Last updated January 2023 | 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.

The fastest, cheapest, most regular and reliable boat connection from the mainland to the islands, the Sóc Trăng→Côn Đảo ferry takes just 2 hours and sails at least once every day. There are two ferry operators on this route – Superdong and Côn Đảo Express – both with comfortable, modern fast boats connecting Trần Đề port in Sóc Trăng Province in the Mekong Delta with Côn Sơn Island in the Côn Đảo Archipelago. Sóc Trăng is off the beaten path and rarely on travellers’ itineraries, but it’s a fascinating and seldom-visited part of the Mekong. Travellers have the option to form a ‘Côn Đảo loop’ by taking the Sóc Trăng ferry in one direction and the Vũng Tàu or Cần Thơ ferry in the other. What’s more, the Sóc Trăng→Côn Đảo route is the only ferry crossing to the islands that allows motorbikes on board.

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SOC TRANG→**CON DAO EXPRESS FERRY**

Below is a complete guide to taking and booking the Sóc Trăng→Côn Đảo ferry, including a map and all relevant information for travellers. Remember that the ferry doesn’t depart from Sóc Trăng city; it leaves from Trần Đề port, about 35km east of Sóc Trăng. There are bus connections to Sóc Trăng city from all major towns across the Mekong Delta, and hourly connections from Saigon’s Miền Tây bus station (roughly 6 hours). From Sóc Trăng city to Trần Đề port, Superdong operates a shuttle bus for passengers (40 minutes). Note that the sailing schedule is subject to change due to sea conditions and demand.

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CONTENTS:

Departure & Arrival Ports

The Boats

The Voyage

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ROUTE MAP:

Soc Trang→Con Dao Express Ferry

View LARGER MAP

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About this Ferry:

The Sóc Trăng→Côn Đảo ferry is the shortest, most reliable and frequent crossing between the mainland and the archipelago. Although it’s now possible to take the ferry from both Vũng Tàu and Cần Thơ to the islands, the Sóc Trăng→Côn Đảo route was the first regular, commercial fast boat connection to the archipelago. There are now two separate ferry companies operating on the Sóc Trăng→Côn Đảo route: Superdong and Côn Đảo Express.

There is no doubt that the Côn Đảo Islands is one of Vietnam’s star attractions and everyone should visit as soon as possible, because it’s inevitable that change will come. Of course, you can fly to the islands: it’s quick and easy. But taking the ferry is much more of an experience. What’s more, arriving on the islands for the first time by boat at the beautifully situated port is very special. Furthermore, travelling to Côn Đảo via the Sóc Trăng ferry is the cheapest possible way to reach the islands. The proliferation of ferry connections to Côn Đảo over the last few years is testament to the archipelago’s rise in popularity. But, another reason is to facilitate travel to the islands when the airport closes for a major upgrade for several months in 2023. During that time, the ferries will be the only way for travellers to reach the islands.

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Sóc Trăng is a fairly remote province in the east of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region. Few foreign travellers visit Sóc Trăng city: it’s off the beaten path. However, even further from the tourist radar is the small fishing village of Trần Đề, where the ferries actually depart from. Thus, taking this fast boat is an adventure: you’ll need to travel to, and overnight in, either Sóc Trăng city or Trần Đề village, both of which are interesting places, seldom-visited by foreign travellers. If, like me, you are someone who loves a good journey, this is the right way to reach the Côn Đảo Islands.

*Book ferry tickets directly from this page & help support my website. Use the Baolau.com search box below to book your ferry tickets on the Sóc Trăng→Côn Đảo route. If you make a booking, I receive a small commission. All earnings go straight back into this website. Thank you. Tom

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Soc Trang→Con Dao Island ferry — Ferry travel is fun travel

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Times & Prices:

