Going from My Son Sanctuary to Hoi An by boat is a good way to escape from the traffic and immerse into nature. The best time to experience it is just before sunset. This boat trip is included in some day tours to the Hindu temple complex which depart in the afternoon. It’s one of the differences from morning tours. Now, let’s HoiAn Day Trip Company tell you how to go to Hoi An from My Son Holy Land by boat.
You may also like: Thu Bon River Cruise in Hoi An
• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Must Knows about Thu Bon River Vietnam
– Location: Quang Nam province, central Vietnam
– Vietnamese name: Song Thu Bon
– Other name(s): Hoi An River, Sai Thi Giang (meaning ‘Wood Market River’)
– Length: 205 km
– Source: the Annamite Range (Ngoc Linh peak, 2,598m above sea level)
– Estuary: Cua Dai, Hoi An city, Vietnam
– Basin size: 10,350 hectares (Vu Gia-Thu Bon River)
– Island(s): Con Noi Island (Dien Ban town), Cam Kim Island (Hoi An), An Hoi Island (Hoi An), Cam Nam Island (Hoi An), Con Hen or Clam Island (Hoi An)
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/thu-bon-river-hoi-an-vietnam
– Activities: boat trips
– Fact: Hoai River running through Hoi An Old Town is a branch of Thu Bon River
Cau Lau Boat Station: The Nearest Boat Station to My Son Sanctuary
Cau Lau Boat Station is the nearest boat station from My Son Sanctuary where visitors can take a boat to go to Hoi An. It lies on the south (right) bank of the Thu Bon River, the largest river in the province. It’s named after Cau Lau Bridge on Highway 1A or North-South Highway, the most important road in Vietnam. This bridge was built in French colonial time, but rebuilt in 1963. In 2004, a new bridge was constructed next to it and also named ‘Cau Lau Bridge’. Both bridges today have been used but the old one is designated for motorbikes and bicycles only.
According to local people, the name of Cau Lau Boat Station and Bridge originates from a real story but nobody knows when it happens. In Vietnamese language, Cau means ‘going fishing (by rob)’ and Lau means ‘long’. In the story, there is a couple of husband and wife coming to the area to live. The husband goes fishing in the river and then exchanges fishes to have rice to eat. The wife grows vegetables at home and takes care of the children. One day, a fast flood sweeps him away and then his wife doesn’t see him coming home. She tries to find him but it is impossible. Since then, local people have called the place where this man often sits and goes fishing ‘Cau Lau’. It literally means ‘going fishing so long’.
Boat Trip from Cau Lau Boat Station to Hoi An
Boat trip from Cau Lau Boat Station to Hoi An is about 30 minutes long. Visitors will travel on Thu Bon River (towards its estuary), the largest river in the province. It’s 205 kilometers long, flowing from the peaks of the Annamite Range to Cua Dai estuary in Hoi An. Its name literally means ‘autumn river’. See more information & details
In the beginning of the boat trip, the boat will go under two Cau Lau bridges. The older one is lower than the new one. These bridges are about 840 meters, on the most important and the busiest highway in the country (Highway 1A).
Between these bridges and the next one, visitors will see rural villages along the banks of Thu Bon River. On the sandy beaches or grasslands, there are herbs of water buffalo which helps Vietnamese people to work in rice fields or carry goods. For farmers, this heavy animal is their best friend. White storks often stand on buffalo’s back to seek insects on its skin. The water buffalos often soak their bodies in the river on hot days.
On the right bank (north bank), there is Phu Chiem Village, one of the birthplaces of Mi Quang noodles. This noodle dish is made by rice noodles, shrimp, pork, quail eggs, rice crackers, raw vegetables and herbs, and savory broth. From the village, vendors carry the broth pot to Hoi An or Da Nang to serve breakfast. Their food is believed to be the most delicious noodle in the area. See more information & details
The next bridge is Cam Kim Bridge, the gateway to Cam Kim Island. Inaugurated in 2020, it’s over 1,000 meters long and 12 meters wide. Under it, on the left bank of the river, there is a local market where fresh vegetables and meats are sold. In the dawn, a small fish market is opened here. Nearby, there are boats belonging to fisherman families in the village. It can be the nearest fishing village to Hoi An centre.
Before landing at Hoi An, visitors will see another ‘Cam Kim Bridge’. Actually, this bridge is older than the last one. It’s made of metal and inaugurated in January 2016, to help inhabitants on Cam Kim Island to ride motorbike/bicycle to Hoi An. When bikes move on it, the sound is funny. If join Cam Kim Island Bicycle Tour, you will definitely have the chance to ride on this special bridge. Before it’s built, local people on the island used a boat ferry to reach the city.
