A remote archipelago of forested islands and quiet beaches, protected as a national park and marked by a painful prison history
Con Son, the largest island, holds the small, quiet town and the airport; the rest of the archipelago is mostly steep forested hills dropping to rocky coves and sandy beaches. Con Dao National Park protects both forest and sea, with coral reefs, seagrass beds and populations of green and hawksbill turtles, dolphins and the rare dugong. Snorkelling and diving trips, forest hikes and boat trips to the outer islands are the main activities.
The islands are also a place of remembrance. For more than a century they held a notorious prison complex, and its preserved camps, the tiger cages and Hang Duong cemetery are visited by many Vietnamese as a pilgrimage. This combination of natural beauty and difficult history gives Con Dao a calm, reflective atmosphere quite different from Vietnam's busier beach resorts.
The French took control of the islands in 1861 and built a prison there for those they considered most dangerous to colonial rule. After the turn of the century it held growing numbers of political prisoners, among them leading nationalists such as Phan Chau Trinh and Huynh Thuc Khang; the young resistance fighter Vo Thi Sau was executed on the island in 1952. Nearby Hang Duong cemetery holds prisoners who died between 1941 and 1975. After 1954 the South Vietnamese government continued to use the prison for political detainees.
In July 1970 a visiting US congressional delegation, guided by a former detainee's map, found prisoners shackled in the so-called tiger cages, and photographs published in Life magazine caused international outrage. The prison closed after the war ended in 1975 and is now ranked a special national historical relic. Much of the archipelago was placed under protection from 1984, and Con Dao National Park was formally established in 1993.
Con Son town is small and unhurried, with fishing boats in the harbour, a morning market and seafood eateries along the waterfront. The islands are an important pilgrimage destination for Vietnamese, and Hang Duong cemetery is busy with visitors bringing flowers and offerings. Respectful dress and behaviour at the relic sites are expected.
Most visitors spend a few days on Con Son. Mornings might be spent walking forest trails in the national park, with a guide arranged through the park office, or snorkelling from beaches such as Ong Dung. Boat trips go to the outer islands for diving and, in season, to watch turtles nesting or hatchlings released under park supervision. The prison sites and museum in town can be explored by bicycle, and Hang Duong cemetery is a place of quiet remembrance.
The coolest, most pleasant weather is from about September to January, though strong winds are common in December and January. June to August are the hottest months. Turtle hatching season runs from mid-August to early December.
Checked against the sources on 29 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.
General guidance from our specialists, not official information.
Con Dao is reached from Ho Chi Minh City by air, or from Soc Trang in the Mekong Delta and Vung Tau by sea. Phu Quoc offers a contrasting, busier island stay further west.
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Vietnam · 11 nights4★ HotelVietnam · 7 nights4★ ResortThis guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 29 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.