Although the sailing schedule is more stable on this ferry route than any of the others to/from the Côn Đảo Islands, the frequency of sailings fluctuates according to high/low season and weather conditions. Broadly speaking, the calmest seas and the highest tourist season runs from April to September, during which sailings are frequent (at least once a day, sometimes twice). But, the roughest seas and lowest tourist season runs from October to March, during which sailings are reduced to one a day (usually just Superdong) or as few as 3-4 per week. Indeed, in very rough weather, sailings are cancelled completely. If this should happen, the ferry company will contact you. Remember there are two ferry operators on this route: Superdong and Côn Đảo Express. The boats have capacity for 300-450 passengers. Cars are not accommodated, but motorbikes and (as far as I know) bicycles are permitted on the Superdong boats only: prices depend of the bike model. Sailing time is between 2 hours to 2.5 hours. For up-to-date schedules, prices, and bookings check Baolau.com or the Superdong and Côn Đảo Express websites. At the time of research (January 2023) the schedule is as follows:

Sailing Schedule:

Route	Departure Time
Trần Đề (Sóc Trăng)→Côn Đảo	6.00-8.00am (high season=daily; low season=few times/week)
Côn Đảo→Trần Đề (Sóc Trăng)	1.00-2.00pm (high season=daily; low season=few times/week)

Ticket Prices:

Ticket Type	Ticket Price
Passenger	320,000-370,000vnđ
Motorbike	150,000-250,000vnd (Superdong only)

*There’s also a VIP ticket option for a larger seat in a private cabin with more leg room (not worth the extra cost, in my opinion), and there are reduced rates for children, the elderly and passengers with disabilities. To check the latest schedule and prices use the search box below, go to Baolau.com, or check the Con Dao Express and Superdong websites.

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Booking Tickets:

Booking tickets should be a fairly straightforward process. Travellers can book online or in-person. If travelling during the high-season months (April-September) or public holidays, try to book at least a few days or a week in advance, just in case tickets sell out. But, if travelling on a weekday during low-season (October-March), a day in advance should be enough.

Online: You can book tickets easily on Baolau.com or by using the search box below. Alternatively, go to the Côn Đảo Express or Superdong websites and book there. Both platforms support most forms of online payment.

In Person: Côn Đảo Express and Superdong have ticket offices at their respective ports in Trần Đề and on Côn Sơn Island (see my map). Superdong also has an office in Sóc Trăng city. In addition, many travel agents can sell you tickets for both ferry companies. Remember to bring your passport when making a booking.

*Tickets for motorbikes and bicycles can only be reserved when booking in person, but payment for motorbikes and bicycles is made at the boat itself. Passengers should arrive at the dock at least 30 minutes before departure, particularly if you have a motorbike, because the capacity for bikes is limited.

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Departure & Arrival Ports:

In Sóc Trăng Province, boats leave from the small and remote fishing village of Trần Đề. There are two separate ferry terminals; one for each ferry operator: Côn Đảo Express and Superdong. On Côn Sơn Island, Bến Đầm port is located in the southwest of the island: far from town, but utterly spectacular. However, this may change in the near future, because the new Bến Tàu Khách ferry port is scheduled to open some time in 2023, right on the bay that fronts Côn Sơn town – a more convenient arrival and departure point and equally scenic to its predecessor. See below for more details about all the ports and how to get there:

Trần Đề Port (Sóc Trăng)
Bến Đầm Port (Côn Sơn Island)
Bến Tàu Khách (Côn Sơn Island)

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Trần Đề Port (Sóc Trăng)

A little fishing port on the Mekong River 35km east of Sóc Trăng city, Trần Đề doesn’t feel like a tourist transportation hub. The settlement is cleaved in two by a canal, along which the fishing fleet lies at anchor. The Côn Đảo Express terminal is to the north of this canal; the Superdong terminal is to the south of it.

Getting to Trần Đề Port: Trần Đề is far off the beaten path: at least 6 hours by road from Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) and 40 minutes from Sóc Trăng city. The latter is served by regular buses from Saigon, and there are several decent hotels near the Sóc Trăng bus station, such as Thuận Phát. From Sóc Trăng to Trần Đề, Superdong has a convenient and inexpensive shuttle bus (60,000vnd one-way), departing from the Superdong office in Sóc Trăng at 6.30am Otherwise, unless you have your own wheels, you’ll need to get a taxi from your Sóc Trăng hotel to Trần Đề (400-600,000vnd). Alternatively, you can overnight in one of several nhà nghỉ (local guest houses) in Trần Đề, most of which have simple, clean rooms for around 200-300,000vnd/night (see my map for specific suggestions). There’s plenty of street food available around the canal bridge in the mornings and evenings.

