What to eat in Con Dao? 14+ must-try local specialties!

Con Dao Island is not only famous for its beautiful natural scenery, but also for its rich and flavorful seafood cuisine. If you're planning a trip to Con Dao, don't forget to explore these 14+ delicious local specialties.

Việt Nam•18/09/2025

Delicious dishes made from fresh seafood.

Con Dao Island is renowned as one of the largest sources of fresh seafood in the country. Shrimp, snails, crabs, and fish are caught directly from the wild and then processed into many delicious dishes.

Red lobster

Red lobsters in Con Dao are caught entirely in the wild and are very rare. This species of lobster is highly sought after by both tourists and locals due to its firm, sweet meat, along with its rich, creamy, and nutritious golden roe. Red lobsters can be prepared in many delicious ways, including steaming, grilling, salads, porridge, etc.

Reference price: 800,000 - 1,500,000 VND/kg

Places to enjoy:

Thu Tam Restaurant, Zone 5 Nguyen Duc Thuan, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Chili Restaurant, Zone 5 Nguyen Duc Thuan Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Phi Yen Seafood Restaurant, 34 Ton Duc Thang Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Moon crab

In Con Dao, delicious moon crabs are usually available during the full moon. This species of crab has many unique dark spots on its shell, and when cooked, it turns an attractive bright red color. With dishes like boiled or steamed with beer, visitors can fully enjoy the sweet and firm texture of the fresh crab meat. This is one of the delicious dishes you should add to your Con Dao travel experience for a memorable trip!

Reference price: 300,000 - 600,000 VND/kg

Places to enjoy:

Cay Bang Restaurant, Pham Van Dong - Nguyen Van Troi Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Thu Ba Restaurant, Vo Thi Sau Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Tri Ky Restaurant, Nguyen Duc Thuan Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Sea snail

As one of the renowned seafood species in Con Dao, the "breast-shaped" cone-shaped snail has a unique shape with an asymmetrical, dark gray shell. They are often simply prepared as steamed with lemongrass or grilled with scallions and oil, served with a dipping sauce of salt, pepper, lime, and chili or spicy ginger fish sauce. When you taste them, you'll immediately feel the crunchy texture, natural sweetness, and a subtly rich, irresistible aftertaste.

Reference price: 80,000 - 100,000 VND/kg

Places to enjoy:

Sang Tuyen Seafood Restaurant, Pham Hung Street, Zone 5, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Binh Nguyen Night Snail Restaurant, Pham Van Dong Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Night Snail Restaurant 16, N8 internal road, Zone 8, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Sea snails have a crunchy texture and a naturally sweet flavor.

Shark salad

Shark salad (or shark fish salad) is a unique dish in Con Dao that is rarely found elsewhere. This dish was honored as a representative Vietnamese cuisine in the first phase of 2022.

The fish meat is carefully prepared, deboned, and thinly sliced, then marinated with turmeric, galangal, lemongrass, and various other spices. It's served with rice paper and a variety of fresh vegetables such as starfruit, green bananas, fig leaves, Centella asiatica, and various wild herbs, etc. Especially noteworthy is the dipping sauce, prepared according to a special recipe, which is a perfect balance of sourness, sweetness, and a hint of spiciness. This preparation method eliminates any fishy smell, instead enhancing the aroma and creating a unique, tender, and sweet flavor.

Reference price: 100,000 - 150,000 VND/plate

Places to enjoy:

Tri Ky Restaurant, Zone 5, Nguyen Duc Thuan Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Nam Hai Seafood Restaurant, 64 Nguyen Hue Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Thu Ba Restaurant, Vo Thi Sau Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Red grouper

Red grouper is a premium fish from the waters of Con Dao Island. Its flesh is firm yet sweet and is usually prepared simply to preserve its natural flavor. Every part, from the head, body, bones, tail, and internal organs, can be used to make many delicious dishes such as: fish head hot pot, fish intestines stir-fried with vegetables, fish body steamed with onions or soy sauce, fresh fish salad, sashimi with mustard dipping sauce, etc.

