The large island consists of eight islets, 20 kilometres off the coast from Hoi An Ancient Town in Quang Nam Province. Cu Lao Cham Island has wonderful sand beaches,forested hills and the sea. With primitive landscape, the island isideal for camping, swimming and scuba diving to enjoy the corals andbeautiful marine life.

At the summer, if you reach for the island by normal boat, it takes 2 and half hour, but only 30 minutes by speed boat. Thereare 10 guesthouses for tourists who don’t want to spend the night in atent on the beach. Transport from the mainland to the islet is quitecomfortable.

History

Chamislands are supposed to be the first place where Cham people landed,coming to Quang Nam Province from Indonesia (small monuments, dikes andbasin to grow up  rice on terraces are hidden in the forest, 17thcentury pagodas and small temples in the two villages). Therefore,being well-known since earlier Cham domination (from 4th to14th century), the island became one of the main port of ChampaKingdom. Situated some eight miles  offshore Hoi An,  it was also partof Hoi An historical international trading. From  15th  century tillthe beginning of 20th century, the old city was a meeting point for international vessels and junks.

Accordingto archaeologists, Cu Lao Cham first settled there 3,000 years ago andestablished business contacts with external countries some 1,000 yearsago. Up to now, Cu Lao Cham has preserved many architecturalconstructions which date back to the 18^th and 20th century.They include the shrine dedicated to Than Yen Sao, built in 1843 at BaiHuong and Hai Tang Pagoda, built in 1753 on the western hillside of HonLao. Still, Cu Lao Cham has more to offer. After a three-hour canoetrip, one may hop over to the famed Well of the Cham people.

Topography

Theisland comprises an archipelago of one large island and seven smallerislands. The largest island - Hon Lao, covering 1,317 ha, is circleshape at the high of 500m. There are nice beaches at Bim and Ong beach.The topography of Cu Lao Cham Islandis dominated by two peaks: a 517m peak in the centre of the island anda 326m peak at the western end. Natural forest here covers 532 ha ofthe nature reserve, equivalent to 35% of the total area, whileplantation forest covers a further 30 ha.

Biodiversity values

Theisland is a place where shelter for value swallow birds. The naturalvegetation of the islands is lowland evergreen forest, that is naturalwith a lot of woods and rare animals.

Scientistsreport the occurrence of macaques Macaca sp., monitor lizards Varanussp. and pythons Python sp. To date, 265 vascular plant species havebeen reported from the nature reserve. Furthermore, a species ofswiftlet Collocalia sp. is reported to nest on Hon Kho within thenature reserve.

CuLao Cham is also home to salanganes, birds whose nests have long beenconsidered a delicacy by aristocrats and the wealthy. The nests maycost as much as US $4,000 per kilogram. In a beautiful day, touristsare able to see cliffs where salanganes build their nests and talk withsalangane-nest takers.

Aroundthe island has a lots of color corals under the water. Situated in asalty-water area, this square-bottom well, amazingly, provides clearfresh water all year round. Enjoyable extras include white-sand,pristine beaches and captivating attractions evocatively named  BaiOng, Bai Bim, Bai Chong, Bai Bac, Suoi Tinh, Cau Mo, Suoi Ong and soon, where tourists can relax, go hunting, fishing even fishingoctopuses.

VisitingCu Lao Cham, you also have chances to view the sea swallows' nestsclinging to the towering cliff. Cu Lao Cham wins kudos for its seafoodand delicacies (octopuses, lobsters, fish's fin, abalone, kaki, hind,cholonia's eggs, bird's nests) and fascinating souvenirs (pearls,conches, tortoise-shells).

Moreover,you can take a tour to Lang beach for seeing some interest places assuch Au Thuyen-a shelter for boats at bad weather, a 100-year Tay TangPagoda remarking the Puddhism that came here for long time ago, Ongtemple - a place worshipping a big fish burried here.