Last updated November 2024 | Words and photos by Vietnam Coracle
Tom Divers is the founder and creator of Vietnam Coracle. He’s lived, travelled and worked in Vietnam since 2005. Born in London, he travelled from an early age, visiting over 40 countries (he first visited Vietnam in 1999). Now, whenever he has the opportunity to make a trip, he rarely looks beyond Vietnam’s borders and his trusty motorbike, Stavros. Read more about Tom on the About Page, Vietnam Times and ASE Podcast.
Côn Đảo and Phú Quốc are two of the most attractive beach destinations in Vietnam. Lying off the southeastern and southwestern coast of Vietnam respectively, both of these tropical islands have good beaches, jungle-covered interiors, great seafood, watersports, outdoor activities and regular transportation connections to the mainland. Both have a history as prison islands and associations with Nguyễn Ánh, a pivotal historical figure who became Emperor Gia Long, founder of Vietnam’s last imperial line, the Nguyễn Dynasty. I love Côn Đảo and Phú Quôc and I have visited dozens of times over the last two decades. But most travellers will only have time to visit one: so which island should you choose?
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CON DAO OR PHU QUOC
Which of these Tropical Islands Should You Choose?
This guide compares Côn Đảo and Phú Quốc based on 8 criteria (see Contents below). If choosing between the two, there are many things to consider, including time of year, weather conditions, budget, and personal preferences. Although I love both Côn Đảo and Phú Quốc, in many respects these two southern islands are very different in character: for some travellers, one will appeal more than the other. There are several other small archipelagoes off Vietnam’s southern coast, including Hòn Sơn, Nam Du and the Pirate Islands (Đảo Hải Tặc). But these are more suitable for shorter trips or island-hopping, whereas travellers can happily spend between 3-10 days on either Côn Đảo or Phú Quốc. As well as this guide, I have written extensively about both islands in my Côn Đảo Travel Guide and Phú Quốc Beach Guide, and many more articles in Related Posts.
CONTENTS:
Natural Environment & Tourist Development
MAP:
Southern Islands: Côn Đảo & Phú Quốc
Weather:
Although both islands lie off the coast of southern Vietnam, they are located in different seas and subject to different weather patterns. Phú Quốc is in the Gulf of Thailand, while Côn Đảo is in the East Sea. Broadly speaking, Phú Quốc has two distinct seasons: the wet (June-October) and the dry (November-May). The best weather and sea conditions are in the dry season, when the sun usually shines, the ocean is generally calm and clear, and nighttime temperatures are cool. Rainy season months can be very wet and the sea gets choppy – often too rough to swim. Côn Đảo’s weather patterns are more complicated. The driest months (November-February) are also the windiest, making the seas too rough to swim or dive, and beaches unpleasant to lay out on. The best window for visiting Côn Đảo is March to September, when winds subside, the ocean calms, and temperatures range between mild and very hot, but there’s always the chance of heavy rain and storms during this period. Bottom line: visit Phú Quoc from November-May; visit Côn Đảo from March-September.
Transportation:
Both islands are well connected to mainland hubs, whether by air or sea. The biggest difference between the two is that Phú Quốc receives international flights, but Côn Đảo’s airport is domestic only. Interestingly, there’s currently no direct connection, by air or sea, between the two islands, but I would imagine it’s just a matter of time before one opens. Ultimately, Phú Quốc is easier and cheaper to reach than Côn Đảo. You can search and book flights or ferries to Phú Quốc and Côn Đảo using this Baolau.com link or the search box below.
By Air: There are dozens of flights every day to/from Phú Quốc and major Vietnamese cities, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Đà Nẵng. All Vietnamese carriers fly to Phú Quốc which means competition is fierce and prices are reasonable. In addition, Phú Quốc receives regular charter flights from international destinations, such as Thailand, South Korea and Eastern European nations. By contrast, Côn Đảo’s small airport only receives about a dozen flights each day from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, with seasonal connections to other domestic destinations, like Cần Thơ, Đà Nẵng and Vinh. The short runway can only accommodate particular aircraft, so not all domestic carriers fly to Côn Đảo. This means that flights to Côn Đảo cost around 50% more than those to Phú Quốc. Bottom line: flights to Phú Quốc are cheap and frequent; flights to Côn Đảo are expensive and few.
By Sea: Phú Quốc has dozens of daily passenger and vehicle ferry connections from two ports in the Mekong Delta: Rạch Gía and Hà Tiên. Journey time is 2.5 hours and 1.5 hours respectively. Hà Tiên is the more pleasant of the two port cities, but Rạch Gía has better bus connections to Ho Chi Minh City. Côn Đảo has direct ferry connections from Vũng Tàu, Trần Đề (in the Mekong province of Sóc Trăng), and Cần Thơ (seasonal) and Ho Chi Minh City (not operating at the time of publication). The voyage from Sóc Trăng (twice daily) is the shortest (2.5 hours) and most reliable, but getting to the port involves a long bus journey from Ho Chi Minh City (6-7 hours). The voyage from all other ports takes 4-5 hours, but sailings are just a few times per week and schedules are subject to change due to rough sea conditions. Bottom line: ferries to Phú Quốc are frequent and reliable; ferries to Côn Đảo are fewer and less reliable. (For much more information about all these ferry connections, see my individual ferry guides in Related Posts.)
Getting Around: Both islands are easy to get around. Roads are good, taxis are cheap and easy to find, including rail-hailing apps, such as Grab and Xanh SM, and motorbikes can be rented. However, Phú Quốc has something that Côn Đảo doesn’t: a free, all electric, island-wide bus network operated by VinBus.
