Da Nang & Hoi An – Vietnam Diving

About Da Nang & Hoi An

Da Nang and Hoi An represent Vietnam's cultural heart combined with an emerging diving scene centred on the Cu Lao Cham Marine Park, also known as the Cham Islands. Located approximately 20 kilometres offshore from Hoi An, the Cham Islands offer eight productive dive sites within a protected marine area that has allowed coral communities to recover and thrive. Hon Tai features vibrant coral gardens teeming with morays and butterflyfish, while Hon La delivers deeper wall diving with barracuda, trevally, and occasional whitetip reef sharks. Bai Bim provides calm shallow conditions ideal for beginners and training dives, and Bai Huong hosts impressive sea whips, frogfish, and cuttlefish. Tiger Tooth Rock is a dramatic pinnacle attracting schooling jacks and sweetlips in open water. The Son Tra Peninsula (Monkey Mountain) on Da Nang's doorstep offers deeper walls with gorgonians and large pelagics for experienced divers, though conditions can be challenging. Several small Vietnamese fishing vessels have been scuttled near Da Nang to create artificial reefs. The combination of world-class cultural attractions in Hoi An's UNESCO-listed ancient town, Da Nang's modern beach city infrastructure, and the healthy reefs of the Cham Islands makes this region an outstanding dual-purpose destination for divers seeking both underwater adventure and cultural immersion.

Highlights

• ✓Cu Lao Cham Marine Park – protected archipelago with eight healthy dive sites near Hoi An
• ✓Tiger Tooth Rock – dramatic pinnacle with schooling jacks, sweetlips, and open-water encounters
• ✓Hon La – deep wall diving with barracuda, trevally, and whitetip reef sharks
• ✓Son Tra Peninsula – deep walls with gorgonians and large pelagics for experienced divers
• ✓Hoi An Ancient Town – UNESCO World Heritage Site with extraordinary cultural topside experiences
• ✓Bai Bim – calm shallow bay ideal for beginners, training dives, and families

Getting There

Da Nang International Airport (DAD) is Vietnam's third busiest airport with excellent domestic and growing international connections. Daily flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City take approximately 90 minutes. The airport is centrally located just minutes from both Da Nang city centre and Hoi An (approximately 30 minutes south). The Reunification Express railway also stops at Da Nang station, offering scenic coastal travel. Once in Da Nang, taxis and Grab provide easy transport to Hoi An. Cu Lao Cham dive sites are reached by speedboat from Cua Dai harbour near Hoi An, a crossing of approximately 30-45 minutes. Son Tra Peninsula sites depart from Da Nang harbour. Motorbike rental is popular for exploring the region, with the spectacular Hai Van Pass connecting Da Nang to Hue as one of Vietnam's most scenic drives.