Handpicked experience · Da Nang
Da Nang, Vietnam
A seven-hour day offshore from Da Nang: a fast crossing to the Cham Islands, guided snorkelling over nearshore reef, and beach and village time before the run back.
A crossing measured in minutes rather than hours
Reef shallow enough for people who rarely swim
An island that has kept plastic bags out since 2009
Snorkel stops chosen on the day for visibility
Back on the mainland by mid-afternoon
The speedboat covers the fifteen or so kilometres to the Cham Islands in well under an hour, which is the point of taking one. It is a bouncy ride when there is any swell, and the front seats feel every bit of it.
Snorkelling is over shallow reef close to shore rather than deep water, so it suits people who are not strong swimmers. Visibility is the variable that decides the day: it changes with tide, wind and season, and guides move the stops accordingly rather than sticking to a fixed spot.
Beach time on the main shore, and a short walk through the village. Worth knowing before you arrive: Cù Lao Chàm banned single-use plastic bags in 2009 and has largely held the line since, so bring a refillable bottle rather than expecting to buy water in plastic.
Afternoon return by the same route, usually into Da Nang by mid-afternoon.
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The practical detail, and the answers people actually ask for.
No. The snorkelling is over shallow reef close to shore, and buoyancy aids are used. Tell the guide if you are uneasy in water.
It depends on the swell. A speedboat is fast but firm, and the forward seats take the worst of it — sit further back if you are prone to seasickness.
The islands banned single-use plastic bags in 2009 and have largely kept to it, so plastic-wrapped water is not freely available.
Yes. Sea conditions decide it, and crossings are called off outright in rough weather rather than run in it.