How to Get to Con Dao: Flights, Fast Boats and When to Go
Vietnam's most beautiful islands are only an hour from Saigon — if you choose the right way in and the right season.
Quick answer
Fly from Ho Chi Minh City: about 1 hour 5–20 minutes, around 10 flights a day to Con Dao (VCS). Cheaper but slower: a fast boat from Tran De (about 2.5 hours, from roughly 220,000 VND) or from Vung Tau (3–4 hours, three sailings a week). Go between March and September for calm seas and snorkeling; June–September is peak turtle-nesting season.
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| Route | Time | Fare (one way, Oct 2026) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) – Con Dao (VCS) | About 1 h 05–1 h 20 | Varies by date; book early for holidays | Around 10 flights a day on Vietnam Airlines; small aircraft, so check the baggage allowance |
| Fast boat Tran De – Ben Dam port | About 2.5 h | About 220,000–450,000 VND economy, by operator and day, plus a small port fee | Tran De is about 4 h by road from Saigon; morning departure, afternoon return |
| Fast boat Vung Tau – Ben Dam port | About 3–4 h | About 790,000–950,000 VND economy; VIP about 1,100,000 VND | Three sailings a week; Vung Tau is about 2 h by road from Saigon |
Boat fares and schedules come from the operators' booking sites in October 2026 and change often; sailings are cancelled when the port authority closes the sea, most often from October to February.
Flight or boat?
For most international travelers, flying is the better choice. It takes about an hour from Ho Chi Minh City, the airport is about 15–20 minutes from Con Son town, and you avoid both the road transfer to the port and the open-sea crossing, which can be rough. Our team books Con Dao flights as part of a trip so the timing fits your connecting flights.
The fast boat from Tran De makes sense if you are already in the Mekong Delta, around Can Tho. The Vung Tau boat suits travelers with flexible days who want to see the coast, but runs only three times a week.
What to do on Con Dao
- The prison sites. The French built the first prison here in 1862; it was used until 1975. The tiger cages, Phu Hai and Phu Tuong camps are moving and well explained with a guide. Tickets are cheap (quoted at 20,000–50,000 VND).
- Hang Duong Cemetery. The resting place of thousands of prisoners, including the young heroine Vo Thi Sau. Many Vietnamese visit at night to pay respects; dress modestly.
- Snorkeling and diving. Con Dao National Park protects some of Vietnam's best reefs. Boat trips to the outer islands need a park permit, which a local operator arranges.
- Turtle watching. Green turtles nest on Hon Bay Canh and the other outer islands from April to October. Overnight visits are run with park rangers in small numbers, so book well ahead.
- Beaches. Dam Trau, by the runway, is the prettiest; Lo Voi and An Hai are close to town.
Weather by season
| Months | Sea | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| March–May | Calm, clear | Snorkeling, diving, beaches |
| June–September | Mostly calm, short showers | Turtle nesting peak, diving |
| October–February | Rough with the northeast monsoon | History and land walks; expect boat cancellations |
From our team in the south
- Fly in, not out, on the day of an international flight. Weather delays happen; leave a night in Saigon before flying home.
- Pack light. Small aircraft and fast boats both have tight baggage limits.
- Book turtle trips and island permits early in June–September; numbers are capped to protect the nesting beaches.
- Hire a guide for the prisons. The sites are powerful but the context matters; a guide tells the story from the prisoners' side.
Sources
- Vietnam Airlines — Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao (Vietnamese)
- Côn Đảo Express — boat schedules and fares (Vietnamese)
- Thanh Niên — turtle nesting season on Con Dao (Vietnamese)
- VnExpress — the island with the most nesting turtles in Vietnam (Vietnamese)
Frequently asked questions
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