HOI AN (VNS)— A Korean tourist died from a heart attack while diving off the coast of Cham Island near central Hoi An ancient town on Tuesday, vice chairman of the city's people's committee Truong Van Bay confirmed yesterday. Go Jae-suk, 62, was on vacation with her family in Hoi An. She received first aid at the island's health centre before being taken to hospital in Hoi An, but she died soon. The tourist, who suffered from heart disease, had been warned not to go diving by a tour guide from the Vu Le Bich travel agency. Her body has been flown home to South Korea. — VNS … [Read more...] about Korean tourist dies diving off Cham Island
Cham island
Rare snails return to Cu Lao Cham Island
Several rare sea snails were recently discovered around Cu Lao Cham Island off the coast of Hoi An City in central Quang Nam Province. The snail species had not been seen for dozens of years, said Le Ngoc Thao, from Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area's Management Board. Some of the snail species, such as Tu Va (Charonia tritonis), are listed in the Red Book of Viet Nam. Thao said the return of the snails was due to the re-introduction of coral around the island. V.N.S … [Read more...] about Rare snails return to Cu Lao Cham Island
See Cham Islands by helicopter
The first chartered helicopter tour of the year will transport a group of 22 tourists from the US, Australia and France from Da Nang to Hoi An's Cham Islands this weekend. A 24-seat Russian-made MI-17 chopper will take off from Da Nang International Airport on Feb. 18 and land on the Cham Islands 30 minutes later. Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a flyover of central Da Nang city and explore the Cham Islands landscape. In the afternoon, tourists will enjoy a swim over the colourful coral reefs and have time to relax on the pristine beach. The tour will end at 2pm after a fresh seafood lunch. The package is being offered by Vitours./. … [Read more...] about See Cham Islands by helicopter
The charming Cham islands
Life's a beach: Sunset at Huong beach. — VNS Photos Do Truong All's well: A visitor examines an ancient Cham well on Lang beach. Seeing is believing: Hai Tang pagoda was built nearly 250 years ago. Its architecture is a mixture of Buddhist, Taoist and Confucianist styles. Going along for the ride: A group of tourists go on a fishing trip with local fishermen. by Do Truong It was a beautiful clear day when Long and his friends visited the Cham Islands hoping to see the World Biosphere Reserve, the pearl of Viet Nam recognised by UNESCO in 2009. Although the islands can be seen from the land, it takes over 25 minutes to canoe to them from Cua Dai beach in Hoi An City of the central province of Quang Nam. The Cham Islands are made up of eight small islands, Hon Lao being the largest with fishermen living there and the three biggest beaches: Huong, Lang and Ong. When Long's group first stepped onto Huong beach, everyone was eager to take in the natural landscape and the … [Read more...] about The charming Cham islands
Cham islanders get access to clean water
DA NANG (VNS)— Inhabitants of Cham island, 18km off the coast of Hoi An, now have access to fresh water for the first time. "In the dry season, it took us hours to wait for water from wells because of high demand," recalled Truong Thanh Phuong, a resident of the island. "Now, we can access a different water source." The new reservoir also benefits visitors to the island - one of the major tourist destinations in the central province of Quang Nam. Vice chairman of the Hoi An People's Committee Nguyen Van Dung said the 80,000-cubic-metre reservoir would supply enough fresh water for the nearly 3,000 people who live on Cham island and the surrounding eight islets. "Islanders get water from springs, rain and digging wells during the wet season between September and April. But the island has limited clean water in the dry season," Dung said. "Wells are either dry or salinated, so their water can only be used for cleaning." The reservoir cost VND162 billion (US$7.7 million) from … [Read more...] about Cham islanders get access to clean water