Con Dao Island Informations
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OVERVIEW
The remote Con Dao group of islands is about 180km from Vung Tau, and has a local population of around 5,000. The main island, Con Son, was a much-feared former penal colony until 1975. Most of the archipelago is now a National Park with some good beaches, clear water with pristine coral, lush tropical forest with many flowers and coconut groves. The National Park has an amazing variety of unique creatures – from Black squirrels, monkeys, butterflies, snakes and spiders. The Marine park boasts: Du Gongs, turtles, Reef shark and an abundance of Macro.
LOCATION
8°37'-8°46'N, 106°32'-l06°45'E; 85 km off the coast of the Mekong Delta, 180 km SSW of Vung Tau and 200 km south of Ho Chi Minh City.
HISTORY
Once known as ‘Poulo Condor’ and long considered a Southeast Asian ‘Devil's Island’, Con Son is the largest island in the archipelago. The infamous Con Son prison complex was established by the French colonial authority early in the nineteenth century. From then until 1975 the French colonial administration, followed by the Saigon government, incarcerated political prisoners in brutal conditions, often in tiny underground boxes known as ‘tiger cages’. The Hang Duong cemetery holds the remains of the many prisoners that died there.
Throughout the colonial period and its use by the Saigon regime, Con Dao’s only inhabitants were the prisoners, their guards, and a small contingent of soldiers and administrators. The true extent of the appalling treatment of inmates only became known after victory and reunification in May 1975.
Since then, a small town has developed on the western side of Con Son in and around the old penal colony complex. It’s an attractive community with excellent civic amenities and a road layout that would put most Vietnamese towns to shame, despite its size.
THE WEATHER
Con Dao is located at a point where cool and warm ocean currents converge and create a localised climatic system. From August to October, frequent fierce squalls buffet the west facing aspects of the islands whilst the east is sheltered. In November, the currents and winds reverse thus exposing the east of the islands to bad weather until January. The weather is calm all over the archipelago during the remainder of the year.
This unusual weather pattern allows swimming, snorkelling and diving to be an all-year-round activity – peak diving season is May until early August.
The National Park
The French wardens forced prisoners to collect live coral and turn it into lime. The coral reefs survived, but only to face further damage from uncontrolled and destructive fishing. The National Park was established in 1977, but protection extended only to the flora and fauna on land. The park now covers fourteen of the sixteen islands and their surrounding marine areas.
The forest cover on the islands is dense: a sizable proportion is in pristine condition, particularly the humid hill forest growing above 500m above sea level.
Even though control over the exploitative use of the sea was established as late as 1993, and despite the damage wreaked by the French, over a thousand hectares of Con Dao National Park's coral reefs survive in the shallow waters - a stark contrast to other areas of Vietnam that have low coral cover as a result of overexploitation, destructive fishing, and sedimentation.
The entire marine area is rich in biodiversity: over 1,300 species of sea animals have already been identified. The ecosystems on Con Dao are favourable habitats for rare species such as the Hawksbill, Green Turtles & Dugong, the strange creatures popularly known as ‘sea cows’ and believed to be the source of the ‘mermaid’ legends from their habit of sunbathing on rocks.
CONSERVATION EFFORTS
The World Wide Fund for Nature has been active in protecting sea turtles and dugong. Since 1995, more than 300,000 baby turtles have been released to the sea and nearly 1,000 mature turtles have been tagged.
Con Dao National Park is now considered one of the best examples of marine conservation in Vietnam, complete with regulations to limit fishing activities and prohibit destructive fishing, and is a model for marine conservation throughout the country. There are plans for eco-friendly development within the park’s boundaries.
THE FUTURE
Con Dao has significant value for many types of conservation and eco-friendly tourism development. Diving is the best in the country as there are many outstanding dive sites offering sightings of dolphins, turtles, sharks, rays, bumphead parrotfish and dugong as well as a wide range of other species – and Viet Nams only diveable wreck.
Con Dao is definitely a place for nature lovers, but also an opportunity to visit an unspoilt tropical island before development. There is little doubt that it will soon become a popular destination, so if you want peace and solitude in a pristine setting, now’s the time to go.
FACILITIES
There are no taxis on the islands, and virtually no ‘xe oms’ (motorbike taxis). However, it’s easy to hire a small motorbike to get around the island. Prices are somewhat higher than on the mainland.
Accommodation is basic and limited. Restaurants are few and far between, and the cuisine is rudimentary. Don’t be misled by tales of exotic fruits in abundance – it’s mainly bananas and coconuts. Everything else comes from the mainland. However, the seafood is first-rate.
Accommodation
The Accommodation on Con Son has changed a little over the last couple of years:
* Six Senses Resort: Truly 5 star luxury! Prices match such quality as expected!
* Con Dao Resort: Government owned with a range of standard hotel rooms (around the US$60 - US$75 mark), plus grand private Villas (around the US$200 mark). Nice pool complex and direct access to the beach.
* Sea Travel Bungalows - A little further along from Con Dao resort. Currently comprises 12 detached Bungalows (all doubles with extra bed option). All simple, comfortable and nicely laid out along the beach front. With an open air communal bar and restaurant which is fast becoming a central hang out for tourists. No swimming pool but all Bungalows are no more than 5m from the beach. The Bungalows are around US$60 per night.
* Saigon - Con Dao Resort: Owned by the Saigon tourist group. This is a new 300 room hotel extremely well fitted and nicely designed (ranging from US$60 - US$85 per night) with all the expected options; Double, family etc. Onsite swimming pool and road access to the beach.
* Con Dao Resort and Spa (formerly known as ATC): Completely revamped, new accommodation blocks which are separate apartments which they insist on referring to as Bungalows. It now has a swimming pool and you will only need to make a short walk to get to the beach. The second level restaurant offers some of the best food (and best value) on the Island - try a plate of “Muc Chien Su”.
Check out our package deals page and send us an enquiry as there is always some very important "inside info" you will like to know!
Budget:
Phi Yen guesthouse on the water front is now VERY run down and noisy (central location for breakfast), very cheap.
Hai Nhaguesthouse two blocks back in what is considered central con Son near the market. reasonable at US$7 per night.
Next door is the rather official looking An Dao Hotel/guesthouse. 10 room WYSIWYG for around the US$10 per night mark. |
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