Con Dao is a charming archipelago including 16 islands, situated between the ocean 117 nautical miles in the south of Ho Chi Minh City and about 600 miles from Singapore. Western sailors called it as Poulo Condore, Con Dao is formerly known as the brutal prison for prisoners of patriotism against the French colonialism and the old Saigon puppet regime. Today, Con Dao Island is a paradise for nature tourism with quiet forest, white sand beaches, and the colorful coral with diversifying world of forest and marine plant and animal.
Those who came to the island district will not miss this opportunity to visit the system of historical evidence from more than a century ago, such as Con Dao prison, Hang Duong cemetery, Ma Thien Lanh Bridge, Wharf House 914, etc. Con Dao prison, with the brutal barbaric prison system, is known as “Hell on Earth”. Places such as Chuong Bo (cattle cage), Chuong Cop (Tiger cage), Phu Hai prison … are ancient places where French colonialists imprisoned political prisoners with many brutal forms of torturing. Maybe so, in 1895, French genius composer Camile Saint Seans while residing at the Con Dao Cong Quan, witnessing adversity between natural beauty and the hell island of prisoners, have finished with passions the last chapter in the famous musical “Brunehida” all in a night. Besides, coming to this place, the Pier 914 is also a point to stop for visitor. Being built in 1873, Pier is located at the center of the beach town of the island. The number 914, which is named for the bridge, is the number of prisoners died of tuberculosis epidemic. If you had been to Con Dao Island, tourists cannot forget to visit the Hang Duong cemetery, resting place of more than 20,000 communist soldiers who were subject to imprisonment and tortured to death in Con Dao, including the typical revolutionary martyrs such as Le Hong Phong, Nguyen An Ninh, Vo Thi Sau, etc. Currently, Hang Duong cemetery is preserved as a historical relic of the country.
Coming to Con Dao, in addition to visit the historical evidence, you should discover a pristine paradise. From Con Son Island, about an hour walking, visitors will come to the So Ray – fruit trees garden planted by the French in the early 20th century. Currently, the So Ray is being renovated to provide food for wildlife animals. Walking in the woods, enjoying the tropical rainforest stretching over low hills, climbing hut observing the landscape to see Con Son Island and some small islands are the excitement of each visitor. Visitors can stop in for Ma Thien Lanh bridge then to Duc Me cave (Mary cave), then continuing to expose through the forest trail to the Ong Dung beach he to observe the rare animal and plant species or snorkeling to observe coral – home of the marine animals. You can walk along the coastal road in the direction of Ben Dam fish port to enjoy the romantic sunrise at Shark Point, then the swimming in the Nhat beach and wait for sunset atop on the shimmering Love Mountain. If you are lucky, you can see dolphins, dugong (sea cow). Stop in Hon Tre Lon, visitors can participate in various types of attractive services: snorkeling for coral viewing, watching sea turtles laying their eggs on beaches, fishing and recreational enjoying. Continue to Hon Tre Nho, you could see firsthand the birds nest or wandering herd terns. About 5 km from Con Son town, Tai Mount is inhabited by descendants of Mei Hou Wang. It must be said that the current marine environment in Con Dao is great: blue and very clean sea. Swimmer can see through the deep sea. Passing Hon Bay Canh, you may participate in the conservation of biological activities such as caring eggs of turtles to the sea, taking care of the mother turtles laying eggs, seeing mangrove forest and conquer the old lighthouse of more than 350 m high. Hon Bay Canh with the type of typical mangrove forest and tropical rain forest with hundreds of years old trees is more suitable environment for living animals such as monkeys, squirrels, iguanas, birds. You will see white chassis birds, Nobita pigeons, birds that you definitely cannot find in anywhere else. From Hon Bay Canh, the ship will take visitors to the Hon Cau. According to old books, Hon Cau was formerly an ancient village in the time of King Gia Long with a neighbor named Mrs. Thiet. This is a unique place among the small island of Con Son Island, which has groundwater – ideal for camping, picnicking with sweet coconut and romantic beach.
Those who came to the island district will not miss this opportunity to visit the system of historical evidence from more than a century ago, such as Con Dao prison, Hang Duong cemetery, Ma Thien Lanh Bridge, Wharf House 914, etc. Con Dao prison, with the brutal barbaric prison system, is known as “Hell on Earth”. Places such as Chuong Bo (cattle cage), Chuong Cop (Tiger cage), Phu Hai prison … are ancient places where French colonialists imprisoned political prisoners with many brutal forms of torturing. Maybe so, in 1895, French genius composer Camile Saint Seans while residing at the Con Dao Cong Quan, witnessing adversity between natural beauty and the hell island of prisoners, have finished with passions the last chapter in the famous musical “Brunehida” all in a night. Besides, coming to this place, the Pier 914 is also a point to stop for visitor. Being built in 1873, Pier is located at the center of the beach town of the island. The number 914, which is named for the bridge, is the number of prisoners died of tuberculosis epidemic. If you had been to Con Dao Island, tourists cannot forget to visit the Hang Duong cemetery, resting place of more than 20,000 communist soldiers who were subject to imprisonment and tortured to death in Con Dao, including the typical revolutionary martyrs such as Le Hong Phong, Nguyen An Ninh, Vo Thi Sau, etc. Currently, Hang Duong cemetery is preserved as a historical relic of the country.
Coming to Con Dao, in addition to visit the historical evidence, you should discover a pristine paradise. From Con Son Island, about an hour walking, visitors will come to the So Ray – fruit trees garden planted by the French in the early 20th century. Currently, the So Ray is being renovated to provide food for wildlife animals. Walking in the woods, enjoying the tropical rainforest stretching over low hills, climbing hut observing the landscape to see Con Son Island and some small islands are the excitement of each visitor. Visitors can stop in for Ma Thien Lanh bridge then to Duc Me cave (Mary cave), then continuing to expose through the forest trail to the Ong Dung beach he to observe the rare animal and plant species or snorkeling to observe coral – home of the marine animals. You can walk along the coastal road in the direction of Ben Dam fish port to enjoy the romantic sunrise at Shark Point, then the swimming in the Nhat beach and wait for sunset atop on the shimmering Love Mountain. If you are lucky, you can see dolphins, dugong (sea cow). Stop in Hon Tre Lon, visitors can participate in various types of attractive services: snorkeling for coral viewing, watching sea turtles laying their eggs on beaches, fishing and recreational enjoying. Continue to Hon Tre Nho, you could see firsthand the birds nest or wandering herd terns. About 5 km from Con Son town, Tai Mount is inhabited by descendants of Mei Hou Wang. It must be said that the current marine environment in Con Dao is great: blue and very clean sea. Swimmer can see through the deep sea. Passing Hon Bay Canh, you may participate in the conservation of biological activities such as caring eggs of turtles to the sea, taking care of the mother turtles laying eggs, seeing mangrove forest and conquer the old lighthouse of more than 350 m high. Hon Bay Canh with the type of typical mangrove forest and tropical rain forest with hundreds of years old trees is more suitable environment for living animals such as monkeys, squirrels, iguanas, birds. You will see white chassis birds, Nobita pigeons, birds that you definitely cannot find in anywhere else. From Hon Bay Canh, the ship will take visitors to the Hon Cau. According to old books, Hon Cau was formerly an ancient village in the time of King Gia Long with a neighbor named Mrs. Thiet. This is a unique place among the small island of Con Son Island, which has groundwater – ideal for camping, picnicking with sweet coconut and romantic beach.