All about Con Dao tourism

The isolated Con Dao archipelago is one of the most stunning attractions in Vietnam. Taking around 40 minutes to fly from Ho Chi Minh City, this destination is ideal for anyone who is looking for a total getaway from the hustle & bustle of city life.

(Photo by Tappasan Phurisamrit)

Comprised of 16 islands and islets, Con Dao has a total area of 75km2 and a sea area of around 14,000km2, offering a wide variety of amazing sceneries for tourists to admire.  The remarkable settings include tropical forests, scenic bays, expansive beaches, hidden lagoons, spectacular reefs along with varied sea animals like sea cows, dolphins, sea turtles.

Partially covered in coniferous forests and preserved marine biodiversity, the Con Dao Islands offer not only an ideal place for tourists to explore but also a place for scientific research and ecotourism programs. Still remaining its original natural state, Con Dao was named as one of 12 paradise islands in Asia and is included in a list of 13 visit-worthy places around the world.

(Photo by Jimmy Tran)

In the past, Con Dao served as a prison for political prisoners during the French colonial era (also known as Poulo Condore). In later years, the Saigon regime imprisoned its opponents in the “tiger cages”, which are still famous to this day. The old prison buildings still remain and are open to the public as a small museum for visitors to explore.

Nowadays, the archipelago has become a must-visit destination when visiting Vietnam, attracting tourists from all over the world. According to Con Dao’s tourism development plan for 2030, development needs will be prioritized, especially for maritime and forest resources, ecotourism and spiritual tourism. For the first 6 months of 2018, there has been a significant rise in the number of tourists to Con Dao (an increase of 55.4% compared to same period in 2017). In addition to boats carrying 200 passengers from Vung Tau, and two boats departing from Tran De Seagate in Soc Trang province, the flights from Ho Chi Minh City have tripled since the end of 2017.

Con Dao is fortunately flat and not too expansive. Therefore, visitors can easily rent a motorbike/scouter to visit and discover the full island. There are many renting places in town, normally in front of the hotels. Traveling on foot and bicycles are also fascinating experiences.