Search & Book Transportation to/from Phú Quốc & Côn Đảo:
Beaches:
Both islands have good beaches, but of a different nature. Phú Quốc has many kilometres of long, sprawling, palm-fringed sandy beaches lapped by calm waters, especially along the west coast. These are the kind of beaches that invite lying out on a sun lounger, sipping a cocktail, reading a book: the archetypal relaxing tropical beach. By contrast, Côn Đảo’s beaches are fewer, but more rugged and dramatic, with a kind of Jurassic Park quality. These are the kind of beaches that make you reach for your camera before your swimwear. In the right conditions, both Phú Quốc’s and Côn Đảo’s beaches are excellent for swimming, diving, snorkeling and watersports. When it comes to chilling, Phú Quốc’s beaches have the edge; but when it comes to ‘wow factor’, Côn Đảo is the winner. For much more information (and images) of both islands’ beaches see my Phú Quốc Beach Guide and my Côn Đảo Islands Travel Guide. Bottom line: Phú Quốc’s beaches are relaxing; Côn Đảo’s beaches are invigorating.
Natural Environment & Tourist Development:
The pace of change on these two islands could hardly be more different: Phú Quốc has changed beyond recognition over the last decade or so; Côn Đảo remains much the same as it has since I first visited over 15 years ago. There has been far more development on Phú Quốc than on Côn Đảo. The latter’s natural environment – both on land and offshore – is among the best-kept, most well-protected and unscathed anywhere in Vietnam. Côn Đảo’s rugged coastline and mountainous interior are blanketed in thick jungle; most visitors will encounter wildlife, especially long-tailed macaques and black giant squirrels; the sea hides the best snorkeling and dive sites in Vietnam; and the main settlement of Côn Sơn is mostly low-rise and very quiet, laidback and sleepy compared to other Vietnamese towns. Indeed, the island’s population is only around 10,000 in total and visitor numbers – especially those from abroad – are still low. Resort and hotel development has mostly been quite modest and low-rise, and even the bigger, upscale resorts have made an effort to be careful of their environmental impact. It’s not perfect, of course: Côn Đảo has its environmental problems, such as an ever-growing landfill and increasing sea pollution as more and more ferries bring more and more visitors to the island each day. (See my Con Dao Islands Travel Guide for more information.)
But these problems pale in comparison to Phú Quốc’s, where large swathes of rainforest and beachfront have been completely destroyed and then built upon in the most ostentatious and high-impact way imaginable by gigantic integrated resorts. What’s more, with a population of some 180,000 people and hundreds of thousands of tourists arriving each year, the island has a serious litter problem which unfortunately manifests itself in tides of trash washing up on the beach, depending on the season and currents. Having said that, Phú Quốc is a very big island and the development is nowhere near as intense as it is on comparable Thai Islands, such as Phuket. Inland, Phú Quốc’s natural environment is essentially untouched, with miles and miles of unbroken jungle covering ridge after ridge. What’s more, development has been concentrated in specific areas: it’s easy to avoid the high-rise hotels and environmental destruction – most of the coastline remains undeveloped. Phú Quốc has been unfairly treated by travel writers and social media users in recent years who tend to paint the entire island with one brush. (See my Phu Quoc Beach Guide for more information.)
Bottom line: Phú Quốc has been subjected to major development and environmental destruction in pockets, but remains far less developed than regional rivals; Côn Đảo has one of the best protected natural environments in the nation and development has been slow and mostly low-rise.
Accommodation:
Phú Quốc offers a great range of accommodation for all budgets spread across the island, whereas Côn Đảo’s options are far fewer and mostly concentrated around the town on Côn Sơn. On Phú Quốc, competition keeps rates fairly reasonable, but all accommodations inflate their prices during the peak months between November-March. Côn Đảo’s limited sleeping options are generally about 20%-30% more expensive than what you’d expect to pay for similar lodgings on the mainland.
Phú Quốc rivals Hội An for sheer variety of places to stay: budget dorm-style hostels, mid-range beach resorts, high-end getaways, huge multistorey hotels, local guesthouses – they’re all here in abundance. In amongst the hundreds of accommodations (the vast majority of which are spread along the west coast) are a handful of truly excellent places to stay that are among my favourite resorts in Vietnam. (See my Phú Quốc Hotel Reviews for more information.)
On Côn Đảo, several dozen mini-hotels dot the quiet streets of Côn Sơn town. Standards are getting higher and the range of choices increases with each year. As a general rule, the more upmarket and pricier options are along the handsome seafront road; things get progressively cheaper the further back you go. Beyond town, there are a handful of secluded, luxury resorts on private beaches. (See my Côn Đảo Accommodation Reviews for more information.) Bottom line: Phú Quốc has a huge range of places to stay with something for everyone; Côn Đảo has limited – but ever growing – options.
Dining & Nighlife:
Unsurprisingly, seafood is famous on both islands. Phú Quốc also has some island speciality dishes and several decent nightlife options. Côn Đảo, on the other hand, has no nightlife (a relief for some; a disappointment for others), save for a handful of cocktail bars and a stroll along the seafront promenade.