Reference price: 500,000 - 1,000,000 VND/kg

Places to enjoy:

Kim Con Dao Floating Restaurant, Zone 10, Ben Dam Bay, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Nam Hai Seafood Restaurant, 64 Nguyen Hue Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Red grouper meat is firm, sweet, and highly nutritious.

Oyster porridge

Thanks to their pristine marine environment, oysters from Con Dao are renowned for their cleanliness and high nutritional value. Each large, fresh oyster has thick, sweet, and slightly creamy flesh, and is very nutritious. When making oyster porridge, fragrant rice is simmered until smooth and creamy, then fresh, shucked oysters are added, and topped with fried shallots, scallions, and fragrant pepper.

Reference price: 30,000 - 50,000 VND/bowl

Places to enjoy:

Ut Trieu Restaurant, Tran Phu Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Tai Hao Restaurant, Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Con Son Restaurant, 5 Nguyen Duy Trinh Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Seafood pancake

Con Dao seafood pancakes are made from rice flour mixed with coconut milk, then deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. The special highlight of this dish is the variety of seafood fillings, including shrimp, squid, oysters, crab, etc. These are naturally caught and processed on the same day, ensuring freshness and retaining their rich, natural sweetness. The pancakes are served with fresh vegetables such as herbs, starfruit, green bananas, spleen, bitter greens, etc., and dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce or a rich fermented fish sauce.

Reference price: From 20,000 VND/piece

Places to enjoy:

Co Tam Con Dao Bakery, Tran Phu Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Kieu Tam Banh Xeo (Vietnamese savory pancake), Nguyen An Ninh Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Con Dao's banh xeo (Vietnamese savory pancake) stands out with its eye-catching golden crust and a filling made from fresh seafood.

Con Dao Banh Khot (mini savory pancakes)

Banh khot, made from rice flour, is deep-fried until golden brown and filled with fresh shrimp, minced meat, or quail eggs, topped with a rich layer of scallion oil. It's served with a variety of fresh green vegetables such as bitter greens, mint, perilla, basil, shredded papaya, etc., and dipped in sweet and sour fish sauce. You'll experience the crispy crust, the sweet and chewy taste of the shrimp and meat, blended with the refreshing flavor of the vegetables and the savory fish sauce.

Reference price: 40,000 - 50,000 VND/plate

Places to enjoy:

Duyen Trang Con Dao Banh Khot, Hoang Phi Yen Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Co Tam Con Dao Banh Khot, Tran Phu Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Crab noodle soup

Con Dao crab noodle soup features a broth made from tenderly simmered pork bones and crab stock, combined with ripe red tomatoes, creating a rich, sweet flavor with a natural tang. The highlight of the dish is the succulent crab paste along with various toppings such as blood pudding, fish cake, pork trotters, fried tofu, fresh crab or prawns, etc., all bursting with the flavor of the sea.

Reference price: 30,000 - 40,000 VND/bowl

Places to enjoy:

Bun rieu Ba Hai Kiem, 22 Nguyen Hue Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Bun Rieu Co Hai, 71 Le Van Luong Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Con Dao crab noodle soup is fragrant, hot, and served with typical fresh vegetables including shredded water spinach, bitter herbs, and bean sprouts.

Snacks

Besides delicious seafood dishes, Con Dao also offers many attractive snacks that entice tourists to stay longer.

Candied Terminalia seeds

Candied Terminalia catappa nuts represent the creativity of the people of Con Dao Island – they transformed seemingly hard and dry nuts into a renowned snack. Due to the island's mineral-rich soil and mild climate, the nuts here have a richer, more delicate flavor. After processing, each piece of candied nut shines with an attractive glossy brown color, a soft and chewy texture, and a delicious nutty, creamy taste. Depending on your preference, you can choose between savory candied nuts roasted with salt or sweet candied nuts roasted with sugar and ginger.

