Cu Lao Cham Travel Guide: Transportation, Accommodation, Activities, and Cuisine

🗺️ Cu Lao Cham Travel Guide A-Z: Transportation, Accommodation, Sightseeing, and Cuisine

Cu Lao Cham is a cluster of 8 islands covering approximately 15 km² in Tan Hiep Commune, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province. The largest island is Hon Cù Lao (or Hon Lao), with smaller islands including Hon Khô Mẹ, Hon Khô Con, Hon Lá, Hon Dài, Hon Mồ, Hon Tai, and Hon Ông. The islands have a population of approximately 3,000 people. Cu Lao Cham is recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve due to its rich ecosystem, preserving more than 950 marine species. The islands are among the most popular tourist destinations in Quang Nam due to their pristine beauty.

🚗 Transportation

Transportation Options

You can use two main methods to reach Cu Lao Cham:

• 🚤 High-speed boat: Fast, travel time approximately 15-20 minutes
• 🛥️ Wooden boat: Only for locals, travel time approximately 1.5 hours

Transportation Details

High-speed boat:

• 🎫 Ticket price: 350,000 VND (260,000 VND boat fare + 70,000 VND entrance fee + 20,000 VND environmental and security fee)
• 👶 Children: Free for under 12 months, 50% adult price for 1-8 years
• ⏱️ Duration: Approximately 15-20 minutes

Wooden boat:

• 🚢 Users: Only transports goods and local residents
• ⏱️ Duration: Approximately one and a half hours

Full-day Tours

Visitors can book full-day package tours from travel agencies and hotels in Hoi An Ancient Town, Tam Ky City, and Da Nang City. Tours include transportation, lunch, entrance fees, and some experience activities. Prices range from 500,000 to 700,000 VND per person.

Transportation on the Island

On the island, visitors can walk or rent motorbikes for self-exploration:

• 🚶 Walking: Free, suitable for nearby exploration
• 🛵 Motorbike rental: Prices from 120,000 - 150,000 VND/day depending on type

High-speed boat is the main way to reach the island. Photo: Dac Thanh

🏨 Accommodation

Accommodation Types

🏠 Homestays and Hotels (200,000 - 500,000 VND/night)

• 🏡 Location: Mainly concentrated in Bai Lang and Bai Huong areas
• 💰 Price: From 200,000 - 500,000 VND/night
• 🎯 Recommended addresses:
  • Cham Island Homestay
  • Bai Huong Homestay
  • Island Smiles Homestay
  • Hanh Ly Homestay
  • Hai Long Homestay

Important Notes

• 🏞️ Features: The island mainly serves day-trip visitors
• 🧳 Recommendation: Bring necessary personal items if staying overnight

🎯 What to Do

🏖️ Beaches

Cu Lao Cham is famous for its beautiful beaches with white sand and crystal clear water. Notable beaches include Bai Ong, Bai Chong, Bai Bim, Bai Bac, Bai Lang, Bai Huong, and Bai Xep. Bai Lang and Bai Huong are near the fishing village, where visitors can find local houses and homestays. Bai Ong is where most tour groups rest during day trips. The beach has several restaurants and freshwater bathing services. It’s also the starting point for coral diving experiences and water activities.

A corner of Bai Ong beach on Cu Lao Cham Island. Photo: Cu Lao Cham Marine Conservation Management Board

🛒 Tan Hiep Market

Visitors to Cu Lao Cham should visit Tan Hiep Market, also called Cu Lao Cham Market, located right at the boat dock area. The market sells forest and sea specialties and souvenirs. Visitors often buy dried seafood here as gifts. In the market, visitors can negotiate prices slightly as some products are priced higher than normal, though not many.

🌅 Eo Gio (Wind Gap)

Eo Gio. Photo: Cu Lao Cham Marine Conservation Management Board

This location is on the eastern coastal road of Bai Huong on the main Cu Lao Cham island, about 3 km from Bai Lang. Eo Gio is an impressive sunrise viewing spot. Formed with rocky cliffs around two curved mountain ranges, creating a saddle-like shape, locals call this place Eo Gio (Wind Gap). The path has been paved with concrete for easy access, with wildflowers on both sides. From Eo Gio, visitors can see the Cu Lao Cham lighthouse.

⛽ Ancient Well

Ancient well on Cu Lao Cham Island. Photo: CLC Tour

The Champa Ancient Well, also called the Forbidden Village Well, is located at a concrete road intersection in Cam Village residential area. The well is about 200 years old, serving as a freshwater source for residents and associated with mystical stories passed down through generations. Cu Lao Cham residents say the well water not only quenches thirst but also effectively treats seasickness. Cooking the well water with a special local forest leaf makes seasick people feel comfortable.

