【Côn Đảo】Con Dao Island Guide
When we landed in Con Dao, I had no idea this tiny island would steal my heart. My partner and I had already explored Da Nang and Saigon, but after stepping off the plane, we felt like discovering a secret — one with stunning beaches, lush jungles, and a dark, haunting history.
Con Dao is Vietnam’s best-kept secret: remote, raw, and rich in stories.
From unspoiled beaches and turtle hatchings to haunting war-era prisons, this island is for travelers craving slow moments, local vibes, and something off the beaten path.
✨ In this guide, you’ll find everything you need: how to get there, what to book, when to visit, and where to stay, eat, and explore — plus personal tips to help you plan smarter and travel deeper.
Get to Know Con Dao
Con Dao is an archipelago of 16 islands off Vietnam’s southern coast, with Con Son (also known as Con Lon) as the main island. It’s about a 55-minute nonstop flight from Ho Chi Minh City, but worlds away from the chaos. It was a pirate hideout and a French colonial prison, and today it’s a sanctuary for endangered sea turtles and marine life.
767: Java pirates roamed these waters
1292: Marco Polo passed by and called the islands “Sondur & Condur”
1702: The English East India Company tried (and failed) to set up shop here
1861 - 1862, French colonial era: France took the islands in 1861 and opened the Con Dao Prison in 1862, known as “Hell on Earth”
1955 - 1975: The South Vietnamese government kept running the prison on a larger scale
1975: The prisons closed after 113 years. An estimated 200,000 political prisoners were held, and about 20,000 died
Today: Con Dao is a spiritual site, especially at Hang Duong Cemetery, where Vietnamese pay their respects to their national heroine Vo Thi Sau, a young Vietnamese girl who was an activist during the French colonization period and was executed at just 19 years old. There have also been reports of seeing her spirit walking around the beaches of Con Dao and causing harm to those who disrespect her grave.
Best Time to Visit
Dry season: December to April
Sunny skies and calm seas, perfect for diving, snorkeling, and beach days. It’s also peak season, so book early. Windy months run from December to February, with January the breeziest, which keeps the heat in check.
Rainy season: May to October
Expect afternoon showers (usually a downpour, then sun again), cheaper rooms, and turtles. Nesting runs May to October, and hatchling releases peak in August and September, a rare, touching moment, with people on the side wishing these little turtles good luck on their journey.
November
We went in November and loved it: warm, with the perfect breeze, and one very rainy night. It’s also the tail end of the rainy season and the likeliest month for typhoon-related cancellations, so leave yourself a buffer day on the way home.
Book your hotel and activities early if you’re visiting during turtle season. These experiences fill up fast.
Getting There & Around
Getting there
Fly from Ho Chi Minh City
We booked a domestic flight from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to Con Dao (VCS) on a tiny plane. The seats fill up fast and the luggage limits are strict, so book early.
Compare flights to Con Dao →Ferry from Vung Tau
A high-speed ferry sails from Cau Da Port in Vung Tau. Sailings have been irregular, so check the current timetable before you plan around it.
Ferry from Tran De
Superdong and Phu Quoc Express sail from Tran De Port in the Mekong Delta, about 4 hours by road from Saigon. Budget-friendly, and you see more of southern Vietnam on the way.
Tip: the last flight off the island leaves around 4 PM, and the small planes get grounded in bad weather. Skip a same-day international connection out of Saigon.
Getting around
Rent a scooter
It’s fun, cheap, and easy, and you can explore at your own pace.
We rented ours through the hotel for 150,000 VND (about $5.82) for 24 hours, and there are plenty of rental spots outside every hotel. Just ask your front desk.
Drive slowly if it’s your first time. The wind can blow hard, and the roads are winding.
Where to Explore
Con Dao is more than just beaches — it’s a magical mix of history, nature, and raw beauty.
Here are some of the best things to do:
Dam Trau beach
🏖️ Beach | ✈️ 10 min from the airport | 🚫 No bathrooms or restaurants | ⏱️ ~2 hours | 📍 Đi Đầm Trầu, Côn Đảo, Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu, Vietnam
This was our first stop after checking into the hotel. We rented a moped, rode over, stripped down, and ran straight into the waves.
Dam Trau is laid-back and ranked among the world’s best beaches, with soft sand, shady trees, and small planes gliding right over your head as they come in to land. They weren’t loud at all, and it reminded me of hanging out at Rockaway Beach with friends.
This beach is up there with my favorites, right next to Playa Zoní in Culebra.
There’s plenty to do: swim (the water is shallow and gentle at low tide), swing under the trees, sip fresh guava juice from the snack shed, or rent a cheap chair. Look closely at low tide for tiny sand bubbler crabs sculpting patterns in the sand. You can even camp on the beach for free and rent gear for about $8 - 12 a night.
