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Top 5 Wooden Boat Operators from Cửa Đại Port to Cù Lao Chàm Island

There is this feeling you get when you’re headed to Cù Lao Chàm. It’s not the same as getting on a Cham island speed boat, which is all about the rush and getting there fast. The wooden boat, the slow one, that’s a different kind of journey. It’s a throwback, a little taste of how things used to be.

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See more >>> Schedule and prices Cham Island Speed boat from Cua Dai pier

You’re not just a tourist. You’re on a real boat with real people, locals moving goods, maybe a couple of motorbikes tied down on the deck. That’s the part that gets me, the authenticity of it. I’ve done the speedboat thing, and yeah, it’s fast, but you miss so much of the rhythm of the sea.

The first time I took a Cham Island wooden boat was in June of 2025. I was staying in Hội An, and I just wanted to do something a little different. I didn’t want the typical package tour. So, I walked down to the Cửa Đại Port. It’s not a flashy place, more of a working port.

Cham Island tour office

There were all these boats, and a few of them were the big wooden ones, the ones that looked like they’d been a part of the sea for a long time. I was looking for the Cham Island tour office to buy a ticket. He worked for a company called Cham Island tour, and their boat was leaving in about an hour. The price was 400,000 VND round-trip, and that included the biosphere fee for the island. It was a good price, it felt right.

The Cham Island tour is definitely one of the top names I’d recommend. They’ve been around a while, and the trust factor is high. Phúc told me they mainly transport goods to the island, and people are just along for the ride. That’s why it’s a real experience.

The boat leaves Cửa Đại at 8 a.m. sharp and gets back from the island around 2 p.m. The journey takes about 60 minutes, so it’s not a full day lost at sea, but it’s long enough to feel like you’ve gone somewhere. The best part? They carry motorbikes for an extra 100,000 VND. That’s a game-changer if you want to explore the island on your own. On that first trip, I remember sitting on the top deck, feeling the salty air on my face, watching the green islands get closer. It was just peaceful.

Hoi An Eco Travel

Another company that gets a lot of positive talk is Hoi An Eco Travel. Their boats have a similar vibe, also leaving Cửa Đại at 8 a.m. and coming back around 2 p.m. The travel time is about an hour, just a little longer than the Cham Island daily tour, and the round-trip ticket is usually around 400,000 VND.

I’ve never personally ridden with them, but I’ve talked to a few other travelers who have, and they all said it was a good, reliable experience. They also transport motorbikes and even bigger cargo, which is a good sign that they’re a real, functioning transport company, not just a tourist gimmick. The fact that these boats are used by locals for everyday life is what makes them special. You’re not on a manufactured tour, you’re just on the boat, part of the flow of things.

Cham Island Explorer

Now, if you want something a bit more organized but still on a wooden boat, there are a few tour companies that specialize in it. One of them is Cham Island Explorer. She was raving about it. They offer a “Freedom Combo” that’s a bit of a hybrid. You get the wooden boat ticket, but they also include the conservation and environmental fees, which can be a little confusing to pay on your own.

The price is a bit higher, but it’s all-inclusive. She said it was great because she didn’t have to worry about a thing. Cham Island Explorer also has an online booking system and a hotline, which can make things easier if you’re the type who likes to have everything planned out ahead of time. I can see the appeal of that, especially during peak season when tickets at the port might sell out. I heard from a few people that sometimes you get to the port and there are no tickets left for the day, which would be a huge bummer.

Then there’s Hoi An Eco Travel. They’re another one that does a lot with wooden boats, but as part of a package. I looked at their website back in July 2024. They advertise a full-day snorkeling tour by wooden boat from Hội An. It’s not just a ticket; it’s the whole experience, including a guide, snorkeling gear, and a seafood lunch.

I think the price was around $53, so a good deal if you’re into all that. The reviews I saw for them were mostly positive, with people talking about the friendly guides and the beautiful coral reefs they saw. I like the idea of a wooden boat for a snorkeling tour. It feels more relaxed, less rushed than the speedboats that zip you out there and back. It gives you time to really soak it all in.