Superdong Terminal [MAP] Impressively modern and almost comedically large, the Superdong ferry terminal is a giant structure resembling a set of wings beneath which is a space of cathedralic proportions sheltering a ticket kiosk, lots of seating and a small cafeteria and shop. The entire complex is totally incongruous to the rest of its vicinity. There’s a long-stay parking lot next to the terminal building, which is useful for travellers on motorbike who don’t want to take their wheels with them to Côn Đảo and are planning to return from the islands on the same ferry route.

Côn Đảo Express Terminal [MAP] Under a large hanger to the north of Trần Đề town, the Côn Đảo Express ferry terminal is quiet and detached. The boats moor on a concrete wharf that’s shared with several large wooden fishing trawlers floating on the calm, chocolatey waters of the Mekong River. Although the port itself is very substantial, the ticket kiosk and refreshments stalls are rather small and ramshackle.

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Bến Đầm Port (Côn Sơn Island) [MAP]

Way down in the southwestern corner of Côn Sơn Island, Bến Đầm port is spectacularly located in a lagoon of blue water enveloped by jungle-clad hills. It’s a magical introduction to the Côn Đảo Islands. However, Bến Đầm is over 10km from Côn Sơn town, where most of the island’s accommodation is. Arrival and departure from the port is pretty straightforward, although it’s quite a long walk up/down the pier if you’re carrying a lot of luggage in the heat or rain. Taxis, motorbike taxis and electric buggies meet the boats. Prices for the ride along the stunning coast road to Côn Sơn town should be between 100,000-300,000vnđ depending on the transportation method and number of people. But, if you’ve booked a hotel in advance, they might be able to arrange a pick up for you (for an added charge). Alternatively, you can rent your own motorbike directly from the stores around the ferry terminal. There are snack shops clustered around the port entrance and an echoey ferry terminal with indoor seating and ticket counters. Overall, Bến Đầm port is functional but not really a place to linger. Just as well that the new ferry port will be opening soon (see below).

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Bến Tàu Khách (Côn Sơn Town) [MAP]

Scheduled to open in 2023, the new Bến Tàu Khách port is located right on the seafront of Côn Sơn town, at the centre of the east coast of the island. The port has been under construction for many, many years. Generally, this is good news for visitors, because the new port will be so much more conveniently located: walking distance from most of the accommodations on the island, which are clustered along Côn Sơn town’s pretty seafront road or quiet backstreets. However, the new port is a bit of an eyesore compared to the low-key, low-rise, colonial-era structures that characterize much of the rest of the town. Another concern might be that with more and more, bigger and bigger express boats arriving on the island, there’s a risk that relocating the port to the town might result in a rise in water pollution in this beautiful bay. Anyway, when it opens, ferries will dock at the end of a very long pier stretching into the sea with a stunning backdrop of mountains and jungle. The terminal building – a modern ‘wavy’ structure – will have seating, ticket kiosks and snack shops.

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The Boats:

The two ferry companies on the Sóc Trăng→Côn Đảo route use different kinds of fast boats. Of the two, the Côn Đảo Express boats are bigger, more comfortable and spacious than the Superdong vessels. Although both boats are pretty much just as fast as each other, when the seas are rough (usually between November-March), the Superdong boats can be very scary, indeed. Having said that, the Superdong boats continue to sail throughout the rough season, unlike the Côn Đảo Express boats:

