Getting to the island of Con Dao

Getting to the island of Con Dao
Waterways and planes are two ways to reach Con Dao Island.

Using Water-Way

There are daily departures from Vung Tau, Can Tho, and Soc Trang to Con Dao Island via speed boats. It is common practice to go to Vung Tau from Ho Chi Minh City in order to board a boat to Con Dao. In terms of speed, the Con Dao Express 36 is the greatest option. Comfortable cabins and luxurious cabins are included in the first five-star high-speed ship in Vietnam. The journey from Vung Tau to Con Dao takes approximately three and a half hours.

The first boat leaves Vung Tau at 8:00 a.m., while the last boat leaves Con Dao at 13:30 p.m. Weekend rates are 880,000 VND, while weekday rates are 660,000 VND.

At 7 a.m., ships depart from Ninh Kieu pier and arrive at Tran De port in Soc Trang, where they dock at Ben Dam port, where they will continue their journey (Con Dao). Between three and four hours are needed depending on the weather conditions, which might vary by a lot. At 12:00, the ferry from Con Dao to the mainland leaves for the mainland. For a weekday show, the cost is 610,000 VND, while a weekend show is 690,000 VND.

Soc Trang departs from Tran De port at 8 a.m. and arrives at Ben Dam port at 9 a.m. (Con Dao). An hour and forty-five minutes are required to travel one way. At 13:00, the ferry from Con Dao to the mainland leaves. The daily price is 320,000 VND, and the weekend price is 350,000 VND.

Con Dao can also be reached via plane. Con Dao is a 45-minute drive away. Con Son Airport serves domestic flights from Saigon and Can Tho, currently serving Con Dao. In order to get from Hanoi to one of these two cities, you’ll have to make a stop. Most hotels and resorts offer free shuttle service or cab service to the island’s core from the airport, which is 12 kilometers away.

Finding your way around Con Dao

It’s easy to get a cab or a motorbike taxi on the island. Renting a motorcycle costs between 100,000 and 150,000 VND per day. Several resorts, including Six Sense and Paulo Condo, provide complimentary shuttle service to and from town.

Things to Do

A journey to Vietnam’s Con Dao archipelago is one of the best ways to spend a vacation. Swimming and relaxing on the beach aren’t the only things you may do while vacationing in Con Dao.

Diving, snorkeling, and admiring the coral reefs are all activities that may be done here.

Fishermen from the East Sea go out to fish.

Island hopping on a small scale

See turtle prawn eggs hatch and release baby turtles back into the ocean.

If you’re visiting Con Dao, be sure to go scuba diving, snorkeling, and checking for corals. Coral reefs at Con Dao are the densest in the country, with a variety of sub-islands to choose from such as Bay Canh and Tai. Tai is the best spot to see marine life on any of these smaller islands. Coral reefs in this area come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including branches, slabs, and blocks. You will be given a life jacket, diving goggles, diving mask, propellers, and instruction on how to use them during the snorkeling excursion. You’ll be able to swim in the crystal clear water, explore the ocean’s mystical environment, and observe the colorful coral reefs full of schools of fish. Sea cucumbers, mussels, and other organisms come in all shapes and sizes. Prepare yourself for an exciting underwater adventure in the sea of Con Dao.

In Con Dao, fishing is a popular pastime. If you’re on vacation in Con Dao, you’ll be able to participate in this activity. In Con Dao, it’s one of the must-do activities, and it’s growing in popularity. Due to the abundance of islands, Con Dao boasts a wide variety of fish, including mackerel, grouper, place, and more. The fish found on the various islands are all unique. In order to capture various fish, you’ll have to use different baits. Enjoy your catch while taking in the stunning views of the sea and nearby islands once you’ve finished your day of fishing. The thrill of shark fishing can be added to your adventure list. Nhat beach, located on the Love Peak of Con Dao, is the best spot to catch sharks.

There are 14 islands in Con Son Bay, which are either close to each other or far apart. All of the islands offer breathtaking views that you won’t be able to get your eyes off of. There are a variety of wildlife viewing opportunities on Tai Island, including the opportunity to witness endangered species. Macaques, ebony squirrels, iguanas, geckos, and other exotic animals can be observed in their natural habitat. Ba Island is one of the places where you can see these elusive creatures in their natural habitat. With its lovely beaches and lush forests as well as its unique mangroves, this island has a lot to offer visitors. Let’s go to additional Con Dao’s desolate islands, where you’ll discover a wealth of unique and unexpected experiences.

