Con Dao Islands: Vietnam’s Most Beautiful Secret

The place I tell everyone about and almost nobody goes to

Con Dao is an archipelago of 16 islands 200km off the coast of southern Vietnam — historically known as a French and South Vietnamese prison colony, now Vietnam’s most pristine national park. The beaches are extraordinary, the diving is the best in Vietnam, the sea turtles nest here from May to September, and the number of tourists is a fraction of what descends on Phu Quoc.

Getting there

A 45-minute flight from HCMC on Vietnam Airlines or Bamboo Airways. $40–100 one way depending on timing. There are no ferry connections — you have to fly. Con Son, the main island, has one small town, a national park covering most of the island, and a small number of resorts and guesthouses. Book accommodation before you go — options are limited and fill up during July–September turtle season. Check flights on Aviasales.

What to do

Rent a motorbike on arrival (100,000 VND/day) and explore the coast — beaches like Dat Doc and Bai Nhat are genuinely beautiful and usually quiet. Hire a local fishing boat for a day of island-hopping and snorkeling around the smaller islands ($30–50/day per boat). Visit the Con Dao Museum and the historic prison complex — the history is difficult (thousands died here under colonial and wartime detention) and genuinely worth understanding before you enjoy the beaches.

Turtle watching

May–September, hawksbill and green turtles nest on Con Dao’s beaches. The national park runs guided nighttime turtle watching tours (contact the Con Dao National Park directly, 100,000–150,000 VND). This is one of those wildlife experiences that’s simply extraordinary.