Sea turtles
On Bay Canh's beaches.
Tuderna — CC BY 3.0 · Tuderna — CC BY 3.0 · Thaotran1907 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Tycho] talk , http://shansov.net — CC BY-SA 3.0
Con Dao National Park takes in much of Con Son Island, the small islands around it and the surrounding sea, in an archipelago about 97 nautical miles (some 180 kilometres) by sea from Vung Tau, off southern Vietnam, that has been a special zone of Ho Chi Minh City since 2025. Rainforest runs down to empty beaches, and underwater are coral reefs home to sea turtles and dolphins; rare dugongs have been seen here too. The turtles are the draw: from about April to October they come ashore to lay eggs on the beaches of Bay Canh and Hon Cau islands, and park rangers arrange night trips to watch them and release hatchlings into the sea, with strict rules on light, noise and distance. On the main island, forest trails lead to quiet beaches such as Ong Dung, and there are spots for snorkelling over coral. Turtle trips, diving and the longer trails are arranged in advance with the park office. Con Dao is about an hour's flight from Ho Chi Minh City, or reached by fast ferry from the mainland. The sea is calmest from about March to September.
On Bay Canh's beaches.
For snorkelling.
To quiet beaches.
Park office, Con Son Island, Con Dao archipelago
From about April to October, on night trips to Bay Canh island run by park rangers; book ahead with the park office.