Cham Island Snorkeling Day Trip from Hoi An & Da Nang

A speedboat ride to eight islands, one snorkel stop, and lunch you didn't have to cook

You get picked up from your hotel, driven to the harbor, and taken by speedboat to Cham Island for a museum visit, temple walk, and 50 minutes of snorkeling at Dai islet. Lunch with fresh seafood is included on the beach, followed by free time to swim or rest before the return boat at 2:30pm. The whole day keeps you in small groups and brings you back by mid-afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Hoi An Ancient Townpass by
2. Cham Island4h · entry included

Cham Island snorkeling and beach day

• Pick up passengers from hotels
• Transfer to Cua Dai harbor
• Register for speedboat trip
• Speedboat to Cham Island
• Visit Cu Lao Cham museum and showroom
• Walk to Hai Tang temple and seafood market
• Snorkel at Dai islet for 50 minutes
• Lunch near the beach
• Relax and sunbathe on the beach
• Return speedboat to Cua Dai estuary
• Transfer back to hotels

The experience

"The fish here, they come and go with the season," our guide said as we climbed into the speedboat at Cua Dai harbor. That one sentence changed how I thought about the whole day. It wasn't a promise of a perfect underwater show, it was a real place with real rhythms. The Cham Island day trip from Hoi An picks you up between 8 and 8:30am from your hotel in either Da Nang or Hoi An itself, then drives you to the harbor for a 25-minute speedboat ride out to Cu Lao Cham Marine Park. The islands sit off the coast, and the boat ride alone is worth the early start. You're out on open water, the city noise gone, and you can actually breathe.

Once you land, the guide takes you through the Cu Lao Cham museum first, which sounds like it might drag but doesn't. It's small, and you learn why the fishing villages here matter, why the boats hide in certain storms, why the old well still works. Then you walk past rice fields to a 200-year-old temple, visit the seafood market where fishermen sell what they caught the night before, and see how the island actually works instead of just floating past it. After that, the boat takes you to Dai islet for snorkeling: almost 50 minutes in the water, mask and fins provided, with enough coral and fish to make it real but not so crowded you feel like you're in a tank. You swim when you want, rest when you want. Around 12:30, lunch arrives at a beachside restaurant: fresh seafood, nothing fancy, and you eat looking at the water. The afternoon is yours to lie on the sand or wade back in. The speedboat leaves around 2:30pm, and you're back at your hotel by mid-afternoon, still damp and tired in the way that means you actually did something.

The timing matters here: the tour runs year-round, but September through November is when the water is clearest and the snorkeling is best. Winter months (December to April) mean lower water levels and fewer fish, so if you're going then, adjust your expectations. Summer brings school holidays and crowds at the boat station and on the beach, which some people don't mind and others find chaotic. The group stays under 14 people on the vehicle transfer, so it doesn't feel like a cattle run, and everything is included: the pickup, the speedboat, the guide who actually knows the place, entrance fees, snorkel gear, lunch, and the ride back.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Hoi An or Da Nang.
• English or Vietnamese-speaking tour guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle to the harbor.
• speedboat transport to and from Cham Island.
• Cu Lao Cham museum and temple entrance fees.
• snorkel mask, fins, and life jacket.
• fresh seafood lunch at a beachside restaurant.
• bottled water.
• approximately 50 minutes of snorkeling time at Dai islet.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Vietnamese08:00

Guide in English or Vietnamese08:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (8 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 7 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years)

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Paradise Indochina Travel

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full island day without arranging your own transport, tickets, or lunch: the fixed pickup time and included speedboat mean you show up at your hotel and the rest is handled. The small group size and mid-afternoon return work well if you're staying in Hoi An or Da Nang and want the afternoon free after.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 7 years); Infant (1 to 4 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

How long is the speedboat ride to Cham Island?

About 25 minutes from Cua Dai harbor.

What time does the tour end and when do I get back to my hotel?

The speedboat returns around 2:30pm, and you're dropped at your hotel shortly after.

Is snorkel gear included, or do I need to bring my own?

Snorkel mask, fins, and life jackets are all provided.

What's included in the lunch?

Fresh seafood lunch at a beachside restaurant near the beach.

What's the best time of year to go for snorkeling?

September, October, and November offer the clearest water and best visibility. Winter months (December–April) have lower water levels and fewer fish. Summer (June–August) gets crowded with local school groups.

How many people are typically in the group?

Maximum 14 passengers on the vehicle transfer, keeping groups small.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the harbor?

No, hotel pickup is included from either Da Nang or Hoi An between 8:00 and 8:30am, and the driver takes you to Cua Dai harbor.

Is there time to swim or relax on the beach?

Yes, after lunch, you have free time to sunbathe, swim, or rest on the beach before the return boat.