Travel to Con Dao

Looking at a map, Con Dao Island looks like a bear rising from the sea to south east of Vietnam. Originally a prison for patriots and revolutionists during the French and American resistance, Con Dao Island sheltered brave revolutionary spirits of the Vietnamese people. More than 22,000 prisoners who dedicated their lives to national independence were incarcerated on the isolated island of Con Dao. South Vietnam travel packages

Location: Con Dao Island is situated in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province

Con Dao was recognized as a nature reserve in 1984 and a national park in 1993. The total protected area of the park is 20,000ha, including 14,000ha of sea and 6,000ha of forest on 14 islands. There is also a buffer zone that is 20,500ha wide. Con Dao National Park encompasses oceanic and coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests, coral reefs and sea grasslands. Over 1,300 species of sea animals have been identified here. The park is the most important egg-laying area in Vietnam for sea turtles. The island also has many precious animals, the most important being dugong (called "sea cows" by locals). Between late 1996 and early 1997, officials at the park counted 10 dugong in the sea surrounding the island. With high oceanic biodiversity, Con Dao is classified as one of the areas given optimum priority in the world's system of oceanic reserves. MEKONG EYES CRUISE

The best time to visit Con Dao Island is from March to June, when the sea is calm. Some of those beaches include Dam Trau, Hang Duong and Phi Yen where visitors can relax and enjoy the warm temperature. The ocean around Con Dao Island is a heaven for sea life and the splendid forest cloaks the land. This is ecotourism at its best. Clean, smooth sand banks, blue sea, dolphins jumping and racing after boats, tropical almond trees swinging in a cool sea breeze, peaceful narrow roads, and forest covering most of the island, make Con Dao seem like heaven to visitors from far and wide. Indochina Sails cruise Halong bay

Con Dao is one of the few places in Vietnam that is home to rare dugong, sea turtles, and dolphins, and to varieties of orchids found nowhere else in the country. In addition, the island has large and diverse coral reefs comparable to the most famous ecotourism spots in the region. This peaceful island district has 5,000 people whom nature seems to have created with kind hearted and generous characters and adventurous enough to choose the remote island as their home. Visitors will arrive there to enjoy themselves in an intact natural environment and have a good time with dugong, sea turtles and dolphins playing freely around the island paradise.

Travel to Con Dao

CON DAO PRISON

Con Dao Prison (Vietnamese: Nhà tù Côn Đảo), also Con Son Prison, is a prison on Con Son Island (also known as Con Lon) the largest island of the Con Dao archipelago in Ba Ria – Vung Tau. The prison was built in 1861 by the French colonists to jail those considered especially dangerous to the colonist government. Many of the high ranking leaders of Vietnam were detained here. It is ranked a special historical relic of national importance by the government of Vietnam. The most famous site in this prison is “tiger’s cage”. The prison covers an area of 5,475 square metres, of which the area of cell is 1408 square metres, sunbath room covers 1873 square metres and other space covers 2194 square metres. The prison includes 120 cells. The prison was closed after the country united and just opened for visitors later.

In 1861, the French colonial government established a prison on the island to house political prisoners. In 1954, it was turned over to the South Vietnamese government, who continued to use it for the same purpose. Notable prisoners held at Con Son in the 1930s included Pham Van Dong and Le Duc Tho. Not far from the prison is Hang Duong Cemetery, where some of the prisoners were buried.

HANG DUONG CEMETERY

Hang Duong CemeteryHang Duong Cemetery is a memorial cemetery in Vietnam with the remains of independence fighters and prisoners who died at the Con Dao Prison. The cemetery is situated near the prison on Con Son Island (also known as Con Lon) the largest island of the sixteen islands of the Con Dao archipelago. Many Vietnamese, war veterans and former prisoners travel to the island to pay homage to the fallen at temple shrines and tombs. Many of the graves are unmarked but marked and numbered notable graves include those of Le Hong Phong, Nguyen An Ninh and Vo Thi Sau.

Top Things to do in Con Dao Island

Snorkeling
Con Dao is considered one of the best examples of marine conservation in the country. With over 340 species of coral teeming with a colorful array of marine life, Con Dao supports a high level of biodiversity including over 1,400 marine species. Snorkelling in the turquoise waters around the island gives you a chance to look at the colorful and exotic marine life. South Vietnam tours Packages

Con Dao Historical & Prison Tour
In 1861, the French colonial government built this prison to house political prisoners. Today, you can learn about that grim past at the Con Dao Museum, which was once the colonial governor’s residence. Exhibits also reveal details about the island’s natural and pre-colonial history.

Discover Sea Turtles
Con Dao is the only place in Vietnam where sea turtles come to nest and enjoy full National Park protection. From May to October every year, Green and Hawksbill turtles come to nest around one of thirteen beaches. During this period, female turtles come up on the beach at high tide during the night. It takes an exhausting two to three hours for the female to dig, lay and cover her nest before returning to the ocean. Paradise Cruise in Halong bay

Hiking in Tropical Rainforest
Venture into the rainforest behind the town and climb 260 metres above sea level to So Ray Plantation, where you might be lucky enough to spot rare species such as the Con Dao Long Tailed Macaque and playful Con Dao Giant Black Squirrel. Adventurous travelers can keep hiking through the less-traveled north side of Con Dao. BASSAC CRUISE

Rest at stunning Ong Dung Bay.
Trekking to the Lighthouse
A 30 minute ride by speedboat brings you to the beautiful island of Bay Canh, where this adventure begins. A two-hour trek through dense forest leads you to one of Con Dao’s most important landmarks. The Bay Canh Lighthouse was built in 1885 and is one of the highest points on the island, at 226 meters above sea level.

