Cham Islands: A Perfect Getaway From Da Nang

The Cham Islands, an eight-island archipelago off the coast of Hoi An near Da Nang, remain a quiet nature retreat with limited tourist infrastructure. The only inhabited island, Hon Lao, is accessible via a 20-minute speedboat or a one-hour ferry from Cua Dai Beach, with the latter costing 350,000 VND round-trip for passengers (including a 100,000 VND entrance fee to the protected area). A scooter costs an additional 200,000 VND round-trip, but only the ferry can carry motorcycles. Both are limited to one ferry departure daily at 8:00 AM. Accommodation is concentrated in the port town of Bai Lang and the southern village of Bai Huong, offering homestays and food. Getting around on foot is feasible, with a 14 km loop covering the southern side, while scooters (rentable for 150,000–200,000 VND/day) allow faster exploration but require navigating narrow roads and landslide blockages that prevent a full island loop. Snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving, and basket boat tours are main activities, with some 300 coral species present although many are dying; reef restoration efforts are underway. Pack water, sunscreen, and snacks, as the island is rugged and sparsely populated.