Last Updated on 4 years by Tam Le Van
Cham islands (Cu lao Cham) is a group of eight striking rock-formed islands off the Hoi An coast. Among them, Hon Lao stands as the largest one where most islanders live. Not really about sunny beaches, its far-reaching reputation comes from the wonderful underwater world including gorgeous coral reefs and other sea creatures aplenty that draw many snorkers and divers. More special, one of few breeding places of turtle across the country. In 2006, this living ecological museum is designated as Vietnam’s national marine park and registered by UNESCO as the World biophere reserve three years later.
In fact that due to natural interests, guided trips are organized everyday during the best seasons from Hoi An to Cham islands. They’re abundant, ranging from different durations (one day, multi-day with accommodation), exciting activities (snorkeling, diving, SCUBA diving, fishing, visiting) to transports (speedboat, local wooden boat). Travelers get little confused when research online or have not much ideas about the quality and just follow local booking desk’s selection. So, in this article, we help you find out your best Cham islands tour from Hoi An.
Things to know before start your Cham islands tour from Hoi An
Nearly all of travelers select a day trip to Cham islands from Hoi An. Instead of staying overnight and exploring the rest of the archipelago the day after. It often includes two-way transfers between the hotel and Cua Dai wharf, speed boat transport to the islands on sea, visiting major historic sites, set lunch in locally-run restaurant by the beach and free time to swim or relax. More than that, snorkeling is covered in most organised tours in fact, wherever you book. You will get an own snorkeling mask to see the realm of colors underwater in allowed spots. Keep in mind to stay away from sharp rocks and places where oysters are. The guide is not really fluent in English but either the itenerary or activities not too complicated to make sense. Use online translation if needed.
On the another hand, you should bring your personal swimsuits, sun glasses, sun cream and inform your guide about health issues before leave the boat. For taking picture under the sea, a waterproof cover for your phone is necessary. If not have, you can buy it in Cua Dai harbour or in shops on Cham islands. Ask your guide for a help in terms of could not see anywhere. Furthermore, also shouldn’t wear many jeweleries and accessories to avoid the loss.
Note: Local inhabitabts do not bring plastic bags to Cham islands to keep them always clean and join hands to preserve the natural environment. Act the same!
Cham islands day tours from Hoi An including snorkeling
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BC Family Tour
Cham islands tours by the Sea Trek Vietnam
General information about Sea Trek
Sea Trek Vietnam is only Hoi An’s tour operator organizing sea walking in magnificent Cham islands. In particular, its trips are designed for non-swimmers and travelers with age ranging from 8 to 80 years old. More than that, snorkeling as well as private experiences. Around the world, this international company appears in 27 countries, over fifty locations on all five continents. For further information, browse Sea Trek Vietnam’s webpage via https://seatrekvietnam.com/about-us/.
Besides English, all in Sea Trek Vietnam webpage now is available in Korean as well.
Sea Trek Vietnam’s Cham islands tours
#1 Walking underwater tour (one day)
| Duration: Full day | Transport: |
| Price: 1.449.000 VND (63 USD) for adult and childrens above 13 years-old, 1.150.000 VND (50 USD) for childrens between 8 and 12 years old, 828.000 VND (36 USD) for childrens from 4 to 7 years old (only snorkeling), free of charge for childrens under four | Inclusions: Hotel pick-up and drop-off services in Hoi An, English speaking guide, entrance fees, mineral water, lunch, walking underwater, snorkeling, travel insurance, Go pro available |
Sea Trek’s tour guide will pick up you in your hotel between 7:30 and 8 a.m. Then with other travel friends go to Cua Dai wharf for reaching Cham islands by a traditional wooden boat. After one hour, you arrive Hon Nhon beach for swimming, snorkeling and taking part in “walking underwater’, the highlight of the day tour. Before get back Hoi An, appetizing seafood lunch is served in a locally-styled restaurant by Bai Chong beach. Browse https://seatrekvietnam.com/tours/walking-underwater-tour/ for further information.
