I won’t beat around the bush: Con Dao, an island off Vietnam’s southern coast, is Vietnam’s most underrated hidden gem. I’ve travelled to nearly every part of this country over the past 12 years, and I’ve never been so impressed by a place that most people, even locals who love beaches, have never been to.
Con Dao doesn’t have a hand-holding tourist infrastructure like Phu Quoc or Nha Trang, which is part of why a trip there feels like a real adventure. It could also be due in part to the fact that 80% of the island is covered by a gorgeous national park.
Or it could be because of the island’s intense history revolving around prison camps, ghost stories, and war heroes. Or that adventurous feeling could come from the pristine but untamed beaches.
Any way you slice it, that lack of hand-holding can make Con Dao’s full beauty hard to experience without any direction. In this Con Dao guide, I’ve synthesized my own travel expertise with tips from locals to give you all the direction you need when planning a trip there.
What makes Con Dao unique
Con Dao is unlike anywhere else I’ve been in Vietnam in 3 huge ways.
It’s clean
Con Dao’s public spaces are spotless, without even a speck of trash in sight. Much of it still exhibits the same rustic, ancient, nature-meets-civilization charm you find in most of Southeast Asia, but the locals are absolutely averse to littering. The ocean near Con Dao is as trash-free as the streets. Plastic straws are even banned on the island.
Those who’ve travelled in Vietnam will know how unusual this is; almost everywhere in the country has issues with littering.
It’s safe
Con Dao is essentially crime-free. An especially noticeable sign of that was that motorbikes are constantly left unlocked and unwatched in public spaces, even on remote rural corners of the island.
The keys to those bikes are often left in the ignition, and people will leave bags or other belongings sitting on the bike seat if they don’t want to bring them. Locals told me theft and violent crime are basically unheard of there, so long walks at night are doable for anyone.
It was a nice change compared to most of Vietnam, where people often worry about petty crime.
It’s uncrowded
There are, of course, many areas in rural Vietnam that are uncrowded. But Con Dao has a ton of beautiful public spaces that are more on par with what you’d see in a wealthy city, and yet they’re still empty. It honestly felt like a post-apocalyptic town at times.
I asked locals about why this is, and they told me that people in Con Dao have an extraordinarily strong work ethic, so they don’t have free time to hang out in public spaces.
This is in sharp contrast to most of Vietnam, which is a very crowded country and where people tend to have a more relaxed approach to work.
Con Dao’s orderly and hygienic culture doesn’t feel sterile; rather, it’s merged with Vietnam’s signature brand of casual friendliness to create something I believe is unique not just to travelling Vietnam but to travelling the world at large.
Where to stay on Con Dao
Con Dao is loosely divided into three parts: the main town, the western part of the island, and the eastern part of the island.
Con Dao main town
Almost all of Con Dao’s accommodations are located in the main town for an understandable reason: that’s where all the trimmings of civilization on the island are.
Unlike the other parts of the island, which are protected by the government and not zoned for private development, the downtown is dotted with restaurants, cafes, shops, pharmacies, and ATMs.
Con Dao’s center is still very much a small town; you won’t find any tall buildings, malls, or branded shops. It does have a lot of nice parks and walking areas, though, and the nightly market is a good time. It’s also a 3-5 minute walk to beautiful beaches – more on those in the next section.
Downtown Con Dao has a lot of nice accommodations. I stayed at Little Home Homestay and can personally recommend it.
The room was spacious, clean, and comfortable. Both the room and the building had a gorgeous light wood decor that made me glad to return there at the end of a day on the island. Plus, the price was amazing: $20/night for a large well-maintained room with two large beds (one of which I didn’t use).
Some other hotels in downtown Con Dao I looked at and can recommend include:
- Con Son Island Hotel. Nice rooms, great cafe area with good coffee, and right on the beach. ($26/night)
- Havana Con Dao Hotel. Great mountain/city views from room balconies, restaurant cafe attached to hotel. ($28/night)
- Hoang Gia Hotel Con Dao. Extremely cheap but still spacious, well-furnished and clean. Near a lot of good street food and a couple of walkable lakes, if a bit further from the beach. ($17/night)
West Con Dao
As mentioned, hotels outside the center are rare. Most of the west side of the island is protected as a natural reserve, and the project has been a roaring success: western Con Dao has arguably the most beautiful and rustic beaches, forests, and red rock landscapes I’ve seen in Vietnam.
There are really only two notable exceptions.
Hotel Tram, where I stayed, is all about location. The rooms themselves are pretty meh. They are clean but very barebones, with an old-school Vietnamese lack of attention to decor or furniture quality.
The moment you step out of the room, though, you are met with an unbelievable view: the hotel is on a little hill right across from one of the nicest white sand beaches on the island, and the rooms face the beach.
