Major city · Vietnam
Con DaoCôn Đảo
Fly to Côn Đảo for three or four quiet nights of beaches, diving, turtle nesting (May–October) and the prison history; flights are small and bag limits strict.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- VND
- Best months
- Mar–Jun (calm sea), turtles May–Oct
- avoid Oct–Jan (rough sea, flight cancellations)
- Airport
- VCS
- Nights
- 3–4
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Vietnam ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Vietnam ↗Crossing streets: walk slowly and steadily; motorbikes flow around you — do not stop or run.
- Vietnam ↗Carry Vietnamese đồng in small notes; many stalls and taxis are cash-only.
Côn Đảo is an archipelago 230 km off the Mekong coast, mostly national park. The French and later the South Vietnamese government ran notorious prisons here; the cells and the Hàng Dương cemetery draw Vietnamese pilgrims. For visitors it offers clear water, turtle nesting beaches and very little development. Administratively it is now part of Ho Chi Minh City (check).
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Con Dao, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?VND in small notes (10k–100k) for stalls, markets, xe ôm and tips at spas.Vietnam-wide
- SIM or eSIMViettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport and a face photo are required for registration.Vietnam-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Vietnam-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Round up or 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.Vietnam-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/F. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Vietnam-wide
- SafetyVery safe; sea and road conditions on scooters.
- RestroomsWestern toilets in cities and hotels; squat toilets and no paper in rural stops and on long buses — carry tissues.Vietnam-wide
- Emergency numbers113 police · 114 fire · 115 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums close on Monday; the Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum is also closed on Friday and shuts for maintenance for about two months each year (usually…Vietnam-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportVCS Côn Đảo (Small planes from Saigon (and some from Hanoi, Cần Thơ); strict baggage limits).
- Getting aroundScooters and taxis; boats to the smaller islands with park permits.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Museum or sight ticketPrison museum ticketabout ₫50,000 (≈ US$2) (check)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed or homestay bed, a night, per person₫250,000 (≈ US$10)
- Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per room₫1,500,000 (≈ US$60)
- High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per room₫8,000,000 (≈ US$350)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₫900,000 (≈ US$35) · Mid ₫1,800,000 (≈ US$70) · High ₫4,500,000 (≈ US$180)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- VCS Côn Đảo (Small planes from Saigon (and some from Hanoi, Cần Thơ); strict baggage limits)
- Phrases
- Vietnamese phrasebook
Weather and climate
Con Dao: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
28°C82°F
24°C75°F
5 rd
Feb
29°C84°F
24°C75°F
2 rd
Mar
30°C86°F
25°C77°F
2 rd
Apr
32°C90°F
26°C79°F
4 rd
May
32°C90°F
27°C81°F
13 rd
Jun
31°C88°F
27°C81°F
17 rd
Jul
30°C86°F
26°C79°F
17 rd
Aug
30°C86°F
26°C79°F
18 rd
Sep
30°C86°F
26°C79°F
18 rd
Oct
30°C86°F
25°C77°F
18 rd
Nov
29°C84°F
25°C77°F
14 rd
Dec
28°C82°F
24°C75°F
9 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Scooters and taxis; boats to the smaller islands with park permits.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Bảy Cạnh island turtle night
goDoor to door: Overnight
Boat with park rangers
May–Oct; permits (check).
Snorkel and dive sites
goDoor to door: Half or full day
Boat
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Côn Sơn town
Guesthouses, restaurants, prison sites on foot.
Resort coves
Luxury resorts on isolated bays.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Mid
- ₫1,000,000–2,000,000 (≈ US$40–80) excl. bed
- High
- ₫3,000,000 (≈ US$120)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel double room1 × 3 nights × ₫1,500,000 | ₫4,500,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × ₫1,800,000 | ₫10,800,000 |
| Two-dive trip2 × ₫2,500,000 · check | ₫5,000,000 |
| Scooter per day2 × ₫200,000 | ₫400,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₫2,070,000 |
| Trip total≈ ₫3,795,000 per person per day, bed included | ₫22,770,000≈ US$900 |
2026 estimate in đồng; flights and tours excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Prison museum ticket | about ₫50,000 (≈ US$2) (check) |
| Two dives | ₫2,000,000–3,000,000 (≈ US$80–120) |
| Scooter per day | ₫150,000–250,000 (≈ US$6–10) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Flights are small and weather-sensitive: keep a buffer day before international flights.
- National park rules: turtle-watching only with rangers and permits.
- Respect the cemetery: it is a pilgrimage site.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 113
- Fire
- 114
- Ambulance
- 115
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Con DaoCôn Đảo
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Cho tôi đến địa chỉ nàyPlease take me to this address
Emergency
- Police113
- Fire114
- Ambulance115
Embassy
Consulates are in Ho Chi Minh City.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- VCS → Côn Sơn town, car: ₫150,000–250,000 (≈ US$6–10), 20 min
Say or show
- Xin chào — Hello (sin chow)
- Cảm ơn — Thank you (gahm un)
- Bao nhiêu tiền? — How much is this? (bow nyew tee-en)
- Không cay — Not spicy, please (khom kai)
- Tính tiền — The bill, please (ting tee-en)
- Dừng ở đây — Stop here, please (yung uh day)
Show the address in Vietnamese with street and house number.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Con Dao. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–Jun (calm sea), turtles May–Oct · avoid Oct–Jan (rough sea, flight cancellations) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 2 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Turtle-nesting overnight with rangers
Sources
- officialVietnam National Authority of Tourism
- secondaryWikivoyage — Con Dao