Keep in mind to show in hotel lobby or meeting location 10 minutes prior to departure time.
How to book: Walk-in Sea TrekVietnam’s office at 160A Nguyen Duy Hieu street. Browse the official webpage. Leave an message on its Facebook page or Whatsapp (+84) 902333010 or send an Email to info@seatrekvietnam.com.
#2 Cham island snorkeling day tour
| Duration: Full day | Transport: |
| Price: VND (45 USD) for adult and childrens above 13 years-old, VND (36 USD) for childrens between 4 and 12 years old, free of charge for childrens under four; 15 USD extra for walking undersea | Inclusions: Hotel pick-up and drop-off services in Hoi An&Da Nang, English speaking guide, entrance fees, mineral water, lunch, snorkeling equipments, travel insurance |
Unlike other day tours, Sea Trek arranges a traditional fisherman boat to reach beautiful Cham islands. After one hour traveling on sea, you arrive Bai Nhon first where you have free time to swim in its crytall-like water and snorkeling. If like to experence the underwater walking, it’s available so let your guide know when needed. An additional fee will be charged for this service. Prior to return Hoi An, you and other travel friends have a set lunch together under the shade of coconut trees. The meal includes seafood dishes such as grilled scallops, steamed prawns, grilled fish and Banh It cake as the dessert, one of Cham islands’s food specialties. Browse Sea Trek’s official webpage for more details. https://seatrekvietnam.com/tours/cham-island-snorkeling-day-tour-hoi-an-da-nang/
Keep in mind to show in hotel lobby or meeting location 10 minutes prior to departure time.
How to book: Walk-inSea TrekVietnam’s office at 160A Nguyen Duy Hieu street. Browse the official webpage. Leave an message on its Facebook page or Whatsapp (+84) 902333010 or send an Email to info@seatrekvietnam.com
#3 Fishing tour one day at Cham islands
| Duration: Full day | Transport: |
| Price: 1.035.000 VND (45 USD) for adult and childrens above 13 years-old, 828.000 VND (36 USD) for childrens between 4 and 12 years old, free of charge for childrens under four; 345.000 VND (15 USD) extra for walking undersea | Inclusions: Hotel pick-up and drop-off services in Hoi An, English/Chinese speaking guide, travel insurance, snacks and water on board, lunch, baits, technical instructor |
This Cham islands tour from Hoi An requires at least three people and also keeps at six in order to offer the best experience. The main spots for poping and bottoming fishing are in areas the big fishes live, around the marine park. Over there, catchers can expect to meet JT fish, mackerel, barracuda, red snapper, garfish or cuttlefish with a common weight between one and 15 kilograms. After lunch, continue poping and cuttlefish fishing before head back Hoi An, with a ton of unforgettable memories. The tour operator, Sea Trek Vietnam advises wearing light outfit, slippers, non-slip shoes, sunshade, keep equipments responsibly and jeweleries should be limited.
Keep in mind to show in hotel lobby or meeting location 10 minutes prior to departure time. Pregnant, elders with cardiovascular and blood pressure, childrens under eight are advised should not participate.
How to book: Walk-inSea TrekVietnam’s office at 160A Nguyen Duy Hieu street. Browse the official webpage. Leave an message on its Facebook page or Whatsapp (+84) 902333010 or send an Email to info@seatrekvietnam.com
Cham islands tour by the Cham Islands Diving Center
Who is Cham Islands Diving Center?
Established in 2002, today Cham Islands Diving Center is the most trusted diving and snorkeling company in Central Vietnam. This Hoi An’s tour operator proudly owns two decked boats for shared tours, a speedboat for private ones and a very professional multilingual crew including PADI SCUBA diving instructors, dive masters, rescue diver as well as snorkeling guides. All together make trips it organizes into colorful underwater world surrounding Cham islands really qualitied and worthy to experience. To know more details and update the information from the CIDC, check out its webpage and social medias like Facebook page, or TripAdvisor.
