Cu Lao Cham — the biosphere reserve
UNESCO listed the Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An Biosphere Reserve in 2009. Eight islands and over 300 hectares of reef holding some 300 coral species; snorkel off Hon Lao, then eat seafood on the beach.
Photo: Kok Leng Yeo · CC BY 2.0
Cu Lao Cham is a cluster of eight islands off Hoi An, twenty minutes by speedboat from Cua Dai. UNESCO listed the Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An Biosphere Reserve in 2009.
Over 300 hectares of reef surround the islands, holding some 300 coral species. The usual day is snorkelling off Hon Lao and a seafood lunch on the beach; the island has banned plastic bags for years, so bring a refillable bottle.
The boat service depends on the weather and stops when the sea is rough, so this trip always needs a fallback in the itinerary.
At a glance
- Getting there
- Speedboat from Cua Dai, about 20 minutes
- Inscribed
- UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, 2009
- What to see
- Over 300 ha of reef, around 300 coral species
Fit it into your trip
The show runs 16 – 19 October 2026 at the Ariyana Convention Centre. Most international guests add two or three days either side of the four trading days.
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