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Lying 18 km offshore from
Hoi An, the Cham Islands (known locally as Cu
Lao Cham) feature beautiful seascapes and
landscapes. This island group has 3,000
inhabitants; most of whom make a living from
fishing. During the 1960s, Cu Lao Cham was known
as “Paradise Island”. Only 1 + 1/4 hour by
a junk and 30 minutes by speedboat from Hoi An
Town (Cua Dai Quay), it is perfect for a day
trip with snorkeling or a dive on some beautiful
corals, a delicious seafood lunch on the island,
or a walk along the "eco-tour" trail. It is much
nicer to spend overnight on the island, then you
will have chances to explore the island and
experience your great time with sunset and
sunrises which is much spectacular or go fishing
at night and have barbecue on the island.
There are many other interesting attractions
for visitors, including fresh seafood,
traditional crafts, swimming and
sightseeing. Recently important
archaeological remains were found and these
are now exhibited in a small museum near the
main jetty. The island is rich in aquatic
resources, with 165 hectares of coral and
500 hectares of sea weeds. The waters around
Cu Lao Cham is home to 135 species of coral,
four species of tiger shrimp and 84 species
of mollusk, many of which are listed in
Vietnam’s and the world’s Red Book of
endangered species.
Today the Cham islands are also a Marine
Protected Area (MPA) because of their many
important marine habitants, especially
beaches and coral reefs, and rich
biodiversity. The MPA includes eight
islands; the largest island Hon Lao,
features magnificent beaches and forests,
the township of Bai Lang, a small harbor, a
traditional fishing village (Bai Lang),
temples, shrines and a pagoda. Cham Islands,
offshore island of Hoi An City has just been
recognized as the World Biosphere Reserve by
the UNESCO. |
