Côn Đảo — Insider Tip★★
Côn Đảo is Vietnam's best-kept island secret — an archipelago of 16 islands, 230 km off the southeast coast, with pristine beaches, coral reefs, and a dark history as a prison island.
From 1862 to 1975, first the French, then the Americans and South Vietnamese operated a notorious prison here. Over 20,000 political prisoners died in the Tiger Cages — tiny, open cells where inmates were exposed to the sun and rain. The prison museum is harrowing but historically indispensable.
Today, Côn Đảo is a natural paradise: sea turtles nest on the beaches (June–September), the diving and snorkeling spots are among the best in Vietnam, and the national park covers 80% of the main island. There is no mass tourism infrastructure — just a handful of hotels and restaurants. Just right.
💡 Tipp
Flight from HCMC (1 hour, from 800,000 VND / 30 €) with Bamboo Airways or VASCO. Book early — flights are scarce. June–September is turtle season: Rangers will take you to the beach for the nighttime egg-laying.
