Hoi An - Diving Holiday Destination

Hoi An (Vietnam)

The beautiful Riverside Town of Hoi An is situated on the coast of South Vietnam about 30km South of Da Nang. It is a living museum oozing charm & culture from every corner.

Hoi An was almost completely destroyed during the Tay Son rebellion in the 1770’s. It was then rebuilt and served as an important International port until the river silted up which allowed Da Nang to flourish as a commercial centre.

During French colonisation, Hoi An served as an administrative centre and later, during the American War, the Town, with the co-operation of both sides, remained almost completely undamaged.

Thus, Hoi An really offers a sense of history unique in SE Asia.

Hoi An is the latest scuba diving hotspot in Vietnam, providing easy access to the Cu Lao Cham Marine Park, some 25 minutes away by speedboat. The Marine Park comprises 8 islands which are home to 155 species of corals, 202 species of fish, 4 species of lobster and 84 species of mollusks.

Climate

The climate of Hoi An is considered tropical. This means that the temperatures are warm throughout the year, and the year is distinctively broken up by the wet and dry seasons.

Although the temperatures are warm throughout the year, the hottest months on average are June and July, during which time the daily high temperatures will be in the mid 90’s. The nighttime temperatures during these months will drop to the 70’s. The coldest months of the year are December and January. During these months the daily temperatures will be in the upper 70’s, and will drop to the mid 60’s during the nights.

Generally more important to visitors than temperatures is the rain. The rainy (or monsoon) season in Hoi An is from September until January. During this time, rain clouds will constantly move through the area. There are days during which sunshine is abundant, but they are not the majority. A noticeable decrease in tourism can be seen during the wet season. The dry season is from February until May. These months provide plenty of sunshine, with warm temperatures.

All around, the best time to visit Hoi An is between May and June.

Dive Facts

Water Temperature 25 to 30 degrees celsius. Visibility 10 to 30 m.

Dive Attractions

The Marine Park comprises 8 islands which are home to 155 species of corals, 202 species of fish, 4 species of lobster and 84 species of mollusks.

Dive Sites consist of many caves and swim throughs over rocky reefs whilst in shallow depths there are abundant colours with hard and tropical corals swarming with small reef fish. This is also a good location to see ribbon eels, very 'weird' nudibranchs and if one is fortunate they might see Harlequin Shrimp.

Other

Language: Vietnamese, with English widely understood in major cities, and even in more remote places.

Currency: Official currency is the Vietnamese Dong, which cannot be taken out of the country, but the favoured currency of choice is the US Dollar, which is accepted most places.

Electricity: 220v, euro type 2 round pin plugs

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