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15 Amazing Things to Do in Con Dao - Beaches, Hikes & History

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Con Dao was one of those places in Vietnam that I didn’t make it to until my third visit, but I really wish I’d gotten to earlier. Like many others we headed to the more well known Phu Quoc first, but I’m so glad we didn’t skip Con Dao. It ended up being one of my favourite spots in Vietnam and we kept extending our stay here for weeks.

Before visiting, I honestly didn’t know much about Con Dao beyond seeing a few photos online. But after arriving, it quickly became one of my favourite places in Vietnam. It feels completely different from destinations like Phu Quoc and other more famous tourist spots. There are no giant beach clubs, barely any crowds, and somehow the island still feels peaceful and authentic.

Whether you're planning a few days of relaxation or want to explore every corner of the island, there are plenty of things to do in Con Dao to make your visit memorable.

After exploring as much as possible I’ve gathered all my favourite things to do in this guide to make it easier for you to plan your trip.

Top Things to Do in Con Dao: The Ultimate Island Guide

As always I’ll start with the fun part first, namely the top things to do in Con Dao. If you also want more practical information like where you should base yourself, how to get around and my favourite restaurants, just scroll further down and you’ll find everything you need.

Visit the Local Food Market

In the middle of the city centre you’ll find a food market selling everything from fresh fruits and vegetable to freshly caught fish. I often think it’s a hit or miss with these kinds of markets, some have just become too touristy, but this one felt refreshingly local and authentic. I highly recommend just wandering around here, looking at what people are selling and buying, most of it were things I’ve never seen at home, which was great fun.

It’s open every day, but definitely more fun to explore if you come early during a weekend.

Local Food Market on Con Dao

Grab Some Food at The Night Market

There is a small night market with a couple of stalls selling fresh fish and seafood during the weekend. On a Saturday this places is packed with locals enjoying dinner. It was so fun to see people picking various shells from a huge line of various shellfish. I don't think I’ve actually seen this kind of market before so it was really fun. Other than us there wasn't a single tourist here so it felt very fun to explore.

Right next to it you’ll find a small area where people hang out in the evenings, but it was pouring down so that part was rather quiet when we visited. But I can just imagine it usually being full of life and a fun place to be on the weekends.

Night Market on Con Dao

Visit the Infamous Con Dao Prison

Con Dao isn’t just a spot to relax on beautiful beaches. It also carries one of the darkest histories in Vietnam.

During French colonial rule and later during the Vietnam War, Con Dao Prison became notorious for imprisoning political prisoners under horrific conditions. Prisoners were kept in tiny cramped cells, often shackled for long periods.

You will find multiple spots around the island belonging to the prison and they are all equally horrifying to wander through. I personally found it really intense and emotional, but I’m still glad I went to learn more about the history of the island. Even if you normally skip museums while traveling, this is one place I’d strongly recommend visiting.

To get in you need to head to the museum (Bảo tàng Côn Đảo) first to buy tickets. There you’ll get a ticket for 50.000 Dong (1,5USD) that lets you enter seven different sights on the island. This is the only place you can buy the ticket so head there firs.

The ticket is only valid for one day so if you intend to see many of the sights you should head there as early as possible so you have time to explore what you want with a lunch break in between.

Con Dao Prison

The ticket lets you in to the museum, the palace and 5 various prison sites on the island. You don't have to visit them all, as they are quite similar, but I highly recommend doing at least one. It’s nice to start at the museum to read more about the history first because there isn't any information at the prisons and you’ll get a better experience if you know a bit about the history before you visit.

Con Dao Prison

Visit The Royal Palace

As mentioned above The Royal palace is included in the ticket to the prisons. I had never heard of it and just went because I already had a ticket for it. It’s not something extraordinary, but if you’re walking past it you might as well take a look. I do think the building itself is quite beautiful, but if you’re very short on time on Con Dao it’s not a must to go inside.

The Royal Palace on Con Dao

Relax on Dam Trau Beach

This was in my opinion the best beach on the island and absolutely worth a visit even though it’s on the opposite side of where most people base themselves. The water is incredibly calm so it’s perfect for swimming.

If you don’t have a scooter you can easily get there from the city centre by taking the bus that goes directly from the city to Dam Trau Beach. Just double check with the drivers and they’ll tell you when to go off if you’re unsure. Busses here are incredibly easy and clean, so we took them loads of times.

This beach has an entrance ticket, but it was only 3.000 VND and then you’ll get access to the beach, a restaurant and bar and toilet facilities which is nice. That means you can stay all day and just relax.

Dam Trau Beach

This is also a pretty popular spot to come and watch the planes take off right over the beach. When we came here I had checked the flight times and was hoping to see a plane land, but after looking up at the sky for an eternity I realised that they land on the other side of the airport and at Dam Trau Beach you can only see them take off. That’s of course cool as well, but worth knowing so you can time your visit accordingly if you want to see it.

