From "hell on earth" to "tourist paradise"

Located more than 230km from the mainland, Con Dao used to be a place to detain Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers and political prisoners. On May 1, 1975, Con Dao was officially liberated, closing a 113-year historical chapter called “hell on earth”, opening a new era of peace and development. After 50 years, Con Dao today has taken on a new look, becoming “a paradise for ecological, historical and spiritual tourism”.

Panoramic view of Con Son island area.

Convenient transportation, changed life

Just over a year after liberation, in August 1976, during a visit back to Con Dao Prison, General Secretary Le Duan wrote: “Con Dao is a heroic island, Con Dao is a great historical relic, Con Dao is a great school for future generations.”

After 50 years of liberation, the revolutionary school is still preserved intact in Con Dao district. The Con Dao Prison Relic System, along with Hang Duong Cemetery and Hang Keo Cemetery, has now become a red address, a placeto educate the tradition of patriotism and revolutionary struggle for generations of Vietnamese people.
Inheriting the steadfast and indomitable tradition of our ancestors, 50 years after liberation, with the attention of the Central and local governments, generations of cadres, soldiers and people on the island have always united and strived to overcome difficulties to build and develop.

Currently, the island's road system is being invested in and built synchronously; high-speed passenger ferry routes connect Con Dao with Tran De district (Soc Trang), Vung Tau city, Ho Chi Minh City, contributing to serving the travel needs of people as well as tourists from the mainland to the island and vice versa. Con Dao airport has a 1,830m long runway, accommodating ATR72 and equivalent aircraft. Currently, there are two airlines operating flights to and from Con Dao.

Mr. Tran Huu Trung, a resident of Residential Area No. 5, Con Dao District, shared: "I see that Con Dao has changed a lot now. The road system has been invested in to be spacious and clean, with many means of transport connecting to the mainland by water and air, creating convenient travel conditions for people."

The electricity and water systems in Con Dao have also received investment attention, serving the daily needs of the people and production and business activities in the district. Notably, in July 2023, the Government approved the investment policy for the project to supply electricity from the national grid to Con Dao, connecting Vinh Chau town, Soc Trang province to Con Dao, with a total investment of more than 4,900 billion VND. Recently, in March 2025, in Hoa Lac commune, Vinh Chau town, Soc Trang province, the project was started. According to the plan, the project will be completed in September 2025.

Currently, the district has 3 kindergartens, 1 primary school, 1 middle school and 1 high school. The schools are invested in a system of spacious, modern, clean classrooms and functional rooms, with full levels from kindergarten to high school, ensuring teaching and learning, improving the quality of education in the district.

Ms. Vo Thi Hoa, teacher at Cao Van Ngoc Primary School, said: In recent years, with the attention of all levels and sectors, schools in Con Dao district have been invested in facilities, spacious and clean classrooms. Teachers are fully equipped with teaching equipment. Lessons often apply information technology and AI technology to make lessons more vivid and attractive, creating excitement for students, contributing to improving the quality of teaching and learning.

The Con Dao District Military-Civilian Medical Center has just been inaugurated and put into operation with a scale of 5 floors. Phase 1 has a scale of 60 beds with departments and functional rooms including: Emergency - intensive care and anti-poison; Diagnostic imaging; Nutrition; Surgery; Testing; Administrative area; Inpatient and outpatient examination and treatment. The project contributes to meeting the needs of health care, examination and treatment for officers, soldiers, people and tourists.

Many works serving people's lives and socio-economic development continue to be invested, upgraded and expanded. The telecommunications network is developing rapidly, internet, wifi, 4G network, satellite TV, digital terrestrial TV... are covering almost the entire area of ​​Con Son island and the small islands have telephone signals. The material and spiritual life of officers, soldiers and people on the island is constantly improving.

Along with cultural institutions, every year, Con Dao district organizes cultural, artistic, sports activities, traditional festivals such as Phi Yen's death anniversary, People's Armed Forces Hero Vo Thi Sau's death anniversary, Traditional raft racing festival..., meeting the cultural enjoyment needs of people and tourists.

In recent years, the work of gratitude and caring for people with meritorious services in Con Dao has also been given great attention. The whole district currently has 74 people with meritorious services and families with meritorious services. In addition to the care of the Party and the State, people with meritorious services and families with meritorious services are always visited and given gifts on holidays and Tet...

Towards green, sustainable tourism

Con Dao District is the first district-level locality in the country to implement the Circular Economy Project for the period 2022-2025, with a vision to 2030, in order to promote the strengths of clean natural resources and a system of special national historical relics to develop a green and sustainable economy. Not only having historical value, Con Dao is also blessed by nature with the richest and most diverse ecosystem in Vietnam.

Over the years, this place has become a famous tourist destination, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists, creating a unique brand for Con Dao, with diverse types of eco-tourism, cultural tourism, returning to the source, resort tourism... Con Dao has a National Park recognized as an international Ramsar Site, an ASEAN Heritage Park, with a diverse and rich system of primary flora and fauna, covering an area of ​​nearly 20,000 hectares, including nearly 6,000 hectares of forest and 14,000 hectares of sea.

In addition, the Con Dao Prison System is recognized as a special national historical relic with a system of 20 relics, a place to preserve and educate the tradition of patriotism for generations of Vietnamese people. The habitat and environment of Con Dao continuously leave a beautiful impression on major media channels when it was voted as one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Most recently, Con Dao was ranked in the list of 24 pristine destinations by Time Out Magazine of the UK.

Currently, the district has 146 accommodation establishments with 2,923 rooms, accommodating 7,598 people/day; including 1 5-star resort; 5 4-star hotels and equivalent; 3 3-star hotels and equivalent; 137 1-2 star hotels and guesthouses, motels, and houses with rooms for rent. In recent years, Con Dao has welcomed an average of over 500,000 visitors each year, with an average revenue of 1,400 billion VND.

According to Decision 566/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister dated June 26, 2024, approving the overall adjustment of the Master Plan for the construction of Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province until 2045, Con Dao will be built and developed as a national cultural - historical and ecological marine tourism area of ​​regional and international stature, a special national historical relic conservation area, with the value of honoring and educating historical traditions, a conservation area for diverse ecosystems of forests, seas, and wetlands of the country and the world, with an important position in terms of national defense and security.

From a place once known as “hell on earth”, Con Dao has risen to become a precious gem in the East Sea - a place that holds painful but also proud memories, a place where wild nature and heroic, indomitable history blend. Amidst the modern pace of life, Con Dao is like a reminder of the value of peace, independence and freedom. Looking back on the past 50 years, every Con Dao resident is always proud, remembers history, and believes in a bright future.

NBO

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/tu-dia-nguc-tran-gian-den-thien-duong-du-lich-789158.htm