Con Dao Island was ranked first on Travel and Leisure magazine’s list of the 30 most mysterious islands in the world, making it perfect for an adventure and escape from the hustle and bustle of city life during the summer.
In its list of the 30 most mysterious islands in the world that tourists should visit this summer, Travel & Leisure chose Con Dao , a popular tourist destination in Vietnam, in first place.
” Phu Quoc can be likened to a miniature Phuket (Thailand), but for tourists wanting to explore more secluded places, they will go to Con Dao – an archipelago little known to international visitors located off the southeastern coast of Vietnam,” a leading American travel magazine commented on Con Dao in early May.
Accordingly, tourists can travel by boat or plane from Ho Chi Minh City (flight time approximately 60 minutes) to Con Son, the largest island in the chain of 16 islands. Here, majestic granite cliffs surrounding pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters remind many international visitors of the similar beauty of the Amafia coast in Italy.
An aerial view of a beach in Con Dao. Photo: Booking
Besides swimming, watching turtles lay eggs, and gazing at the Milky Way, visitors can rent motorbikes or take guided tours to popular attractions such as the Bay Canh lighthouse and the Dam Tre lagoon. According to Travel & Leisure , most accommodations in Con Son are budget guesthouses, but visitors can also stay at resorts like Six Senses and Poulo Condor Boutique Resort and Spa.
“The buffet breakfast is magnificent and classy, the restaurants in the resort are so delicious you won’t want to leave, and the staff are always attentive to your needs,” Susmita Baral, editor of Travel & Leisure, commented on the restaurants in the hotel she used during her 2023 visit to Vietnam.
The remaining islands on the list include Gili Trawangan (Indonesia), Pico (Portugal), Sandön (Sweden), Skopelos (Greece), and Caye Caulker (Belize).
According to travel experts, when thinking about an island vacation, many famous names will likely come to mind for tourists, such as Bali, Hawaii, and Santorini.
However, beyond the overly famous and crowded destinations, the world also boasts many other equally attractive and mysterious island paradises. That’s why Travel & Leisure has published this list of 30 hidden islands, based on votes from travel experts, tourists, and criteria such as being secluded, pristine, little-known, not yet overcrowded with tourists, and places where visitors can escape the hustle and bustle of the modern world.
A starry night sky over Con Son. Photo: Six Senses Con Dao
The Con Dao archipelago, covering 76 square kilometers, comprises 16 islands and is located 185 km from Vung Tau , 230 km from Ho Chi Minh City, and approximately 83 km from Can Tho . The development of transportation, travel, accommodation, and dining services on the islands has propelled this destination to greater heights on the tourism map.
Besides spiritual and historical tourism, many visitors know Con Dao as a paradise for relaxation and an exciting adventure destination with much to discover. The best time to visit Con Dao is from March to September. Visitors should explore the outlying islands during the day, ideal for snorkeling and photography. Afternoons often bring rain showers, making it suitable for visiting sheltered historical sites on the main island.
July to September is the breeding season for sea turtles. The rest of the year, from October to March, is typically the monsoon season, with large waves in Con Son Bay. However, the waters to the west and southwest of the main island remain calm and rain-free, allowing visitors to explore this area with equally beautiful natural scenery.
Air travel is the most convenient and time-saving option when visiting Con Dao. Currently, there are no direct flights from major cities like Hanoi and Da Nang to Con Dao; visitors will need to make a connecting flight in Ho Chi Minh City.
According to data from the Con Dao People’s Committee, the estimated total number of visitors to Con Dao in the first six months of the year reached over 410,000, equivalent to 67% of the annual plan, an increase of 3.5% compared to the same period last year. Of these, international visitors accounted for nearly 24,000, an increase of 62% compared to the same period. Tourism revenue is estimated at over 2,000 billion VND, an increase of 15% compared to 2025.
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