48 Hours on Cu Lao Cham Island: A Slow Travel Guide
Cu Lao Cham is an eight-island archipelago 15 kilometers from Hoi An. While day trips are common, staying overnight lets you experience the islands at a slower pace—snorkeling, motorbike rides along coastal roads, fresh seafood, and beaches with virtually no crowds.
Cu Lao Cham is an archipelago of eight islands, approximately 15 square kilometers, located in Tan Hiep commune, Hoi An city. The largest island, Hon Lao (or Cu Lao), is the hub for most tourist activities, while the smaller islands include Hon Kho Me, Hon Kho Con, Hon La, Hon Dai, Hon Mo, Hon Tai, and Hon Ong. Many visitors do day trips, but staying overnight gives you a tranquil, unspoiled experience at a slower pace.
This 48-hour itinerary is based on a real trip in July 2024 by reader Duy Tran, supplemented with advice from a Hoi An tour operator.
Day 1: Arrival and First Exploration
Morning: Speedboat to Bai Lang
Depart from Cua Dai pier at 9:00 AM. The journey takes about 20 minutes by speedboat. Boats dock at Bai Lang, a populated area with tourist services.
A day tour typically costs 400,000–500,000 VND per person and includes the speedboat ticket, entrance fees, snorkeling gear, lunch, and travel insurance. If you're staying overnight, arrange your return boat ticket and accommodation separately.
Mid-morning: Landmarks and Snorkeling
Key attractions include Hai Tang Pagoda, the Cu Lao Cham Center for Biodiversity Conservation, the island's first freshwater well, and a heritage banyan tree. After these, head to a snorkeling spot with life vests and goggles. Advanced diving with oxygen tanks costs an additional 800,000–1,000,000 VND.
Lunch at Bai Ong
Restaurants at Bai Ong cater to day-trippers—crowded at lunchtime, quiet by late afternoon. Freshwater showers are available here.
Afternoon: Check In and Beach Time
Bai Lang and Bai Huong have small homestays and guesthouses with basic services and private bathrooms. Room rates: 300,000–700,000 VND. Options include Monkeyland Homestay, Cham Island Homestay, Homestay Bai Huong, Island Smiles Homestay, Hanh Ly Homestay, and Hai Long Homestay.
Rent a motorbike (around 200,000 VND per day, fuel included) to explore beaches like Bai Bac and Bai Ong. Stop anywhere to swim.
As Duy notes: "Bai Bac is very secluded—it's a turtle conservation area, so no boats dock there. The road has many sections under repair, making it a bit difficult to navigate."
Evening: Dinner at Bai Lang
Fresh seafood and Central Vietnamese specialties dominate the menus. Enjoy grilled abalone, lobster, grilled scallops, oysters, "fish salad", grilled "oc vu nang" snails, rice with soup, wild vegetables with fermented fish sauce, "mi quang", and "cao lau". Raw dishes like fish salad are best at lunch when freshest.
Restaurants along Bai Lang offer pier views. Try Dan Tri, Sunbay, or Ngan Ha.
Image by Adam Jones Adam63 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Day 2: Coastal Roads and Hidden Beaches
Morning: Sunrise at Eo Gio
"The coastal road around the island has been concreted, so motorbike travel is entirely possible," Duy says. "However, there are many steep sections."
Eo Gio, about 3 km from Bai Lang on the coastal road near Bai Huong, is the best sunrise spot. In July, "ngo dong" flowers bloom in vibrant orange across the island roads. Other stops: Bai Lang, Bai Xep, Bai Bim, or Bai Huong.
Breakfast and Coffee
Local homes open small stalls selling "banh beo", "banh canh", and "banh it". For coffee, visit Ray Ong Bang, the only mountaintop cafe on Cu Lao Cham, with panoramic views of Bai Chong.
Mid-morning: Explore Unvisited Beaches
Each beach has its own character. If you have time, visit Bai Huong, Bai Chong, and Bai Xep—they often have foreign visitors relaxing and sunbathing.
