How To Travel To Con Dao

Get In - By plane

Con Dao Airport (VCS). Served by Vasco (owned by Vietnam Airlines) from Saigon (SGN)
- Flights serviced by Vasco can be booked via Vietnam Airlines offices, with the majority of travel companies in Saigon, or via Vietnam Airlines’ website.

Vasco agents operate a kind of a scam in that they frequently sell all of the tickets to tour operators, who then resell them (and divide the profits) before releasing the tickets the day prior to a flight. If you are attempting to book an international flight, you may find that working with a Vietnamese travel agent online will allow you to obtain tickets even if the Vasco website indicates they are sold out. Tickets for Vasco are also available via the Vietnam Airlines website, which is significantly more reliable and less likely to crash.

Get In - By boat

From Vung Tau, there is a ferry that takes approximately 11 hours. The boat from Vung Tau only departs on specific days, and it is recommended to reserve a seat one week in advance. Tickets must be shown in Vung Tau (no phone calls, only Vietnamese-speaking employees) or on Con Dao. Multiple travelers who have completed the journey do not recommend it. If traveling from Saigon, the fees for taxis, possible days missed waiting for the boat to depart during windy seasons, and the transportation from Ben Dam post to the main town are significant. Overall, flying is superior to driving. The boat will cost the same or more than before.

There are a number of noteworthy aspects of these services:

The Con Dao (Con Son) Airport is located on the northernmost tip of the island, far from anywhere else. It is preferable to book a hotel before arriving. The hotels will provide a minibus to and from the airport for a fee of around 50,000 Vietnamese Dong.
On this route, Vasco (Vietnam Airlines) employs ATR72-500 turboprops, hence overhead bin room is limited. Depending on the ticket purchased, Vasco/Vietnam Airlines permits 10–20 kilograms of free baggage (excess baggage is relatively inexpensive by international standards). Depending on the airline, you may also be required to check your carry-on bag if you have a personal item as well.
The Con Dao Seaport, where the ship will anchor, is located at the southernmost tip of the island, far from anything else.

Taxis on Con Dao are often more expensive than vans and buses, and there are no English-speaking drivers; therefore, if you intend to use their service, you should write down your destination before you arrive. There have been no reports of overcharging as of yet.

If you have not booked with one of the hotels and arranged for an airport shuttle, it can be difficult to enter the city. Simply board one of the hotel buses, pay the driver approximately 50,000 dong, and they will transport you to the city center. It is a short walk from there to any of the other hotels.