What to do on Cham Island, day-trip, overnight and more in 2026
Posted July, 2026
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Just twenty minutes from Hoi An’s port of Cua Dai, Cham Island or Cu Lao Cham in Vietnamese, is Central Vietnam’s clear watered, coral reef-surrounded island escape that makes the perfect addition to your itinerary to slow down, chill out and enjoy some island life!
But should you visit as a day trip, overnight or longer? In my opinion, a one or two-night stay is the best way to experience the island and return relaxed without missing a thing or feeling rushed! Find out why below.
How to get to Cham Island from Hoi An or Da Nang?
Getting to Cham Island is very easy. From Hoi An Old Town or Da Nang, get a Grab or other taxi to the port of Cua Dai. There are several private ‘speed boat’ companies with ticket desks in the general waiting area of the port. We got a return ticket with the company 'Ngan Ha’ for 600k VND per person. They have scheduled departures from Hoi An, Cua Dai port at 8am, 11am and 1pm daily, with return services at 8:30am and 1:30pm daily. These change based on conditions, however when buying your ticket the staff will get your WhatsApp to provide updates.
Your tickets include any entrance fee or ecological fees in place for visiting the island.
There isn’t an obvious luggage restriction for getting to the Cham Island, but the island is mostly only serviced by motorcycles, so large suitcases may be very uncomfortable to transport if you are staying outside the main port town.
Where to stay on Cham Island
Accommodation Recommendations
Budget: Tuan Thanh Homestay, from $20 per night
Mid-range: The Coral, from $45 per night
Luxury: Ananda Home, from $110 per night
You have two main options for areas to stay on Cham Island, the port town of Bai Lang or the southern village of Bai Huong. The boats arrive and depart from Bai Lang, making it easily accessible and the largest town on the island, with the most variety of restaurants and cafes. This also makes it the busiest with majority of the islands traffic concentrated in a few streets.
Stay in Bai Lang if you want restaurant variety, some nightlife options, access to the islands market, a small but beautiful beach that can be walked to and more comfortable accommodation. Bai Ong is another long sandy beach that is about 20 minutes walk from the port town.
Stay in Bai Huong if you want a total escape from Vietnam’s bustle, have no problem comfortably riding a motorcycle or scooter over the islands hilly terrain and don’t mind needing to ride to the islands most beautiful beaches that are more easily accessed by scooter. The accommodation options in Bai Huong are also much more basic, with only genuine homestays available. There is only a small harbour beach within the village of Bai Huong.
What to do on Cham Island
Chill! Honestly, this is where Cham shines. While the island is quite large, offering spectacular panoramic ocean views on its eastern side, there isn’t much adventure to be had on land besides driving yourself on a motorcycle or scooter on a lap of the island.
If you intend on renting a bike to explore the further beaches and doing a lap of the island, a semi-automatic or manual motorcycle is best, as the roads on the island more often than not feature steep gradients from 6% to 14% at parts. I wouldn’t recommend trying to get around to the eastern part of the island riding two people on an automatic bike.
There are two popular viewpoints on the eastern side of the island that provide the perfect place to watch the sunrise or set, one is ‘Eo Gio’, about 10 minutes from the centre of Bai Lang town, the other is one the road overlooking the lighthouse on the islands eastern-most point. Note: In June 2026, the road travelling south from the lighthouse viewpoint around the Bai Huong had several sections that had been removed, requiring off-road riding up a steep hill to continue the loop. So keep in mind that the route is often under maintenance due to rock falls.
The best places to watch the sunset on the island are Bai Xep, just south of Bai Lang, and the restaurants along the southern end of Bai Lang.
The island has some of Vietnam’s only easily accessible snorkelling and diving north of Nha Trang, with trips possible as part of day-trip packages, or independently organised through homestays and their associates. While the water is extremely clear around the island, visibility underwater can vary greatly and the coral we saw in most places wasn’t in the best condition. If you can grab a snorkel, mask and some fins from your homestay we’d recommend getting out there and giving it a go, however it might not be the best value for a dedicated snorkelling or diving trip.
Visit the islands many beaches if you’re renting a motorcycle. Bai Bac in the north-west of the island, Bai Xep near Bai Lang town and Bai Chong or ‘Monkey Beach’ are all spectacular with beautiful, cool, blue water and coral reefs. Bai Bac and Bai Chong are the quietest, we only saw two other people in the two times we visited Bai Bac! Note that the island does have a large macaque population, keep your distance and secure your food to deter them from approaching and rummaging through your belongings when spending time at the beach!
Cham Island Day Trip, overnight, or longer?
We spent three nights on Cham Island. The first we spent with some friends around Bai Lang, followed by two more at a homestay in Bai Huong. It was enough time for us to explore the island by bike, taking photos at sunrise and sunset in different parts of the island, see all there was to see, while still allowing time to relax by the ocean doing absolutely nothing!
A day trip to Cham would feel very rushed, with just a few hours on the island these trips often see you swimming or snorkelling in two locations, eating lunch at a large public restaurant on Bai Ong then returning directly to Hoi An, time that I think is better spent just relaxing at the beach in An Bang.
If you’re looking for a super slow-paced stint in your Vietnam itinerary, plan for two nights on Cham Island, spend a day with no plan, eat some fantastic locally sourced grilled fish and watch the sunset over the ocean.
Cham Island FAQ’s
Do you need a scooter to get around Cham Island?
No! If you aren’t licensed or uncomfortable with a semi-automatic or manual scooter, you can still get around the town of Bai Lang and even visit Bai Xep and Bai Ong by foot.
Is there wifi on Cham Island?
The island has good internet access with high-speed wifi available at most accommodations, and mobile coverage across the entire island. At most restaurants we had access to wifi with over 80mbps speeds.
Is snorkelling good on Cham Island?
Water clarity varies by location and coral condition isn't always great, so it may not be worth a dedicated trip, but it's a fun add-on if your homestay can lend you gear!
That’s It!
Three weeks in one extraordinary country. Vietnam's north and centre reward slow travel and curious instincts. The best moments tend to come from the detours, the second breakfasts and the spots that weren't in any plan. We hope this gives you a solid foundation to build your own version from.
If you've made it down here, thank you so much for reading! Leave a comment or send us an email or Instagram DM if you want any more info.
