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CU LAO CHAM ISLAND
The Cham Islands remain one of
the favorite destinations for travellers
seeking to find the more subdued side
of Vietnam, as well to have fun with
various water activities.
Here, you can lay on white sand,
snorkel, scuba dive and more. How-
ever, the islands are more than just a
spot for fun – they are also UNESCO
designated for their unique topogra-
phy and wide array of species. Divers
can come face to face with many of
these among the ever changing coral
reefs, while the forests are home to
many animal species.
The islands are just a short trip
from Hoi An, and local boats depart
daily in the early morning. It is worth
bearing in mind that Cham Island
is a truly quaint destination and as
such, electricity operates for just a
few hours a night. Homestays are
the main option should you wish to
sleep here.
Even if you are not an expe-
rienced diver, be sure to at least
snorkel around the easy to navigate
coral reefs.
NHA TRANG BAY
On Vietnam’s coast, the resort
town of Nha Trang has a number
of nearby islands and the Hon Mun
Marine Park just off the shore. Divers
will find many kinds of tropical fish,
seahorses and eels – just one of the
reasons why this is Vietnam’s premier
beach resort.
Huge diversity is on display at
the dive sites of Madonna Rock, Mo-
ray Beach, Goat Rock and the Electric
Nose, which offer diving from 10 to
50 meters, plenty of colours, plus hard
and soft corals.
Notably, this is where a young
Jacques Cousteau became obsessed
with the underwater world.
Diving here is perfect for experi-
enced divers who will enjoy sloping
beach dives as well as challenging
deep drop offs and drift diving and
there is also the chance of spotting
whale sharks and whales.
The best time for diving and snor-
keling here is fromMay – August when
the water is calm with visibility averag-
ing around 20 to 30 meters. The low
season for diving is from November to
February, due to high winds.
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Pham Ha, founder and CEO of Luxury Travel, presents his selection of great div-
ing destinations and favourite top-end Vietnamese beachside getaways
Top 5
DIVING VIETNAM
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