About the route from Con Dao to the Mekong Delta
Con Dao lies well out in the sea off the southern coast, so getting off the island comes down to a ferry or a flight back to the mainland. Since the Mekong Delta is a sprawling region rather than one destination, the route really just delivers you to a starting point from which you travel on. The ferry docks at Tran De port, handily placed for Soc Trang, Can Tho, and the wider delta, while the flight touches down at Can Tho. From either, you are in the delta and set to continue.
A few practical things are worth knowing before you plan. Ferries back from Con Dao usually sail in the early to mid afternoon, so you tend to get the morning on the island first, but it also means reaching Tran De later in the day with onward travel still to come. The crossings hinge on the weather too, running most dependably in the calmer stretch from around March to September, while rougher seas between October and February make cancellations more likely. One naming note: since the 2025 changes, Tran De falls under Can Tho City, though it is still widely called Tran De and sits a couple of hours by road from Can Tho city itself.
The Mekong Delta is among the most distinctive regions in Vietnam, a flat, green expanse of rivers, rice paddies, fruit orchards, and floating markets. It is best known for unhurried boat trips along the canals, countryside homestays, and a slow rhythm a world away from the cities. After the stillness of Con Dao, it makes a natural place to head next.
Plan your time in the region with our Mekong Delta travel guide.
Option 1: By ferry from Con Dao to the Mekong Delta
The crossing to Tran De
The ferry is the most practical way to travel from Con Dao to the Mekong Delta, setting you down right in the region at Tran De port. Two operators cover the route, Superdong and Con Dao Express, running modern, air-conditioned fast ferries. The crossing takes around 2 to 2.5 hours, leaving from Ben Dam port on Con Dao and arriving at Tran De. Sailings are generally in the early to mid afternoon, so you can make the most of a final morning on the island before heading back.
Continuing into the delta
Tran De is the gateway rather than the usual final stop, so you press on overland from the port. Soc Trang town is the closest base, about 30 to 40 minutes away, while Can Tho, the delta’s main hub, is roughly two hours by road. You can carry on by local bus or private car. Keep an eye on the timing: because the ferry lands in the afternoon, you might not reach Can Tho or beyond until early evening, so it pays to line up onward transport and a bed in advance rather than sorting it on the fly.
Cost, season, and booking
Fares come in at roughly 310,000 to 590,000 VND depending on the operator and seat class. You can book with the operators directly or through platforms like 12Go, and it is worth booking ahead in the busy season from March to September, when seats go quickly. That is also the most reliable time to sail, while rough seas from October to February can bring cancellations, so keep some flexibility in your plans if you travel then.
For the full ferry detail and every way to and from the island, see our guide on how to get to Con Dao.
Who it suits
The ferry works for almost everyone leaving Con Dao for the delta, above all travelers carrying on to Soc Trang, Can Tho, or deeper into the region. It is a good fit for budget travelers and anyone who would sooner reach the mainland by sea than double back by air. The one thing to manage is the afternoon arrival, so build your onward leg into the delta around it.
Tip: visit Con Dao and the Mekong Delta with Local Vietnam
Rather have the ferry and the rest handled for you? Our Mekong Delta, Saigon, and Con Dao tour links the island with the delta, ferry crossing included. It runs from the Mekong Delta to Con Dao, but can be arranged in reverse to match your route.
Option 2: By plane from Con Dao to the Mekong Delta
The Con Dao to Can Tho flight
A direct flight links Con Dao Airport with Can Tho Airport, the delta’s main city, in under an hour. The snag is how sparse it is. Vietnam Airlines is the sole operator, flying it roughly five times a week rather than daily, so it only works if your date matches the schedule and Can Tho is where you want to be in the delta. When it does line up, it is the quickest way off the island and straight into the region, cutting out the ferry and the overland leg entirely.
Via Ho Chi Minh City if the dates do not fit
If the direct flight does not suit, the other air route is via Ho Chi Minh City, which has frequent daily flights from Con Dao. From there you would carry on into the Mekong Delta by road, around 3.5 to 4 hours to Can Tho. This is the long way round and really only stacks up if you were passing through Ho Chi Minh City anyway, since for most delta-bound travelers the ferry to Tran De is the more direct choice.
Cost and who it suits
Direct fares from Con Dao to Can Tho shift with demand and how early you book, and can run well above the ferry. Flying suits travelers short on time, whose dates fit the thin schedule, and who are heading to Can Tho in particular. For most people leaving Con Dao for the delta, though, the ferry stays the simpler and more flexible option.
Read more about domestic flights in Vietnam.
Conclusion: what is the best option for Con Dao to the Mekong Delta
The right way from Con Dao to the Mekong Delta depends on your dates, your budget, and where in the region you are bound. A quick way to decide:
Ferry to Tran De – the most practical choice for most travelers, landing you right in the delta and well placed for Soc Trang, Can Tho, and beyond, with afternoon crossings of around 2 to 2.5 hours.
Direct flight to Can Tho – the fastest option when its limited, few-times-a-week schedule fits your dates and Can Tho is where you want to be.
Via Ho Chi Minh City – a roundabout air route that only really makes sense if you are passing through the city anyway.
For most travelers it comes down to this: take the ferry to Tran De for a direct, flexible arrival into the delta, planning your onward transport around the afternoon landing. Only pick the flight if its schedule lines up and Can Tho is your destination, and route through Ho Chi Minh City if you would rather fly but the direct service does not run on your dates.
