Suggested itinerary for backpacking to Cu Lao Cham

Day

1

9am or 10am (depending on the boat, sometimes they leave at 9am, some leave at 10am) from Cua Dai pier to Cu Lao Cham. If you take a wooden boat, depart from Bach Dang pier at 8am and arrive at the island around 10am-10:30am.

Check in homestay/guesthouse, have lunch at homestay. Go to Tan Hiep market to find fresh seafood to bring back and ask the host to cook for dinner. In the afternoon, rent a boat/take a half-day tour to visit surrounding islands and snorkel to see coral. Return to rest in the evening, around 9-10pm go see the night sea.

Day

2

Morning breakfast at Tan Hiep market Rent a car to explore the island, swim in the sea, take pictures at the viewpoints as shown below:Start at 8am from Homestay in Lang beach → Xep beach → Chong beach → Bim beach → Take pictures at the viewpoint down to Huong beach → Huong beach (Fresh seafood lunch) → Run around the island to take pictures at the viewpoints → Return to Bac beach to explore Dong cave → Ong beach to swim and play at the inflatable house (around 3:30pm)--> Watch the sunset (4:45pm-5:30pm).

Evening: Camp at Bai Xep, Bai Chong or Bai Bim (it will be more fun if you go in a large group and bring fresh seafood to grill when camping. Bai Chong has many places to make campfires. Remember to clean up everything when you finish camping. Or stay overnight at motels.

Day 3Rest, go shopping for gifts, swim if you like.1pm: take the boat back to Hoi An (if you choose the wooden boat) (you should ask about the return boat schedule in advance because the boat schedule may change depending on the season.2pm: take the express train back (you should also ask about the train schedule in advance).

Budget for backpacking trip to Cu Lao Cham

Travel: fast train: 250 -350VND. Slow train 100VND.

Food: 50K-100VND/main meal. Breakfast: 10-20VND.

Island tour: 60-100VND/person.

Motorbike rental: 100-150VND/bike.

Motel/hotel/camping: 70-200VND/person (depending on room type).

Estimated total price:

1 day of self-travel costs about 500-550 VND/person (if traveling on a similar itinerary to the tour)

2 days 1 night: 500VND/person – 1000VND/person (depending on room type, number of people, type of train, not including gifts and snacks)

3 days 2 nights: 700VND-1.5 million/person (depending on room type, number of people, type of train, not including gifts and snacks).