The day we went was overcast, and the water wasn’t crystal clear, but the vibe? Incredible. We walked to the far side at low tide and had to swim back at high tide, so watch the rising tides.
Don’t leave your bags unattended because the monkeys will go through your things!
Bai Lo Voi (Bãi Lò Vôi)
🏖️ Beach | 🏛️ Colonial-era history | 📍 Con Dao, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Lò Vôi” means lime kiln, named after the kiln that once stood near the beach. In the French colonial era, this wasn’t just a tranquil beach. It was a brutal worksite, where prisoners were forced to dive for coral that was burned in the kiln to make lime for the island’s buildings. Walking along it today, it’s peaceful, but the history beneath the surface runs deep.
Con Dao Prison (Nhà tù Côn Đảo)
🏛️ Historic site | 😔 Sobering | 📍 2 Đường Nguyễn Huệ, Côn Đảo, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Often called “Hell on Earth,” this prison tells the brutal story of Vietnam under French and American rule. You’ll see tiger cages and mannequins showing the conditions prisoners endured, and you can feel the haunting atmosphere. It’s sobering, but it’s incredibly important to understand this history.
Hang Duong Cemetery (Nghĩa trang Hàng Dương)
🙏 Memorial | 👖 Dress modestly | 📍Côn Đảo, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
A must-visit to pay your respects. National heroine Võ Thị Sáu is buried here, along with thousands of revolutionary heroes who sacrificed their lives fighting for peace and independence.
An Son Temple (Miếu Bà Phi Yến)
🛕 Temple | 📍 Hoàng Phi Yến, Côn Đảo, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam
Believed to be built in 1785, this temple honors Lady Phi Yen, a concubine of Lord Nguyen Anh (later Emperor Gia Long). The current building went up in 1958, after the original was destroyed by the French. It’s serene, and many locals revere Phi Yen as a sacred holy woman.
Van Son Pagoda
🛕 Pagoda | 🪜 About 200 steps | 📍 Con Dao, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Climb around 200 steps for amazing views and peaceful worship.
Ride the moped around the island
🛵 Moped | ⏱️ Under an hour for the loop
We rode the whole island in under an hour! The winding mountain roads have epic views and the freedom to stop wherever you want: waterfalls, jungles, beaches. They’re building more resorts around the island, so ride it before it gets too touristy.
💡 Tip: Watch for monkeys crossing the road, and slow down when you see them.
Watch for monkeys crossing the road, and slow down when you see them.
🧉 Spontaneous coconut stop
We spotted a little Con Dao bus parked on a hilltop with a stunning ocean view, selling fresh coconuts.
It wasn’t on any map or list, so I’m guessing it’s more of a local thing.
We pulled over, grabbed a coconut, and just soaked in the view. It was one of those spontaneous travel moments that turn into a special memory.
🌿 Hike hidden trails
We followed our gut (and some dirt paths) and ended up at breathtaking, untouched viewpoints.
If it looked hikeable, we went for it, because sometimes the best spots aren’t on maps.
Con Dao Experiences You'll Love
Where to Dine
An Ơi Cafe & Restaurant
The only place we ate at, and we were obsessed.
A mother-daughter duo serving fresh, flavorful food all day, and you can taste the love in every bite.
Where to Stay
From luxury eco-resorts to cozy boutique hotels, Con Dao has something for every kind of traveler. Whether you’re a solo explorer or planning a romantic escape, these are the top places to stay.
The Secret Con Dao
💰 Mid-range to luxury | 👫 Great for couples, families | 🌿 Eco-minded |
We stayed here and immediately fell in love. We booked through Capital One Venture X and got a free room upgrade, no questions asked! It’s sustainability-minded (less single-use plastic, less electricity), with yoga classes, spa treatments, a pool, and incredible food on-site. Stylish, peaceful, and a ride from the ocean. Read my full review →
Six Senses Con Dao
💰 Luxury | 🧘🏻♀️ Perfect for couples & wellness seekers
We didn’t stay here, but we drove past it, and wow. It’s the ultimate luxury escape — think award-winning spa, oceanfront villas, nourishing cuisine, and daily yoga. If you’re dreaming of disconnecting in style, Six Senses delivers. See rates for Six Senses →
— Find your perfect stay —
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Vietnam Discovery: Bai Lo Voi Beach
Vietnam Travel: Con Dao
Vietnam Travel: Explore Con Dao’s Heroic History and Eco-Tourism Experience
Wikipedia: Côn Đảo
Wikipedia: Võ Thị Sáu
Vietnam Airlines: Con Dao Prison, “Hell on Earth”
JMIC: At the Edge: Heritage and Tourism Development in Vietnam’s Con Dao Archipelago
DTiNews: Vung Tau-Con Dao Express Ferry Resumes After Five-Month Suspension
VietnamSpot: How to Get from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau in 2026
VietnamSpot: Con Dao Weather Month by Month
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