Con Dao Island things to do
Diving and snorkelling
Thanks to the fact that Con Dao is a national park in a secluded location, it boasts stunningly clear waters that have given it the reputation as Vietnam's best spot for diving and snorkelling. Along with marine life who call the tropical reef home, you may also see two-metre cobia, stingrays, barracuda, turtles, moray eels, batfish, clownfish and cuttlefish.
Con Dao Museum
From 1862 to 1975 Con Son Island was an infamous prison colony, where thousands of Vietnamese soldiers were held, and suffered terrible treatment. Opened in 2013, the Con Dao Museum offers insight into this difficult history. It's the place to start if you also plan to visit the island's prisons and other historic attractions.
Hiking in Con Dao National Park
Can Dao National Park offers fantastic hiking opportunities for keen walkers. Boasting 6,000 hectares of forest, you can hike to hidden beaches, up mountain trails, along coastal tracks, through emerald plantations, into ancient caves, and out into gorgeous bays. The tropical evergreen and semi-deciduous forest include rare trees and endemic species of animal, like macaques, civets, and tree frogs.
Watch turtles nesting
Con Dao is the only place in all of Vietnam where travellers can see turtles arriving to nest. With full national park protection, the beaches come alive during the annual breeding season (April to September). Thousands of female turtles lay eggs during the night at high tide. The hatching season (August to November) also takes place during the night.
Con Dao Beaches
Known for shimmering azure waters and soft sand, the beaches of Con Dao are as pretty as a picture. The top beaches are Dam Trau Beach and Dat Doc Beach, and this second beach also offers amazing views of "Elephant Mountain". Check out the shallow waters and pristine sands of Lo Voi beach too.
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