When it comes to dining, Phú Quốc has everything from local eateries to fine dining, from seafood shacks to burger joints, from homemade pizza to street food carts. The seafood night market in Dương Đông town is bustling and popular, but in reality it is a bit of a tourist trap. The best way to enjoy Phú Quốc’s seafood is at one of many local restaurants scattered along the coastline. (See my guide Where to Eat Seafood on Phu Quoc for more information.) Phú Quốc has two speciality noodle dishes, both of which can be sampled in Dương Đông town: see Bún Kèn and Bún Quậy for details. All the hotels and resorts have decent restaurants, some of which are exceptional, such as Pakka Indian at Salinda Resort and On the Rocks at Mango Bay. In addition, there’s lots of local street food available in Dương Đông and many Vietnamese and international restaurants lining Trần Hưng Đạo street leading south of town: Italian, Korean, Spanish, Thai, American BBQ – you’ll find it all. After dinner drinking options are plentiful: speakeasy bars, beach bars, rooftop bars, backpacker bars and pubs, many of which stay open into the small hours with live music or DJs. (See my 21 Places for Cocktails on Phu Quoc for details.)
Côn Đảo’s dining scene has greatly improved over the last few years, partly helped by an influx of domestic migrants arriving from all corners of the nation to set up business on the island. Apart from a few resorts, all dining options are located in the town of Côn Sơn. A seafood and street food night market was established recently and has proven to be very popular. Open-air stalls set up on the concrete next to the main market (Chợ Côn Đảo) from 5pm until late. Other seafood restaurants are dotted around town, all serving screamingly fresh fish, shellfish and crustaceans. International options are few, but there are several good places for burgers, pasta and pizza. Beach House is an exceptional little place run by enterprisingly young Vietnamese friends, specializing is freshly made fusion dishes; the menu is constantly changing. For dessert, try Côn Đảo’s speciality: kem dừa (coconut ice cream). A few good, cosy cocktail bars constitute the only nightlife of the island. (See my Con Dao Eat & Drink Guide for more information.) Bottom line: Phú Quốc has lots of local and international dining options as well as bars and nightlife; Côn Đảo has a limited but growing food scene and no (i.e. quite) nightlife.
Sights & Activities:
Both islands have plenty of outdoor activities that make the most of the tropical island setting: diving, snorkeling, island-hopping, fishing, hiking, waterfalls, boat trips and motorbiking. In addition, Phú Quốc has large-scale entertainment complexes featuring waterparks, theme parks, safari parks, cable cars, shopping centres, sound and light performances and the like. Côn Đảo, on the other hand, has more cultural and historical sights, such as museums, temples and colonial architecture.
The small An Thới Islands, off Phú Quốc’s southern tip, are popular for snorkeling and diving trips. Inland, there are a few hiking trails, such as Đỉnh Tiên Sơn Peak, and waterfalls (see my Spring-Hopping Loop), both of which make a nice break from all of the coastal activities. Night squid fishing is an interesting addition to the activities on the island: take a fishing boat out at dusk with a small group, catch your squid, then cook and eat it on board. Phú Quốc is famous nationwide for the quality of its fish sauce and black pepper: both can be sampled on tours of factories and plantations respectively. While there are several historical sights on the island, such as Coconut Tree Prison (Nhà Tù Cây Dừa) and temples to local hero Nguyễn Trung Trực, the focus is mainly on having fun in the sun. Nowhere is this more apparent than at the gigantic entertainment complexes that bookend the island: VinWonders in the northwest, Sun World in the southwest. These ostentatious developments aren’t to my taste and they are responsible for huge destruction of the natural environment, but they remain a popular way to spend the day for many thousands of travelling families. Personally, I prefer to rent a motorbike and explore the island’s roads, especially the eastern and northern coast roads, and perhaps do some beach camping. All of the above sights and activities are easily arranged through your accommodation or you can organize any of them via local travel agents on the street.
Côn Đảo’s sights and attractions are divided between the historical and the natural. The vast majority of visitors to Côn Đảo are Vietnamese, and for many of them the main reason for coming is to tour the former prison sites and pay their respects to those who were incarcerated or died here. Côn Đảo was used as a prison island for over a century by the French colonial administration, beginning in 1862. Thousands of political prisoners – many of them now celebrated national heroes – were held, mistreated and died here. This dark past is preserved today as a memorial to the victims: the prisons can be visited as well as other historical buildings related to the prison system – some of them are handsome French colonial buildings, such as the old Customs House on the seafront, which bely their use. There’s also a large and interesting museum documenting the island’s history, as well as many shrines and cemeteries where tens of thousands of Vietnamese come to pray and pay their respects every year. These rather grim sights are juxtaposed with Côn Đảo’s other major attraction – the one that most foreign travellers come here for – the natural environment. Riding along the dramatic, deserted coast roads is thrilling and inland there are a half dozen well-marked hiking trails through the jungle to isolated beaches (see my guide Hiking Con Dao). Boat trips to the outlying islands are fascinating (see my Con Dao Boat Trips Guide) and the snorkeling and diving is the best in Vietnam. For much more information about all of the above, see my Con Dao Islands Travel Guide. Bottom line: Phú Quốc for classic tropical island activities and big entertainment complexes; Côn Đảo for historical sites and natural attractions.
Costs & Value for Money:
Like all islands, prices on Côn Đảo and Phú Quốc are a little higher than on the mainland. In particular, most general expenses on Côn Đảo are around 10%-30% higher than elsewhere in Vietnam. This is partly because the island is so small and mountainous that very little can be produced there – almost everything has to be shipped in from the mainland – but also because Côn Đảo has not seen the same amount of tourist development that Phú Quốc has, so there’s not much competition to drive prices down. Hotels, resorts, food and drink, transport and excursions to outlying islands are all pricier than on Phú Quốc. And what you get for your money on Côn Đảo often pales in comparison to what the same money would buy you on Phú Quốc. However, this is all relative: both Phú Quốc and Côn Đảo are still very inexpensive destinations compared to most countries in Europe, North America and Australasia.
