Located nearly 30km from Cua Viet Port in Gio Linh District, Quang Tri Province, Con Co Island (also known as Hon Co, Con Ho, or Hon Me) is a captivating tourist destination that attracts visitors to the region.
Con Co Island boasts significant geological and ecological value and is home to unique basalt rock formations along its coastline and pristine beaches composed of shells, clams, sand, and coral fragments.
According to the National Tourism Administration of Vietnam, Con Co Island lies across the 17th parallel and is not only a frontier island guarding the country’s sovereignty but also one of the most beautiful islands in Central Vietnam.
With an area of approximately 2.3 square kilometers, of which over 70% is primary forest, Con Co Island is one of the few places in Vietnam that preserves a nearly intact three-layered tropical rainforest ecosystem.
Therefore, when visiting this island, don’t miss the exciting experience of exploring the primary forest in the middle of the sea, breathing the fresh air, and discovering the rich flora and fauna that the island has to offer.
Hoai An, a visitor to the island during the summer, shared his impression of the pristine and breathtaking natural scenery. He traveled by taxi from Dong Ha City to Cua Viet Port at 7 AM for VND 200,000.
For a more flexible itinerary, visitors can opt to travel to the island by personal vehicle and park it overnight at Cua Viet Port.
From the port, visitors can take a boat to Con Co Island for VND 220,000 per person, per trip, with a travel time of just over an hour. Tickets can be booked in advance or purchased directly on the boat.
Hoai An suggested that for convenient transportation on the island, visitors can rent an electric car for about VND 300,000 per car per day (usually from 10 AM on the previous day to 7 AM the next day) or rent a bicycle at Thanh Nien Village for a more affordable price.
Since Con Co is a small island, it is easy to explore by bicycle or on foot without spending too much time or energy.
In addition to its lush green spaces and pristine environment, Con Co Island offers a variety of fascinating attractions for visitors to explore, such as the National Flagpole, Da Den Beach, Ben Song Huong, Con Co Lighthouse, and Ben Tranh.
In 2024, Con Co Island District also introduced new tourism products, including glass-bottom boat tours around the island (costing approximately VND 150,000 per person, with a maximum of 30 passengers), coral diving (depending on the season), bonfires, and cultural exchanges between visitors and the island’s military and civilians.
Several tourist facilities have been developed, such as the reconstruction of the Thai Van A observation tower, the refurbishment of Ben Nghe and the Bang Vuong cluster, the military medical station, and the traditional house, to meet the diverse experiential needs of tourists.
The island’s cuisine is another highlight that attracts visitors, featuring a variety of delicious seafood dishes that are hard to find or taste on the mainland, such as giant oysters and native snails.
“When you visit Con Co Island, you must try the unique specialties of the island, prepared with fresh ingredients from the sea, such as cool fish porridge, seaweed salad, giant oysters, and native snails. The dishes here are not only delicious but also affordable, with three meals costing less than VND 150,000,” suggested Hoai An.
The ideal itinerary for exploring Con Co Island is a 2-day, 1-night trip with an estimated cost of VND 1-2 million per person.
At the end of his 2-day, 1-night trip to Con Co Island, Hoai An estimated his total expenses to be around VND 1.5 million per person, including VND 440,000 for round-trip boat tickets, VND 200,000 for the taxi from Dong Ha to Cua Viet Port, VND 500,000 for accommodation, and the rest for meals.
When visiting Con Co Island, consider purchasing dried seafood or rare herbs as souvenirs for your loved ones, such as Con Co giảo cổ lam (a type of herbal vine) and forest ginseng.
However, when visiting the island, it is important to keep in mind a few things for a safe and enjoyable experience: Bring your identification documents, motion sickness medication, insect repellent, and sunscreen; Use bottled water wisely and conservatively; Refrain from taking pictures, filming, or flying drones in restricted areas; Do not catch and eat stone crabs.
Photos: Hoai An
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