Con Dao leaves a lasting imprint on every traveler’s heart with its radiant beauty—majestic, mysterious, and enchanting, yet gentle, peaceful, and full of soul.
The island is often remembered as a spiritual destination, home to historic revolutionary relics such as the Con Dao Prison and the Hang Duong Cemetery. But there is another Con Dao—wild, pristine, and breathtaking in every corner. And there is no moment more magical on this island than sunrise. Because of its terrain, the eastern side of Con Dao—where most residents live and where the main roads run—offers some of the most heavenly sunrise viewpoints.
We visited Con Dao in late May, the final stretch of the calm, beautiful season. Typically, the ideal time to explore Con Dao is from December to May. During this period, those hoping to “hunt” the sunrise need to rise around 4:00 AM, ride to a chosen spot, and prepare their cameras before the sky begins to glow. The best light usually appears from 4:45 AM to 5:30 AM—sometimes shorter, sometimes longer depending on the weather. These precious minutes paint the sky in vibrant, dreamlike colors—often even more spectacular before the sun fully rises above the sea.
Below are three sunrise-viewing suggestions for nature lovers and photography enthusiasts who want to savor every moment of Con Dao’s beauty.
Mũi Tàu Bể
To us, this was the most impressive sunrise spot. From here, you can watch the sun rise directly over the horizon, with small islands faintly silhouetted against the glowing sky.
Mũi Tàu Bể’s rugged terrain—its cliffs, rock crevices, tidal pools, and wild plants—creates a dramatic setting for photography. Even slightly away from the main viewpoint, the colors of dawn still spread across the sky, giving you multiple angles to capture the scene.
Reaching this viewpoint requires riding a motorbike about 8 km from Con Dao town toward Co Ong Airport. The best spots are never right next to the main road—you’ll need to climb over rocks and find your own vantage point.
Sitting on the rocky shore, watching the sun gradually rise from the sea and feeling the cool, fresh air of this remote island—it is a moment of pure stillness and serenity. As the early sunlight spreads, the cliffs glow with a majestic, golden brilliance.
Đầm Tre Bay
Sunrise over Đầm Tre Bay is both magnificent and awe-inspiring. To witness it, you must spend the night at the Đầm Tre ranger station, wake up early, and climb the nearby hill to watch the sun lift above the sea and cast its light across the mouth of the bay.
There is no other way to reach Đầm Tre except by riding a motorbike, parking near the shore, crossing the beach on foot, and trekking through the forest to the ranger station.
In the early morning, you’ll climb a coastal hill to enjoy a panoramic sunrise. From the top, the view is wide open—the sun appears closest, clearest, and most direct compared with many other places on the island.
The unique terrain gives Đầm Tre Bay a majestic yet poetic charm. Under the morning light, everything becomes more radiant—the hillsides, the water, the bay entrance, all shimmering in soft golden hues.
Sitting here, watching the entire bay bathed in sunlight, one feels compelled to capture the moment—yet sometimes the scene is so moving you forget to take photos at all.
The Coastal Road Toward Shark Cape (Mũi Cá Mập)
If you prefer a closer, easier sunrise route that doesn’t require waking extremely early, follow the coastal road from town toward Shark Cape. The sunrise direction here is open, with many places to stop and take pictures. You can also enjoy the morning colors from the beach along this route.
Sitting by the shore, watching the sun appear above the water, letting yourself drift into nature—this is the time to slow down, without rush or worry.
Sunrise changes quickly. The light, the colors, the shapes of the clouds transform every minute, creating endless surprises and beautiful moments. As the sun climbs, it gilds the surface of the sea, marking the beginning of a fresh, vibrant new day filled with energy and joy.
And when you leave the island, the memories remain—the colors of dawn, the shapes of clouds, the glow across the water. Con Dao lingers in every traveler’s soul with its radiant, majestic, magical beauty—yet always gentle, peaceful, and full of warmth. Sunrise is the golden hour to truly experience the pure, untouched essence of this remarkable island.
CTV Ngo Thanh Hai
Source: VOV
