How to Get to Con Dao: Your Ultimate Guide to Island Tranquility
Embark on a journey to the serene Con Dao Islands, where pristine beaches and lush landscapes await. Whether you’re soaring through the skies or cruising over the waves, the question of how to get to Con Dao is part of the adventure. From the convenience of planes to the scenic routes of ferries, each mode of travel offers its own unique set of experiences. Dive into our guide to discover the best way to reach this tropical paradise.
Con Dao is located far offshore in Ba Ria – Vung Tau province. The archipelago is 76 km2 wide and includes 16 islands, the largest being Con Son island. Con Dao is 185 km from Vung Tau, 230 km from Ho Chi Minh City, and about 83 km from Can Tho.
How to Get to Con Dao
With its unique geographical location, visitors who want to go to Con Dao must take the airplane or waterway. In this article, we highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each mode of transportation to help you make the most optimal choice when coming to the island.
1. Plane
Currently, Vietnam Airlines is the only airline that still operates flights to/from Con Dao.
Previously, Bamboo Airways also operated this route. However, this unit announced to stop operating the Hanoi – Con Dao route from the end of February due to the early termination of the lease contract for 3 Embraer E190 aircrafts. The airline’s last flight was on March 31.
However, the airline with the golden lotus logo only transports passengers from Ho Chi Minh City. Therefore, tourists from Hanoi, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, and Da Nang,… who want to go to Con Dao by this form must take 2 flights, from the locality to Ho Chi Minh City or Can Tho, then connect to the island.
The upcoming route in Ho Chi Minh City – Con Dao will only be operated by VASCO, a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines, using ATR72 aircraft. VASCO recently operates this route with a frequency of 10 – 22 flights/day.
Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City – Con Dao route has ticket prices ranging from 3.3 to 4.1 million VND, depending on the flight time frame.
Pros
For traveling by air, the biggest advantage is in terms of time. In just about an hour’s flight, from Ho Chi Minh City, you can set foot on a pristine island with many historical destinations or cool beaches.
Cons
In the context of only one airline holding the monopoly to Con Dao and the current demand to visit the island, you may have to spend more money on travel. Hopefully, there will be more airlines participating in operating the flight to Con Dao so the ticket price will be reduced.
From Con Dao airport to the town center is about 15 km. You can take a motorbike, taxi, or the resort’s shuttle bus.
2. Helicopter
Launched in 2019, the helicopter flight to Con Dao is only available in Vung Tau with 2 flights per week, on Friday and Sunday. The flight is managed by Safe Company Limited, under the permission of Southern Helicopter Company.
The total travel time by helicopter from Vung Tau to Con Dao is 60 minutes per trip. Takeoff and landing times are subject to a fixed time frame. The departure starts at 1:30 p.m. and the return trip starts at 3:30 p.m.
The ticket price is 4.4 million VND/round trip/adult and about 3.9 million VND/round trip for children from 2 to under 12 years old.
Pros
- Short travel time.
- Enjoy the sea view from above.
Cons
- Ticket prices are relatively high compared to ferries.
- Must depart from Vung Tau.
3. Ferry
In addition to air travel, you can now choose to travel by ferry to Con Dao from Ho Chi Minh City, Soc Trang, Can Tho, Ba Ria – Vung Tau. Travel time will range from 2.5 to 5 hours. Ticket price is about 280,000 – 1.2 million VND/ticket/turn (depending on ticket class, departure point, age, and departure time of the week. Specifically:
3.1. Originating from Ho Chi Minh City
- Departure: Hiep Phuoc port, Nha Be district.
You can depart from Ho Chi Minh City on a high-speed ferry Phu Quoc Express, it takes about 5 hours to get to Con Dao with the lowest price of 615,000 VND for children, a regular seat at 880,000 VND per person, and VIP seats at 1.1 million VND.
At the moment, the high-speed ferry only runs 3 times per week as it’s just put into operation. The ferry departs at 7:00 a.m. from Hiep Phuoc port, Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao. The return way departs at 13:00 from Ben Dam port.
Pros
- New ship, large, modern, comfortable seats, large capacity of up to 1,000 guests.
- The ferry goes on time.
- There are food such as instant noodles, fruits, and drinks.
Cons
Previously, Phu Quoc Express provided free passenger transfer service from the city center to Hiep Phuoc port and vice versa. Now, tourists staying far away from Hiep Phuoc port like Ho Chi Minh City center must get to the gathering point themselves.
