Reached via a dirt track 1km before the airport on Con Son Island, Bai Dram Trau is a sublime, remote 700m half-moon crescent of soft sand, fringed by casuarina trees and bookended by forest-topped rocky promontories. It's best visited at low tide. There's snorkelling on reefs offshore and some very simple seafood shacks (all open noon till dusk only).
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Bay Canh
5.54 MILES
Perhaps the best all-round island to visit is Bay Canh, to the east of Con Son Island, which has lovely beaches, old-growth forest, mangroves, coral reefs…
Tiger Cages
3.07 MILES
The notorious cells dubbed 'tiger cages' were built in 1940 by the French to incarcerate nearly 2000 political prisoners; the USA continued using them in…
Phu Hai Prison
3.47 MILES
The largest of the 11 jails on the island, this prison dates from 1862. Thousands of prisoners were held here, with up to 200 prisoners crammed into each…
Hang Duong Cemetery
2.55 MILES
Some 20,000 Vietnamese prisoners died on Con Son and 1994 of their graves can be seen at the peaceful Hang Duong Cemetery, located at the northeastern…
Bai Dat Doc
2.7 MILES
This simply beautiful cove consists of a kilometre-long crescent of pale sand, fringed by wooded hills. The beach's profile is gently shelving and there's…
Bao Tang Con Dao Museum
3.19 MILES
This impressive museum has more than 2000 exhibits, including many rare documents, dioramas and excellent photographs, which comprehensively record the…
Van Son Temple
4.43 MILES
This large hilltop temple complex, 1km southwest of the town centre, enjoys fine views over Con Son town and islands offshore to an ocean-filled horizon…
Phu Binh Camp
2.46 MILES
On the northeastern edge of town, this prison was built in 1971 by the Americans, and had 384 chambers. The cells had corrugated-iron roofs, and were…
Nearby Con Dao Islands attractions
1. Phu Binh Camp
2.46 MILES
On the northeastern edge of town, this prison was built in 1971 by the Americans, and had 384 chambers. The cells had corrugated-iron roofs, and were…
2. Hang Duong Cemetery
2.55 MILES
Some 20,000 Vietnamese prisoners died on Con Son and 1994 of their graves can be seen at the peaceful Hang Duong Cemetery, located at the northeastern…
3. Bai Dat Doc
2.7 MILES
This simply beautiful cove consists of a kilometre-long crescent of pale sand, fringed by wooded hills. The beach's profile is gently shelving and there's…
4. Ma Thien Lanh Bridge
2.81 MILES
The ruins of this bridge, built by prisoners under the French occupation, lie in the hills 1km northwest of Con Son town.
5. Tiger Cages
3.07 MILES
The notorious cells dubbed 'tiger cages' were built in 1940 by the French to incarcerate nearly 2000 political prisoners; the USA continued using them in…
6. Bai Loi Voi
3.07 MILES
On the north side of Con Son Town, Bai Loi Voi is a broad sand-and-shingle beach with lots of seashells and shade-providing coastal trees. At low tide…
7. Bao Tang Con Dao Museum
3.19 MILES
This impressive museum has more than 2000 exhibits, including many rare documents, dioramas and excellent photographs, which comprehensively record the…
8. Cow Shed
3.21 MILES
Built by the French in 1930, this crumbling complex was initially known as the 'pigsty' as prisoners were kept in farmyard-style quarters and fed like…