Accommodation, tours, and food and drink are all good value for money on Phú Quốc. In particular, the building boom for hotels and resorts over the last decade has led to an oversupply – especially in the post-pandemic era – which keeps prices reasonable. Having said that, during the peak season (December to March/April) all accommodations raise their rates by as much as 50%. Likewise, in the low season – when storms often hit the island – resort prices fall dramatically. In general, if you’re trying to stay within a tight budget, then it’s easier to do so on Phú Quốc than on Côn Đảo. Bottom line: Phú Quốc offers better value for money for travellers on all budgets; Côn Đảo prices are generally higher than elsewhere: budget travel is possible, but requires a bit more effort to keep costs down.
*Disclosure: I never receive payment for anything I write: my content is always free and independent. I’ve written this guide because I want to: I like these islands and I want my readers to know about them. For more details, see my Disclosure & Disclaimer statements and my About Page
Amazing and informative as usual. Quick question – have you ever been to the Cham islands near Hoi An? I couldn’t see any articles for them – not sure if they’re worth the hassle to visit for a few days of beach time? slightly worried about the number of potential day trippers from Hoi An/Danang – but wondered if you had any personal insight?
Thanks!
Thanks, Ben.
It’s many years since I’ve been to the Cham Islands, but they are very nice and many people I know love to go there. To avoid potential crowds, visit during the weekdays and avoid public holidays.
Best,
Tom
Hi,
Great article! I found it very interesting. We are considering to do 5 nights in Con Dao, then 5 nights in Phu Quoc. Would you say it’s a waste of our time do do both islands? I understand based on your article that they have both similarities and differences. Would love to hear your take on whether we should only focus on one island, or do both.
Best regards
Andre
Hi Andre,
Yes, 5 days on each island is a good idea. But it also depends on the time of year. For more details about weather and the islands in general, please see my Con Dao Islands Travel Guide and my Phu Quoc Beaches Guide.
Best,
Tom
Hi Tom,
Thanks! It’ll be in March 2025. I’ll read up on the articles you sent me. I hope March is a good time to visit Con Dao also. I don’t want it to be too windy…
Best
Andre
Hi Tom,
Last time I was in Vietnam (exactly 5 years ago), I read your guide(s) and loved some of your tips – Con Dao being the favorite one – we had a great trip.
I 100% agree with your conclusion of this article and think Con Dao was so special – from landing, to driving to Con Son to actually staying there. Such different vibe from the rest of Vietnam, so relaxed yet bursting with character.
I am now back here and mixing up some already visited places with some new ones.
OF COURSE, heading back to Con Dao also.
I did flexibly book 4 nights in Phu Quoc too, but cannot help reconsidering… I would like to see it, just to get an opinion of my own and also because I sometimes like to just lay on the beach and read and not do much… But my actual question is: Is there a place in the South similar to Con Dao in any way?
(I am staying for 3 weeks, 1st stop was HCMC, just arrived to Hoi An, heading down to Nha Trang next, then Con Dao and finally Phu Quoc, 4-5 days each place).
Hi Sanja,
I’m glad you enjoyed Con Dao. It has changed quite a bit since you last visited, but it is still lovely: see my new guide for full details.
Also, Phu Quoc is very nice – it’s a big island so there is something for everyone there; it’s all about staying in the nice place and the right area for you. See my new guide for details.
There’s also lots of other interesting content about Phu Quoc on my website: Places to Stay, things to See & Do, Where to Eat.
You might also be interested in Hòn Sơn Island and perhaps Hà Tiên town.
Best,
Tom
Hi Tom,
First of all let me thank you for all detailed information and advice .
I am now in hoi an heading south and I wish to enjoy a island . I want actually do go to con don ( it seems amazing ) but I am really scared about the weather there . I do not have much time left unfortunately so I would like to make best of my time .
Do you think it is good period to enjoy there ( also want to lay a little bit on beaches and swim)
Thanks a lot .
Ur Vietnam coracle is best 🙂
Hi Caterina,
It’s very difficult to predict how the weather will be on Con Dao right now, but usually it is a mix of windy and sunny at this time of year. It’s a good idea to check Windy.com and use the ‘Rain/Thunder’ and ‘Wind’ satellite images to check how the weather will be.
I have been to Con Dao in February before and I enjoyed it. My friends went to Con Dao a couple of weeks ago and said it was very quiet.
However, if lying on the beach is a priority then Phu Quoc is probably a better option than Con Dao.
I hope this helps,
Tom
Hello,
Thank you for this very useful article. I saw that it was published in 2016, so I guess Phu Quok is even more developed ! Con Dao seems too expensive ( I can only go at the end of December, at peak season!) , so, would you have an unspoiled island ( maybe I’ a dreamer!) not too far from Ho Chi Minh to recommend ?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Isabelle,
Well, Phu Quoc has developed more, but if you stick to the east and north of the island it’s still nice: take a look at Ganh Dau, Bai Thom and the East Coast Road in this guide. I’m also going to publish a guide specifically to the north and east coasts soon so look out for that or you can Subscribe here to new posts if you like.
Other good options in that area are Hon Son, Nam Du, and the Pirate Islands. They are all nice and less developed than Phu Quoc. But ‘unspoiled’ is, well, in the eye of the beholder. You could also look at Cam Lap Promontory.
I hope this helps,
Tom
Hi Tom,
Finally, I decided to go to Ha Tien and Pirate island (after reading your article and some others). I have few more questions if you can help me.
Is it far from HO Chih Minh airport to the bus terminal for Ha tien?
