Con Dao
Discover Con Dao
Côn Đảo is an archipelago off the southern coast of Vietnam. Con Dao is also an island of immense natural beauty with forested hills, deserted sandy beaches and extensive coral reefs making for some excellent diving. Con Dao served as a prison island for political prisoners during the French colonial era, when it was known as Poulo Condore, and in later years the Saigon regime imprisoned opponents of the regime in the infamous cells known as the "tiger cages". The old prison buildings are still standing and are open to the public as is a small museum tracing the island's history.
Taste of Con Dao...
The town hotels all have restaurants open to the public. See Sleep. In Con Son there are small guesthouses and hotels which offer room rates from US$15-35 per night While not on the beach, they are usually clean and relatively new and comfortable. View for recommendations, new places are opening everyday and they know the good, bad, and the ugly. Crime is almost non-existent. It is said to be the only place in Vietnam where bicycles and motorcycles are left outside the house at night. However common sense must prevail, hotel rooms do get pilfered when left unlocked, people get very complacent here as it does feel, and is so safe.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsThe following scheduled boat services are available: Despite information on non-up-to-date websites, the following services are suspended: Con Son Village is small, flat and easily traversed on foot. Because of the intense sun and very little shade on the streets, walking is best left for the morning or evening. Motorbikes can be easily rented from main hotels and there is relatively little traffic. There has been an enormous increase in the number of motorbikes for rent. Better deals are often found outside of hotels, as the hotels mark up the same bikes you can hire locally. See also Vietnam by motorcycle. There is only one petrol station on the island and it is only open 07:00-10:30 and 14:00-16:00. Be sure to get a bike with a full tank of gas as there is none available for sale on the streets as in the rest of Vietnam. They are fun to ride, but a drag to push around. Since many of the spots to visit require riding up some hills, you will be better served by a manual gear one....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Con Son Village is small, flat and easily traversed on foot. Because of the intense sun and very little shade on the streets, walking is best left for the morning or evening. Motorbikes can be easily rented from main hotels and there is relatively little traffic. There has been an enormous increase in the number of motorbikes for rent. Better deals are often found outside of hotels, as the hotels mark up the same bikes you can hire locally. See also Vietnam by motorcycle. There is only one petrol station on the island and it is only open 07:00-10:30 and 14:00-16:00. Be sure to get a bike with a full tank of gas as there is none available for sale on the streets as in the rest of Vietnam. They are fun to ride, but a drag to push around. Since many of the spots to visit require riding up some hills, you will be better served by a manual gear one. The light traffic and gentle hills make Con Dao a forgiving place to learn to ride a geared bike.
Where to Stay
In Con Son there are small guesthouses and hotels which offer room rates from US$15-35 per night While not on the beach, they are usually clean and relatively new and comfortable. View for recommendations, new places are opening everyday and they know the good, bad, and the ugly. Crime is almost non-existent. It is said to be the only place in Vietnam where bicycles and motorcycles are left outside the house at night. However common sense must prevail, hotel rooms do get pilfered when left unlocked, people get very complacent here as it does feel, and is so safe.
Money & Budget
There is a good fruit and vegetable market in Con Son town that opens early, 06:00 or so. Prices are cheap and the locals don't seem to overcharge foreign purchasers. As the number of budget travellers increases and the full blown screaming fits over 1,000 dong on the part of the backpack crowd, you can be sure that the attitudes of the vendors will change. Please keep it under control, you may win the fight over 1,000 dong but the next traveller will surely pay the price for your "success". Everything here is simply more expensive as it has to come by ship or plane. The town hotels all have restaurants open to the public. See Sleep.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Crime is almost non-existent. It is said to be the only place in Vietnam where bicycles and motorcycles are left outside the house at night. However common sense must prevail, hotel rooms do get pilfered when left unlocked, people get very complacent here as it does feel, and is so safe. Crime is almost non-existent. It is said to be the only place in Vietnam where bicycles and motorcycles are left outside the house at night. However common sense must prevail, hotel rooms do get pilfered when left unlocked, people get very complacent here as it does feel, and is so safe.