Seeing turtles lay their eggs is a unique experience in Con Dao that should not be missed. One of Con Dao’s best eco-islands, as well as one of Vietnam’s most important marine turtle conservations, is Hon Bay island. In Con Dao, this island is home to the most nesting turtles. Up to 30 mother turtles can be found nesting and laying eggs at a time, depending on the time of year (April to September). If you’re lucky, you’ll also get a glimpse of the newborn turtles who have already hatched from their eggs.

Con Dao’s most well-known attractions

Among the many things to do in Con Dao are swimming in cool, crystal-clear water, exploring historical sites related to the French and American wars in Vietnam, and getting up and personal with the area’s diverse array of wildlife. To make the most of your time in the Con Dao Archipelago, take a look at the attractions listed below.

Con Dao’s beautiful beaches

Due to its magnificent beach scenery, Con Dao is an excellent choice for a Vietnam holiday. Some of Con Dao’s most stunning and tranquil beaches are seen below.

Attractions in and around the town of Lo Voi

• The Sea of Japan

• Bathing Areas at the Dam Trau

• The Shark Cape’s Nhat Beach

• The beach at Suoi Nong.

   

Con Dao’s Lo Voi Beach can be seen from the waterway heading toward the middle of the island, and the sound of the waves and the sea wind can be heard. Because of the French colonialists’ use of the So Lo Voi, which involved burning lime from corals, Lo Voi Beach got its name. Long, white sandbanks and crystal-clear water make Lo Voi Beach one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The poplar trees that line the shoreline can be seen swaying in the wind. A family picnic on the sand is a wonderful idea.

As with nearby Lo Voi Beach, despite its convenient location in the heart of Con Son, An Hai Beach retains its natural beauty and tranquility. The ocean’s water is crystal-clear, making it possible to view all the way to the ocean’s bottom. A picture-perfect landscape is created by a beach with fine, white sand, a mountain in the distance, and little islands dotting the water. An Hai beach jetty serves as a landing pad for fishing boats. It is possible to catch a glimpse of the fisherman as they prepare their fishing gear for the upcoming fishing trip if you get up early enough. Afternoon activities include sunbathing, swimming, and strolling along the sandbank.

Con Dao’s Dam Trau beach  is one of the most dangerous in the area. The beach at Dam Trau lies about 14 kilometers from Con Dao town, near the Co Ong Airport, and on the edge of the Con Dao National Park. It is a lovely, wild, and mysterious beach with a turquoise sea, soft sand, gentle waves, undisturbed primary trees, and vibrant coral reefs. Above Dam Trau Beach, you’ll see a slew of different-shaped cliffs formed over the course of time. Let’s head over to Dam Trau beach and have some fun together!

To the southeast of Con Dao, Nhat Beach is six kilometers away. Nhat beach has a raw, natural terrain, with little human effect. There is a mixture of sand and stones on the beach. When a wave hits, you can see the gravel lining up next to each other. Banks with undulating, different-sized, and stacked stones have become a popular photo op for tourists. Only the low tide makes it possible to see Nhat Beach, which is fairly little. You may see the shimmering rocks from the Shark Cape’s Love mountain’s vantage point. With its enormous rock projecting from the water, it looks like a shark’s nose.

Suoi Nong Beach’s pristine white beach and surrounding mangroves have made it a must-see site in Con Dao. To get here from the beach at Dam Trau, you only have to walk a short distance into the forest. If you visit Suoi Nong beach, you will be awed by the water’s temperature as well as the stunning surroundings. Throughout the year, the water on the beach remained at or above 50 degrees Celsius due to the subsurface stream’s route through the hot mineral mine. Because of this, a peculiar view of steam rising to create an eerie sight can be seen when visiting the beach.

Sites of interest in Con Dao’s past
Con Dao is a survivor of the colonial era in Vietnam, having lived through both the French and the Americans. Visiting Con Dao Prison, Chua Dao Palace, and the Museum of Con Dao are a must for anybody interested in Vietnamese history. You’ll get a sense of the colonial and imperial regime’s crimes and the unwavering patriotism of Vietnamese soldiers by seeing these three attractions.

Penitentiary No. 1 in Vietnam
The French established Con Dao Prison to house the country’s most dangerous inmates, including political prisoners and those facing the death penalty. Many communists and patriots opposing the colonial administration were arrested and imprisoned during the French colonial period. The facility was later repurposed by the Americans for use against the United States during the Cold War.

