Snorkling & Diving

Naming on top of the most mysterious beaches in the world by Lonely Planet, Con Dao Islands are also known as Con Dao National Park with an archipelago of 16 mostly uninhabited islets just off the southern coast of Vietnam. The Con Dao islands’ reefs are well-known as the best in Vietnam, with healthy soft and hard coral, and there are also a few wrecks to explore.

The giant coral pillar is found at Con Son Bay, 1000 meters away from 914 Pier, and is strictly protected by Con Dao National Park. Not colorful and vibrant as other soft coral, the giant coral pillar has beautiful white skin and a rough surface shimmering under sunlight like fish scales.

Island-hopping and diving are popular activities on Con Dao Islands, where you can expect to see a good variety of tropical marine life: parrotfish, triggerfish, stingrays, barracudas, moray eels, dugongs, and perhaps a turtle. The best conditions for diving are between March and August but island-hopping and snorkeling are possible year-round. Due to its status as a national park, you need to arrange your trip with Con Dao National Park Headquarters (29 Vo Thi Sau, Con Dao District, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province).

A speedboat will take you to Hon Tai and Bay Canh or Cau islands to discover the underwater life surrounding Vietnam’s premier marine protected area. You will get a chance to see some of the documented 1,493 species of marine life and the best coral formations in the country.