Con Dao Islands

Con Dao Islands, also known as Con Dao National park, are an archipelago of 16 mostly uninhabited islets just off the southern coast of Vietnam, each of which offering expansive beaches shaded with evergreen trees. Great for savvy travellers looking to escape bustling city life, the main island also boasts miles of coastal roads, hiking trails and a wide range of outdoor activities. The main (and only inhabited) island, Con Son was once the site of French-run prisons for Vietnamese involved in the independence movement. Most of the derelict prisons are located in Con Son Town, where you can visit the prison cells, and infamous tiger cages. Many locals visit Con Son to pay their respects to revolutionaries such as Vo Thi Sau, the first women on the island to have been executed by the French.

Aside from this rather bleak part of Con Son, the island has plenty of unspoilt beaches where you can enjoy a day of sunbathing, swimming, and dining on fresh seafood. Closest to the town is Bai An Hai Beach, which connects Ben Dam Harbour to several beachfront resorts and fishing villages. If you prefer privacy, rent a motorbike and make your way south towards Mui Ca Map (Shark Cape) and Nhat Beach to enjoy fine white sands and breathtaking views of the ocean. Island-hopping and diving are popular activities on Con Dao Islands, where you can explore most of the uninhabited islets and spot various wildlife such as stingrays, barracudas, moray eels, and dugongs. Due to its status as a national park, you need to arrange your trip with Con Dao National Park Headquarters (29 Vo Thi Sau, Con Dao District, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province). Hon Bay Canh Island is renowned for its turtle breeding grounds, so if you’re visiting between June and September, you may even get a chance to watch turtles laying their eggs.

Best Time to Go The best time to visit Con Dao Islands is during the dry season (November to February), but if you’re looking to see turtles nesting on Hon Bay Canh Island, visit between June and September. February till July is ideal for diving excursions as the waters around Con Dao have visibility averaging between 20 and 30 metres.

How to Get to Con Dao Islands Con Dao Islands, particularly Con Son, are accessible within an hour’s flight from Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Airline’s VASCO is the only airline with regular flights to the island, with roundtrip tickets priced around USD210 for adults, USD160 for children age 2 to 11, and USD25 for children below 2 years old. Con Dao Aiport is 15 kilometres south of Con Son Town, with the majority of luxury resorts and hotels offer roundtrip shuttles to guests. Some drivers charge about VND 50,000 to non-guests, making it a cost-effective way of getting to your destination.

On the geographical map of Vietnam, Con Dao is an archipelago of Ba Ria û Vung Tau Province and is located about 230 km southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. Con Dao has an area of up to 76 km square and consist of 16 islands in total.

During the time the country was still amidst war, Con Dao was emblematic of how people described their anxiety and fear. Even after the war ended, in the minds of the Vietnamese, Con Dao is still a hell of death where no one imagines that any lives could possibly exist. But then time passed by. Existing in the middle of the endless blue ocean above all hassle and grief, Con Dao is changing faster and more significantly than ever before. Apparently, mother nature gave a very sweet compensation to this scary land and turned it into a charming paradise enchanting numerous wanderers around the world. Only by coming here, you can understand why Con Dao has longtime been praised as ôOne of the ten most charming and mysterious islands on the planet.÷

Small Island but Many Magnificent Beaches If you are usually enchanted by long sandy beaches with clear blue water, visiting Con Dao is definitely a good option for you. Just wander around the island and you will find many accessible beaches and each with a unique and wild beauty that is unlike any others.

Bai Dam Trau Possessing an untouched nature with light waves, blue water, white sand, and colorful coral reefs, Dam Trau is one of the most gorgeous beaches that visitors should not miss out on when traveling to the island. Not only can tourists enjoy comfortable moments of swimming and sunbathing but you can also get to know a little bit of its history and culture.

Bai Suoi Nong Bai Suoi Nong is located near Dam Trau. To get there, tourists are required to go through a road tunneled by forest. Thanks to this geographic separation, the beach is nearly unspoiled with white sand and lush mangroves, creating a heaven that anyone coming to this island needs to spend some time exploring.

Bai Lo Voi & Bai An Hai Lo Voi Beach and An Hai Beach are located along Ton Duc Thang Street, offering a great place to play with waves and do some camping. These two beaches are suitable for guests traveling with family and kids since it is easier to reach than others. Lo Voi Beach is famous for its long white sand covered strip of beach shaded by numerous poplars, meanwhile, An Hai beach is surrounded by many majestic mountains. An Hai is also the largest scale beach in the central area of the island.

Bai Dat Doc Known as one of the most attractive beaches of Con Dao, Bai Dat Doc also brings tourists to an unspoiled natural scenery covered with bushy woodland and rocky mountains. Besides, there are some nice hotels and resorts near this beach, so it is quite convenient in case you want to stay over there for a couple of days.

Other than Picturesque Beachesà In addition to captivating beaches, Con Dao is well-known for these following must-visit destinations:

Con Dao Museum The Museum is the repository of many precious items and artifacts collected from the painful time of war. The gallery is divided into four spaces referring to these topics: Con Dao û Country & People; Con Dao û A hell on earth; Con Dao û Battlefield and School and Con Dao today. Also, a special corner is saved to display the images and objects of female heroes of the war, like Vo Thi Sau û the girl who died heroically. By visiting the museum and having a look through some 2000 pieces and antiques displayed here, foreigners can partly see the fearless fighting spirit of the patriotic soldiers during the 113 years of war that Vietnam participated in.

Con Dao Prison Formally put into use in 1982, The Prison is classified as one of the oldest and largest relics in Vietnam built by the French. During its years in operation, this place held the most haunting memories of prisoners being tortured. Now, Con Dao Prison and its tragic history has become a demonstration of how good people will overcome the evil and violent actions of others. This overpowering feeling radiates throughout this entire establishment connecting one receptive soul to another, no matter where they may be. For this reason alone, this place is well worth visiting.

Formally put into use in 1982, The CON DAO Prison is classified as one of the oldest and largest relics in Vietnam built by the French.

Con Dao National Park Established in 1993, Con Dao National Park is the only place in the country where both forest and marine life are conserved. Famous for its wild beauty, the floral system in Con Dao National Park is extremely rich with over 882 species of plants and 150 species of animals. A trip to Con Dao National Park will allow you to experience all kinds of relaxing recreational activities, from sightseeing to fishing, boating, biking, etc.