Con Dao is an archipelago comprising of 16 islands, all falling under the supervision of the Con Dao National Park. Con Dao is famed for its striking natural beauty.



The largest island, Con Son, is ringed with lovely beaches, coral reefs and scenic bays, and remains partially covered in thick forests. In addition to hiking, diving and exploring empty coastal roads and deserted beaches, Con Dao offers a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of the local amazing wildlife and maybe have the chance to observe animals such as the black giant squirrel and the endemic bow-fingered gecko.

The Old Prison
The prison was built in 1861 by the French in order to incarcerate those considered dangerous to the colonist government. Many of the high-ranked Vietnamese leaders were detained here. Later, the Saigon regime detained political opponents. This penitentiary was classified as a historical vestige of importance by the Vietnamese government. The most famous site of the prison is undoubtedly the "Tiger Cage". The old prison buildings are still standing and are open to visitors. A small museum was created and recounts the history of the island.

Diving and Snorkeling
Con Dao has some of the best spots for diving and snorkeling in Vietnam. The coral reefs are relatively untouched and very impressive with their giant coral heads (we can also find similar coral heads throughout South-East Asia). The marine life includes turtles, rays, giant barracudas, cuttlefish, cobias and dugongs as well as a many other species of fish and a whole host of sea plants.

Turtle Sanctuary
Roughly 80% of the archipelago land area is part of Con Dao National Park, which protects Vietnam’s most important sea-turtle nesting grounds. For the past decade, the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) has been working with local park rangers on a long-term monitoring program. During nesting season (May to November), the park sets up ranger stations to rescue threatened nests and move them to safe haven of hatcheries if necessary. Trips to the turtle sanctuary can be arranged through the National Park office, located in the north of the main town. Other interesting sea life species found in Con Dao include the dugong, a rare marine mammal. It is one of the four living species of the Sirenia order, which also includes three species of manatee that are mainly found in the Caribbean, South America and Africa (all those animals are endangered species).