Cham Islands - Wikitravel

In May 2009 UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An was created which includes Hoi An Ancient Town, most of metro Hoi An, the river inlet, the ocean between Hoi An and Cham Islands as well as the islands.

However, since this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve was created domestic mass tourism has lead to increased destruction of the islands, the communities and the environment.

Located approximately 9 nautical miles offshore and to the East of Cua Dai Beach, Hoi An, Quang Nam Province, Central Vietnam. Northern Latitude 15 deg. 52’ 30” to 16 deg. 52’ 30” N; East Longitude 108 deg. 24' 00" to 108 deg. 33' 30" E. This covers an area of 235 square kilometers (km) which include eight islands and surrounding waters. There are a total of eight islands in the "Cham Islands" called Hon Lao (largest and only island inhabited covering an area of 1,317 hectares with a hilltop elevation of 517m), Hon Cu, Hon Kho, Hon La, Hon Dai, Hon Lo and Hon Tai.

Cham islands have had their own commune and management since 1978, and were recognized as one of separated communes of Hoi An town. This admistrative island area named as the Tan Hiep Commune. Bai Lang is the capital village inhabited by about 2,400 people. Bai Huong is named for the second village of 400 people living. The commune is divided into four hamlets, three of which including Bai Lang, Cam, Bai Ong locate in Bai Lang village and the other one Bai Huong hamlet is in Bai Huong village.

History edit

Humans have inhabited Cu Lao Cham for at least 2,500 years (whereas Hoi An only 2,000 years). These were holy islands to the Cham people.

The Cham are a Malayo-Polynesian people who originally settled in Sa Huynh, Central Vietnam, around 200 B.C. The Champa Kingdom was created in Hue region around 200 A.D. and lasted until 1835.

The commercial capital of the Champa Kingdom was Hoi An from which during 7th - 10th Centuries the Champas controlled the spice trade between Spice Islands in Indonesia and China, India and Persian Gulf states. The Champas, who owned vessels very similar to those seen in Hoi An waters today, ruled the Spice Trade routes long before the Chinese junks or Portuguese vessels entered these waters.

Hoi An was a major trading port - on par with Macau and Malaka - during 16th to 18th Centuries. Early influences were Chinese and Indian and by the 10th Century some Champa had converted to Islam through Arab maritime influences.

Cham Islands due to it's leeward anchorage in the capital village of Bai Lang (from NE monsoon) makes this Bay ideal for shelter of larger vessels. Depth is approximately 15 m in the channel between Hoi An and the Cham Islands and in Bai Lang Bay averages 10 metres. Larger cargo vessels unable to enter the Hoi An river inlet would anchor off Bai Lang and smaller vessels would then carry cargo ashore to warehouses in Hoi An.

Chinese, Japanese and other Northern merchants would sail their vessels down from the North on a "broad reach" during Autumn & Winter (riding on storm blowing NE monsoon) and wait for the Trade Winds to turn during Spring and Summer into a more gentle Southerly breeze which would again send them on a "broach reach" back up North (and sometimes into seasonal Typhoons!). While they waited for winds to change some foreign merchants lived and did business in Hoi An.

It is recorded on a 700 A.D. Chinese chart that vessels sailing the "Nanhai Trade Route" used a fresh water source at Bai Lang. Nanhai means "south sea"; these ships were based in ports on the Pearl River, in Guangdong, China.

Landscape edit

The Cham islands topography is mostly mountainous, without rivers, except for the biggest island of Hon Lao, where there are some rocky fresh water streams with natural forests. The highest point is at 517 m on the top of Hon Lao, other islands tops are lower with elevations fluctuated from 70 to 200 m.

The Cham islands geology is dominated by Pre-Cambi Macma rocks, which are almost acid and weathering. The islands largely consist of instrusive rocks. There are two distinct types of rock substance, with a clear division of these two occurring in the channel between Hon Lao and Hon Dai. Hon Lao, Hon Ong, and Hon Tai are constituted of granite and micaceous granite. These rocks are Palaeozoic – Mesozoic in age. The other islands of Hon Dai, Hon Mo, Hon La, Hon Kho, and Hon Cu are mainly granite, granodroite, and granosyenite in composition.

