Con Dao
Sixteen islands off the southern coast, for a long time a prison colony and now a quiet place of empty beaches, forest and one of Vietnam’s most important sea turtle nesting sites.
Highlights
- Con Dao Prison and the ‘tiger cages’, kept as a memorial to the prisoners held here
- Hang Duong Cemetery, where the revolutionary Vo Thi Sau is buried
- Dam Trau, Nhat and An Hai beaches, most of them almost empty
- Snorkelling and diving on the reefs inside the national park
- Turtle nesting on Bay Canh island, from about May to October
Best time to visit
March to July has the calmest sea. September to November is the wettest and boats are more often cancelled.
Getting there
Flights from Ho Chi Minh City take about 1 hour. A high-speed ferry runs from Soc Trang and Vung Tau in calm weather, taking around 3–4 hours.
How long to stay
Two to three days.
Where to stay
A handful of resorts and small hotels around Con Son town and Dam Trau beach.
What to eat
Seafood straight off the boats, snails, and mut hau, mangrove apple jam sold as the local souvenir.
Good to know
- Since 1 July 2025 Con Dao is a special zone of Ho Chi Minh City.
- March to September has the calmest sea; October to February is the rainy season and ferries are more often cancelled.
- Con Son town is flat and easy on foot or by bicycle; the rest of the island needs a motorbike or car.
Combine with
Ho Chi Minh City · Mekong Delta
Tours that visit Con Dao
Questions about Con Dao? Message us on WhatsApp +84 345 827 501 or email booking@hynatravel.com.