CIDC’s Cham islands tours
#1 Snorkeling Day Trip
| Duration: 8 a.m to 5:30 p.m | Transport: Boat |
| Price: 1.200.000 VND (52 USD) | Inclusions: Two one-hour snorkeling sessions, full snorkeling gears, lunch, hotel transfers from hotels in Hoi An, fully supervised by CIDC’s guides, refreshments on board, marine park and island fees. |
Cham islands Marine protected area boasts of its high biodiversity, especially sea creatures that include 135 corals and over 200 tropical fish. The rates are in the top list across the country, equally to Nha Trang or Phu Quoc down the south. Snorkeling Day Trip organized by CIDC opens the door for travelers exploring this true underwater heaven. Morever, have the chance to hit the top check for sun bathing or staying cool with complimentary cakes and coffee. To make no dissappointings, the equipments are always full, well-maintained and available for people at all ages. After a fun time in water, you will have a set lunch in local restaurant under the coconut tree, free for swimming as well as relaxing on sun lounges in sandy Bai Chong beach.
How to book: The tour operator recommends to come to the Dive Bar at 88 Nguyen Thai Hoc street (the Old town) between 9 a.m and 9:30 p.m. Send a request on the official webpage or send an email to info@scubadivingvietnam.com. Telephone number (+84) 2353910782 is also working.
#2 Beginner Dives
| Duration: 8 a.m to 5:30 p.m | Transport: Boat |
| Price: 1.800.000 VND (78 USD), a deposit of 20 USD to make reservation | Inclusions: Introduction to dive safety and theory, equipment and dive briefing, one coral reef dive averaging 33-40 minutes with a qualified PADI professional, water and foods on board, hotel transfers in Hoi An, lunch, marine park and islands fees, PADI insurance. |
The Beginner Dives is another CIDC’s Cham islands day tour. It’s designed for starters trying diving with no committing to a full dive course. Previous experience is not required. Depending on personal ability, travelers can select to be as an independent diver or being close to his/her instructor. In addition to, childrens above 8 years-old are also able to go with parents. Equipments for them at all ages are highly available on board. Having lunch in locally-run bamboo restaurant under the shade of coconut trees, chilling out on sun lounges facing picteresque sceneries of Bai Chong, swimming or playing water sports on the beach are things you can do after wonderful time undersea.
Note: Optional second dive costs 22 USD more (around 460.000 VND).
How to book: The tour operator recommends to come to the Dive Bar at 88 Nguyen Thai Hoc street (the Old town) between 9 a.m and 9:30 p.m everyday. Send a request on the official webpage, or an email to info@scubadivingvietnam.com, telephone number (+84) 2353910782 is also working.
#3 Fun Diving-Certified Divers
| Duration: 8 a.m to 5:30 p.m | Transport: Boat |
| Price: 2.100.000 VND (92 USD), a deposit of 23 USD (529.000 VND) to make reservation, 80 USD extra (1.840.000 VND) for one additional day with two more dives, 155 USD extra (3.565.000 VND) for two additional days with four more dives | Inclusions: Two coral reef dive averaging 45 minutes, full SCUBA gears, PADI dive master ratio 1:4, lunch, hotel transfers in Hoi An, refreshments on board, marine park and islands fee, PADI insurance |
In this Cham islands day tour, CIDC will lead experiencers into the reef according to their certification level. Particularly, the depth up to thirdty meters for advanced divers and for most ones averaging 18 meters maximum. Depending on the weather of each day, its expert instructors select the best spots among diving sites throughout the archipelago. Water areas around Ran Manh pinnacles and Hon Nhan (Crazy Pineapple) are two other hidden jewels. Only the company is allowed to access, in the most suited tide and general conditions. If fortunately, you are one of several explorers visit that places. Hopefully it happens.