Superdong Ferry
Côn Đảo Express Ferry

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Superdong Ferry: As always with Superdong ferries throughout Vietnam, the boats are long, narrow vessels with two levels of indoor, air-conditioned, coach-style seating, and a fair amount of deck space at the stern. On board, the ferries are fairly modern, clean, and well-equipped, with space for over 300 passengers. Seats are soft, reclinable, and comfortable but the windows are quite small. There are toilets at the stern, which are kept reasonably clean, a handful of USB sockets to charge your phone, and even on-board Wi-Fi (although it is weak and unreliable). ‘Entertainment’ comes in the form of TVs suspended from the ceiling showing soap operas, martial arts movies, and game shows, but the volume is low and bearable. The back deck (closed for the first and last 20 minutes, or permanently closed in rough conditions) is quite spacious and great fun to be out on as the boat ploughs toward the Côn Đảo Islands. There’s even a little bar on deck serving cans of beer (great for your sea legs, no doubt), soft drinks, coffee, and light snacks. Life vests seem to be plentiful and staff are generally friendly and helpful.

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Côn Đảo Express Ferry: A two-storey catamaran vessel painted red with white stripes, the Côn Đảo Express ferries are modern and striking. The boats have a capacity of up to 500 passengers in coach-style seating on reclining soft chairs over two decks. The seating is fine and reasonably comfortable, but legroom is dramatically decreased if/when the passenger in front reclines their seat back. There are four columns of seating, and although there’s nothing glamourous about the cabins, they’re spacious and not at all claustrophobic. The windows are large and the ceilings are high. Upstairs seating is preferable to downstairs, partly because there are fewer seats, and partly because upstairs passengers have easier access to the outside deck at the stern. A large but bare space, the deck provides some bench seating, fresh air, photo opportunities and relief for smokers. (It’s closed for 15 minutes after departure and before arrival, and during rough seats it remains off limits.)

The cabins are air-conditioned with a couple of widescreen TVs playing movies and pop videos, but the volume is kept at a mercifully reasonable level. Each row of seats has two electrical sockets to charge your phone or laptop. At the back of the cabins, the toilets are kept pretty clean, and the general level of cleanliness is fairly good. Also at the back is a snack station selling iced coffee, sodas and pot noodles.

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The Voyage:

On the pier in the early morning in Trần Đề, there’s a pleasant sense of anticipation as passengers gather in the open-sided terminal building before departure. A fresh breeze blows off the river and the morning light is sharp and crisp. Of all the ferry routes connecting the mainland to the Côn Đảo Islands, this is the one least used by foreign travellers, mainly because the port is far from any traditional tourist attractions. Most of the passengers are Vietnamese: some are pilgrims, coming to pay their respects to those who died or were incarcerated on Côn Sơn Island when it was a colonial prison, but many are younger Vietnamese, coming to enjoy the island’s beaches and take selfies at all the scenic spots to adorn their social media accounts.

Boarding is a fairly relaxed, unchaotic procedure. On board it’s quiet and calm: passengers are mostly content to sit in their seats occupied by their phones, snoozing, or snacking. The engines rev and the boat drifts out on the swell of the wide Mekong. The mouth of the river is vast, so there’s very little to see: just a line of coconut palms on the distant banks. It’s not long before the ferry reaches open water and, gradually, the colour of the sea – stained brown by the emptying river – turns a deep blue.

As the journey progresses, passengers begin to gather on the outside deck at the stern: smoking, drinking, selfie-taking and, in some cases, looking rather seasick. From November to March the crossing can be very rough, with large waves tossing the relatively small vessels up and down. If you suffer from seasickness, it’s best to avoid these months. Even in calm conditions, be careful out on deck because the floors can be wet and slippery, and the railings aren’t very high.

For two hours the boat cleaves through the ocean, ploughing due south to the archipelago. When the boat slides into the straits created by the islands of Côn Sơn and Hòn Bà, there’s a palpable sense of excitement on board. It’s a spectacular arrival: Bến Đầm pier is situated in the middle of a blue lagoon with forested peaks rising sharply all around. Everyone is itching to get ashore, but disembarkation can be a bit of a shambles. Regardless of how chaotic the arrival is, when you look around at the bay, nothing else matters: you’re on the Côn Đảo Islands.

*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 this ferry and I want my readers to know about it. For more details, see my Disclosure & Disclaimer statements and my About Page

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