Dam Trau Beach

Walk around the city and along the Promenade

This might go without saying, but really set aside some time to just wander the streets here. Take a detour, walk down to the water front and wander the promenade. The streets here are incredible cosy, colourful and calm and I just loved wandering around here without a plan. Suddenly I ended up in a super charming street, found a new coffee bar or some long forgotten houses that were overgrown by trees.

Exploring Con Dao
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Run around the lake

If you’re a runner I highly recommend doing a run either along the promenade or head towards the lake and run around there. There's not really anything to see around the lake, but if you're looking for a place to run without a crosswalk every two seconds this is a great spot. It’s also cozy for an evenig walk if you have extra time in Con Dao.

Con Dao Lake

Have a Pool day at Secret Hotel

Not a lot of hotels on Con Dao have pools so if you want to relax by the pool for a day you can actually buy a day pass at the Secret Hotel. I asked them about this, but since we didn’t have the best weather during our time here we spent the good days on the beach or hiking, so there really wasn’t any time left for just relaxing by the pool. However, if that’s something you want you can buy a day pass there.

They had various packages including access to the gym, welcome drink, dinners etc so just reach out to them if you want something more fancy. If you just want to relax by the pool it cost 250.000 Dong (8USD) per person when I checked.

Pool at Secret Hotel - Booking.com

Relax at An Hải Beach

An Hải is one of the most accessible beaches in Con Dao and a lovely spot to spend a few hours relaxing. It’s located close to Con Son town, and has a long stretch of soft sand, clear water and a beautiful backdrop of green mountains.

There are no facilities here, but at one end of the beach you’ll find a spot called Bar200 which has a couple of bean bags where you can relax if you buy something. I personally preferred the Dam Trau beach, but this one is also incredibly nice if you just want somewhere to relax and take a swim.

Bãi tắm An Hải Beach on Con Dao
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Hike Elephant Mountain

Another of my favourite things to do on Con Dao was to hike Elephant Mountain. It’s located right outside town, close to Six Senses Hotel, and you’ll get some amazing vies of the island itself, the city below and the surrounding area.

Hiking Elephant Mountain on Con Dao

It’s an easy hike that will take you around an hour one way, first through the forest and then on a trail that follows the mountain ridge until you reach the coastline. I saw that some companies offered it as a guided hike, but you can easily do it on your own and save the guided hikes for the national park.

To get there you either drive a scooter to the trail entrance or take a short taxi ride. You can also walk, we did that back but it’s along the road so it’s better to drive back and forth.

Hiking Elephant Mountain on Con Dao

Spend a night at Six Senses Con Dao

If you're looking to treat yourself to a luxurious stay in Con Dao, Six Senses is the spot to look at.

It’s set on the most beautiful beach on Con Dao and surrounded by mountains. The beach is the only one in Vietnam that’s not public, so it’s only accessible if you stay at Six Senses. I only saw the beach from above since I didn’t stay there, but it looked stunning!

So if it’s in your budget I would highly consider spending a night there.

View of Six Senses and the beach

Watch the Planes land on Bãi Vông beach

If you really want to watch the planes land on the beach you need to head to Bãi Vông. This is where you'll get those epic shots of the plane landing. As I said above I didn't understand this until it was too late, so when I realised it there were no more planes landing that day so we never got to see it. I thought about going back, but the beach itself isn't supposed to be anything special so I didn't want to go there just to watch the planes since I had already seen them take off right above our heads earlier.

Watch Sea Turtles Hatch

One of the most famous things to do in Con Dao is seeing sea turtles nest on the islands.

Con Dao National Park protects one of Vietnam’s most important sea turtle conservation areas, and during nesting season, you can join guided tours to nearby islands where turtles come ashore at night to lay their eggs. If you’re lucky enough to visit during the right time of year, you may even get to watch baby turtles hatch and make their way toward the ocean.

The turtle nesting season usually runs between May and October, and since we visited in May I was really looking forward to this experience. I had it all planned out and booked an overnight trip that would take me to the island so we could get up early enough to see the turtles. However, the weather on Con Dao was not on my side and all boat traffic was stopped. This lasted for about a week and even though the weather cleared up, the boats were still not allowed to operate. Even though we extended our stay I never made it, so if you’re thinking of going try to book it as early as possible in case the weather changes.

Exploring Con Dao

Watch the Sunset in Con Dao

Watching the sunset is one of those simple experiences that deserves a place on every Con Dao itinerary. Even though we didn’t have the best weather we did find some amazing spots to watch the sunset.

There are several lovely spots to enjoy the sunset like the Tái Sinh Zone or the popular Con Dao Sunset Getaway spot where you’ll find plenty of tourists gathering around sunset. We got a tip from a local about a spot that ended up being our favourite. It’s just a short walk from the main road and you’ll most likely have it all to yourself. This is the exact loaction.

If you don’t have your own scooter make sure to arrange a taxi to take you back because there is no cell service here.

