A Guide to Con Dao Islands, Vietnam Beach Paradise
There is a beach paradise located in the southern coast of Vietnam called Con Dao Islands, an archipelago of 16 islets offering pristine beaches in which the largest is Con Son island.
Con Dao served as a prison island for political prisoners during the French colonial time when it was known as Poulo Condore. In peacetime, it has become a spotlight for travellers looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Discovering the islands is a thrilling experience with deserted beaches, jungles, diverse ecosystems, quiet streets and fun outdoor activities.
What to See and Do on Con Dao Islands
Located quite a distance from the main crowded cities, most of the islands at Con Dao remain untouched by a series of resort construction and rush of tourists like other beach cities in Vietnam. Beautiful and peaceful beaches are found in almost every direction and in walking distance or easy to by bikes or taxis. Apart from the beaches, you will get busy with a to-do list including hiking, trekking, snorkeling, scuba diving or simply riding a motorbike along the scenic coastal road.
Discovering Con Dao’s Secluded Beaches
The popular beach on Con Dao Island is An Hai Beach that has several seafront accommodations. Its natural beauty of a long sandy beach and turquoise color sea is an ideal place for sunbathing and swimming. Lo Voi Beach situated at the end of the district center has a calm, clean, and crystal clear blue seawater with green trees along the sandy beach. This is an ideal choice for fans of picnics.
Another beach worth mentioning is Nhat Beach, which only appears for a few hours per day as the tidal level gets low and is a good location to contemplate romantic sunset. Dat Doc Beach is considered as one of the best beaches in Con Dao. The beach is ideal for swimming, snorkeling and other interesting beach activities.
15km far from Con Son Town is Dam Trau Beach with stunning scenery of azure sky, turquoise color of the sea and lines of casuarina trees along the crescent moon coastline. You can dive and contemplate colorful coral reefs at Dam Trau Beach or Dat Doc Beach. From Dam Trau Beach, you can reach Suoi Nong Beach, a beach with unspoiled beauty by walking through a forest road. Besides these famous beaches, you still have other options such as Ong Dung Beach, Dat Tham Beach and Bang Beach which are undeveloped and isolated compared to others.
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Hiking and Trekking in Con Dao
Con Dao is a great place for hiking lovers with a variety of options from the archipelagos highest mountain, through the Con Dao National Park or along the coast to reach a deserted beach. Prepare to be surprised by the island fauna and flora system along the way. Here are the popular hiking and trekking routes: Ong Dung Beach, Thanh Gia Mountain Trail, So Ray Plantation Trail, Hang Duc Me Cave, Bay Canh Island Lighthouse. To ensure a fun and perfect hiking experience, bringing lots of water, mosquito repellent and solid shoes are necessary.
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Exploring Bay Canh Island – Turtle Sanctuary
Among the 16 Con Dao islands, Bay Canh Island is known as the largest turtle sanctuary where 90 percent of the female turtles come to lay eggs. You can book a Con Dao Turtle Tour arranged through the Con Dao National Park office to participate in camping activities and have a chance to observe this unique habit of turtles.
Visiting History Witness – Con Dao Prisons
There are three main prison sites open to the public to explore – Phu Hai, American Tiger Cages, and French Tiger Cages. These prisons depict heartbreaking torture methods that political prisoners endured here. The prison is a reminder for future generations to commemorate the tragic death of more than 20,000 prisoners and their fight for our peace.
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Visiting Hang Duong Cemetery & Vo Thi Sau Grave
The cemetery is home to over 1,900 graves including the grave of Vo Thi Sau, a brave Vietnamese patriot who was unfortunately caught while doing her mission and died at a very young age. Besides locals’ worship activities, you can learn more about spiritual customs of the Vietnamese and listen to Vietnam War stories while visiting the cemetery. Visitors to this solemn place should dress up respectfully, which suits the local custom, particularly shoulders and knees should be covered.
Contemplating Van Son Pagoda
In addition to gorgeous beaches and historic sites, Van Son Pagoda is also an interesting place to visit in a short time. The pagoda is built on a hill; therefore, you can have a panoramic view of the surroundings with blue sea, white sandy beach and green jungle.
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Best Time to Visit Con Dao Islands & How to Get There
Con Dao has two seasons per year: dry season from November to April and rainy season from May to October. The best time to visit is from March to September when the sea is calm, temperatures are mild and skies are clear; there is rain sometimes during this period but it lasts only around one hour.
Con Dao is now easier to reach thanks to regular and convenient transportation that runs daily. Depending on your travel budget, you can choose to travel to Con Dao by airplane or speedboat.
♣ Airplane
Currently, the only airline with regular flights to the island is Vietnam Airlines. There are multiple flights from Ho Chi Minh City which take only one hour to land off Con Dao Airport. If you travel from Can Tho in the Mekong Delta, there are also flights available from there. Since there are no direct flights from Hanoi to Con Dao, you need to transit to either Ho Chi Minh City or Can Tho and take the flight to Con Dao Islands.
♣ Speed Boat
Phu Quoc Express and Superdong Speed Ferry offer daily speedboat service from Vung Tau to Con Dao and take approximately 3.15 hours. If you travel from other cities, first you need to arrange transportation to Vung Tau to board the speedboat. Also, you can go from Soc Trang to Con Dao, which takes around one hour and 45 minutes.
There are various accommodations available at Con Son town, from budget-friendly guesthouses to luxurious resorts. Here are some recommendations:
- Six Senses Con Dao
- Poulo Condor Boutique Resort and Spa
- Villa Maison Con Dao Boutique Hotel
- Con Dao Resort
- ATC Resort
- Uyen’s House
- Lighthouse Boutique
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© Maika Tours
Written by Tuyen Vo
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