I tried to book a ticket from the site you advertise (Baolau) but they say they cannot find any transportation (on December 27). Do you think it is a “normal” answer or a bug?
It seems the only way to book an accommodation on Pirate island is to phone? I can’t phone from abroad (too expensive) and anyway, do they speak English (or French) if we phone ? Do you think it is risky to go on the island (unfortunately, I can only go on a Sunday!) without reservation?
Thanks in advance
Isabelle
Hi Isabelle,
Yes, I think it must a bug, or more likely something to do with it being a peak time for travel (around Christmas and New Year). I just tried it again here – other dates work perfectly, but not around Christmas. What you can do is type other dates in here and then look at the bus company names, then google them, and contact them to book your tickets directly. Alternatively, you could contact Tuan Nga, which is a very comfortable ‘VIP’ bus between Saigon and Ha Tien.
The bus station in Saigon for Ha Tien is called Ben Xe Mien Tay. It’s a huge bus station and a very congested 12km drive from the airport. There will be a public bus linking the airport with Ben Xe Mien Tay which you could research online. But I would just hop in a taxi. It could take anywhere from 20-45 minutes, depending on the time of day and the traffic. The bus station itself can be overwhelming, but is actually pretty well organized. In fact, if you can get there with plenty of time to spare, it’s can be quite a fun experience.
I doubt much English is spoken at the accommodations on Pirate Island. And it is quite possible that it will be busy – not because it’s a Sunday, but because people may have time off for Christmas, so domestic tourism will be up.
Tom
Thanks Tom for your detailed answer. You are right, it seems the problem comes from my dates. I looked at Tuan Nga website but it is in Vietnamese and the other company didn’t answer me yet.
Last question : can I change money at the bus station? I guess the airport rate is bad. Should I have US dollars too?
Thanks again
Hi Isabelle,
I’m not sure if you can change money at the bus station, but it will definitely be easier to do it at the airport. In the past, when I’ve changed money at the airport, the rate hasn’t been bad.
US dollars are OK, but most travellers simply use their bank cards to take cash out of the ATMs in Vietnam – they are everywhere (but not on Pirate Island).
Tom
Thanks again ,Tom. I could reserve the bus to Ha tien with another booking agent but they didn’t confirm it although I have paid! I know about ATM but it can be costly because both banks ( abroad and at home) take quite big commission! Here in Thailand some banks charge 300 baths per transaction! I wish you the best.
Thanks so much Tom for your quick reply. I’ll read the links you inserted and make my decision. I already subscribed to your news letter.
All the best,
Isabelle
New ferry to con dao can be booked in soc tran. 8am. And 13:00 Thurs in August. Very rainy.
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the update. I hope the weather improves for you, but there’s a storm out at sea at the moment 🙁
Tom
Hi. I just came from Phu Quoc, and it is turning into Disneyland. The whole west coast is “developed” or under development. It’s not worth going to now. I’m on my way to Con Dao.
Hi Dave,
Yes, I know, I’ve written about that here. But there are still a couple of nicer spots on the island.
Tom
Hi, as I am a bit confused about the Phu Quoc weather which I have read from a number of blogs, I hope you can help to clarify a little. Will the weather and sea condition be same of the northern part of Phu Quoc (eg: Ong Lang Beach/ Long Beach) compare to the south east part of Phu Quoc (say Sao Beach)? Weather could be same, but sea condition might not, are they? Most information I found on the web says best time to visit Phu Quoc is from November to May (dry season), however there is also web mentioned sea are calmer in Sao Beach/Bai Sao from May to October. I hope you can help.
Hi Ranelle,
Yes, that’s true to a certain extent. But by far the best time of year for weather and sea conditions on the vast majority of beaches on Phu Quoc is between November and May. Sao Beach can be a little bit choppy during those months, but not rough. For more about all the beaches on Phu Quoc Island please see this guide.
Tom
I see. Thank you for reply, Tom. Might plan somewhat end of the year then to avoid rain.
Hi Tom
Loving your blogs so thank you for sharing. We’re considering a trip to Siagon, Mekong Delta and then on to one of the Southern islands. Difficult to predict I guess, but would you say weather is better in either Phu Quoc vs Con Dao mid January or pretty similar?
Hi Colette,
The weather in January will almost certainly be better on Phu Quoc than Con Dao. Also, take note of when Tet Lunar New Year is next year, because the week following Tet is by far the busiest time to travel in Vietnam, and therefore many accommodations, transportations and destinations can be fully booked.
Tom
Hello, Tom.
Can you tell me how I can get from Kon Dao to Phu Quoc by sea + by bus? I want to go first to Con Dao, then Phu Quoc. Thanks. Dmitriy
Hi Dmitriy,
To get from Con Dao to Phu Quoc, you can take the boat to Soc Trang in the Mekong Delta (read about that here).
Then from Soc Trang you need to get a bus to Rach Gia which is the port from which the boats to Phu Quoc Island leave. For more about the boats from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc read this. To check buses between Soc Trang and Rach Gia try Baolau.com
I hope this helps,
Tom
Thank you very much, Tom.
I’ll check it in a month and accomplish my goal.
Best regards,
Дмитрий.
Hello Tom,
Thanks a lot for all your advice, I love your blog !
Just wondering about the weather now in Phu Quoc: as you mentioned in August it is raining a lot.
Do you think it is still worth going there next week ?
Also, in which part of the island would you recommend to stay for 4 days, for people who need calm, beaches and are on a tight budget ?
