“You’d be hard pressed to find a nicer swimming spot in Vietnam,” says Suitcase. It’s “a lot quieter” than Nha Trang and or China Beach just up the coast in Da Nang, “but with the same pristine sand and wonderfully warm South China Sea water.” A popular bike (or motorbike taxi) ride from Hoi An, “the best way to enjoy this stretch is to take an umbrella and deck chair at one of the many beachfront café-restaurants,” recommends Rough Guides. “That way you can sip cocktails and watch spectacular sunsets over the Chám Islands just off the shore.”
The Cham islands used to be a military zone and “off-limits to tourism,” notes The Telegraph, but times have changed and the islands are now accessible by boat trips (April to September only) from Hoi An. “During the main Vietnamese holiday season (July and August) local tour groups can swamp the golden beaches, but after they've departed (around 2pm) normal service (peace) resumes.”