They don’t have windows, but there is a nice patio at the hotel to watch the waves.
I highly recommend this place for adventure travellers who prioritise being immersed in nature over modern amenities. (It’s about $23/night)
Orson Hotel & Resort is straight luxury, but it only costs $60/night.
The views from the rooms are incredible, the huge swimming pool is even better, and the interior design from the gigantic lobby to the rooms themselves makes you feel like royalty.
It’s the only hotel on the far west of Con Dao for reasons I wasn’t able to get a clear answer on, but I’m pretty sure it has something to do with the government restricting property development. I should add that Orson is one of the only places on Con Dao to see turtles hatching if you come during the right season – more on that below.
East Con Dao
I can’t recommend staying on the east side of Con Dao, because it’s further from nice beaches and has almost no development.
If you really love the idea of staying in a rural Vietnamese area at the foot of a mountain, Sao Condor is nice. The hotel itself is well-designed and has a game room and a nice swimming pool.
The pods you’ll stay in are small but comfortable. That being said, the area it’s in is a bit boring. (It starts at $37/night.)
The eastern part of the island is also home to arguably the most luxurious hotel in Vietnam, Six Senses Con Dao. Rooms can cost thousands of dollars per night and house celebrities or other billionaires.
I can’t speak about the facilities because non-guests aren’t allowed anywhere near them, but I can guarantee they’re out-of-this-world luxurious. ($1,182/night.)
How to get to Con Dao
There are two main ways to get to Con Dao:
By plane (the convenient way)
Con Dao has an airport on the Eastern side of the island, about 15km (9mi) from town down a barren and winding road. The airport is tiny and only has one gate, but it gets regular direct flights from Saigon and Can Tho, and connecting flights from every other commercial airport in Vietnam.
The table below has travel time and distance from several major Vietnamese cities to Con Dao Airport (VCS). I’d recommend Vietjet for budget flights, or Vietnam Airlines if you don’t want to risk delays.
| Departure city | Distance | Travel time (incl. connection) | Connection in SGN? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saigon (SGN) | 231km/144mi | 40min | No |
| Hanoi (HAN) | 1385km/861mi | 4hr5min | Yes |
| Danang (DAD) | 827km/514mi | 5hrs | Yes |
| Phu Quoc (PQC) | 336km/209mi | 4hr40min | Yes |
| Can Tho (VCA) | 181km/113mi | 55min | No |
After flying into Con Dao, you can catch a taxi, rent a motorbike near the airport and drive into town, or take bus 173 to the centre.
Check out our full guide on how to get around Vietnam.
By boat (the adventurous way)
There are ferries to Con Dao, but they are seasonal.
A boat operated by Phu Quy Express runs from Saigon to Con Dao, but only during the months of March-July since the sea is too rough the rest of the year. The best site to book tickets online for the ferry is 12go.
The hilariously-named Superdong offers ferries to Con Dao for most of the year from Vung Tau (a beach city I absolutely love) and Tran De (a small fishing town that’s a bit boring but is the closest mainland port to Con Dao).
The ferry takes 4 hours from Vung Tau and 2.5 hours from Tran De. You can also book these tickets on 12go.
Be warned, though: the waters between the mainland and Con Dao are usually extremely rough outside April-July. I took the ferry from Tran De in January and tossed and turned so much that I was legitimately afraid the ship was going to capsize (although I’m sure it was normal).
If the waters are placid, the ferry is a beautiful and relaxing way to travel to Con Dao. The waters near the island are a crystalline blue, and dolphins are known to swim alongside the boats.
All ferries let off at Ben Dam Port, about 15km (10mi) from town. From there, catch a taxi or rent a motorbike from one of the agencies just next to the port.
What to do on Con Dao
1. Go to the beach
I’ve travelled all over Vietnam, and I can confidently say Con Dao has the most beautiful beaches I’ve seen in the country.
Thanks to the island’s isolation from the rest of Vietnam combined with the importance the locals place on keeping their nature clean, the waters are bluer, the sands are whiter, and there is no debris to tarnish the landscape. The table below lists a few of Con Dao’s best beaches.
| Beach name | Why it’s on this list | Distance from centre | Safety tips (no lifeguard at any of these beaches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| An Hai Beach | Right near town, shockingly white sand, interesting rocky landscape | 1km (0.6mi) | Water is calmest in the mornings |
| Lo Voi Beach | Quiet but central location, spacious sandy area, nice shaded park running along the beach | 2km (1.2mi) | Some rocky patches near shore; footwear recommended |
| Ong Dung Beach | Best snorkelling near town, easily accessible but feels secluded, amazing sunsets | 4km (2.4mi) plus a short forest walk | Lots of reef and rocks underfoot |
| Dam Trau Beach | Best golden sand beach, best for swimming, you can watch planes land, my pick for best beach on Con Dao | 14km (8.7mi) | Can get rough in windy weather, Oct-Feb |
| Suoi Nong Beach | Dense jungle surroundings give it a very secluded feel | 20km (12.4mi), there’s some harsh terrain near the beach | Strong sun exposure and heavy swell; best for advanced swimmers |
2. Motorbike the Eastern Loop
Lots of places rent motorbikes or e-bikes (which do not require a licence) on Con Dao, and the best area to explore on a bike is definitely the loop around the Eastern end of the island (route plotted on the map below).
