Must-see attractions in Con Dao Islands

  • Bai Dram Trau

    Con Dao Islands

    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…

  • Bay Canh

    Con Dao Islands

    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…

  • Infamous 'Tiger cages' in Con Dao Prison on Con Son Island.

    Tiger Cages

    Con Dao Islands

    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 historical prison, Con Dao island, Vietnam.

    Phu Hai Prison

    Con Dao Islands

    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…

  • Section of Hang Duong Cemetery for Unknown Soldiers, Con Dao, Vietnam.

    Hang Duong Cemetery

    Con Dao Islands

    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

    Con Dao Islands

    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

    Con Dao Islands

    This impressive museum has more than 2000 exhibits, including many rare documents, dioramas and excellent photographs, which comprehensively record the…

  • Van Son Temple

    Con Dao Islands

    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

    Con Dao Islands

    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…

  • Revolutionary Museum

    Con Dao Islands

    Located in the former French commandant's residence, this museum has exhibits on Vietnamese resistance against the French, communist opposition to the…

  • Cow Shed

    Con Dao Islands

    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…

  • Bai Loi Voi

    Con Dao Islands

    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…

  • Museum Vo Thi Sau

    Con Dao Islands

    Small museum dedicated to the life of teenager martyr and national heroine Vo Thi Sau.

  • Tre Lon

    Con Dao Islands

    This islet, west of Con Son Island, has a couple of tiny, pristine, empty cove beaches. Talk to boat captains in Con Dao about setting up a trip here.

  • Bai An Hai

    Con Dao Islands

    On the south side of Con Son town, this appealing beach has a green mountain backdrop, but there are a good number of fishing boats moored nearby.

  • Ma Thien Lanh Bridge

    Con Dao Islands

    The ruins of this bridge, built by prisoners under the French occupation, lie in the hills 1km northwest of Con Son town.