Con Dao Island, the wild pearl of Vietnam
Con Dao is an archipelago of 16 small, mostly uninhabited islands located off the southern coast of Vietnam 80 km from the Mekong Delta and 230 km from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Each of its islets offer vast wild and shaded beaches. It’s the dream come true for discerning travelers looking to escape busy city life.
Con Son, known as Poulo Condor to Vietnamese history buffs, is the largest of the 15 islands that make up the Con Dao archipelago. The island’s remoteness and former use as a penal colony have kept it in a relatively untouched state: even today, 80% of Con Son is still forested. The thick vegetation provides habitat for all kinds of exotic animals of the archipelago: the Con Dao arctoed gecko and the Con Dao black giant squirrel are just two examples.
The islands are rugged and mountainous, with the highest peak reaching 557m. The ocean is home to dugongs (sea cows) and sea turtles which lay their eggs on the beaches from March to August.
The climate in Con Dao
Blessed with a consistently warm tropical climate, a stay in Con Dao is enjoyable any time of the year. However, it is advisable to watch the weather forecast as the trip approaches to ensure that there is no storm.
The winter months on Con Son Island are generally dry, but rough seas and strong northeast winds mean the island feels incredibly isolated at this time of year. The summer months bring occasional monsoon rains, but the seas remain calm and clear, the bays beautiful and tranquil.
History of Con Dao
The largest (and only inhabited) island, Con Son was once the site of French prisons for Vietnamese involved in the independence movement. Most of the abandoned prisons are located in Con Son town, where you can visit the prison cells and the famous tiger cages. Many locals visit Con Son to pay their respects to revolutionaries such as Vo Thi Sau, the first woman on the island to be executed by settlers
If we go back even further in time, the island was known as “Poulo Condor” symbolizing the object of the desires of the former French colonists due to its strategic position on the southern sea…
A lost paradise
But behind this historical aspect, the island has fabulous natural treasures. First, Con Dao has a very well preserved nature: an intact fauna and flora; still wild beaches; deep and pure waters, ideal for practicing diving or other water sports… Tourism in Con Dao has just started. There are a handful of hotels and restaurants, making Con Dao a great place to laze around both day and night.
How to get to Con Dao?
200 km from the megalopolis of South Vietnam-Ho Chi Minh City, Con Dao is truly a paradise island and a perfect place for your seaside stays.
By plane
To date, three direct flights allow you to get to Con Dao:
Saigon – Con Dao, one flight every day, flight time 50 min. Can Tho – Con Dao, one flight every day, flight time 35 min. Hai Phong – Con Dao, one flight every day, flight time two hours.
On a boat
Another less expensive but slower way than the plane is the boat.
You can take the boat from 3 cities to get to Con Dao: Vung Tau, Soc Trang and Can Tho.
What to do in Con Dao?
Once here, no problem finding activities or sites to visit. The nature of Con Dao is an invitation to discovery. You can, first of all, discover a diversified and very well preserved fauna and flora, either by strolling in the park, or by going to observe the birth of the turtles if you come around the months of April, May and June.
You can of course take advantage of the sun to tan on its unspoiled and deserted beaches, or practice water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, sea excursions… The large number of abandoned beaches make the wealth of the archipelago such as Dâm Trâu, An Hai, Suôi Nong Dâm Tre, Nhât beach, Côn Son bay.
The forbidden forest of Côn Dao is an opportunity for magnificent hikes in nature. It was introduced to the National Park in 1993 for its rich ecosystem. The terrestrial fauna and flora include more than 135 species of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles as well as 882 various plants. For the maritime part of Côn Dao, the nature reserve contains splendid coral reefs. This unique place in Vietnam makes it possible to preserve certain endangered species such as the dugong, the dolphin or the green turtle, in particular. If you are here at the right time, try to observe the birth of turtles around April, May and June.
the main peninsula also has miles of coastal roads, hiking trails and a wide range of outdoor activities.
You can also take an interest in the history of the island with a visit to the prison of Poulo Condor and the old prisons.
Whatever your intentions, it will be very useful for you to find out about the weather before going there to plan your activities. The observation of the hatching of turtle eggs is done from May to September. Excursions in the forests are recommended when the weather is dry, from November to mid-May.
The best time to enjoy the islands and snorkeling is from mid-May to the end of October. But there are risks of rain, especially around July and August. If you want to go diving, the best period is from May to the end of July.
Con Dao market
Chợ Côn Đảo (Con Dao Market) is located away from the waterfront, in the middle of the sleepy little streets of Con Son town. Inside, dozens of food vendors pack in the shade of the market.
In the morning, locals sit on wooden benches, sipping all kinds of breakfast foods and drinks: noodle soups, rice pancakes, rice porridge, iced coffees, fruit juices, sticky desserts.
There is a constant buzz of voices as customers share stories with food vendors. Outside, fish, fruit and vegetables are pirated and packaged. Perhaps all the men are in their barracks or at sea because the market belongs to women at this hour: here, gender relations are reversed.
Conclusion
As you have understood, the Con Dao archipelago is a dream destination for lounging and enjoying dazzling nature. Here, stress will slip over you and you will feel serene and at peace.
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