Trying to watch the sunset in Con Dao

Explore Con Dao National Park

Much of Con Dao is covered by protected national parkland, and there are several hiking trails that take you deep into the jungle or across the island. One of the most popular hikes leads to Ong Dung Beach, a secluded beach you can only reach through the forest. The trail itself isn’t too difficult, and the reward at the end is a peaceful beach with snorkelling opportunities and almost no crowds.

Hotels

Go Snorkeling and Diving

Con Dao has some of the clearest water in Vietnam, making it one of the best places in the country for snorkeling and diving. Since all boat traffic was stopped for most of our stay we didn’t get to snorkel, but if you’re either a diver or a fan of snorkelling it’s worth having a look.

There are a couple of dive shops in the city so just walk around and talk to them about what kind if experience you want and they’ll help you.

Exploring Con Dao

Where Is the Best Area to Stay in Con Dao?

Con Son town is the most convenient choice for first-time visitors, food lovers and anyone who wants to explore the island rather than spend their entire trip at a resort.

An Hai Beach and the southern side of town are good if you want to be close to the beach while still being within easy reach of restaurants and the centre.

Dat Doc Beach is where you'll find Six Senses Con Dao. This is the choice for those looking for a secluded luxury escape where the resort itself is a big part of the holiday.

Below are the three best hotels on Con Dao I would check out first.

The Secret Con Dao
The Secret Con Dao

This is one of the more upscale options close to town and is a good choice if you want the comfort and facilities of a larger hotel without staying at a remote resort. It’s close to the waterfront, and has a large swimming pool, restaurants, a spa and modern rooms.

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Six Senses Con Dao
Six Senses Con Dao

For the ultimate luxury stay on Con Dao this is the obvious place. The resort has of private villas overlooking the sea with its own pool. It's surrounded by nature and sits directly along a long stretch of private sandy beach, so you get to wake up somewhere genuinely secluded.

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Khách sạn Thái Bình Hotel
Khách sạn Thái Bình Hotel

This is a great option if you're looking for comfortable, affordable accommodation close to the beach. Located just a two-minute walk from An Hai Beach, this family-run hotel offers clean, modern rooms, a restaurant serving breakfast and a private beach area.

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Map of the Best Hotels in Con Dao

Below you'll find a map where I've pinned my favourite hotels in Con Dao to make it easier for you to navigate when you're looking for where you want to base yourself.

Where Are the Con Dao Islands?

The Con Dao Islands are an archipelago located off the southern coast of Vietnam in the South China Sea. The main island is called Con Son Island, and this is where almost all hotels, restaurants, and attractions are located.

Despite becoming more popular in recent years, Con Dao still feels surprisingly untouched compared to many other islands in Southeast Asia.

How to Get to Con Dao

The easiest way to reach Con Dao is by flying from Ho Chi Minh City. Flights are short and usually take around one hour. Because Con Dao airport is small, flights can sometimes be more expensive than expected, especially during weekends and holidays.

There are also ferries available from Vung Tau, Soc Trang, and Can Tho, though sea conditions can occasionally affect schedules. If you get seasick easily, flying is definitely the better option.

Once you arrive at the airport, most hotels can help arrange transfers into town or there are plenty of taxis waiting for you.

How to Get Around Con Dao

The best way to explore Con Dao is by scooter. Rental prices are usually affordable, roads are quiet, and distances around the island are relatively short.

If you don’t feel comfortable driving, taxis are available around Con Son town, though they are more limited compared to larger Vietnamese cities. You wont be able to book a Grab here so you’ll probably need your hotel to help you book a car if you need and agree on a price beforehand.

How Many Days Do You Need in Con Dao?

I’d recommend at least 3–5 days to experience Con Dao. This gives you enough time to relax and explore the beaches, take a boat trip, visit the historical sites, explore the city and do some hiking.

If you’re looking for somewhere peaceful to recharge during a longer Vietnam trip, you could easily stay even longer. We stayed for over two weeks and I could’ve stayed even longer just relaxing.

What is the Best Time to Visit Con Dao

The best time to visit Con Dao is generally from February to September when the sea is calmer and visibility for snorkelling and diving is better.

The islands can still be visited year-round, but weather changes depending on which side of the islands you’re on. Even during rainy season, you’ll often still get beautiful sunny mornings.

If you want to see sea turtles nesting, the best period is usually May to October, but as I experienced, even then it’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get there.

Final Thoughts: Is Con Dao Worth Visiting?

Con Dao ended up being one of my favourite places in Vietnam.

It’s the kind of destination that still feels authentic and untouched in a region where many islands have become heavily developed. It still feels peaceful, uncrowded and natural. You won’t find massive party scenes, cable cars, adventure lands or endless beach clubs here, and that’s exactly why I fall in love with it.

If you're looking for an island destination in Vietnam that feels a little more off the beaten path, I genuinely think Con Dao deserves a spot on your itinerary. Give yourself at least three days to explore, although I wouldn't blame you for wanting to stay longer.

Plan Your Trip to Con Dao

Hopefully this guide has given you everything you need to plan what to do in Con Dao. To make planning the rest of your trip even easier, I've included all the resources I personally use when I travel.

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