Con Dao Islands

The little known Con Dao Islands are situated off the southern coast of Vietnam, around 140 miles from Ho Chi Minh City, and are best reached by a short flight from HCMC or a 5 hour speedboat journey. This island group consists of 16 mountainous islands and islets with an indigenous population of approximately 5000 people.

The Con Dao Islands were once a penal colony but in 1984 the islands were given protected status and became Con Dao National Park. Endangered species protected within the park include the hawksbill turtle, the green turtle and the dugong. There are also rare ecosystems in the park such as seagrass meadow, mangrove and coral reefs.

In recent years a number of resort hotels have sprung up on the islands and a short stay here is slowly increasing in popularity as the islands build a reputation as an 'eco-getaway'. The best time to visit Con Dao Islands is from March to June, when the sea is calmest.