Day trip · Departs from Đà Nẵng or Hoi An
Cham Islands Day Tour — Snorkelling Over Living Coral
The only place near Da Nang where you can still snorkel over living coral — the water is clear enough that you need a snorkel, not a tank.
This tour is organised and operated by Đà Nẵng City. Món Ngon Miền Trung republishes the programme details; we are not a travel agency and do not take tour bookings.
- DurationDay trip
- Departs fromĐà Nẵng or Hoi An
- From560.000đ
Pickup: Đà Nẵng hotels 07:30–07:45; Hoi An pickups at 08:15
This page is translated from Vietnamese. Prices and opening hours are checked against Vietnamese sources — see the Vietnamese version for the most recent update.
Photo: Original uploaded by Lê Thy (Transfered by Phó Nháy) · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons (cropped to 16:9 and resized)
Highlights
- Speedboat from Cửa Đại pier, about 20 minutes
- Snorkelling over coral with a guide in the water
- Hải Tạng Pagoda, the old Cham well, Tân Hiệp market
- Seafood lunch on Bãi Ông beach
The Cham Islands are a UNESCO-recognised world biosphere reserve, and the only place near Da Nang where you can still snorkel over living coral. The water around the islands holds more than 135 coral species, and it is clear enough that a snorkel is all you need.
The whole trip fits into one day — the speedboat from Cửa Đại pier takes about twenty minutes.
Children under 5 still pay, because the island charges its entry and boat fees per head regardless of age.
Since 1 July 2025, Quảng Nam province has been merged into the city of Đà Nẵng, so both the Cham Islands and Hoi An are now part of Đà Nẵng.
Who should not take this tour
The speedboat is fast and it slams. This is not a gentle crossing. The operator does not accept:
- Women more than six months pregnant
- Children under two
- Anyone with a heart condition, blood pressure problems or spinal issues
It only runs for half the year
Go between March and August. From September to February the central Vietnamese sea is rough and the port authority frequently bans speedboats from sailing. The tour can be cancelled at short notice, and that is not the operator’s fault.
Check the forecast one or two days ahead. If there is a tropical depression or a northeast monsoon warning, you will most likely not reach the island.
Practical notes
Bring your own mask if you are particular. The snorkels on the island are shared between groups.
Use reef-safe sunscreen. The island is a protected reserve, and ordinary sunscreen bleaches coral.
The Cham Islands banned plastic bags years ago. Bring a cloth bag and your own bottle — this is an enforced rule, not a slogan.
Pack a dry change of clothes. After swimming at Bãi Ông you still have nearly two hours of boat and coach ahead of you.
Schedule
- 07:30 – 07:45Pickup at your hotel in Đà Nẵng. Guests staying in Hoi An are collected at 08:15.
- 08:45Arrive at Cửa Đại pier, complete formalities and board the speedboat.
- 09:15Land at Bãi Làng. Visit Hải Tạng Pagoda, the old Cham well, the maritime culture exhibition house and Tân Hiệp market — a small market selling dried goods, one-sun-dried squid and hand-woven hammocks made from ngô đồng bark.
- 10:00Speedboat out to the snorkelling area. Snorkel over the coral with a diver accompanying each group, then back to Bãi Ông beach for free swimming.
- MiddaySeafood lunch at a restaurant right on the beach.
- 14:00 – 14:30Board the speedboat for the mainland.
- 15:00 – 15:30Dock at Cửa Đại pier.
- 16:00 – 16:30Coach returns you to your pickup point.
Prices
| Traveller | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | 560,000₫ |
| Child 5–9 | 448,000₫ |
| Child under 5 | 280,000₫ |
| Upgrade to scuba diving | supplement 850,000₫ |
Prices checked on 29/08/2026, as published by Đà Nẵng City. Tour prices change with the season and with each attraction’s own policy — confirm with the operator before booking.
What's included
Included
- Air-conditioned coach both ways
- Return speedboat, Cửa Đại – Cu Lao Cham
- Entry fee and biosphere reserve conservation fee
- Life jacket and snorkelling set
- One seafood lunch on Bãi Ông beach
- English-speaking guide
- Bottled water
- Travel insurance up to 30,000,000₫ per person
Not included
- Scuba diving and specialist diving equipment
- Personal expenses and drinks outside the programme
- Activities not listed in the itinerary
- Public holiday and Tết surcharges
Ask and book
Món Ngon Miền Trung does not take tour bookings and earns no commission on this transaction. Any agreement, payment and liability is between you and Đà Nẵng City.
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