Thanks a lot for your help,
Carole
Hi Carole,
I think there will still be some rain around. It’s still the rainy season in the south and that means that there will be tropical downpours now and then, especially in the afternoons. However, this doesn’t mean it rains all the time, and the nice thing about the rainy season on Phu Quoc is that there are less people and prices are lower. But Con Dao is also pretty good at this time of year: I’ve just finished updating my guide here.
I’d recommend Ong Lan, Cua Can and Vung Bau beaches for quiet and less expensive accommodation. You can read more about them here.
I hope this helps,
Tom
I currently live in Thailand long term and thinking about trying Vietnam for awhile. Either location have long term bungalows that are more remote that you can rent? If so do you have an idea on price(3-6 months).
I work remotely so how is Wifi and phone internet speed there as well? Any difference in either place?
Thanks,
Russ
Hi Russ,
I can’t offer much advice about that, but I do know that other ‘digital nomads’ make Phu Quoc home for months at a time. I’m sure some of them end up renting bungalows at a discounted long-term price from some of the smaller resorts in places like Vung Bau beach or Thuy’s House, for example.
Strangely, I’ve always found the internet connection on Phu Quoc to be a bit annoying, but I’m sure they’re in the process of sorting that out, if they haven’t already.
Good luck,
Tom
Wonderful article, as the rest of the blog!
I was choosing between these two islands and it helped me a lot.
I will be in Con Dao this March, thank you for the amazing job you are doing it here.
Would you recomend any “special moments” on the island? Like fish market…
Thanks!
Hi Leonardo,
Yes, it’s worth getting up early to see the fish at the Con Son market or at the Ben Dam port. Also, you could pay a midnight vigil at the tomb of Vo Thi Sau. Walking along the Con Son seafront promenade at dawn or dusk is great, and riding a scooter around the island is a must.
I hope you enjoy it,
Tom
Thanks Tom!
Hello
Your blog is very helpful
3-4 days is enough for the Con Dao (just to trek and have some rest on the beach)?
the end of December is still not o good time to go there?
greets
marcin
Hi Marcin,
Yes, 3-4 days should be enough.
The weather in December is OK, but it can be quite windy too. It should be fine for trekking but maybe not perfect for laying on the beach.
I hope this helps,
Tom
thank You
🙂
Love the info you have on Con Dao here, so thankful I found your blog!
Did some research and saw that since July this year, there are speedboats available from Soc Trang to Con Dao. Any advice on how to get these tickets when Im not in Vietnam? Would prefer to buy/book them earlier ahead of my trip instead of trying to get it on the day or too near to my travel dates and find them sold out!
Hi Therese,
Yes, I’m planning on taking the Soc Trang-Con Dao ferry myself sometime too. A few readers have written to say they’ve done it and it was fine. I think the boat is run by Superdong, so you should be able to find times, prices and possibly book tickets through their website.
I hope this helps,
Tom
Hi Tom!
We were thinking of visiting Con Dao the last week of October, is this jus the worst time ever? I understand this time frame falls into dry season but also monsoon season. Do you think we could be okay with some nice windows of clear skies and calm water? We are not divers, we have small children who like to boogy board/body surf, some waves would be welcome.
Also, is there a piece of Dat Doc Beach that is accessible to the public?
I’m also curious if you’ve had any experience with Villa Maison Con Dao Boutique Hotel.
Thanks in advance for your time! Be well and travel safely.
Hi SJ,
I would say it’s worth trying Con Dao in October, yes. You can never really know what the weather’s going to do there.
My Con Dao guides are due an update, and Villa Maison opened since my last visit there, so I haven’t been yet. But many readers write to tell me they’ve had excellent stays there.
Yes, I think officially you are allowed to access Dat Doc beach just beyond the Six Senses barrier – but the staff try their best to shoo non-guests away, which is a bit ridiculous.
I hope this helps,
Tom
Hi Tom,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences.
There are 4 of us (including my 2 x 16 year old children), planning a trip to Vietnam this December from South Africa (2 weeks). The first week we still need to research, maybe doing a cultural/overland experience. You may have ideas on this?
The second week we want to relax. My son and I scuba dive, but we’ll all want to snorkel. Con Dao sounds ideal, but not that time of year, so hopefully we’ll find a place on Phu Quoc that gives us the best of both islands if at all possible. It’s important that they feel they’ve experienced Vietnam, and not just any commercialised town replicated anywhere. Any ideas and guidance you can offer will be most welcome.
Thanks again for the great insight you have provided.
Barry
Hi Barry,
Yes, Con Dao does have the best diving in Vietnam, but I’m pretty sure that time of year can be a bit rough. But make sure before deciding against Con Dao: contact Larry from Dive, Dive, Dive – he’ll be able to advise you.
If you do choose Phu Quoc then there are many companies (and most of the resorts too) that can arrange snorkeling and diving trips. That time of year is good for it too. You could try contacting John’s Tours on Phu Quoc to start to get an idea of what’s available.
The problem with Phu Quoc is that, as you say, it is increasingly commercialized and subject to massive development. The main town of Duong Dong is now quite a large town with real Vietnamese life (once you get away from the seafront). But some of the beaches are packed with resorts. For something quieter, Ong Lang, Vung Bau and Ganh Dau beaches are a good idea. Take a look at my Phu Quoc Beaches Guide to get an idea of what the different beaches have to offer.
I hope this helps,
Tom
Many thanks, will look at your links
Hi Tom,
We are planning to fly to Phu Quoc from Nha Trang (Via Ho Chi Minh) on our upcoming trip in May.
Question is do you think we need to pre book the flights? Or is it not a busy enough time to have to do so?
