{"id":3481,"date":"2026-06-26T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T02:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/?post_type=news&p=3481"},"modified":"2026-06-26T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T02:00:00","slug":"con-dao-island","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/vietnam-gift.com\/en\/news\/con-dao-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Con Dao named the world's No. 1 hidden island \u2014 the new go-to for a quiet getaway"},"content":{"rendered":"

In \"The World's 30 Best Hidden Islands\" announced by the U.S. travel magazine Travel+Leisure, the Con Dao Islands off the coast of southern Vietnam were chosen No. 1. The magazine likens the island to an \"Amalfi Coast\" free of crowds. Unlike already-touristified resorts like Phu Quoc and Nha Trang, it's an island that combines nature preserved with restrained development and a heavy memory of history. For Japanese travelers looking for a quiet destination, this island \u2014 previously outside the range of options \u2014 has suddenly emerged as a realistic place to go.<\/p>\n

The \"Amalfi without crowds\" chosen by Travel+Leisure<\/h2>\n

The feature Travel+Leisure put together is \"The World's 30 Best Hidden Islands\" for travelers seeking secluded adventure and quiet. Standing at the top was Con Dao. The magazine overlaps Con Dao's beauty with Italy's Amalfi Coast, citing as an appeal the absence of the crowds that come with famous tourist spots. Untouched scenery, a unique ecosystem, and historical weight lined up as the reasons for the No. 1 selection.<\/p>\n

Con Dao is an archipelago of 16 islands centered on the main island, Con Son, known for its sheer granite cliffs, white sandy beaches, and clear sea. Because tourism development has been intentionally restrained, a quietness worlds apart from mainland Vietnam's bustle has been preserved.<\/p>\n

Con Dao today, seen in numbers<\/h2>\n

The No. 1 ranking isn't just a scenery rating. Con Dao's tourism is growing in real numbers too. Visitors in the first half of 2026 (January\u2013June) exceeded 410,000, up 3.5% year on year. What's notable is travelers from abroad, at about 24,000, up 62% from the same period last year. Tourism revenue topped 2 trillion dong, up 15% year on year. Converting 2 trillion dong at a rate of 1 yen \u2248 170 dong comes to roughly 11.8 billion yen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Indicator<\/th>\nFirst half of 2026<\/th>\nYear on year<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Total visitors<\/td>\nOver 410,000<\/td>\n+3.5%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Of which, overseas travelers<\/td>\nAbout 24,000<\/td>\n+62%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tourism revenue<\/td>\nOver 2 trillion dong (about 11.8 billion yen)<\/td>\n+15%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

The point that overseas visitors grew over 60% while domestic visitors edged up only slightly captures this island's character well. What's pushing up the total is still domestic repeat visitors, but as exposure in the world's travel media increases, international recognition has begun to move a step ahead. Converted back at the exchange rate, the money spent per tourist is by no means small, suggesting it's an island that attracts high-spending travelers.<\/p>\n

Why Con Dao now<\/h2>\n

There's a reason Con Dao is called a \"hidden island.\" From the French colonial period through the South Vietnam era, prisons holding political prisoners were placed on the main island. The facilities known for the so-called \"tiger cages\" still remain as historic sites and, for Vietnamese people, are a destination close to a pilgrimage. Simultaneously having a face as a resort and a face as a place to mourn history is the decisive difference from other beach islands.<\/p>\n

It's a singular presence in terms of nature too. The surrounding waters are included in Con Dao National Park, protected as a sea turtle nesting ground, coral reefs, and a dugong habitat. The delay in development ended up protecting the ecosystem, and now that has converted into its greatest commercial value as an \"untouched island.\" That it didn't rush to touristify has, ironically, become its biggest strength.<\/p>\n

How locals and the industry see it<\/h2>\n

From local tourism figures, there are voices wanting to connect the overseas media's No. 1 selection to international flights and improved lodging quality. At the same time, concern is also voiced that a sharp rise in visitors may damage the island's very quietness. It's the dilemma that the assessment of an \"Amalfi without crowds\" could, ironically, invite crowds.<\/p>\n

The travel industry's view positions Con Dao as unsuited to mass tourism but suited to small-group, high-value travel that can command a high spend per customer. Even in travelers' social media posts, reactions valuing the quiet stand out, such as \"It has value precisely because there are few people\" and \"It's the exact opposite of Phu Quoc's liveliness.\" It's a location that resonates precisely with those who want to avoid crowds.<\/p>\n

Implications for Japanese travelers<\/h2>\n

If you head to Con Dao from Japan, a connection is currently the premise. There are no direct flights; the basic route is to fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat International Airport) and from there take a domestic flight to Con Dao Airport. The flight itself is short at under an hour, making it easy to build in as a two-night, three-day short trip based in Ho Chi Minh City. In contrast to Phu Quoc advancing international-hub status with direct flights from Singapore, Con Dao deliberately keeps the hurdle of reaching it to protect its quiet. If you choose an island for the convenience of direct flights, Phu Quoc's moves are a reference, and the difference comes into three-dimensional view when read together withthe topic of direct flights connecting Phu Quoc and Singapore.<\/a>It comes into three-dimensional view.<\/p>\n

The best season is the dry season, around November to April. The sea is calm and transparency rises, suited to diving and sea-turtle watching. Conversely, the rainy season of June\u2013September tends to have rough seas and higher flight-cancellation risk, so even for a quiet-focused trip you'll want to be careful about timing. In the sense of a trip seeking uncrowded beaches, it's the exact opposite in character fromkitesurfing in Mui Ne<\/a>which lets you spend an active time making use of the wind even on the same southern Vietnamese coast, so it's wise to choose between them according to your purpose.<\/p>\n

Ripple to the market and island choices<\/h2>\n

Con Dao's No. 1 selection overlaps with the trend of Vietnam's tourism as a whole shifting its axis from \"quantity\" to \"quality.\" While there are islands like Phu Quoc that chase volume with large resorts and infrastructure investment, Con Dao has chosen the path of raising brand value by restraining development. If you measure an island's appeal by liveliness, comparing it withPhu Quoc's northern entertainment development,<\/a>known for night markets and nightlife, makes the difference in the two strategies clear. Even for the same \"island,\" the target customers are the exact opposite.<\/p>\n

This polarization is also the flip side of the fact that the options for travelers visiting Vietnam have matured. Seek liveliness, or seek quiet? As a representative of the latter, Con Dao has begun to carve its name onto the world's travel map.<\/p>\n

Summary: if you're going, go before the crowds grow<\/h2>\n

Con Dao's appeal lies in development not having advanced \u2014 that is, in \"not yet being known\" itself. The banner of No. 1 hidden island in the world can be both a shield to protect that rarity and a trigger to break it down. If you're planning a trip from Japan, it's realistic to secure a domestic flight via Ho Chi Minh City and aim for the dry season of November\u2013April when the sea is calm. Now, before tourists increase in earnest, is a prime chance to experience the time this island can still be a \"hidden island.\" Start by checking the operating status of domestic flights from Ho Chi Minh City and Con Dao National Park's sea-turtle-watching season.<\/p>\n

Sources<\/h2>\n