Flora and fauna edit

Hon Lao island and many of the other islands of the archipelago are extensively forested. According to the Forestry Protection Department of Quang Nam forests covered all islands are natural and extremely protected forests. Forests in Cu lao Cham play a very important role of water resources protection for the whole islands. Moreover, on the Eastern site of Hon Lao and some other rocky islands such as Hon Co, Hon Ong nest birds (for making "Bird's Nest Soup") are harvested & traded.

A wonderful natural product from Cu Lao Cham is the six leaf tea which is grown and harvested. This tea is excellent to de-tox blood.

Marine Ecology edit

According to the report on marine resources survey conducted by Department of Fisheries, Department of Science, Technology, and Environment of Quang Nam Province and Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography, there are 135 species in 35 genera of corals found around Cu Lao Cham, six species in the sea of Vietnam were first recognized here. There are 202 species in 85 genera and 36 families of fish; and 4 species of lobsters and 84 species of mollusks identified.

Vietnamese Government together with Danish Government DANIDA funded the Cu Lao Cham Marine Park Administration which created Vietnam's second marine park. The expected zone for Cu Lao Cham marine protected area (MPA) included eight islands and 5,175 ha of water surface with 165 ha of coral reef, 500 ha of seaweed and sea grass beds, which provide habitat for various valuable fish species.

The water environment around the Cham Islands is an important fishery ground. Several marine products of high economic value, such as lobsters, groupers, snappers, craps, shrimps, and clams, occur in the area. The islands' coral reefs are an important area for shelter, nursery, and food providing for marine resources.

Weather edit

February 2012 at least 7 people drowned in a serious boat accident at the river inlet. Tourism to CLC is ONLY possible with safe reliable transport provided by boats - and this is NOT being provided ! pier facilities are very poor at Bien Phong river inlet and the two villagers on Cham Islands.

The weather is seasonally rough - even during the "calm" season there are days of serious squalls when speedboats are unable to safely operate. The islands are 10 nautical miles offshore and by far the most hazardous part of the journey is at the river mouth which has an average depth of only 0.9 meters Spring Datum.

The climate is influenced by tropical monsoon and marine. If compared to the mainland, Cham islands climate is cooler. The different average temperature between the hottest and the coldest month is 6.7 deg. C. Cham islands are more humid than in the mainland. The average humidity is 85.7% and the lowest humidity is 81%. The average wind speed is higher than that in the mainland at 3.6 – 4 m/s. Typhoons and heavy storms mostly appear in the islands during September and October.

The coastal areas of Quang Nam in general and Cham Islands in specific have characteristics of semi-diurnal cycle, which means twice at high tide and twice at low tide in most of the days of a month. There are two periods of flood-tide and two of return-flow every month in correlation with the two periods of maximum and minimum amplitude - this is when flooding happens in Hoi An (or when a hydro-electric dam opens its gates and creates a flash flood!).

Dangerous floods can occur throughout Hoi An area from September - December during periods of heavy rains, strong onshore NE winds (prevailing conditions during September - December) and during 1-2 days around Lunar calendar days 1st and 14th of each month. Basically the river has no where to go as the ocean is forcing it's way inland (and average water levels are also rising each year!)

Illegal sand mining offshore has resulted in a serious loss of beaches - since 2005 approximately 30 meters have been eroded in Cua Dai Beach and in 2012 there is no future for resorts and hotels along the beach - all it takes is one good typhoon and the isthmus which extends from the inlet towards Danang will easily be breached. In 2011 the "calm" weather season had been reduced to mid-June thru mid-August - compared to at least 6 months less than 5 years ago.

Best snorkeling & diving season edit

The best season for snorkelling is during the calm summer months of June through the end of August when ocean sediment is settled and sun light is strongest.

There are increased numbers of jelly fish so it is suggested to wear a T-shirt in the water for protection.

Normally Spring April - June is also reasonable snorkelling if we can get to the islands as the weather can be rough sometimes.

Autumn & Winter (starting 1 September thru April) is normally rough weather with monsoon storms lashing the coast. Rarely tourists can go to the islands or go snorkelling.

Global warming is making even more extreme weather conditions and the season of good weather in Central Vietnam is being significantly reduced!