🏛️ Hai Tang Pagoda

Hai Tang Pagoda was built in 1758, located at the foot of the western mountain of Hon Lao, backed by mountains and facing the only rice field on Cu Lao Cham. The pagoda has a stone wall to prevent snakes and venomous creatures. The front gate has three entrances, 5m high, 1.5m wide, and 6m long with arched designs. The pagoda features the Three World Buddhas, followed by the Buddha Shakyamuni on a lotus pedestal. The pagoda preserves a large bronze bell with dragon patterns, typical of the early Le period before the pagoda was built. Currently, the pagoda has no resident monks, only an elderly couple managing it.

Hai Tang Pagoda. Photo: Di Vy

🪂 Adventure Parachute Flying

Visitors wear life jackets and are fitted with a harness around their waist connected to the parachute. After being pulled by a speedboat, the parachute gradually rises and visitors truly soar through the sky, freely admiring the vast sea. The parachute flying experience lasts about 10-15 minutes at a height of approximately 70m, enough for one boat circuit. This activity is for adventure and freedom lovers who want to leisurely enjoy the sea and sky.

🐚 Scuba Diving to View Coral

Scuba diving to view coral. Photo: Cu Lao Cham Marine Conservation Management Board

Cu Lao Cham has abundant coral. Most Cu Lao Cham tours include coral viewing diving activities. For independent travelers, visitors can buy tickets at the boat dock or hotels. Popular services include underwater walking, snorkeling (shallow diving), and scuba diving (deep diving). Prices range from 200,000 to 1 million VND per session depending on the type.

🏝️ Island Hopping

Around Hon Lao are 7 other small islands, so visitors can rent boats to visit these islands. Full-package boat rentals cost about 700,000 VND per boat, accommodating up to 10 people. For those wanting to visit the swiftlet caves, boat rentals cost about 300,000 VND. Cu Lao Cham is the only place in Quang Nam Province where swiftlet birds live.

🍜 What to Eat

Local Specialties

🦀 Stone Crab

Cu Lao Cham stone crab is purple-colored, usually living in mountain crevices, moving to the shore during rainy season. Stone crab harvesting is permitted from March to June. After this period is breeding season, so harvesting is banned except for Cu Lao Cham Stone Crab Cooperative members. The largest can weigh nearly 500 grams. Stone crab is cleaned and cooked whole by steaming or grilling, or more elaborately stir-fried with tamarind or salt-roasted. The meat is sweet, firm, and fragrant. Each kg of stone crab costs approximately 1 million VND.

🐚 Venus Shell

Venus shell has a slanted cone shape with a small bump on top, easily associated with female breasts, hence called Venus shell. Venus shell is considered a rare specialty of Cu Lao Cham. Available year-round but usually abundant during full moon days. When tide recedes, this species gradually appears under rocky shores. After some time, they hide and wait for the next full moon to appear abundantly. The meat is firm, crunchy, sweet, and fatty. Can be prepared in many ways, but grilled with lemongrass and steamed are the most delicious.

Grilled Venus shell. Photo: Van Hoang

🦐 Other Seafood

Lobster and one-day squid from Cu Lao Cham are also delicious. Cu Lao Cham lobster meat is firm and sweet. There are many preparation methods such as beer-steaming, garlic-butter stir-frying, grilling, each method producing different flavors. Similarly, one-day squid here is a favorite among many tourists who buy it as gifts.

🥬 Forest Vegetables with Fish Sauce

Forest vegetables with fish sauce on Cu Lao Cham. Photo: CLC Tour

Cu Lao Cham has sea, mountains, and forests, so besides seafood, forest vegetables are the specialty. Early March is the main harvesting season for forest vegetables, usually with more than 10 different types. This Cu Lao Cham specialty is usually boiled and dipped in fish sauce (or fish paste made from anchovies) to clearly taste the crispness, sweetness, and freshness.

⚠️ Important Notes

Environmental Protection

• 🚫 Plastic reduction: Avoid using nylon products when visiting Cu Lao Cham. The island is promoting “no” to plastic straws and reducing other plastic products.
• 🐠 Ecosystem protection: Protect the marine ecosystem when diving to view coral.

Health and Safety

• 🏥 Health check: Pay attention to health when participating in sea diving. If you have cardiovascular or blood pressure conditions, consult a doctor first.

Shopping

• 💰 Pricing: Food at Tan Hiep Market will be cheaper than at Bai Lang and Bai Ong.

Weather

• 🌧️ Storm season: Avoid visiting during stormy months with rough seas
• 🧴 Preparation: Bring sunscreen, hats, and necessary items

Author: Tam Anh