Cham Island

Cù Lao Chàm is a cluster of eight islands covering about 15 km² in Tân Hiệp commune, off the coast of Hội An. The largest is Hòn Lao (also called Hòn Cù Lao), where around 3,000 people live; the smaller islands are Hòn Khô Mẹ, Hòn Khô Con, Hòn Lá, Hòn Dài, Hòn Mồ, Hòn Tai and Hòn Ông. Since the 2025 administrative changes, Tân Hiệp is a commune of Đà Nẵng; before that it belonged to Hội An city in Quảng Nam province.

In 2009 UNESCO recognised Cù Lao Chàm as a World Biosphere Reserve for its rich ecosystems: more than 950 marine species, coral reefs and forested hills. The same year, the island banned plastic bags, and today it is also working to cut out plastic straws and other single-use plastic. The result is an island that still feels both unspoilt and lived-in - clear water, quiet beaches, a small fishing village and a few traces of history.

Development is deliberately light. There are homestays and simple guesthouses rather than resorts, and once the day-trip boats leave in the early afternoon, the island goes very quiet. It is also a frontline military island, so arrivals and departures are controlled.

Cù Lao Chàm is about 18 km from Cửa Đại beach in Hội An and about 45 km from central Đà Nẵng. Canoes leave from Cửa Đại port, about 10 km from Hội An's old town, and the crossing takes about 15-20 minutes on a calm day, longer in choppy water. Most canoes leave around 8:00-9:00 AM, and the last boat back is usually around 3:30 PM.

Wooden boats still run, taking about 1.5 hours, but they now mainly carry cargo, and passengers are locals travelling with the goods - plan on the canoe.

On the island, you can rent a motorbike (about 150,000-200,000 VND a day) or take a motorbike taxi with your luggage (about 60,000 VND a trip). The concrete coastal road makes it easy to ride around much of Hòn Lao.

Beaches

Hòn Lao has a string of white-sand beaches with clear blue water: Bãi Ông, Bãi Chồng, Bãi Bìm, Bãi Bắc, Bãi Làng, Bãi Hương and Bãi Xếp. Bãi Làng and Bãi Hương are next to the fishing village, with homes and homestays. Bãi Ông is where most day-trip groups go, and it's also the starting point for snorkelling and water sports.

Snorkelling and Diving

Almost every tour includes snorkelling over the coral. Independent travellers can buy at the port or through their guesthouse. Options include sea walking, shallow snorkelling and scuba diving, at about 200,000 to 1,000,000 VND per session depending on the type. Experiences vary a lot: on calm days some visitors find the water crystal clear and the coral beautiful; on choppy days others report poor visibility, few fish and boats drifting close to swimmers. Some also felt that a 'diving' package was more of a guided photo session - ask exactly what's included before you pay.

Around the Island

• Tân Hiệp market (Cù Lao Chàm market), right by the boat dock, sells local forest and sea products and souvenirs.
• The old Cham well, also called the Xóm Cấm well, sits at a junction of the concrete road in Xóm Cấm. It still supplies fresh water and comes with local legends; its age is uncertain, with figures from about 200 years to several centuries.
• Eo Gió, on the east side above Bãi Hương and about 3 km from Bãi Làng, is a saddle between two arcs of hills and cliffs - a great sunrise spot, reached by a concrete road lined with wildflowers, with a view of the Cù Lao Chàm lighthouse.
• Hải Tạng pagoda, built in 1758 at the foot of the hills on the west side of Hòn Lao, faces the island's only rice field. It is surrounded by a stone wall, said to keep out pythons and snakes, and keeps a large bronze bell with dragon motifs said to be in an early Lê style. There is no resident monk; an elderly couple looks after it.
• A small museum near the village introduces the island's marine life and history.

Other Activities

Fresh seafood is a highlight - a simple set lunch near the dock costs around 150,000 VND - and many visitors also enjoy the herbal tea made from locally gathered leaves. Facilities are basic: some shower areas have little or no privacy.

A day trip from Hội An or Đà Nẵng covers the highlights: a canoe out in the morning, snorkelling, the village, the market and lunch, and a boat back in the afternoon. But the island is at its best after the day-trippers leave. Stay a night in a homestay near Bãi Làng or Bãi Hương (a double room costs around 500,000-550,000 VND), watch the sunset, and get up early for sunrise at Eo Gió.

With a second day, explore on foot. Visitors who walked the island's winding road describe hours of near-silence: rock falls and hanging vines, monkeys in the trees, birdsong and wide views over the East Sea, with barely another person in sight. Ride one side of the island on a motorbike and walk the other.