Locally Cham island called "Cu Lao Cham" is one of the most famous attractions for tourists on the central coast of Vietnam. It's about 30 km far from Danang where I am living and 18 km from Hoi An ancient town. This summer is the perfect time for us to explore the island as we don't get overwhelmed with many visitors.
Cham Island attracts tourists not just by untouched beauty but also by smooth sandy beaches, delicious seafood, and friendly locals that I will mention in my post about our recent trip.
Last week, when the lockdown finished here, together with some friends in Danang, we decided to book 3 days retreat with a homestay called Island Smiles. The name gave us the first sign of relaxation and joy, there is no doubt to consider other places.
On the first arrival date, we got so warm welcoming by the host with plenty of delicious food, and every day they take care of us as babies, feeding us all different local food from veggies to seafood specialties.
Personally, I really enjoyed that day, I learned a lot of things, both mentally and physically. The monk was always smiley whenever she talked to us or while we practiced her lessons. Moreover, she took us to visit a pagoda there as well. What a priceless experience to be guided by her.
On one of our 3 days retreat there, Island Smiles Team organized for us a day with an Indian yoga teacher. He taught us how to listen deeply to our body, heart, and mind. Sound very mindful, isn't it?
In the last days, we made a lot of our outdoor activities around the islands, we went trekking, fishing, and diving with a guide. He took us to some hidden places which only locals coming there. Though starting from early morning until the end of the day, we all exhausted but no one claimed any words.
It was a great trip and absolutely recommend you to go. I will leave some information below to guide you on how to get there and when it's the best time to visit, and things to do there.
How to get to Cham Island,
There is only Cua Dai wharf that allows you to reach the island so far. From Danang, you can take transport then use a canoe or a wooden boat. By canoe, it takes only 20 minutes to get there but more expensive than the wooden boat.
- Canoe: 10 USD/ person
- Boat: 1.5 - 2 USD/ person
Traveling by boat will be longer but you will have the opportunity to enjoy fresh air from the ocean and floating feelings.
The best time to visit Cham Island,
Summertime from March to August will be the best time to visit the island. The sun's almost shining every day and the temperature will be around 28 to 35 degrees celsius. It's pleasant in the morning and windy from the late afternoon which is very good for sleeping on the island.
Things to do
As mentioned above, there are many outdoor activities on this untouched paradise-like swimming on crystal clear beaches, snorkeling, and exploring forests with locals. If you like sport activities, you can do paragliding, kayaking, kite flying, boat racing, and scuba diving, etc.
Besides that, there are many attractions on this small island, including inside the marine and on land like Hai Tang pagoda, Cham museum 8 small islands with colorful fish, corals, and shells under the blue water surface.
After visiting this beautiful island, you will understand why Cham island recognized by UNESCO as "The World Biosphere Reserve" Please make your own trip when you have chance and let me know how you feel about Cham island.