Like Bai Bac, Bai Xep is a no-boat zone: "There's absolutely no smoke or fuel smell."
Lunch and Departure
Eat at Bai Lang and catch the 2:30 PM speedboat back to the mainland. There are no late afternoon boat trips, so plan your morning carefully.
Image by Adam Jones Adam63 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Practical Notes
Documents: Carry all necessary personal identification.
Tour vs. Independent: Organized day tours are often cheaper than buying individual tickets. You can buy a full package or just a day tour.
Safety: Security is good. Duy notes: "You can leave your motorbike with the keys in it without worrying about theft. When returning the bike, take a photo of where you left it and send it to the owner."
Enjoy your slow travel experience on Cu Lao Cham.
Going to Vietnam? Eat and travel smarter.
Monthly: new dishes, off-the-beaten-path destinations, and itineraries — straight to your inbox. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Join 0 expats. (We just launched.)
More from Hoi An
Other articles covering this city.
Eating with Food Allergies in Vietnam: Peanuts, MSG, Fish Sauce & Gluten
Peanuts hide in desserts and sauces, MSG seasons nearly everything, and fish sauce is in almost every savory dish. Here's how to navigate Vietnamese food safely.
Wifi and Internet in Vietnam: What to Expect and How to Stay Connected
Free wifi is nearly everywhere in Vietnamese cities, but speeds drop in rural areas. Here's what works, where to find it, and what to pay.
Grab vs Be vs Taxi in Vietnam: How to Choose
Grab dominates, but Be is cheaper for locals. Traditional taxis still reliable. Here's what each option costs, when to use it, and why some are safer than others.
More from Central Vietnam
Other articles covering the same region.
5 Days in the Central Highlands: Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku, Kon Tum
Coffee plantations, ethnic minority villages, and colonial-era towns in Vietnam's cooler interior. A quieter route through Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum provinces.
3 Days in Phong Nha: Caves, Underground Rivers & Jungle Trails
A three-day loop through Phong Nha's cave systems and karst valleys. Boat through flooded caverns, trek to stalactite chambers, zipline over jungle, and sleep in a valley homestay.
3 Days in Da Lat for Couples: Lakes, Strawberries & Mountain Views
A long weekend built around quiet mornings at Tuyen Lam Lake, strawberry picking on misty farms, and sunset coffee in the highlands—no crowds, no rushing.
More in Itineraries
More articles from the same category.
5 Days in Vietnam: Heritage Stays and Fine Dining
A five-day luxury circuit through Hanoi, Hoi An, and Phu Quoc with curated heritage hotels and Michelin-worthy dining.
3 Days in Mai Chau Valley: A Homestay Weekend from Hanoi
Cycle through rice paddies, sleep in a stilt house, and learn White Thai weaving in this laid-back valley 140 km southwest of Hanoi. A real alternative to the tourist treadmill.
7 Days in the Mekong Delta: Floating Markets, Homestays & Eco-Tours
A week-long loop through the Mekong's quietest towns: My Tho, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Can Tho, and Chau Doc. Sleep in family homestays, catch dawn at Cai Rang market, and paddle through orchards and rice paddies.
5 Days in Northwest Vietnam Mountains: Mai Chau, Sapa, Ha Giang
A tight loop through Vietnam's three best mountain destinations: homestays in Mai Chau, trekking in Sapa, and the Ha Giang Loop. Achievable if you skip Hanoi.
3 Days in Ninh Binh: Trang An, Tam Coc & Bai Dinh
A compact northern itinerary combining Ninh Binh's limestone karst boat tours, ancient temples, and cave hikes. Mix cave exploration, cycling villages, and pagoda complex visits.
7 Days Budget Backpacker Vietnam: Hanoi to Saigon on $30-40/Day
A sleeper-train and bus itinerary hitting Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, and Saigon on a tight budget—with hostel picks, food costs, and transport hacks that actually work.