A Tropical Garden of Eden
Right south of Ho Chi Minh City,as lost dots in the ocean, lies the Con Dao archipelago. It is in many ways a Garden of Eden. Beautiful beaches seem really made to languidly enjoy fine sand, sun and sea. Due to its remote location, the archipelago remained long forgotten, here you will still find deserted beaches where the silence is only broken by the surf.
The flora and fauna – both on land and in the sea – are unique, but also fragile. The tropical forests and coral reefs are not without reason supervised by Con Dao National Park. They are the habitat of rare species, such as the black squirrel, crab-eating macaques, and the dugong. From June to early September, sea turtles return to the beach where they came into the world, to lay their eggs. With any luck, you will be a spectator of the slow process, as the females draw a trail in the sand, on their way to the ideal place to dig a nest.
Prison Island
It is hardly conceivable, but for decades Con Son – the largest of the sixteen islands – was hell on earth. Political dissidents were imprisoned here during the Franco-colonial period, and in later years Viet Cong fighters were deported to Con Dao. The treatment that awaited them was notorious. A greater contrast with the unprecedentedly beautiful surroundings is almost unthinkable. Today, the restored prison is open to visitors.
Vietnam's most beautiful coral reefs
Your stay at Con Dao will take place mainly on the pristine beaches, in peaceful coves overlooking the blue, lukewarm sea. The hinterland consists of hills, overgrown with tropical forests, where day and night the cries of all kinds of animals sound. How quiet is life underwater! If you have a diving licence, or if you have ambitions to take a test dive, you can look forward to vietnam's most beautiful coral reefs. But even with snorkel and goggles, the underwater world is accessible. Bobbing in the crystal clear water, you'll see colorful fish, sea anemones, starfish, and lobsters disappearing skittishly into a crevice.