Through 113 years (1862-1975), Con Dao, an archipelago in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province was a “Hell on Earth” where Vietnamese revolutionary fighters were detained. Now, due to having a sea economy potential, valuable nature reserves and ecological tourism, Con Dao is being built into an affluent and attractive island area.

After a flight of 45 minutes from HCMC, tourists will arrive at Con Dao, a complex of green islands, large forests and smooth white sand banks emerging from the immense sea. Following a new smooth asphalted road, 30km long running from Co Ong Airport through the northeast-southwest of Con Dao to Ben Dam Port, they will reach Con Son Town, the centre of the island district.

Con Son Town has a peaceful beauty. Islands are scattered around the town, such as the Hon Ba, Hon Bay Canh, Hon Cau, Hon Bong Lau, Hon Tho, Hon Tre, Hon Trac..., each of them having its own beauty, making marvellous scenery. Near Con Son Bay there are lines of dracontomelum trees of nearly a hundred years old and gangway 914 where many children like to gather to play, swim and fish.

Tourists can participate in a forest trekking tour in Con Dao National Park which consists of 16 big and small islands covering an area of nearly 20,000ha. The park has a rich treasure of 1,300 species of sea creatures, from small ephemera to big animals and many species of rare and precious birds, such as the Nicobar pigeon, Ducula bicolor and Sula dactylatra. Most forests in the park are primeval forests of the island tropical ecosystem. In this area, the forests and sea still retain wild features and the atmosphere is calm and pure, suitable for developing eco-tourism and various forms of coastal resorts. Con Dao National Park is implementing a programme on protecting and preserving biological diversity, including the programme on preserving sea tortoises, dugongs, etc…

Between March and June when the sea is calm, a great number of tourists go to Con Dao by ship or plane. Every year, about 10,000 people visit Con Dao where they can take a cruise on the sea or relax by swimming, diving, trekking in the primeval forest and visiting islands. On the way up to Thanh Gia Mountain with a summit of 677m above sea level, visitors will go through the forest and see rare and precious animals. Looking down from the mountain top when the sky is blue they will see the overall view of Con Dao with vast primeval forests, immense sea and smooth sandy beaches. Also, visitors can go to Ong Dung Beach to enjoy the view, have a rest, angle and dive. Lucky visitors can watch tortoises laying eggs on Hon Cau or Hon Tre and groups of hundreds of turtles crawling on the white sand.

Now, many hotels with modern facilities and attractive tourist sites have been built on Con Dao. Recently, ATC Company has built Con Son Resort, 12,000m² in area, along the coastline. Saigon Tours Company on Con Dao has built a resort near Con Son Bay. MH Golden Sands Company (US) has devised a project on building a 6-star tourist site on Con Dao.

The pearl island of Con Dao is becoming a beautiful and rich island district which has attracted an increasing number of visitors.

(Source: VNP)