Where to Go and What to Eat for First-Time Visitors to Con Dao

Con Dao isn't just about the painful memories of war or luxurious amenities in resorts; it also offers many other exciting and diverse experiences.

Where to Play and What to Eat for First-Time Travelers to Con Dao

Con Dao, also known as Con Son, is an archipelago in Ba Ria Vung Tau province. Visiting this beautiful archipelago, you not only have the opportunity to swim freely on pristine beaches and savor fresh seafood but also participate in various interesting eco-tourism activities.

Underwater Diving to Admire Coral Reefs

This is an unmissable activity for visitors. You can rent a boat to Hon Bay Canh, then jump into the cool water and slowly swim to the coral reef viewing area. The coral here mostly lacks vibrant colors due to global climate change, causing coral bleaching. However, you will truly immerse yourself in the underwater world with a variety of colorful fish swimming around.

Witness Turtle Egg Laying

From Bay Canh Island, you can continue to Cau Island to explore the mangrove forest beyond the sea. Right on Cau Island, the turtle conservation area established since 1995 is an intriguing spot not to be missed. You can stay overnight here for the opportunity to participate in the activity of bringing newly hatched turtle eggs to the shoreline.

The turtle egg-laying season is from March to October, with 3,000 to 5,000 turtle eggs hatching each night. However, this marine area is restricted, and only forestry officials are allowed to descend because human presence can impact the activities of these creatures.

Con Dao not only boasts beautiful beaches but also surrounded by mountains. You can trek up So Ray Mountain to discover the diversity of plant species in this pristine forest area. Along the trek, which takes about an hour and a half from the base to the summit, travelers may even encounter wild monkeys. Familiar with human presence, these monkeys are natural and unafraid.

After enjoying the majestic beauty at the mountain's peak, on the way down, travelers should continue trekking for two hours to Ong Dung Beach or return to the starting point to ride a motorbike to the beach. At Ong Dung Beach, feel free to splash around in the crystal-clear refreshing water.

Visit the Museum

When in Con Dao, take some time to explore the Con Dao Museum, where you can delve into the history, marine ecosystem, prisons, and present-day Con Dao. These basic yet intriguing insights will enrich your knowledge about the place you are visiting.

One of the unmissable destinations is the Con Dao prison system. Here, you'll learn more about the 'hell on earth' of the past, witnessing the living conditions and oppression imposed by the colonial regime on revolutionary soldiers. Visiting the Con Dao prison system, you can't help but shudder at the cruelty of the empire and admire the spirit of the Vietnamese people during the challenging war period.

What to Eat

Con Dao's cuisine is diverse and abundant with a myriad of seafood. Enjoy the freshness and rich flavors of seafood caught right from the sea, ensuring that restaurant prices are relatively equal.

In addition to the familiar types, you should try unique seafood available only in Con Dao, such as 'ốc vú nàng' snails, moon-faced crabs, or red lobsters.

Another specialty of Con Dao is 'hat bang,' processed in various forms like salt-roasted or sugar-coated with ginger.

Air Travel

Currently, Vietnam Airlines in collaboration with Vasco operates flights to Con Dao. You can fly directly from Ho Chi Minh City or Can Tho to Con Dao. If coming from Hanoi, you'll have to transit at one of the aforementioned cities. From Ho Chi Minh City, there are 4-5 flights daily, allowing passengers a maximum of 20 kg checked baggage and 7 kg of free carry-on luggage. The flight duration is approximately 55 minutes.

Sea Voyage

In addition to flights, travelers also have a more economical option – passenger ships from Cat Lở port (Vũng Tàu) to Đầm port (Con Dao) and vice versa. These ships are specifically designed for passengers and lightweight cargo, with the capability of transporting motorcycles.

– Con Dao Ship 09 has a capacity of about 238 beds, comprising dormitory-style rooms with around 30 beds per room.

– Con Dao Ship 10 accommodates 140 beds. Each room contains from 6 to 10 beds.

However, there's a crucial point to consider when opting for this mode of transportation, and that is the potential for seasickness during the journey. In the calm sea season (from April to August annually), taking a ship to Con Dao is an interesting experience; however, from September to March, the sea journey can be challenging, especially for passengers prone to motion sickness.

The ship departs at 5 PM and arrives at Ben Dam port – Con Dao around 7 AM the next morning and vice versa. On the ship, there is a small canteen serving bottled and canned drinks. The main food options include instant noodles and boiled eggs. From Ben Dam port to the center of Con Son town is approximately 12 km.

Ticket price: 350,000 VND one way (departing from Vung Tau) and 450,000 VND one way departing from Bach Dang port, Ho Chi Minh City.

Attention

Con Dao has a lot of mosquitoes and sandflies, so you need to bring mosquito repellent and aromatic oil.

Source: Ngôi Sao

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Reference: Travel Handbook from Mytour