Top Things to do in Con Dao Island

Catamaran Sailing
Feel the soft breeze on your face and see the beauty and charm Con Dao has to offer, from the picturesque fishing boats to the point in the horizon where the sky seems to blend with the sea.

Fishing Trip
What better way to spend the early morning than on a boat feeling the sea breeze against your skin against the backdrop of Con Dao Archipelago? A simple fishing boat offers an ideal way to explore these picturesque waters - and perhaps capture some lunch!

Scuba Diving
With depths ranging from 5 to 20 meters for recreational diving, Con Dao offers a unique opportunity to explore the amazing variety of underwater life. Explore the untouched and pristine coral, and you might spot rays, turtles, giant barracuda, cobia, batfish and small bamboo sharks as well as a whole host of tropical reef fish.

Explore Local Life
A guide will take you around the island, through back roads, small dwellings and local agricultural plots that are peppered with livestock, so you can experience how local people live.

Hue Festival Travel Tips

With the coming back of Hue Festival to mark the national tourism year 2012, Hue is entering the most amazing time, when tourists from all over the world are flooding into it. How can you spend the most of your time when coming to this ancient city in this occasion? Let’s consult some of useful tips provided by experienced travelers. Indochina Sails cruise Halong
Getting in and out
From Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, passengers can approach Hue by bus, air or train. The Re-union Express trains with the route Hanoi – HCMC stop at Hue’s Train Station, which is located in the heart of the city, while coach travelers may depart from the two indicated cities at anytime in a day at relatively low cost; however, travelling by coach may cost you much more time and cause inconveniences. For ones interested in getting Hue by airplane, your only option is Vietnam Airlines since it is the only carrier in Vietnam operating routes to this city. Centre Vietnam travel
When to go?
April is definitely the best time to visit Hue. This is understandable because when the local authority decided to organize Hue Festival in this month, they should have taken into account the weather factor seriously. Besides, March and August are two good alternatives.
Eating
If Hanoi gastronomy allures all gourmets to this city by numerous exotic street-foods, Hue can do nothing than what Hanoi can, and even better thanks to its elaborate decoration and degustation banquets of Hue Royal Gastronomy. In this day and age, Hue city is much commercialized with Western style restaurants that make it become more difficult to find out an authentic Hue’s restaurant serving Royal Meals and quintessence of its street-foods. Mekong delta tours Vietnam
Walking along Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, ones may recognize several restaurants serving Hue’s specialties that you should never forget to try such as banh beo, banh loc, banh it or banh nam. The street is easy to find, which is situated on the island to Northwest of the citadel.
At night, tourists are recommended to pay a visit at a noodle stall to have a piece of Hue’s night cuisine that you wouldn’t be able to see in any other places in this world.
Another quintessence of Hue’s cuisine is vegetarian foods, which may be best enjoyed at stalls in Dong Ba Market (Tran Hung Dao Street) on the 1st and 15th of a lunar month.

Hue Festival Travel Tips

Drink
AT Ca Thi 24, 64 Le Loi Street, tourists may enjoy best quality coffee and herbal tea in this city while refreshing yourselves in a relaxing green garden inside a colonial villa. Ca Thi 24 also serves caffeine, alcohol and fast food.
If you are a fan of billiard, DMZ Bar and Café at 44 Le Loi Street, with pool tables should be ideal to keep your beer order going on forever.
For ones enjoying the loud of rock and cheap cocktails and alcohol, Bar Why Not at 21 Vo Thi Sau is what you are seeking for.
Shopping
Hue is the homeland of finest Nón Lá (conial hat) in Vietnam with its special Nón Lá decorated with a short poem making its brand-name Nón Bài Tho. Hue is also a venue of high quality rice paper, silk paintings and calligraphy; however, their prices are always four to five time more expensive than real values.
From Trang Tien Bridge, go straight ahead to the North you may get to Dong Ba Market – the largest market of the city where you can find anything from food to household applications and souvenirs.
Getting around
For such tourism concentrated city like Hue, there is not lack of methods of transportation to go around that you can easily catch a taxi, xe ôm, cyclo or you may hire yourselves a motorbike or bicycle at relatively low cost.
Taxi
Although most of the taxi firms in Hue are honest, some individual taxi drivers may cheat you by fixing the meter showing up to 10 times the distance actually travelled. Tip for you is paying attention on the meter and estimate the distance. If the meter runs too fast, just refuse to pay and insist on calling police so that the drivers will back down. The average price of Hue taxi starts from VND 15,000 (70 cents) for the first 2km and then continues at VND 11,500 per one further kilometer.
Cyclo
Traveling by cyclo is something you don’t want to miss, especially when the intention of your trip is to explore the beauty of Hue City. Since there is no meter or fixed fee for this kind of transportation, you may have to make full use of your negotiation skills for a reasonable price before jumping on those cyclos by clearly stating your route to the drivers. Also, don’t forget to clearly state whether it is USD or VND if you say, for example “100”. This is necessary because some drivers tend to make you surprise with an exorbitant amount of fee charged when you stop at the final destination. However, those cheaters are only minor that most of the cyclo drivers in Hue are naive and very helpful.
Motorbike/Bicycle
Besides waving a xe ôm and enjoy your trip in a passive way, tourists may easily find yourselves a motorbike or bicycle at a local travel agent or just by asking the receptionists of the hotel for help. Those vehicles are for hire at surprisingly cheap prices, at US$5 for a motorbike per day and $1 for a bicycle per day.