Travel Adventures
Southern Islands: Con Dao or Phu Quoc?
Con Dao and Phu Quoc islands are the two most alluring beach destinations in Vietnam. Both islands are just a short flight from Saigon, and both offer superb beaches and jungle-covered interiors. But these two southern islands are very different in character, and therefore appeal to different types of travellers. As most visitors or expats only have time to go to one, which island should you choose? In this article, I compare Con Dao and Phu Quoc islands, based on criteria that will help you decide which is more suitable.
Con Dao ……? …… or Phu Quoc?
Here are 11 things to consider when choosing between Con Dao and Phu Quoc islands.
1. TRANSPORT TO / FROM AND ON THE ISLANDS:
Both Phu Quoc and Con Dao can be reached by air or sea. Flying to either island from Saigon takes less than 45 minutes. Flights from Saigon to Phu Quoc run almost hourly, and there are also flights from Hanoi. With three airlines operating on this route( Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar, Vietjet) competition keeps prices fairly low. Early birds can expect to pay less than $ 100 for a return ticket, whereas late comers or those travelling at peak times( weekends and holidays) will pay over $ 100. Phu Quoc’ s new international airport was built to accommodate large aircraft with the expectation that visitor numbers are going to rise significantly in the coming years. Indeed, there are already charter flights from Russia, and it won’ t be long before Phu Quoc is linked directly to regional hubs, such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and beyond.
The ferry to Phu Quoc
Con Dao, on the other hand, has a small airport whose runway is limited by the island’ s rugged topography, and can only accommodate small propeller aircraft. Only Vietnam Airlines flies to Con Dao; from Saigon and Can Tho in the Mekong Delta. There are four or five flights a day from Saigon, and four flights weekly from Can Tho: average return prices are $ 100- $ 150.
Propeller aircraft on Con Dao airstrip
38 The MAG Vung Tau