13 best places to visit in Con Dao islands, Vietnam

Con Dao is an archipelago off the coast in the South, in the province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau. Coming here, you can not ignore this fascinating yet extremely meaningful destinations.

1. Con Dao Museum

Con Dao was used to be the place of the Island’s King. Coming to the museum, you will have the opportunity to learn the history of the Con Dao through almost 2,000 documents, artifacts and antiques exhibited under four major themes: crimes of colonialism and imperialism; struggling politic prisoners throughout 113 years; the development of Con Dao today and the promotion of the Con Dao as a national heritage.

2. Hang Duong Cemetery

Hang Duong Cemetery is one of the largest and well-known cemeteries of Vietnam, located in Con Dao district. It has more than 2,000 graves of martyrs, including the tomb of the famous patriot such as Nguyen An Ninh, Le Hong Phong, Vo Thi Sau …

When you come here to incense the national heroes, you should prepare offerings, a mirror, a comb and a bunch of fresh white flowers.

3. Nui Mot Temple

Nui Mot has well-known as a place with the most beautiful feng shui in Vietnam, is a can-miss scenery while you in Con Dao.

Opened in 2011, located on the mountain overlooking the sea, An Hai lotus pond is in front of the temple.

From Nui Mot Temple, you can enjoy the panoramic view of Con Dao town, Con Son bay, An Hai pond.

The main temple was built in the shape of triangles, including the main hall, the corridor, and the hall. Nam Hai Guan Yin statue is made of stone, standing on a lotus, facing the sea solemnly and peacefully.

4. Dam Trau Beach

Dam Trau Beach is the most beautiful beach of Con Dao, with fine white sands, primeval forest with green trees and the cliff with unique shapes.

Especially, Dam Trau Beach also attract visitors with coral reefs full of shapes and vibrant colors. There is nothing better than a diving trip to admire the beauty of coral and watch the school of fish around.

5. Ong Dung Primary Forest

Ong Dung Primary Forest is about 5 km from Con Dao town, in Con Dao National Park. It has an area of over 6,000 hectares of land and 14,000 hectares of sea.

The ecosystem of Ong Dung is island tropical ecosystem of more than 1,000 species of plants and 160 species of animals.

With only about 15-minute walk in the forest, you have a chance to explore many unique species of plants having winding roots as if you were lost in a fairytale.

It is also home to rare animals such as Finlayson’s squirrels, geckos… Besides, you can visit the mangrove forests, snorkel to watch coral reefs and sea grass beds, the rare fishes that can be found anywhere else.

6. Ba Island

Ba Island is the 3rd largest island of 16 islands in the Con Dao Archipelago. It is considered one of the beautiful islands of Con Dao Island with the marine ecosystem, the mangrove forest with many species of rare animals and plants.

Coming here, you will experience the feeling of conquering Love Mount and snorkeling and scuba diving to watch coral reefs with numerous shapes and colors.

Besides swimming, you can also enjoy swimming on the forest’s edge near the beach in the rainy season.

7. Con Dao Prison

Con Dao Prison is considered as a “hell on earth” during the French colonial era. This is the prison of the communists and the patriots against the colonial government regime.

The whole prison has many areas, in which the Tiger Cage was famous for extremely barbaric torture such as sun exposure, starvation, non-bathing, …

8. Phi Yen Shrine

Mrs. Phi Yen is the second wife of Nguyen Anh King, is a faithful patriot woman.

This shrine is very sacred to the people on the island and is attached with Vietnamese folk verses: “The wind brought mustard to heaven, laksa leaves stay under bitter life”.

Coming here, do not forget to visit the shrine to incense a beautiful talented woman, but miserable fate.

9. Bay Canh Island

Bay Canh Island is located on the east side of Con Dao Island, is the second largest island of the 16 islands of Con Dao. Bay Canh Island is covered by the virgin forest, the mangrove forest, with 882 species of plants and 150 species of animals.

Besides sightseeing, you also have the opportunity to do scuba diving to watch many rare corals in the Red Book, fishes and many other marine species living on coral reefs.

Also, you can easily go to visit the mangrove forest when the tide goes down. At night, you can also learn about the special crabs – the crab that can grow its nippers again after being broke.

10. Hot Spring Beach

Hot Spring Beach is a beautiful pristine beach in Con Dao with white sand and the rare mangrove ecosystem.

From Dam Trau Beach, you can pass a short road to reach the Hot Spring Beach. Azura sea water, stretching sand beach and rocks create an extremely picturesque landscape.

11. Con Dao National Park

Con Dao National Park was established in 1993, covering an area of 6,000 hectares on land and 14,000 hectares of water area, covering 14 islands.

This is a place where preserves a lot of natural resources, high-level biodiversity, many beautiful beaches and important historical monuments.

A total of 882 species of forest plants and 144 species of animals, including 28 species of mammals, 69 species of birds, 39 species of reptiles, … Especially, there is the Con Dao gecko.

Coming to Con Dao National Park, you will experience many exciting activities in various forms such as fishing, diving, biking, hiking, or yacht.

12. Tai Island

Coming to Tai Island, you will discover the underwater ecosystem with a rich picture of the colorful coral reefs and many other marine species.

Especially, you also have the chance to see Ratufa Bicolor – a unique squirrel only exists in Con Dao, the gecko, the Bengal monitor, the bald uakari… and many species of sea birds.

13. Dam Tre Bay

Dam Tre Bay is 16 km from Con Dao National Park and north-east of the Con Son island. Coming to Dam Tre Bay, visitors can visit the mangrove forest, go snorkeling or watch swallow’s nest in the breeding season.

Along the way, tourists can also enjoy the stunning view of the Gulf of Con Son, Dat Doc Beach, Lo Voi Cape, Chim Chim Cape, Northeast Bay.

You also see more Con Dao Islands travel guide at here.