There are countless viewpoints, beaches, and other designated stops along the way, but a few of my favorite are:
Bai Nhat – This sandy, rocky stretch has an absolutely amazing view of the ocean on one side and the crumbling granite rock on the other. A local man decorates it with stone piles and wooden chairs, making it the most Instagrammable spot on the island.
Ancient Well – Down a short path into the forest, the well itself is unremarkable. But the jungle-meets-ocean landscape you can explore there is extremely memorable.
Hong Dam Beach – Unlike most beaches on the island, the blue waters of Hong Dam Beach are dotted with fishing boats. Set against the mountains on small islands in the background, it’s an iconic vista.
Tai Sinh Eco-Cafe – This outdoor food court at the loop’s midpoint has a cafe serving smoothies and detox drinks, a restaurant serving health food, and a few shops selling locally-made crafts. It also has a hippie-style eco-design theme, complete with wooden tables and chairs. The view is incredible, too.
Sunset Getaway – The best place on the island to view the sunset. Some tables and chairs are set up for sightseers and a woman sells coffee from a cart there when it’s not too windy. Monkeys frequent the area, too.
3. Hike
Most of Con Dao is taken up by jungle and mountains, and many of them are great for hiking.
Some of the trails belong to Con Dao National Park. They tend to be better maintained than the unofficial trails, but they also require a hiking permit that can be purchased at the park’s ticketing office.
The national park trails usually have guided tours available; I went on a good So Ray Mountain Tour where we saw monkeys on the way up and ate some fruit while looking out on a fantastic view of Con Dao’s centre at the summit.
The unofficial trails are nice as well. They’re not as well kept, but that often means they have a bit more rustic character (if a slightly higher chance of snake sightings). Best of all, they’re free.
book this So Ray Mountain TourThe table below lists four great hikes on Con Dao.
| Trail name | Distance from Centre | Trail length | Difficulty (1-4) | Why it stands out | Official? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ong Dung | 4km (2.5mi) | 2km (1.2mi) | 1 | Easiest jungle-to-beach walk | Yes |
| Bamboo Lagoon (Vinh Dam Tre) | 6km (3.7mi) | 3km (1.9mi) | 2 | Secluded and adventurous | Yes |
| Lo Voi Mountain | 2km (1.2mi) | 3km (1.9mi) | 3 | Best sunrise views; can spy on ultra luxurious Six Senses Resort | No |
| The Cross (Dinh Thanh Gia) | 3km (1.9mi) | 4km (2.5mi) | 4 | Best workout; highest viewpoint | No |
- Some trails may be closed: Paths close seasonally (typically in summer) and sometimes without notice. Always check ahead.
- The trails can be slippery: Moss-covered stones make the paths dangerously slick – even seasoned hikers struggle in proper boots.
- Register at the park ranger booth: Sign in at the booth near the trailhead before heading out. It’s quick, easy, and completely free.
4. Meet monkeys at An Son Pagoda
If you’re a fan of wild monkeys like me, you’ll love An Son Pagoda, located a 5-minute drive from the town centre.
The Pagoda itself has a similar grandeur to many Vietnamese pagodas – traditional architecture, big gold Buddha statues, intricate indoor altars, etc. But one part of the small complex atop a hill is overtaken by dozens of long-tailed macaques. If you want to visit them, go around 9:00 am when they are fed.
5. Clean trash
To immerse yourself in local culture, join the Islanders in keeping their nature clean. The restaurant owner at Tai Sinh Eco-Cafe organizes a biweekly trash cleanup around the island. The group’s Facebook is Trash2Art.
6. Tour the prisons
If there’s one thing most Vietnamese know about Con Dao, it’s the island’s history as a prison camp that both the French and the Americans used to hold prisoners during their respective occupations of Vietnam.
You can tour the prisons yourself or arrange for a guide through the Con Dao Museum or through any local tour agency. Either way, seeing how Vietnamese prisoners were treated at the camps is a chilling and sometimes graphic experience.
