seafood lunch. A private boat costs more but lets you choose where to stop and for how long. Bring cash. Visa and Mastercard work in bigger Hoi An hotels and restaurants, but on the island — at the pier, beach cafés and the market — it’s Vietnamese dong in cash. Grab rides to the pier can be paid by a linked foreign card. ## Snorkeling at the Cham Islands Snorkeling is the main reason to come. Most tours make one or two stops with masks off the neighbouring islets, most often **Hon Dai** (Hòn Dài) and Bai Xep beach. You’ll see soft and hard corals and small reef fish in shallow water, so a life jacket is fine for floating. Visibility is best from March to August on a calm day. After a storm the water clouds up and a snorkel stop becomes more of a swim. Life jackets are compulsory in the reserve, both on boats and while snorkeling. If you want to go deeper, Bai Ong beach and the pier sell scuba dives and helmet ‘sea walks’ — unofficially 200,000 to 1,000,000 VND. Check with a doctor first if you have heart or blood-pressure problems. ## What to see on Hon Lao - **Bai Ong beach** — where most groups land for lunch: loungers, cafés, freshwater showers and boats out to the snorkel spots. - **Bai Lang and Bai Huong** — beaches by the fishing villages, quieter, with homestays for an overnight stay. - **Hai Tang Pagoda** (Chùa Hải Tạng) — an 18th-century Buddhist temple at the foot of the western hill. - **The old well** in Xom Cam — around two centuries old; islanders say its water cures seasickness. - **Tan Hiep market** by the pier — dried squid, island herbs and souvenirs, and cheaper food than the beach cafés. - **Eo Gio** (Eo Gió) — a windy saddle about 3 km from the village with sea views and a lighthouse; good at sunrise. - **Marine Life Conservation House** — a small exhibit on the reserve’s corals and fish. ## How to get to the Cham Islands from Hoi An or Da Nang 1. From the Japanese Covered Bridge take a Grab or taxi to Cua Dai pier (Cửa Đại) — about 5 km and 15 minutes east along the river. From Da Nang it’s about an hour by car. 2. Be at the pier by 8:00: tours and scheduled speedboats leave in the morning. 3. Buy your boat ticket and pay both fees — 70,000 and 20,000 VND, in cash. The ticket office is open 7:00–16:00. 4. The speedboat reaches Hon Lao in 20–30 minutes, longer in waves. Put your life jacket on straight away. 5. The return boat usually leaves around 14:00–15:00. Confirm the time with the crew when you land — there may be no later boat. 6. Back at Cua Dai, spend the evening in [Hoi An Ancient Town](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-old-town) or at the [night market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-night-market). ## Cham Islands from Da Nang There’s no need to base yourself in Hoi An: most Cham Islands tours also pick up from Da Nang hotels, just earlier. Either way you sail from Cua Dai on the Hoi An coast; we found no reliable scheduled boats from central Da Nang. Expect about an hour’s drive each way, so a Da Nang day trip runs roughly 7:00 to 17:00. If you’d like Hoi An’s lanterns afterwards, ask the tour to drop you in town instead of back at your hotel. ## What to bring Tick off what’s ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Sea forecast checked the evening before - [ ] Cash in VND for fees, lunch and the market - [ ] Seasickness tablet, taken half an hour before the boat - [ ] Sunscreen, ideally reef-safe - [ ] Your own mask if you’d rather not share - [ ] A reusable bag instead of plastic - [ ] Dry clothes and a towel for the ride back - [ ] Covered shoulders and knees for the pagoda ## Cham Islands or My Son Sanctuary | | Cham Islands | My Son Sanctuary | | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Islands and marine reserve | Ruined Cham temples in the hills | | Foreign visitor fee | 70,000 + 20,000 VND | 150,000 VND | | Hours | Tickets 7:00–16:00 | 6:00–18:00 | | Getting there | Speedboat 20–30 min from Cua Dai | By road from Hoi An | | Time needed | Full day | Half a day | | Weather | Calm seas only, best March–August | Year-round | Into the sea — go to the Cham Islands. Into history, or the forecast is stormy — choose [My Son](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/my-son-sanctuary), which runs all year. ## Water and beaches around Hoi An: compare Every waterside place in Hoi An rated by YesGo. - [Hoi An Night Market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-night-market) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry - [Hoi An Central Market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-central-market) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free entry - [Japanese Covered Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/japanese-covered-bridge) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Old Town ticket: 80,000–120,000 VND - [An Bang Beach](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/an-bang-beach) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free - [Hoi An Ancient Town](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-old-town) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · 80,000–120,000 VND; streets free - [Cham Islands](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/cham-islands) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · 70,000 VND + 20,000 VND fee ## Sea by day, lanterns by night Morning boat to the Cham Islands, an easy afternoon at An Bang beach, then the Ancient Town and the night market. Add it to your route — YesGo sorts the timings and walks. 