However, this company just announced that from June 1, it will temporarily suspend the transshipment route due to many inadequacies in the process of organizing transshipment.
3.2. Departing from Soc Trang
- Departure: Tran De port.
Today, there are 3 shipping companies operating from Soc Trang to Con Dao: Con Dao Express (Trung Trac speedboat), Phu Quoc Express, and Superdong, departing at 8:00 a.m. and arriving at 10:30 a.m.
Ticket prices at these 3 companies do not differ too much. Economy class tickets on weekdays cost about 370,000 – 390,000 VND/adult/time, on weekends the ticket price is 450,000 VND/adult/time. VIP class costs 590,000 tickets/time, applicable to all days of the week and holidays.
Pros
- Travel time from Tran De port to Con Dao is short, only about 2 hours.
- Tickets can be booked online on the companies’ websites.
- The shuttle bus transports passengers to the port.
With Superdong, tourists from Soc Trang who want to go to Tran De port must pay a ticket price of 60,000 VND/person/trip.
3.3. Departing from Can Tho
- Departure: Ninh Kieu Wharf
Con Dao Express and Mai Linh Express are two companies operating the Can Tho – Con Dao route.
For this route, the travel distance is quite long, about 4 hours. The companies move up the departure time by 1 hour, at 7 a.m., instead of 8 a.m. like the Soc Trang route, and arrive to Con Dao at 11 a.m.
Tourists from the Mekong region who want to go to the island can choose Mai Linh Express to save costs.
Economy class price here is 600,000/ticket/adult/trip on weekdays and 680,000/ticket/adult/turn on weekends. Especially, Mai Linh Express has a President class that costs 1.3 million VND/ticket/adult/turn on all weekends and holidays.
With Con Dao Express, regular ticket class on weekdays is 750,000 VND/ticket/adult/time and 850,000 VND/ticket/adult/time on Saturday and Sunday. VIP class costs 1.1 million VND/ticket/adult/visit on all weekends and holidays. You can also check the ticket price information from the official websites of the companies.
Pros
- You can explore the landscape along the Hau River.
3.4. Departing from Vung Tau
- Departure: Cau Da port
Tourists from Vung Tau can choose Phu Quoc Express (Thang Long ship) and Con Dao Express. The ferry from Vung Tau to Con Dao takes about 3 hours.
Currently, the Thang Long ship is the largest passenger high-speed ferry in Vietnam with a price of 880,000 VND/general ticket/adult/turn and 980,000 VND/general ticket/adult/turn on weekends. VIP class costs about 1.1 million VND for a ticket/adult/turn on all weekends and holidays.
The common drawback of traveling to Con Dao by sea is the issue of time and seasickness. You can equip additional medicine and eat well before departure to avoid fatigue, which affects the quality of your trip.
A Quick Summary of Different Ways Getting to Con Dao Island
| Means of Transportation | Route | Time Length | Ticket Price | Buy Your Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plane | HCMC – Con Dao | 1 hour | Depend | BUY NOW! |
| Can Tho – Con Dao | 1 hour | Depend | BUY NOW! | |
| Helicopter | Vung Tau – Con Dao | 1 hour | VND 3.9m-4.4m | Hotline: (+84)889271234 or tructhang.vn |
| Ferry | HCMC – Con Dao | 5 hours | VND 898,000 | BUY NOW! |
| Soc Trang – Con Dao | 2 hours | VND 408,000 | BUY NOW! | |
| Can Tho – Con Dao | 4 hours | VND 708,000 | BUY NOW! | |
| Vung Tau – Con Dao | 3 hours | VND 808,000 | BUY NOW! |
Embracing the Journey to Con Dao
As our exploration of how to get to Con Dao comes to a close, we’re reminded that the journey is just as important as the destination. Whether you choose the swift efficiency of a plane, the exclusive touch of a helicopter, or the steady pace of a ferry, each path leads to the unforgettable beauty of Con Dao. So pack your bags, choose your route, and let the island’s allure pull you towards an unforgettable escape.
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Khoi Nguyen
Khoi Nguyen builds The Broad Life with a desire to inspire people go exploring the world and live a more interesting, experience, and adventurous life. This blog shares the stories, pictures, and experiences at destinations where he has traveled to.
2 Comments
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Khoi Nguyen
Thanks for your comment!
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Emma Parker
Great job!