Thanks,
Nat
Hi Nat,
I think the only public holiday during May is Labour Day which is at the beginning on the month, so unless you’re flying then (when flights get booked up) you should be fine. But don’t leave it to the last minute either, because both of those routes are popular, although they are also well-served by many flights.
I hope this helps,
Tom
Thanks very much Tom, very helpful advice.
Nat
Hello !! I’m reading your post and is very interesting! Thanks for sharing!
Im in phu quoc in this moment… today I went to sao beach is nice but it’s full of trash …
all the beaches are like sao beach ???
Do you know something about entry ticket for dai beach about 500.000 ????
Could you said me any clean and not too full beach.
Thank you !
Hi Yan,
Try Vung Bau and Ganh Dau beaches: you can read more about them and other beaches on Phu Quoc in my beaches guide. But part of the reason for the trash is because now it is the Vietnamese New Year Holiday, which is the busiest time of year.
The fee for Dai Beach is because it’s all part of the Vinpearl land now.
I hope this helps,
Tom
Hi Tom,
Your article was very helpful. The best option really seems to be spending some time on both! But I don’t seem to find any connection. Do you know of any option?
I’m planning to go end of February, beginning of March, which seems to be a good time. If not possible to go both, I’m more inclined to Con Dao – the food description is the only thing holding me back, as I love vietnamese food and seafood and feel it’s a shame not to be able to enjoy it.
Hi Inês,
Yes, that’s right, there’s no direct connection between the two islands, but you can fly between them if you transit through Saigon. I’ve done that a couple of times before and it’s fine – they’re both such short flights that it’s all pretty easy.
Yes, February/March is a good time to go – the weather will be good on Phu Quoc then, but better to wait until March for Con Dao.
Don’t worry, you can still find good seafood on Con Dao too 🙂
I hope you enjoy it,
Tom
Thx for the extensive comparisson,
since diving was the main reason to go to con dao I guess we have to review our choice…we will be in Vietnam for 4 weeks in August 2017…
Always happy to hear suggestions for dive spots in August.
Thx Tom, great review
Greetings
Michel
Hi Michel,
Yes, as far as I know, diving conditions on Phu Quoc in August aren’t great because that is the middle of the rainy season. Con Dao has the best diving in Vietnam, by far. August may still be OK there, because it has it’s owned crazy micro-climate. I suggest you contact Larry from Dive, Dive, Dive on Con Dao – he will be able to give you all the advice and information you need about diving there.
I hope this helps,
Tom
Great article, thanks so much! We’ve just started looking into Vietnam as a destination for our next holiday, but this site is a great help!
Thanks, Mariska.
Happy holiday planning and I hope you enjoy your trip to Vietnam!
Tom
Ik heb een vraag,
Kan je ook zonder malariatabletten verblijven op Phu Quoc. Mijn man heeft hogebloeddruk tabletten en gebruikt daardoor liever geen tabletten, Is het een must op dat eiland of valt de malaria mee.
Hello,
As far as I know there is no need to take malaria tablets if you are visiting Phu Quoc Island. But you should definitely ask your doctor before making your decision about whether to take them or not.
Tom
Thanks for this post! Exactly what I was looking for. We are crossing over the border from Kep (Cambodia) to Vietnam today and though we are not short on time, I think it is a case of one rather than the other. Con Dao sounds more like our kind of place but given our location (Ha Tien), budget and some of the conveniences, we might have to consider Phu Quoc.
Hi Tamanda,
Yes, you’re so close to Phu Quoc that it’ll be much easier to get there. However, if you’re concerned about your budget on the Con Dao Islands take a look at this guide.
I hope you enjoy whichever of the islands you choose to go to 🙂
Tom
I love this!!!! I actually grew up in Vietnam but been living in the States for 11 years now. Going back for the first time in 4 years and I find myself looking at your website to find things to do. I was debating between Con Dao and Phu Quoc and I think I’m going with Con Dao. Would you say renting a scooter in Con Dao is crucial? We don’t have licenses so how does it work for foreigners who are there for a short time? I noticed whenever I go home I’d see lots of foreigners riding bikes, is there a temporary one you can get?
Hi Annie,
Good to hear that you are planning to visit the Con Dao Islands. A scooter is not essential (there are taxis on the island too) but it gives you that extra bit of freedom to explore the island and go where you want when you want. You don’t need to worry about licenses etc – it’s not an issue when renting motorbikes on the Con Dao.
I hope this helps,
Tom
Tom
I’m visiting Phu Quoc in 2 weeks time and have misplaced my driving licence. Will I be ok renting a scooter there without it?
Thanks
Hi Myra,
Yes, you should still be OK renting a motorbike on Phu Quoc without a license.
Tom
Thanks, Flamingo Travel!
There are some devastating reviews of some of the beaches of Phu Quoc of Trip Advisor, particularly Sao Beach (mentioned here) and Long Beach. I’m trying to understand whether the travellers are particularly jaded or whether the trash is somewhat seasonal and they went at a bad time.
Hi Ricardo,
Trash is definitely a problem on Phu Quoc. To a certain extent it depends on the time of year – public holidays bring lots of domestic tourists to Phu Quoc’s beaches, and this sadly leads to more trash. I’ve written extensively about trash in Vietnam’s beauty spots here.
However, if you have your own wheels on Phu Quoc you shouldn’t find it difficult to find a good patch of beach. Sao is massively popular as a day trip and that’s part of the reason why it’s starting to build up with trash. There are initiatives to start treating Phu Quoc’s beaches better and start cleaning them up. Having said all of that, I’ve always managed to find excellent stretches of deserted and clean sand on Phu Quoc every year – as evidence by my photos both on this page and in this guide too. For more off the beaten track beaches, you might want to take a look at this.