1. [Cham Islands](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/cham-islands) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · 70,000 VND + 20,000 VND fee 2. [An Bang Beach](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/an-bang-beach) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free 3. [Hoi An Ancient Town](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-old-town) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · 80,000–120,000 VND; streets free 4. [Hoi An Night Market](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/hoi-an/hoi-an-night-market) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry > **Plastic bags are banned on the islands** The reserve keeps plastic out: pack water, snacks and wet clothes in a reusable bag or backpack, and take your rubbish back to the mainland. ## Don’t confuse The Cham Islands aren’t Kampong Cham in Cambodia, and they aren’t the Museum of Cham Sculpture in Da Nang. There are no Cham temples on the islands — the famous Cham ruins are at My Son. ## Tips - Take the earliest boat: before 10:00 Bai Ong is still quiet and the sea is usually calmer. - A stormy forecast is a reason to switch days, not to ride it out — give a wet day to My Son instead. - Purple rock crab (cua đá) is harvested under permit and in season — order it only where that’s clearly stated. - Staying the night? Homestays in Bai Lang and Bai Huong are basic; book ahead and ask about the last boat back. - Eat near Tan Hiep market — it’s cheaper than the beach cafés. - Don’t stand on coral or feed the fish: it’s a reserve rule, and coral cuts feet. ## Questions ### Where are the Cham Islands? About 15–20 km off the coast of Hoi An in central Vietnam. Boats land on Hon Lao, the largest and only inhabited island of the group. ### How do I get to the Cham Islands from Hoi An? Grab or taxi to Cua Dai pier, about 15 minutes from the Ancient Town, then a 20–30 minute speedboat. Most people book a day tour with hotel pickup. ### How much is a Cham Islands day tour? Unofficially about $35–40 per person for a group tour with pickup, boat, fees, lunch and snorkel gear. The official fees are 70,000 VND entry plus 20,000 VND sanitation. ### Is snorkeling at the Cham Islands good? It’s the best within easy reach of Hoi An: shallow corals and reef fish off Hon Dai and Bai Xep. Visibility is best on calm days from March to August. ### When is the best time to visit the Cham Islands? March to August, when the sea is calm. From September to February storms often cancel boats. ### Can I go to the Cham Islands from Da Nang? Yes. Most tours collect from Da Nang hotels and drive about an hour to Cua Dai pier, where the boats leave. ### How long do you need on the Cham Islands? A full day: leave Hoi An around 8:00 and get back around 15:00–16:00. Add an hour each way from Da Nang. ### Can you stay overnight on the Cham Islands? Yes, there are simple homestays in Bai Lang and Bai Huong villages. Evenings are very quiet once the day groups leave. ### Are the Cham Islands good for kids? Yes — under 16s pay no entry fee and the boat ride is under half an hour. Bring kids’ life jackets and something for seasickness. ## How we checked The 70,000 VND entry fee, 20,000 VND sanitation fee and 7:00–16:00 ticket hours come from the Da Nang Department of Tourism price table (January 2026). Exemptions (free for under 16s and students) and free days come from Da Nang People’s Council Resolution 16/2026, in force since 10 June 2026; we don’t repeat the older rule of 50% off for children aged 1–8. The resolution doesn’t mention the sanitation fee, but the Department’s table does, so we show it. Sources disagree on the number of islands — seven for the Hoi An heritage centre, eight for Wikipedia — so we say 7–8. Hai Tang Pagoda dates to 1753 per Wikipedia and 1758 per VnExpress, so we say 18th century. Sources give different heights for Hon Lao’s summit, so we leave it out. Boat, tour and dive prices and the boat schedule are unofficial. We found no scheduled boats from central Da Nang. The English core was built from English search results and related questions. ## Sources - Da Nang Department of Tourism (danangfantasticity.com): 2026 attraction price table; Cu Lao Cham biosphere reserve page — season, rules, beaches and sights - Da Nang People’s Council Resolution 16/2026/NQ-HĐND — fee, exemptions and free days (as reported by Báo Văn Hóa, 10.06.2026) - Hoi An Centre for Cultural Heritage Conservation (hoianheritage.danang.gov.vn): islands of the archipelago - English Wikipedia: Chàm Islands; Wikidata Q386184 - ICSF and nongnghiepmoitruong.vn: Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area - vnexpress.net, junglebosstours.com: speedboat price, tour schedule, overnight stays, food - Tour listings on expedia.com: day tour price, snorkel spots --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.