The best time to go on the boat trip from My Son Sanctuary to Hoi An is just before sunset. On beautiful days, visitors have the chance to see/photograph a brilliant sunset scenery from the boat. Check the weather forecast in advance once book.
How to Get to Cau Lau Boat Station
Cau Lau Boat Station is on a small road near Cau Lau Bridges. It’s near the north end of Bui Thi Xuan St in Nam Phuoc town, Duy Xuyen district, Quang Nam province.
To get to Cau Lau Boat Station from My Son Sanctuary, visitors need to go to Nam Phuoc Town first. The distance is about 30 kilometers. The quickest road is via DT610 that is featured by trees planted along it (meaning that when do not see them, you may go in the wrong direction!).
If ride the motorbike on your own, it’s needed to follow this provincial road, towards Giao Thuy Bridge but do not go over it. After that, turn right and keep riding eastwards, past Museum of Sa Huynh – Champa Culture and Marian Shrine of the Lady of Tra Kieu (aka Tra Kieu Church). In Nam Phuoc Town, at the crossroad of Hung Vuong St and Highway 1A (a traffic light here), turn left and then follow Dien Bien Phu St, Nguyen Hoang St and Bui Thi Xuan St to see Cau Lau Boat Station.
At Cau Lau Boat Station, usually there are no boats. For that reason, visitors should contact any boat owner in Hoi An in advance and then set a time to meet up with him/her in this place. We advise going with a local guide or taking a guided tour to make everything easier. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) if you want to book one boat from Cau Lau Boat Station to Hoi An.
Boat Stations in Hoi An Vietnam
Visitors can choose one from these boat stations to end the boat trip from Cau Lau Boat Station:
– Thanh Ha pier: This boat station is near the crossroad of Pham Phan St and the riverside road (or Nam Dieu Communal House) in Thanh Ha Pottery Village. The village is well known for its 400-years tradition of pottery making. Here, after getting off the boat, visitors can follow small brick-paved laneways to visit local artisans, to watch how they produce the pottery by potter’s wheel and try hand at making one under their instruction. To go to other places from Thanh Ha Pottery Village, it’s needed to use a boat again or car/minivan/bus/electric buggy. See more information & details
– Nguyen Hoang pier: This boat station is at the south end of Nguyen Hoang Street, An Hoi Island. If go on a sunset boat trip, after getting off, visitors can walk along this road and enjoy Hoi An Night Market, the biggest night market in Hoi An. It’s home to over 150 stalls selling street food and souvenirs at a fair price. Therefore, an ideal place for foodies and shoppers.
– Bach Dang pier: This boat station is in the Hoi An Ancient Town, a Unesco world heritage site and a very popular tourist attraction. Near the Hoi An Central Market, it’s named after the street/quay Bach Dang.
Many visitors choose to end the boat trip from My Son Sanctuary (Cau Lau Boat Station) to Hoi An at Bach Dang pier. After landing, there are many things to see and do as well as restaurants and shops to go. A night market with dozens of food and souvenir stalls is located right here. Not far away, visitors will find a trishaw to experience the ride on it around the town. It’s helpful for those who can not walk too much.
Guided Tours to My Son Sanctuary Vietnam
Here are popular guided tours to My Son Sanctuary:
– My Son Half Day Tour: Morning/Afternoon Tour with Cham Show
– My Son Sunrise Tour: Early Morning Tour to Beat Crowd & Heat
– My Son Sunset Tour: Late Afternoon Tour to Avoid The Crowd
– My Son & Marble Mountain Tour: Temples, Caves, Craft Village
– My Son Tour by Boat: Hindu Temples, Sunset Cruise, Cham Show
– My Son & Thanh Ha Pottery Village Tour from Hoi An
– My Son & Hoi An Coconut Village Tour
– My Son & Hoi An Vegetable Village Tour
– My Son, Pottery Village & Coconut Village Tour from Hoi An
– My Son & Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Tour
– My Son Private Tour from Hoi An
– My Son Private Tour from Da Nang
– My Son & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang
– My Son Bike Tour from Hoi An
– My Son Sanctuary & Lady Buddha Tour from Da Nang
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD organizes My Son tours everyday, from Da Nang or Hoi An. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to book. Thank you very much!
Photos, Videos about My Son to Hoi An Boat Trip
Here are beautiful photos and videos about boat trip from My Son to Hoi An:
