Con Dao is one of Vietnam’s most exceptional tourism destinations, officially identified among 49 potential areas for designation as a national tourism zone. In 2011, Travel + Leisure described Con Dao as a land of dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches, and crystal-clear waters—one of the world’s most enchanting and mysterious islands. Lonely Planet likewise listed Con Dao among the best hidden islands globally, praising its dense tropical forests, jade-colored sea, powdery white beaches, and rich marine life including dugongs, dolphins, sea turtles, and spectacular coral reefs.
Beyond its natural beauty, Con Dao is also a place of profound historical significance. The island served as a notorious prison system under French colonial rule and later during the American-backed regime. After visiting the island in 1976, General Secretary Le Duan affirmed that Con Dao is “a heroic island, a monumental historical relic.” In subsequent years, the Vietnamese Government enacted several key policies to elevate Con Dao: the 2011 Master Plan for Con Dao’s development to 2030, the 2012 designation of the Con Dao Prison System as a National Special Relic, and the 2015 National Tourism Zone Master Plan. These documents confirm Con Dao’s strategic role in harmonizing economic growth with the preservation of historical, cultural, and ecological heritage—toward a modern and sustainable future.
Tourism Potential and Current Development
Located about 185 km south of Vung Tau and 250 km southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, Con Dao comprises 16 islands, 14 of which cluster closely together. The climate is warm and oceanic, with average temperatures around 26.9°C and clean seas ranging from 25.7°C to 29.2°C. The archipelago boasts 200 km of coastline with exceptionally beautiful, relatively untouched beaches such as Dam Trau, Vong Beach, Nhat Beach, and An Hai Beach—ranked among the finest in Vietnam.
The marine environment of Con Dao is regarded by the World Bank as one of the highest-priority conservation zones in Vietnam. Its biodiversity is among the richest in the country, featuring rare species and coral reefs that remain largely pristine. Scientific surveys consistently reveal new species. The Con Dao National Park contains four terrestrial ecosystems and three major marine ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrass beds (representing over 84% of Vietnam’s known species), and coral reefs with 342 species—placing Con Dao among the nation’s top biodiversity hotspots. The island group also hosts Vietnam’s largest nesting population of sea turtles, accounting for 70–80% of recorded annual nesting activity.
Cultural and historical heritage
Con Dao is a living witness to the nation’s turbulent history. The Con Dao Prison System—operating from 1862 to 1975—stands as one of Vietnam’s most important historical monuments. Hang Duong Cemetery, the resting place of tens of thousands of revolutionaries and patriots, is unique in its natural setting and emotional depth. Con Dao also features significant spiritual sites such as Nui Mot Pagoda, Phi Yen Shrine, and the Shrine of Prince Cai.
Infrastructure development
Rapid improvements in infrastructure have strengthened Con Dao’s role as a premium tourism destination. Sea routes now include multiple high-speed ferry services from Vung Tau and Soc Trang, reducing travel time to as little as 2.5 hours. Con Son Airport handles 6–9 flights daily and is planned for expansion to accommodate larger aircraft. Internet, telecommunications, and on-island transportation infrastructure continue to improve. Urban development planning for Con Dao has also progressed, paving the way for future upgrades.
To support high-end tourism, the Government has implemented preferential investment policies, including simplified administrative procedures, reduced corporate income tax, long-term tax incentives, personal income tax reductions, and zero-percent VAT for foundational construction. Between 2012 and 2017, tourism revenue grew by an average of 35% annually, with strong increases in hospitality and services. In 2019, Con Dao welcomed nearly 394,000 visitors, a 37% increase from the previous year.
Challenges
Despite its advantages, Con Dao faces substantial obstacles. As an isolated island district with limited land resources and infrastructure—especially electricity, freshwater supply, and waste treatment—the island is vulnerable to ecological overload if tourism develops too rapidly or without proper constraints. Mass tourism poses serious risks to the delicate balance between economic development and the preservation of Con Dao’s rare natural and cultural assets.
Uncontrolled investment, fragmented planning, insufficient environmental safeguards, and weak evaluation of investor capacity could jeopardize biodiversity, historical sites, and community wellbeing. Waste management, freshwater access, and pollution control remain urgent issues.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted the need for proactive risk-management strategies, refined products, and upgraded services to help Con Dao adapt to the evolving domestic and international tourism landscape.
Unique Tourism Characteristics of Con Dao
Three core attributes define Con Dao’s competitive advantage:
- Exceptional natural beauty and one of the most diverse island–marine ecosystems in Vietnam, recognized internationally.
- Deep cultural and historical values, particularly related to the nation’s resistance against French and American occupation.
- Spiritual significance, rooted in local legends, people, and sacred sites associated with the island’s history.
These attributes naturally shape Con Dao’s signature tourism products:
- High-end ecological and island-resort tourism
- Historical–cultural–spiritual tourism
- Nature education, conservation-focused experiences, and scientific exploration
- To enhance these products while ensuring sustainability, Con Dao must prioritize quality, exclusivity, and distinctive experiences.
Strategic Directions for High-Quality, Distinctive Tourism Development
1) Position Con Dao as a world-class green island–resort destination.
Adopt sustainable standards, reduce carbon emissions, and strictly protect biodiversity, historical relics, and spiritual values. Mass tourism must be avoided. Con Dao may draw lessons from Maldives–style island branding: “a new paradise of island eco-luxury in Southeast Asia.”
2) Develop high-end, signature tourism products.
Create unique, technologically enhanced experiences that combine nature, culture, and personal enrichment—such as eco-resort programs, conservation tours, nature-based wellness, historical education journeys, and scientific research tourism for high-end markets.
3) Integrate educational and conservation values into all tourism activities.
Promote awareness of nature protection, cultural heritage, and humane values.
4) Improve connectivity by air and sea.
Design targeted domestic and international routes aligned with carrying-capacity studies and infrastructure readiness. Avoid excessive flights or ferries and manage tourist volume through expert-based capacity assessments.
5) Increase visitor length of stay.
Enhance intra-island connections, expand high-quality services, develop premium experiences, and link Con Son town with nearby islets through regulated sea routes.
6) Focus on high-spending markets.
Target affluent travelers from major Vietnamese cities (Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City) and international markets such as Western Europe, Northern Europe, North America, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
7) Regulate land use and tourism construction.
Ensure development density aligns with environmental protection, cultural heritage, and biodiversity conservation. Prioritize 4–5 star eco-friendly accommodations and designate strict non-development zones—for example, Hon Bay Canh should remain for ecological viewing only.
8) Mobilize diverse investment sources for sustainable development.
Prioritize projects related to conservation, infrastructure, clean energy, freshwater supply, telecommunications, and modern waste management.
9) Strengthen human resources.
Improve professional skills, foreign languages, environmental awareness, and service quality, especially in luxury hotels, resorts, tour guiding, and transportation. Promote community participation and foster a strong local tourism workforce.
Key Solutions for Developing High-Quality, Distinctive Tourism in Con Dao
Review and optimize all development plans and investment projects—prioritize green, sustainable, and eco-friendly initiatives with rigorous environmental assessments.
- Attract responsible investors with a clear vision for green tourism, while encouraging community-based tourism.
- Rationalize air and sea traffic, limiting excessive routes and managing visitor capacity using expert consultation.
- Apply digital and smart-technology solutions in guiding, interpretation, mapping, and virtual exhibitions—especially for the prison relics and ecosystem education.
- Develop professional tourism human resources, combine local capacity-building with the recruitment of highly skilled domestic and international experts.
Conclusion
With its extraordinary natural assets, profound cultural–historical legacy, national and international recognition, and growing infrastructure, Con Dao is fully capable of developing a portfolio of world-class, distinctive tourism products. Yet, achieving truly high-quality and sustainable progress requires careful planning, responsible investment, and the unwavering commitment of the Government, local authorities, businesses, and the community.
The overarching goal must remain clear: to protect Con Dao’s natural landscape and biodiversity, preserve its historical and cultural heritage, elevate its economic potential, and improve the quality of life for its people—ensuring that Con Dao grows as a sustainable, unique, and world-class destination.
