Con Son Island

Con Son Island is the largest and only inhabited island in the Con Dao archipelago, 230km southeast of Ho Chi Minh City. For over a century it was Vietnam's most infamous penal colony. The French called it "Devil's Island of Indochina.

" The Americans kept it running. Today it holds a rare dual identity: a place of deep national mourning and one of the country's most intact coastlines. More than two-thirds of the archipelago is protected national park, which is why you won't find high-rises or casino resorts here.

Construction is tightly controlled. Con Son Town, the island's only settlement, is small, flat, and still lined with original French colonial buildings painted ochre. In 2025, the island was connected to Vietnam's national power grid for the first time, ending decades of diesel dependency.

About 8,400 people live here permanently. Vietnamese domestic tourists come primarily for spiritual and historical reasons, particularly to visit Hang Duong Cemetery. Foreign visitors come for the beaches and diving.

Both get more than they expect.

At Hang Duong Cemetery, dress modestly — long pants, shoulders covered. Bring incense or white flowers if you want to pay respects at Vo Thi Sau's grave. The locally accepted visiting window is 9pm to midnight, when locals consider the space most spiritually active..

Remove shoes before entering Van Son Pagoda (Nui Mot Temple) and Phi Yen Temple. This is non-negotiable.. Photography inside the prison sites is permitted but keep it respectful.

No posed selfies grinning next to the tiger cages.. The island operates on Vietnamese time: morning markets are done by 9–10am, lunch spots close by 1:30pm, and kitchens reopen around 5:30pm. Show up outside those windows and you'll find locked doors..

Haggling is not the norm here the way it is in bigger tourist markets. Prices are generally fixed at local eateries. Asking politely if there's a better price is fine; aggressive bargaining reads poorly..

Locals are quiet and reserved by Vietnamese standards. The island's history carries weight for Vietnamese visitors in particular — keep the volume down near historical sites.. Support local businesses directly.

Wikivoyage notes that most foreign money on the island flows into government-run hotels. Eat at the market stalls, rent scooters from small independent shops, and book tours with local operators like Con Dao Trip rather than mainland agencies.

Con Dao is genuinely safe in the conventional sense. Petty crime is rare. But the island has a few real hazards worth knowing.

Ocean currents are strong and unpredictable on certain beaches, particularly on the windward side. In December and January, northeast monsoon winds make some beaches completely unswimmable. Always ask locals which beaches are currently calm — conditions change fast and a deserted beach can mean the water is dangerous, not peaceful.

Sandflies (sandflies, not sandstorms) plague some beach stretches, particularly in the afternoon. Long pants and repellent matter. Jungle trails close periodically and can be genuinely treacherous even in proper footwear — don't assume a path is open just because it's on a map.

Check at the national park office on Ton Duc Thang Street before any hike. Walking in the midday heat is a bad idea. The sun is intense and shade is nearly absent on the streets.

Go out early or after 4pm. ATMs are limited and can be unreliable — carry more cash than you think you need. Emergency medical care on the island is basic.

Serious injuries mean an evacuation flight. Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is not optional here.

Flying is the only realistic option for most visitors. Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways both run daily one-hour flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Son Airport (VCS). Fares start around 1,500,000 VND one way but spike hard around national holidays, especially the Vo Thi Sau anniversary on January 23.

Book weeks ahead for those dates. Ferries are the budget alternative. Superdong runs from Tran De Port in Soc Trang (2.

5 hours, 280,000–390,000 VND) and from Cau Da Port in Vung Tau (550,000–1,200,000 VND). Con Dao Express also runs from Can Tho's Ninh Kieu Port. All ferries arrive at Ben Dam Port on the island's southwest end, 13km from town.

A shuttle connects to the center (60,000 VND). There's a small port fee of 18,000 VND per entry and exit. On the island, rent a scooter.

One coastal road circles the island and it's in shockingly good condition with almost no traffic. Cost is 120,000–180,000 VND per day from hotels or shops in town. Technically you need a valid Vietnamese license, but this is rarely checked.

Be honest about your riding experience — some stretches have challenging hills. Taxis also operate and charge per kilometer, useful if you want to make several stops without the responsibility of the bike. Walking works fine within Con Son Town.

The streets are flat, quiet, and most sights cluster around Vo Thi Sau Street.