Tom
Hi Tom,
Have you any interest in visiting some of Vietnam’s other islands? I heard the ones in Bai Tu Long Bay are also very beautiful and have some nice beaches. Also some southern islands like Ly Son and Nam Du looks nice in pictures.
Hi Duy,
Yes, you’re right. I have been to Bai Tu Long Bay before and really liked it, but I want to go back soon so that I can explore it more.
I have been intending to visit Ly Son, Nam Du and Phu Quy islands for a long time now, but I haven’t had the chance yet – I’m really looking forward to it though! 🙂
Tom
Hi Tom,
we are so happy having found your blog, as it will be our first stay in Vietnam! We are a German couple, we want to stay on Con Dao or Phu Quok the first week of March 2016 at the end of our travel. We go there mainly for snorkeling, and would prefer Con Dao because it is smaller and more quiet. But we are not sure if the weather and water ( calm and clear enough for snorkeling) conditions are better on Phu Quok. Do you have any advice for us?
Thanks a lot
Monika
Hi Monika,
As far as I know visibility is best and the water calmest in March on the Con Dao so you should be OK. Just to make sure you can email Larry from Dive! Dive! Dive! http://www.dive-condao.com/
Have a great trip,
Tom
Again a very good article, which realy sums it up perfectly.
We used several of your suggestions on our actual trip (like rooftop bars or the coffee quarter in HCMC or beaches on Con Dao) and agree with most of them.
Thanks a lot for the great work you’ve put into this page.
I would like to share some of our experience we made on Con Dao and Phu Quoc.
We were on Con Dao last week (6 days) and stayed at the Con Dao Resort, which is clean, but it’s not worth the money (approx 100 € / night). The staff is not very helpful, especially if you try to complain about noise or the ongoing construction / renovation work.
Breakfast was also poor for that price.
We checked the Con Dao Seatravel (also at the beach) and it’s cheaper and the small huts are very cosy. You can get a bungalow for 85 $ and if you stay for more than 2 nights they offer a discount.
We went diving with Larry (dive! dive! dive!) and we enjoyed the trip. He is a very good diving guide and a interessting person to talk with. Moreover he and his staff are very helpful (like getting a motorbike or showing you the ways to the best spots, which have been described on this website).
Just a tip for divers: If you are into diving you should visit the island when the sea is more calm, because we had realy limited visibility (like 2-3 m max.).
Right now we are on Phu Quoc, staying at the Mango Bay Resort (which we can recommend, although food and drinks are a little expensive).
In comparison to my last stay on the island (December 2010) things realy changed.
The new airport is fancy and the old one is used as a street now.
Duong Dong is much more crowded with tourists (although it is rainy season).
I haven’t checked out the beaches yet (due to too much rain), but if things changed compared to your article, I will write another comment.
Unfortunately I got to know, that prices for renting a motorbike have increased. Now they ask 200.000 VND per 8 hours (Con Dao 100.000 VND per Day). Any idea where I can get it cheaper?
Moreover they told me, that police is checking foreigners for the vietnamese driver’s license. Did anybody experience such a police check allready?
I’m looking forward to read more of your good articles.
Greets
Jan
Hi Jan,
Thanks.
Yes, I agree that the Con Dao Resort is not ‘value for money’ but, as I mention in this article, most things on the island are more expensive than they ‘should’ be. I also agree with the breakfast – as I say in my review of the hotel in my Con Dao Guide, it’s a bit like school dinners 🙂 I have stayed at Seatravel before and it was perfectly fine, but I have friends who have had terrible experiences there, especially with the management, and if you have a lot a TripAdvisor you’ll see other people have had similar experiences.
Larry usually suggests to me that divers come around April, May, June for calm waters and visibility. I would recommend divers to contact him at Dive, dive, dive! before booking flights to the islands if diving is their main objective.
Yes, Phu Quoc is changing fast! I don’t know of anywhere in particular to rent cheaper bikes. There are always scares about police clamping down on foreigners, but I’ve not experienced any major difference personally. Best thing to do is wear your helmet all the time, drive safe – don’t give them any excuse to pull you over – not that that makes any difference sometimes.
Thanks for your comments and updates. I hope you enjoy your time on Phu Quoc – I think you’ll find Dai Beach has changed a lot!
Tom
Thanks a lot for writing the comparison between the two Tom!
I am in the planning phase of our 3 weeks trip to Vietnam and your article helped me decide between the two islands. We are an active couple and we’ll have to choose PHU QUOC simply because it seems there’s more stuff to do out there. How many days would you recommend spending on the island? We only need one day for relaxing and sunbathing, other than that we’d like to take day/half day tours/activities.
Hi Lars,
Well, one day relaxing and 2-3 days exploring and doing tours/activities: I would think 4 or 5 days will be good. When I visit that’s how long I usually spend, and it works out well.
I hope you enjoy it.
Tom
Thanks again Tom!
You’re welcome 🙂
A very thorough ‘compare and contrast’!
You mention that Con Dao can get very windy; when we went the plane couldn’t land and we had to fly back the next day – no idea how often that happens but its something to bear in mind if you’re on a tight schedule.
I read recently that a Norwegian company called LMG Marine will soon (a Vietnamese ‘soon’!) be running a ferry service to Con Dao using new twin hulled fast boats from Vung Tau.
Cheers
Alan
Thanks, Alan.
That’s exciting news about the new boat to Con Dao – wouldn’t that be great!
I’ve certainly experienced rough landings on Con Dao but not so extreme that we couldn’t land. I hope that’s a rare occurrence.
Tom