Con Dao Island – Hell or Heaven on Earth?

Con Dao island is famous for its prison which goes with a very long and dramatic history. The island used to be known as “Hell” to a lot of people during the Vietnam War. It now becomes home to twenty thousand soldiers who have passed away on the land during the war.

Now, Con Dao Island seems to be extremely peaceful to me. I can still remember the first moment when I initially put my feet on the land. The first word that comes to my mind when I get to Con Dao island is ‘quiet’. This particular airport is very different from the ones I went to. Con Dao Airport, or Co Ong Airport by another name, has very few people and is surrounded by mountains and meadows.

Transporting to Con Dao Island

From Ho Chi Minh City, traveling to Con Dao island isn’t expensive at all. Particularly, traveling by plane would cost around VND 1.5 – 2 million (about $72 – $96). On the other hand, traveling to Vung Tau and then getting on a ship would get you to the island in around eleven to twelve hours for about VND 310,000 – 360,000.

Personally, I suggest you come to the island by plane. Many of my friends and family members said that traveling by ship for many hours is extremely tiring.

Con Dao Weather

The weather of Con Dao island is separated into 2 seasons. The dry season is from Dec to next year Apr, and the rainy season is from May to Nov. The ideal time to travel to Con Dao island is from March, after the Lunar New Year, to September. Even if the island is in the rainy season at that moment, the sea is still calm, and there is still sunlight so moving is convenient to visit destinations and enjoy activities with the water.

Entertaining and Wandering

In my opinion, this island is quite ideal for relaxing. Since I come from Ho Chi Minh City, the city is fairly busy, and the streets are always crowded and annoying. Seeing that everything is so different here, I felt more relaxed than ever. Life is peaceful and the scenery is beautiful. I have to say that time seems to move slowly here. There isn’t a bar, a club, or a lounge here. In fact, there are only some coffee shops and restaurants here, and they don’t have many customers, too. However, there are plenty of destinations that tourists can come to visit.

I. Con Dao Prison

One of the first places I visited as I got to Con Dao was the prisons. The island has famous prison systems which were built in 1862. The prisons have been for as long as the wars in Vietnam have been happening. Vietnamese soldiers were put in torture chambers and executed in those very prisons. That was the general view of the life of thousands of Vietnamese soldiers after being arrested. (Some of the stories may not be suitable to tell here). After many years, prisons are one of the most attractive destinations for tourists.

At Con Dao, there is a local tour located at Con Dao Museum for travelers visiting the prisons for half a day. In my opinion, it saves a lot of time

II. Con Dao Landscapes and Beaches

After visiting the prisons, the best way to end the day is to travel around the island, enjoying the beautiful landscapes.

How about swimming and relaxing at the beach, tasting the delicious seafood?

Or simply visit Nui Mot pagoda, Phi Yen temple.

III. Hang Duong Cemetery

Many tourists come to Con Dao for the famous Hang Duong Cemetery. This place is home to about two thousand deceased Vietnamese soldiers and a hero named Ms. Vo Thi Sau. In fact, people usually come to visit the cemetery at 0 a.m. to show their respect for her. However, if you want to have the best place for worship, it’s ideal to come at around 10 p.m.

Talking about Ms. Vo Thi Sau, Con Dao Island is where she was executed and buried, particularly at Hang Duong Cemetery. Her biography can be summarized as follows:

• Vo Thi Sau (1933-1952) was a guerrilla in the Vietnam War against the French, who repeatedly carried out assassinations aimed at French officers and the Vietnamese who had collaborated effectively with the French colonial authorities in South Vietnam.
  She was arrested and executed by the French military court when she was under 18.
  The Vietnamese government honored her as a symbol of heroism during the French Resistance and posthumously awarded her the title of Hero of the People’s Armed Forces in 1993.

Now, Con Dao is heaven in Vietnam because of the beautiful landscapes and vast beaches. At Con Dao, beauty is truly everywhere!

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