Top places to visit in Con Dao

• Con Dao Prison Museum

  prison museum · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The most haunting historical site in Vietnam — the French colonial prison complex (1862–1975) that held over 200,000 political prisoners. Tiger Cages, execution houses and mass graves create a profoundly sobering experience.

• Bay Canh Island — Turtle Beach

  sea turtle beach · 4.9 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  The most important sea turtle nesting beach in Vietnam — green and hawksbill turtles nest here every night June–September. National Park runs ranger-accompanied night tours to watch nesting and hatchlings. Pristine coral reefs for daytime…

• Con Dao National Park Coral Reefs

  Nature · 4.9 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Con Dao National Park protects some of the healthiest coral reefs remaining in Vietnam — over 200 species of coral and 160 fish species. Snorkelling and diving off Hon Tai and Hon Cau islands offers visibility of 15–20 m.

• Con Son Town Colonial Quarter

  Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Con Son's historic town core is lined with beautifully restored French colonial buildings — churches, post office, and administrative buildings dating to the 1860s — set beneath century-old rain trees.

• Dam Tre Bay Kayaking

  Nature · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A sheltered, mangrove-fringed lagoon on the northern tip of Con Dao Island, accessible only by boat or kayak. Crystal clear water, resident sea turtles, and total silence make this one of Vietnam's most magical paddling spots.

• Hang Duong Cemetery

  Heritage · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  War memorial cemetery, including the grave of Vo Thi Sau, a pilgrimage site for Vietnamese visitors.

• So Ray Beach

  Beach · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Quiet, secluded beach on Con Son island popular for its calm turquoise water.

Things to do

• Con Dao Snorkelling & Con Dao National Park Boat Tour Outdoor · 6 h · from VND 689,000 per person
• Con Dao Sea Turtle Night Watching Wildlife · 3 h · from VND 276,000 per person
• Con Dao Prison Museum Guided History Tour Cultural · 2 h · from VND 100,000 per person
• So Ray Plantation Hiking Trail Nature · 2.5 h

Day trips and tours

• Con Dao Full Island: Prison Museum, Beaches & Turtle Night Watch 12 h · from VND 827,000

Where to stay in Con Dao

• Con Son Town about VND 2,500 per night

  The only settlement on Con Dao — a cluster of boutique hotels, guesthouses and French colonial buildings. Everything is walkable: the prison museum, the market, the beach and the turtle sanctuary.

Hotels

• Six Senses Con Dao 5-star · VND 25,000,000 to VND 99,000,000 per night
• Con Dao Resort 4-star · VND 2,500,000 to VND 8,000,000 per night
• Poulo Condor Boutique Resort & Spa 5-star · VND 3,500,000 to VND 8,000,000 per night
• The Secret Con Dao 5-star · VND 3,000,000 to VND 7,000,000 per night
• Hotel Hoa Mai Con Dao 3-star · VND 600,000 to VND 1,200,000 per night
• The Snail Haven Pub and Stay 3-star · VND 350,000 to VND 480,000 per night

Where to eat

• Bay Canh Beach Club & Restaurant Vietnamese, Seafood · about VND 450,000 per person
• Phuong Lan Restaurant seafood, vietnamese · about VND 300,000 per person
• Infiniti Restaurant Con Dao seafood, vietnamese, international · about VND 650,000 per person
• Infinity Cafe & Restaurant western, vietnamese · about VND 280,000 per person
• Thu Ba Restaurant seafood · about VND 280,000 per person
• Quan Tri Ky seafood · about VND 80,000 per person

Getting to Con Dao

Airport: Con Dao (VCS)

How visitors arrive in Con Dao

• Flight from Ho Chi Minh City By air from Ho Chi Minh City · common

  Vietnam Airlines flies from Tan Son Nhat airport to Con Dao airport at the island's north end. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Ferry from Tran De By ferry from Tran De (Soc Trang) · common

  Fast ferries run from Tran De port in Soc Trang province to Ben Dam port on the island. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Ferry from Vung Tau By ferry from Vung Tau · possible · unconfirmed

  Some sources list Vung Tau sailings, but the guide marks them suspended or unverified. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Hotel minibus from Con Dao airport unconfirmed

  The airport is at the far north of the island. Hotels run minibuses; arrange one in advance, or board a hotel bus and pay the driver to take you to town. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus 173 appears on some maps and articles but does not exist (as of February 2026); arrange a hotel minibus or taxi. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the port to the centre

• Shuttle from Ben Dam ferry port unconfirmed

  Arrivals by boat at Ben Dam port are met by a shuttle to your hotel. Port fees are paid separately on entry and exit. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bicycle
• Motorbike Rental

  Motorbikes can be rented from the main hotels on Con Dao, where traffic is light.

• Walking

Paying

• Pay the hotel bus driver directly when boarding, and confirm transfer arrangements with your hotel beforehand. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Best time to visit Con Dao

• Jan 25°C
• Feb 26°C
• Mar 27°C
• Apr 28°C
• May 32°C
• Jun 31°C
• Jul 31°C
• Aug 31°C
• Sep 30°C
• Oct 30°C
• Nov 29°C
• Dec 26°C

More in Vietnam

• Ho Chi Minh City
• Hanoi
• Hoi An
• Phu Quoc
• Da Nang
• Ha Long City

Frequently asked questions about Con Dao

How many days do you need in Con Dao?

A typical trip to Con Dao is 3-5 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Con Dao?

The highest-rated places in our Con Dao guide are Bay Canh Island — Turtle Beach, Con Dao National Park Coral Reefs, Dam Tre Bay Kayaking, Con Dao Prison Museum, Con Son Town Colonial Quarter.

Where should I stay in Con Dao?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Con Dao: Con Son Town.

How do I get around Con Dao?

Ways to get around Con Dao covered in our guide: Bicycle, Motorbike rental, Walking.

What is the weather like in Con Dao?

Average daytime highs in Con Dao run from 25°C in Jan to 32°C in May.

Which airport is nearest to Con Dao?

The nearest airport to Con Dao has the code VCS.