About the route from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao
Con Dao is a small archipelago in the sea south of the Mekong Delta, and Ho Chi Minh City is the obvious jumping-off point, with far more flights and ferry connections than anywhere else. Because Con Dao is an island, every option involves a plane, a boat, or both. The fastest is a direct flight of about an hour, while the ferry routes take longer but let you add a stop on the mainland. So the choice for getting from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao comes down to how quickly you want to arrive and whether you want to see more of the south on the way. Saigon, where the trip begins, is the country’s busy southern hub, and our Ho Chi Minh City travel guide covers it if you are still planning your days there.
Con Dao is one of the quietest and most beautiful places in the country, a group of islands ringed by empty beaches and clear water, with a national park of forest and reefs and a heavy history as a former prison colony. It is somewhere to slow right down, swim or dive, and take in the war-era sites, a world away from the rush of Saigon. It draws far fewer visitors than the mainland beaches, which is much of the appeal. Our Con Dao travel guide covers what is worth doing once you arrive.
Option 1: By direct flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao
Why choose the flight
The direct flight is by far the quickest and simplest way to reach the island, and unlike from most other cities, it runs year-round from Saigon rather than only in season. A short hop and you are on Con Dao the same morning, ready to start your time there. For almost everyone, this is the sensible choice.
How it works
Flights leave Tan Son Nhat Airport many times a day, flown by Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air, and take about an hour to reach Con Dao. Vietnam Airlines uses small turboprop aircraft on the route through its VASCO subsidiary, while VietJet flies jets, so there is a decent spread of departures through the day. Con Dao’s airport is a small one exposed to the weather, so occasional delays and cancellations happen, and the flights fill up, so it pays to book ahead.
What it costs
Fares vary with the date and how early you book, but tend to run from around 900,000 to 1,500,000 VND (roughly $36 to $60) one way, climbing last-minute and in peak season. It is a short but relatively pricey hop for the distance, given the small aircraft and limited competition, so booking early makes a real difference.
Who it is for
The flight suits almost everyone, especially anyone short on time who wants to be on the island fast. The only travelers who should look further are those who would rather see the Mekong Delta on the way, or who prefer to arrive by sea, both covered below.
Option 2: Via the Mekong Delta, then ferry
If you would rather see more of the south than fly straight over it, you can travel down through the Mekong Delta and cross to Con Dao by ferry. It takes a few days rather than a morning, but it turns the journey into a trip in its own right, and it fits neatly for anyone who wanted to see the delta anyway.
Step 1: Saigon to Can Tho
From Ho Chi Minh City you head south into the delta to Can Tho, its main city, around three to four hours by road. This is easily done by private car or bus, and Can Tho makes a comfortable base for a night or two among the rivers and rice fields.
Step 2: Explore the delta
Give yourself a day or two here, because this is the reason to route this way. Around Can Tho you can catch the Cai Rang floating market at dawn, cycle the quiet lanes between the rice paddies, take a boat through the narrow canals, and stop at fruit orchards and small workshops along the water. It is the easy, rewarding side of the Mekong Delta.
Step 3: Can Tho to Con Dao by ferry
From the delta, a high-speed ferry runs to Con Dao from Tran De pier, near Soc Trang, a short drive from Can Tho. The morning crossing takes around 3.5 hours and drops you on the island by late morning. Our guide on the Con Dao ferry from Soc Trang covers the pier, times, and booking.
Tip: Do this route as a guided tour with Local Vietnam
This exact journey, Saigon through the delta to the island, is one we run as a set trip: our Mekong Delta to Con Dao tour takes you from your Saigon hotel to Can Tho for countryside cycling and a riverside homestay, out to the Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating markets by boat, and on to Tran De for the ferry to Con Dao, with transfers, guide, and stays arranged. It ends on the island, so you can carry straight on with your time in Con Dao.
Option 3: By ferry from Vung Tau
Why choose the ferry
The ferry from Vung Tau is the main sea route to the island and a good alternative to flying, if you would rather cross by boat or want to keep a domestic flight off your itinerary. Vung Tau is the closest departure point to Saigon, so it is the easiest ferry to combine with a stay in the city. It is slower and more weather-dependent than the flight, but on calm seas it is a pleasant trip, and cheaper than flying.
Step 1: Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau
First you travel from Saigon to Vung Tau, about 100 kilometers and two to two and a half hours southeast. You can go by bus for around 120,000 to 200,000 VND ($5 to $8), by private car, or by the fast river boat from central Saigon. The ferry to Con Dao leaves early, so unless you catch a very early bus it is worth spending the night in Vung Tau beforehand. Ferries sail from Cau Da Port, at 09 Ha Long Street in the center of town.
Step 2: Vung Tau to Con Dao
The crossing is run by Phu Quoc Express on the large Thang Long ship, which carries over 1,000 passengers across VIP, economy, and open-deck classes. It takes around four to five hours and normally leaves in the morning, arriving in the early afternoon at Ben Dam Port, about 15 kilometers from Con Dao town. Fares run from roughly 790,000 to 1,250,000 VND ($31 to $50) one way, a little higher from Friday to Sunday and on holidays, with a small port fee on top. Book through the operator or a ferry platform like Baolau, at least a couple of weeks ahead in the busy season from April to September.
What to know before you book
Two things matter on this route. First, the schedule changes often and the boats do not sail in rough seas, so services can pause for days at a time, mainly in the rough season from November to February; always check current sailings before you plan around it. Second, if you are prone to seasickness, this is a real open-sea crossing, so bring medication and pick a seat low and central. When the weather turns or the schedule does not fit, the direct flight is the reliable fallback. Our guide to the Con Dao ferry connections covers the Vung Tau crossing and the others in full.
Conclusion: what is the best option for Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao
The best way from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao depends on how fast you want to get there and what you want to see on the way.
Fly direct for the quickest trip, about an hour in the air, with flights all day year-round from Saigon. It is the sensible choice for almost everyone.
Go via the Mekong Delta if you want the journey to be part of the trip, spending a couple of days around Can Tho before taking the ferry across from Tran De.
Take the ferry from Vung Tau if you would rather cross by sea and fancy a short stop on the coast, keeping in mind sailings are weather-dependent and less frequent than flights.
For most travelers the answer is simple: fly direct. But if you have the days and the delta appeals, routing through Can Tho makes a rewarding trip in itself.