Reference prices: Sweet jam 220,000 - 500,000 VND/kg, savory jam 270,000 - 600,000 VND/kg depending on the season.

Where to buy:

Con Dao Gift, Residential Area No. 8 Nguyen An Ninh, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Nam Quan Store, 22 Nguyen Hue Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Huynh Thao Con Dao Almond Nut Shop, 1B Nguyen An Ninh Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Sweet cashew nut jam - a famous specialty of Con Dao.

Cashew nut cookies

These almond cookies have a crispy crust with a fragrant buttery and milky aroma and a subtle vanilla scent. In the center is a filling of roasted almonds, offering a rich, nutty flavor. Besides the traditional almond filling, these cookies are also available in many other unique flavors such as ginger, coffee and coconut, green tea, cheese, honey, etc., catering to all tastes. Knowing what to do in Con Dao will make it easier to plan the most suitable itinerary for yourself.

Reference price: From 55,000 VND/100g

Where to buy:

Hani Bakery, Branch 1, Nguyen Hue Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Hani Bakery, Branch 2, Pham Van Dong Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Rice paper with coconut milk

When visiting Con Dao, don't miss the local specialty, coconut rice paper, a simple yet unforgettable dish. The rice paper is dipped in pure, fresh coconut water – the sweet, refreshing liquid sourced only from young coconuts in Ben Dam – and then sun-dried until crispy. The crunchy rice paper blends perfectly with the subtle sweetness of the coconut, the rich, nutty flavor of roasted sesame seeds, and a hint of sea salt. You can eat it as a snack, dip it in spicy tamarind sauce, or enjoy it with salads.

Reference price: 20,000 - 50,000 VND/pack

Where to buy:

Sesame and coconut rice paper - Mr. Tâm's Con Dao shop, 108 Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Con Dao Market, Pham Van Dong Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Con Dao Coconut Ice Cream

Con Dao coconut ice cream will enchant you with its smooth, creamy texture, mild sweetness, and fragrant coconut milk aroma. The ice cream is often topped with various toppings such as grated coconut, raisins, dried coconut, roasted peanuts, cashew nut jam, or fruit syrups to make it even more appealing. In addition, each serving of ice cream is usually accompanied by a glass of refreshing fresh coconut water, providing a complete culinary experience for all diners.

Reference price: 40,000 VND/portion

Places to enjoy:

Coconut Ice Cream from Con Dao Island, Phan Chu Trinh Street, Zone 2, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
Con Son Coconut Ice Cream Cafe, Nguyen Hue Street, Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau

Dining experiences in Con Dao

To have an enjoyable experience exploring Con Dao's cuisine, don't forget to keep these valuable tips in mind:

The best time to explore Con Dao's culinary scene is in the afternoon and evening, from around 4 PM to 10 PM. This is when the seaside restaurants and night markets are bustling, offering a wide variety of dishes for you to enjoy.
When to visit upscale restaurants: For high-priced dishes like moon crab, red lobster, red grouper, etc., you should visit upscale restaurants. The seafood imported there is guaranteed to be fresh, properly preserved, and prepared using professional techniques and food safety standards. The dishes are presented attractively, and staff provide recommendations for suitable drinks, etc., ensuring a satisfying dining experience.
If you want to buy fresh seafood at reasonable prices as souvenirs, you should visit large seafood markets or local fishing villages. Here you can easily choose from a wide variety of fresh seafood at affordable prices. Additionally, in the early morning at the ports, when the boats return after their fishing trips, you'll have the opportunity to buy shrimp, crabs, fish, etc. directly at good prices.

Above are some suggestions for tourists wondering "What to eat in Con Dao?". As you can see, this island boasts a rich and unique culinary scene. You can freely enjoy delicious fresh seafood and many local snacks, each dish reflecting the flavors of the sea and the local culture.

Source: https://www.vietnamairlines.com/vn/vi/plan-book/travel/travel-guide/an-gi-o-con-dao