Experience Vietnam authentically with a Cham Island Homestay on the beautiful Cham Islands. As a Guest you will be staying in the private homes of Bai Huong Tourism Cooperative members.

Introduction

Today Tourism in Vietnam is about numbers and not quality.

Cham Islands (Cu Lao Cham) is suffering badly from mass tourism - like the rest of Vietnam. Despite what we have done - and still doing - we see little chance of any improvement for the benefits from tourism for the community or for the environment. However, we do our best to bring responsible tourism to Travellers and expats who want to experience the real Vietnam.

Our Cham Island Homestays are you staying inside private homes of people in Bai Huong village which has 500 people living together as a large family. You can participate in preparing & cooking meals, local activities including fishing, harvesting food, volunteering at least 30 minutes daily to teach English to host family or find another suitable activity. You can also learn the real Vietnamese culture, community, religion, environment and also be ready to enjoy the relaxing beaches as some of Vietnam's best beaches are on Cham Islands.

The Cham Island Homestay is not about false smiles for an unreal & hyped experience based on a business model of greed. If you are open then Homestay is real & simple. It is you & others are experiencing then participating in the community.

Best season for Cham Island Homestay

The best season for Responsible Tourists to Bai Huong is Winter - December thru April - when there are no tourists on Cham Islands and Bai Huong is quiet, relaxed & ideal for walking, hiking or just hanging out! Passage by boat is difficult due to rough seas - we can only confirm bookings 24 - 48 hours before departure.

During Spring or Summer when seas are calm we can guarantee passage to the islands but unfortunately, despite this being a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, mass tourism comes to the islands and they are increasingly destroying the environment and villages.

Spring or Summer (May - August) the river - ocean inlet is relatively calm and we are able to guarantee voyage to Cham Islands everyday. This time of the year the weather is normally hot without monsoon rains - making this the ideal season for all types of watersports activities.

Recommended Homestay & Itinerary

Recommended is two nights & three days allowing one full day in Bai Huong.

Day 1:

• Depart from Hoi An for Bai Huong, Cu Lao Cham
• 8 am depart by boat from a hotel
• 10 am arriving Bai Huong, meet host family
• 12 am lunch with host family & rest time
• 2 pm snorkeling by boat (option village tour, mountain walk or swimming)
• 6 pm dinner with family (option cooking class)
• After dinner free time (option volunteer teaching English)

Day 2: Trekking to Bai Lang main village

• 6:30 am breakfast
• 7:30 am 1 hour casual walk on small tarmac road to Bai Lang largest village in Cu Lao Cham, visit Hai Tang temple & other village highlights
• 11 am return by boat to Bai Huong
• 12 am lunch with host family & rest time
• 2 pm hiking to mountain (option snorkeling)
• 6 pm dinner with family (option cooking class)
• After dinner free time (option volunteer teaching English, etc.)

Day 3: Return boat trip to Hoi An

• 7 am breakfast
• 8 am hiking to mountain (option snorkeling)
• 12 am lunch with host family & depart for Hoi An
• Arrival Karma Waters Hoi An latest 4 pm. Guide returns customer by taxi to hotel in Hoi An

Maximum Group Size

Maximum eight (8) Guests per night in our Homestay program with two Guests + children sharing a room inside a home. This small group size ensures in a small village population of only 500 that tourism is sustainable & does not significantly affect or change the village, community or the environment.

Prices & Booking

Before you book, please read our additional notes and policies.

Rate per person per night (based on minimum 2 persons sharing room)*:

2 days 1 night US$150
3 days 2 nights US$230
After 1 night each additional night US$80
1 week 7 days 6 nights special price US$500

For rate for rough Winter December - April please contact us with your inquiry.

*Infants sharing bed with parents free of charge. Children up to 12 years old 50% discount sharing room with parents.

Cham Islands Homestay Includes

• Pickup and drop off at hotel in Hoi An
• Boat trip to/from Cham Islands
• Snorkeling gear and lessons
• Local village discovery trip
• Vietnamese food gathering, preparation & free cooking class
• Marine Park & fees
• English speaking guide for full introduction
• Daily activities (to be determined with you and the household)
• 100% Vegan food prepared by you and the family
• Private shared room by up to two guests with mosquito nets
• Room fans (for the Summer nights)
• Western style bathroom with showers

Note: Daily rate does not include

• Personal expenditure
• Additional activities on the island
• Non-vegetarian meals
• Beverages
• Any other service not mentioned in the included list

Activities provided by Bai Huong Tourism Cooperative

There are activities and services available in Bai Huong village that we do not provide or include in our rate. These activities and services must be arranged & negotiated by the customer.

Host families provide the following activities - please pay direct to the Cooperative:

• Free cooking class
• Fishing trip with local fishermen 250,000 VND/ trip
• Boat trip 150,000 VND/ hour
• Village discovery tour 80,000 VND/ trip
• Bamboo round boat 80,000 VND/ hour

Departure Place & Times from Hoi An

We arrange pickup from a hotel in Hoi An at the latest 7.45 am for a 8 am departure returning by 4 pm (depending on weather conditions). Rate includes drop off at a hotel in Hoi An.

Boat voyage takes approximately 2 hours each way or by speedboat 30 minutes (operate in Summer only). We will confirm vessel used.

Location and Map

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Cu Lao Cham (Cham Islands) fishing village of Bai Huong (population 500) on the largest island of Hon Lao 9 nautical miles East of Hoi An river-ocean inlet.