Serene seas of Con Dao

I arrived in Con Dao alone, living slowly for a few days to admire the island which, in my opinion, is the most beautiful among the islands I have visited.

Con Dao travel: embracing peaceful seas

Returning to Con Dao in the early morning, the small island remains as tranquil as it was eight years ago when I first arrived. The gentle sun, the sea breeze softly blowing through the branches on Côn Sơn street, scatter spots of sunlight playfully like dancing strokes of paint.

I wander aimlessly through the quiet streets amidst the golden sunshine of Con Son and the chirping of summer cicadas. It's so empty, so quiet, with only the sound of my footsteps and the gentle rustle of the waves, the whispering of the leaves falling from last night as I pass by, along with the chirping of birds on the tree branches. It's so peaceful that I decide to rest by the banyan tree, sitting there, gazing towards the sea, feeling the gentle breeze from the vast ocean blowing, along with the salty taste of the sea permeating my body, making me want to lean against the tree trunk and close my eyes for a nap amidst the vast seascape.

Perhaps I'm too old for crowded places, that's why I'm drawn to quieter spots, where there are fewer people, I feel a connection beforehand. And Con Dao is a place that captured my heart from the very first time all those years ago. Surrounding the island is a sea of green, the green of the blue sea, the green of the mountains and hills, and the green of the rows of banyan trees casting their cool shade. The people here are also kind-hearted and genuine; everywhere I go, I meet friendly people, willing to offer me a drink, to show me interesting places to visit.

The beauty of Con Dao's sea is unmatched, with a rugged yet magnificent allure that rivals any other beautiful coastal area. Just drive along the island's coastline, and wherever you can access the beach, you can indulge yourself in the refreshing, cool waters. There are countless places like this to enjoy swimming all day long without getting bored. With Con Son town as the focal point, a day wandering towards Co Ong airport reveals countless beautiful scenes along the way. On one side, there are mountains, on the other side, there's the vast blue sea, mixed with the vibrant colors of blooming paper flowers under the sun, making the picture even more beautiful and perfect in every hue. The towering mountains cast shadows over the clear water below or the pebbled beaches resembling giant sparkling eggs nestled under the transparent water, even more beautiful when the sunlight shines on the shimmering rays.

Bai Dam Trau with its new eateries, even more vibrant than when I last visited though the road in is still quite bumpy. The green and red chairs, the swaying hammocks by the gentle seaside... gave me a truly relaxing afternoon lying here, admiring the blue sea, enjoying the cool breeze, only to startle and rush back when the sky darkens, sometimes nearly falling off my bike on the sandy road from the beach to the main street.

I often visit the café at Con Dao Sea Travel to enjoy coffee and swim in this area when staying peacefully in town. In my opinion, this area in town has the most beautiful beach and is very easy to swim in, as well as being quite secluded. During my previous visits to Con Dao, I stayed in this area, spending both mornings and afternoons bathing at this beach. The sand here is smooth and white, the beach is very clean, the gentle waves lapping like a lake, and the water is clear to the bottom. If not swimming, sitting here enjoying a cup of coffee or a bottle of beer, admiring the blue sea outside, welcoming the cool breezes is also very enjoyable.

The road from town to Mui Ca Map to reach Dam Tau pier is incredibly beautiful, no less than the direction towards Co Ong airport. There are also countless unexpectedly beautiful beaches along the road, with sparkling clear water. This stretch is breathtaking thanks to the undulating mountains, the flamboyant phoenix trees blooming in the summer sun, and, above all, the stunning view towards the town. In the evening, as the sunset casts its glow, this place becomes even more beautiful. The winding coastal road, the high and low mountain ranges beside the road, the beaches nestled close to the road undulating under the silvery evening sun, are indescribably beautiful. Passing through Dam pier, reaching the end of the island, this place, to me, is the most amazing spot to watch the sunset if you climb up the watchtower of the forest rangers here... Casting your eyes over the vast sea, the rolling green mountains, the slanting sunlight... That afternoon in Con Dao could never be forgotten.

I don't take island tours because, to me, this is already an island, and the sea here is already too beautiful. I don't visit historical sites, tourist attractions because I was curious and visited them before. During my days in Con Dao, sometimes I walk, sometimes I bike, sometimes I ride a motorbike around everywhere and stop wherever I feel like resting. Just wandering aimlessly, enjoying swimming, stopping by cafes to rest and drink, then continuing to wander even though those days the sun was scorching.

So, for three complete days, Con Dao of golden sunshine, Con Dao of azure sea, Con Dao of tranquil empty streets has seeped into my body since when… So if someone were to ask which island in Vietnam is the most beautiful? Without hesitation, I would answer right away that it's Con Dao… The most beautiful serene island in my heart.

A few tips for those planning to visit Con Dao:

– Getting there: The only option is VASCO, in collaboration with Vietnam Airlines, operating flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao, with 4-5 daily flights by propeller planes at a relatively high price, around 3.5 million VND for a round trip, with a flight time of about 50 minutes. You can also take a boat from Vung Tau to Con Dao, departing at 5 PM and arriving at 6 AM the next morning.

– Accommodation: For luxury, there's Six Senses Con Dao Resort & Spa, for mid-range, there's Saigon Con Dao Resort, Con Dao Resort, Con Dao Sea Travel, Con Dao Camping, ATC... For budget travelers, there are many mini hotels in Con Son town.

– Dining: Nowadays, Con Dao has many restaurants serving fresh seafood dishes for tourists. Con Dao night market has several stalls selling snails, fish, shrimp... and noodles but the prices are not cheap, with snails priced at around 90,000 VND/plate. Noodle and pho shops near Con Dao market are relatively affordable, around 30,000 VND/bowl, suitable for backpackers.

– Drinking: You can visit Infiniti Café & Lounge for delicious pizza. The café bar 200 near the market also serves delicious Western-style food. Besides the beautiful view at Café Con Son, other cafes I've tried like Ngoc Café, Lime Kiln Café are also quite good. Beach Bar & Café at Con Dao Sea Travel for enjoying cool and beautiful sea views while sipping coffee or beer. If you have the means, visit the dining cafes at Six Senses.

– Activities: Apart from visiting historical sites, Hang Duong cemetery, or paying respects to Sister Sau at midnight, there are also snorkeling tours, island hopping, or watching turtles lay eggs (from May to October), visiting Ong Dung beach, Dam Trau beach, lotus lake... driving along the main road of the island is very beautiful. Remember to go all the way to climb up the forest ranger's watchtower to admire the sunset. Ask the border guards to climb up the radar mountain for a panoramic view, it's really beautiful.

The best time to visit Con Dao is from October to May of the following year, with the sea being clearest from February to May. From June to September is the rainy season.

According to Ngôi Sao

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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour