Vietnam - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 220

Metered taxis and motorbike drivers wait for business over the bridge in An Hoi. Call Hoi
An Taxi ( 0510-391 9919) or Mai Linh ( 0510-392 5925) for a pick-up.
Many hotels offer bicycles/motorbikes for rent from 20,000/100,000d per day.
WORTH A TRIP
CHAM ISLANDS
A breathtaking cluster of granite islands offshore from Hoi An, the beautiful Cham islands make a
wonderful excursion. In the last year or two the serenity of the islands has been compromised (on
weekends and Vietnamese holidays) by boatloads of day tripping tourists from the mainland, so try to
plan your visit accordingly. It will have to be between February to September, as the ocean is usually
too rough at other times.
The best trips include some diving or snorkelling the Cham's (modest) coral reefs and a visit to the
main island of Hon Lao . The islands are protected as a marine park and the underwater environment
includes 135 species of soft and hard coral and varied macro life.
Bai Lang, Hon Lao's pretty little port, is the only real settlement. Drop by the curious temple Ong
Ngu , which is dedicated to whales (locals worshipped them as oceanic deities). There are two good,
simple guesthouses in town: Luu Ly ( 0510-393 0240; r with shared bathroom 220,000d) and Thu
Trang ( 0510-393 0007; r with shared bathroom 220,000d) both serve meals. A dirt track heads
southwest from Hon Lao for 2km past coves to a fine, sheltered beach, home to Cham Restaurant (
0510-224 1108; meals 50,000-120,000d; 10am-5pm).
Tiny Bai Huong , a fishing village 5km southeast of Bai Lang, is an idyllic but isolated spot where
an excellent new homestay ( 0120 237 8530; www.homestaybaihuong.com ; per person 100,000d,
meals 30,000-70,000d) initiative has been set up. Facilities are basic, and little or no English is spoken
by locals, but it's certainly the perfect place to get away from it all.
Most visitors arrive on tours (US$30 to US$80) organised by dive schools in Hoi An. There's also
a scheduled daily boat connection from Ð Bach Dang in Hoi An (20,000d, two hours, 7.30am). Note
foreigners are routinely overcharged. Boats do not sail during heavy seas. Bring a copy of your pass-
port and visa.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Around Hoi An
Beaches
The nearest beach to Hoi An, Cua Dai is subject to intense development and the domain of
hard-selling beach vendors. There are seafood restaurants here.