The most famous is the French Phu Tuong Prison, better known as the Tiger Cages. The cages are built into the ground, and guards could walk over the bars at the top. Gnarly stuff.
book this Historical tour
Other French-run prisons on Con Dao include:
- Phu Hai, the oldest and largest complex on Con Dao
- Phu Son, the most intact complex
- Phu Tho
- Phu Binh
American-run prison complexes on Con Dao include:
- Phu Binh
- Phu An
- Phu Hung
The prisons are all several minutes walk from town and entrance is included with a museum ticket bought on the same day.
7. Visit Con Dao Museum
Con Dao’s museum covers the island’s natural history, its colonial-era history, and especially its past as a prison camp holding revolutionary heroes. It’s honestly not a great museum – it has no really memorable items on display, and most exhibits are barely translated into English.
For those who know nothing about the island’s history, though, it does a decent job of setting the scene and establishing a tone for your trip.
Plus, the admission ticket also gets you into the prisons, which are much better than the museum in my opinion.
8. Pay your respects at Hang Duong Cemetery (for cultural immersion)
Surprisingly, the one public space on Con Dao that’s consistently bustling, even in the evenings, is Hang Duong War Cemetery.
The people of Con Dao are very proud of their heroic past, and paying respects to famous graves at the cemetery (the most famous being female war hero Vo Thi Sau) is the island’s pastime. Wear respectful clothing (no open-toed shoes allowed) and join the locals.
The cemetery grounds are very nice, too, with lit-up bridges spanning lotus ponds and stone paths winding between towering statues.
9. Play Chinese chess at Kem Dua Hong Nhan
In the heart of Con Dao’s downtown is Kem Dua Hong Nhan, a nice place to grab a drink and, their specialty, coconut ice cream. They also have plenty of Chinese Chess sets so you can get some mental stimulation.
No one there speaks enough English to teach the rules, but it’s similar to regular chess in terms of game flow. Besides, ordering a coffee and an ice cream, pulling up a YouTube video, and learning to play is a great way to spend an afternoon after a morning hike.
10. Go on a guided fishing trip
A local guide I met named Hợp organizes deepwater fishing trips on days throughout the year when the weather is good. I went out with a group of four and was the only non-Vietnamese, but Hợp speaks good English and it was a lot of fun.
Hợp caught over 120kg of fish in the 3.5 hours we were out there. I only caught a third of that, but it’s still by far the most successful fishing trip I’ve ever had – the fish in the ocean near Con Dao are plentiful and huge.
You can contact Hợp about a trip through the Con Dao Fishing Facebook group. The cost is for a fishing boat (max. 5 people) for a half day. The boats sometimes have room for individuals who want to join and pay a reduced rate.
11. Watch turtles hatch (seasonal)
Many people who’ve seen turtles hatching say it’s one of the most magical natural phenomena they’ve witnessed.
The perfect stillness and quietness of the Con Dao night air, the understanding that these amazing newborns are operating purely on ancient instinct, and the sheer rarity of the occurrence make it special. The fact that only one in 1,000 sea turtles actually survive to mate themselves adds to the experience, too.
Fun fact: sea turtles instinctually remember the exact beach they hatched on and go there to lay their eggs if they ever get the chance.
🐢 Hatching season runs from June to September, and the best way to experience it is through a guided night tour with a park ranger.
Keep in mind that flash photography and artificial light can disorient newborns, as they navigate to the sea using the moonlight. So no lights, no noise, no touching, and a respectful distance at all times. A good ranger will brief you on the rules before the hatching begins.
Where to eat on Con Dao
Honestly, Con Dao doesn’t have the greatest food options. The island’s soil is not ideal for farming, so it’s hard to grow much there other than seafood.
This makes restaurant food and street food expensive in Vietnam and usually not super fresh. That being said, a few good restaurants near the center, all recommended by locals, are:
- Com Chay Kho Quet Anh 7 (Crispy rice wraps)
- Banyan Tree Restaurant (Seafood)
- Com Nieu Nguyen An (Clay pot rice)
- Thu Ba Restaurant (Crab noodle soup)
When to visit Con Dao
The most common time for international tourists to visit Con Dao is November and December because they mark the start of the dry season. November is the tail end of the monsoon season – average temperatures are 25-30°C (77-86°F) and it can still get some showers. December is usually dry and has slightly nicer temperatures.
- The beaches can be very windy from Nov-Mar, but they calm down in April.
- There’s a little rain to keep things green, but not much.
- There are fewer crowds.
Planning a backpacking trip to Vietnam? Ho Chi Minh City is the natural jumping-off point for Con Dao — a short one-hour flight is all it takes to swap the city’s chaos for one of the best beach destinations in the country. If you’re still piecing together your Vietnam route, we’ve got a 30+ guide packed with travel tips on our Vietnam blog.
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