How to book: The tour operator recommends to come to the Dive Bar at 88 Nguyen Thai Hoc street (the Old town) between 9 a.m and 9:30 p.m. Send a request on the official webpage, or an email to info@scubadivingvietnam.com, telephone number (+84) 2353910782 is also working.
#4 Two-day Trip with Snorkeling and Accommodation
| Duration: Two days and a night | Transport: Speedboat |
| Price: 2.300.000 VND (100 USD), a deposit of 25 USD to make reservation | Inclusions: full snorkeling equipments, meals on tour, a night in Cham islands homestay, marine park and island fees, hotel transfers in Hoi An, round trip by speedboat. |
Extending your trip one more day is a great way to discover fabulous world under the water of Cham islands. CIDC designes an online map to let guests know diving sites across this priceless natural gem on its home webpage. Browse it via https://vietnamscubadiving.com/about/dive-sites/. Furthermore, also have the chance to sleep overnight within a local homestay, interact with inhabitants, sightsee historical landmarks and taste delicious local foods what most day tour misses out.
How to book: The tour operator recommends to come to the Dive Bar at 88 Nguyen Thai Hoc street (the Old town) between 9 a.m and 9:30 p.m. Send a request on the official webpage, or an email to info@scubadivingvietnam.com, telephone number (+84) 2353910782 is still working.
#5 Two-day Trip with Diving and Accommodation
| Duration: Two days and a night | Transport: Boat |
| Price: About 2.990.000 VND (130 USD) for non-certified divers; 3.105.000-6.440.000 VND (135 to 280 USD) for certified divers | Inclusions: Hotel transfers in Hoi An, round trip by speed boat to Cham islands, foods and drinks on board, full diving equipments, meals on tour, accommodation for a night, marine park and islands fee |
This Cham Island Diving Center’s two-day trip starts at 8 a.m and ends at around 5 p.m the next day. Although many iteneraries available (all shown on its webpage), generally first day focuses on dives and the another one is free to explore other highlights. Read our guide to know most things to do for your second day in Cham islands. Browse it through http://hoianlife.net/hoi-an-islands-cam-nam-cam-kimcu-lao-cham/.
How to book: The tour operator recommends to come to the Dive Bar at 88 Nguyen Thai Hoc street (the Old town) between 9 a.m and 9:30 p.m. Send a request on the official webpage, or an email to info@scubadivingvietnam.com, telephone number (+84) 2353910782 is also working.
#6 CIDC’s Cham islands private tours
Cham islands tour by the Blue Coral Diving
General view about the Blue Coral Diving
Well-operated over years, Blue Coral Diving is only five star IDC PADI dive center in Hoi An. At the moment, it offers first-class snorkeling/diving tours for all persons with the highest safety standards. Most are run by a team of professtional instructors and dive masters. Its collection of dive sites is up to ten that feature countless species of coral, fish, shellfish and other sea creatures in Cham islands biophere reserve. Morever, most PADI courses also provided. Browse its homepage for more details.
Founded by a couple of Vietnamese and English, Blue Coral Diving brings good customer service to both communities.
Blue Coral Diving’s Cham islands tour
Hoi An snorkeling trip
| Duration: Full day | Transport: Boat |
| Price: About 2.990.000 VND (130 USD) for non-certified divers; 3.105.000-6.440.000 VND (135 to 280 USD) for certified divers | Inclusions: Hotel transfers in Hoi An, round trip by speed boat to Cham islands, full equipments, marine park and islands fee, free foods and waters on board, seafood lunch by the beach |
Vegetarian option for your lunch is available on request. Keep in mind to let the tour operator know at least in the day before you departure.
How to book: Walk-in the Blue Coral Diving’s office at 33 Tran Hung Dao street, browse and book the official webpage, Facebook page, send an Email to steve@divehoian.com (English) or tuyet@divehoian.com (Vietnamese), call the telephone number (+84) 935857578.
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