All of the Con Dao Prison Complex’s prisons are located in the Con Dao area: Phu Son, Phu Hai, Phu Tuong, The Tiger Cage, the isolated cow shed, Phu Phong, and Phu Hung Prison.

The “Tiger Cage” section of the Con Dao Prison Complex is the most well-known. Solitary confinement in the “Tiger cages” region is the worst in prison. Inmates were kept in squalid conditions in a 5-foot-by-5-foot chamber with minimal sanitation and dining facilities. For interrogation, they were frequently handcuffed and made to lie on a wet cement floor. Using long sticks or a sprinkle of lime, guards can warn of any resistance they notice from above the Tiger Cage’s grilles. The Tiger Cage prison system is likewise roofless. There were no clothes on the convicts here, so they were left out in the elements.

The Tiger Cage is reserved for convicts who refuse to report and are subjected to extreme torture in an effort to subjugate their wills. The “tiger barn” was secretly constructed to prevent criticism from the general population. The presence of this “tiger barn” was unknown to the general public for a long time.

Palace of Chua Dao

Con Dao’s Chua Dao Palace is also well worth a visit if you’re interested in learning more about Vietnam’s glorious military history.

1862-1876 saw the construction of Chua Dao Palace, or The Governor’s Palace, a huge 18,600-square-foot structure. It was here that 53 island kings lived, including 39 during the French colonial period and 14 under the American empire’s 113-year reign, according to historical records. Prison regulations and torture tactics were once set in this location. On top of that, it served as the island rulers’ residence and workplace, reflecting the opulent lifestyle enjoyed by those who hold power.

After the South Revolution Day, Chua Dao Palace is utilized as an exhibit for the king’s crime and the colonial and imperial regime’s crimes against humanity. The following are examples of subjects currently being displayed:

country and people of Con Dao
Apocalypse on earth: Con Dao
It’s a revolutionary school called “Con Dao.”
Revolutionary artifacts dating back to the Con Dao era
Con Dao Prison is one of the subtopics covered in the book. Come on over and see for yourself!

There is a slew of items and photographs from World Wars I and II housed in the Con Dao Museum, in addition to the prison and palace. Vietnamese cultural and historical treasures are preserved in the museum. It plays a role in the development of sustainable tourism in the Con Dao District.

A national park in Vietnam’s Con Dao province

The Con Dao National Park, which was established in 1993, is one of 33 national parks in Vietnam that are part of a special-use forest system. A wide range of plant life, from terrestrial to aquatic varieties, can be found in the area. On the island, there are more than 370 types of woody plants, more than 100 types of vines, and more than 200 useful herbs and orchids.

Con Dao is home to 69 genera, 28 animal species, and 39 reptile species. Some creatures that have been around for a long time are considered “local” here. The Con Dao deer mouse, the black squirrel, and the ebony squirrel are all common residents of the island.

You’ll be able to see a variety of rare corals and animals, including dugongs, crocodiles, and more, when you visit Con Dao National Park.

The Con Dao National Park is a great place to see a wide variety of wildlife, so let’s go there and see it for ourselves.

Con Dao has a varieHotels and resorts in Con Dao, such as those located near the city’s downtown or on the beach, are convenient for visiting the area’s many tourist attractions. Con Dao is a beautiful place to travel, and the hotel described below is a great option.

Senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell The 12-hectare Con Dao resort is located on Dat Doc Beach. 9 kilometers from Con Son Airport, 17 kilometers from the nearby harbor, and around 200 kilometers from the city center of Vung Tau.

Six Senses Con Dao is a modern interpretation of the island’s traditional design, with a nod to the island’s fishing community. All of the resort’s building materials, such as bamboo or wood, are sourced from the natural world. It’s a popular choice for couples and families looking for a spot to relax while vacationing in Con Dao.

It is located in the heart of Con Son, making it easy to get to some of Con Dao’s most popular tourist destinations, such as An Hai Beach, Dat Doc Beach, and the Con Dao Museum. One of the hotel’s most distinctive features is its rooftop outdoor swimming pool. The pool has a nice view of the sea and is pretty spacious. You may want to consider taking a dip in the pool and watching the sun rise or set over the ocean.

Vong Beach’s Poulo Condor Boutique Retreat & Spa is our go-to hideaway resort. The resort’s particular attractiveness is a result of its classically styled architecture and the lush greenery that surrounds it. As a result, the resort is a popular choice for families and couples vacationing in Con Dao. There are mountains, jungles, rivers, lakes, and beaches all in one spot. Those who visit Con Dao Island can enjoy an all-inclusive beach vacation.