3 days with family in Con Dao

About the author

Ngo Tran Hai AnNgo Tran Hai An, also known as Quy Coc Tu, is one of the most experienced travel bloggers in Vietnam today. Besides countless places and countries he has visited, he was also the first to explore new "backpacking" routes such as Border Marker 79 (the highest in Indochina), Border Marker 42 (the second highest in Indochina), and Ta Chi Nhu Mountain… However, appearing on Travellive this time, travel blogger Ngo Tran Hai An shares about a trip that is even more "special": his summer vacation with his family.

Peace amidst the vast ocean

After a long period of traveling alone, I finally arranged a trip to Con Dao Island with my small family. The main reason I chose Con Dao was not only because of its pristine and peaceful nature, but also because it's currently sea turtle breeding season. This will be an opportunity for May U – my little princess – to explore, learn about, and appreciate nature even more.

Landing in Con Dao, my family was greeted by a clear blue sky and incredibly fresh air. The road from the airport to the town center was stunning, with winding curves resembling a giant silk ribbon. In the distance, we could see beautiful islands of various sizes scattered along the shore, adding to the picturesque blue seascape.

We spent most of our trip taking May U around the island, letting her explore and play at different spots each day. Sometimes May would stroll on the wild grasses at Nhat Beach, other times she would play at An Hai Beach, and sometimes I would drive her along the winding road in the Northwest… It had been a long time since she had the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy playing in the cool sea water, excitedly exploring and splashing around until sunset.

my child's new friends

The most memorable and "successful" experience of this trip was taking May U to participate in the sea turtle release activity at Hon Tre Island. From Con Dao, our family decided to travel by wooden boat instead of the speedboats she was used to. At first, I was worried she would get seasick, but luckily everything went very smoothly.

As I predicted, when May first saw the turtles, she was incredibly delighted and observed them very attentively. Through this, I realized that when young children have the opportunity to experience new things, their thinking will also develop many new and interesting ideas. My wife and I were very surprised and burst out laughing at May's innocent question: "Dad, why are the turtles swimming without life vests?" After that question, I saw a very positive sign about letting children explore the world around them.

However, participating in eco-tourism activities isn't the only way to help children learn about nature. One day, due to unfavorable weather, my family had to stay in town without visiting any attractions. So I decided to give May U a "task": exploring the heritage trees right in the center of Con Dao town. There are 79 heritage trees here, some hundreds of years old, each with a strange and unique shape. May U was very focused on "examining" the trees and was fascinated by the ancient trees; her excitement was no less than when she saw baby turtles in the sea. I suddenly realized that children can explore and learn anywhere in their surroundings, as long as we create that opportunity for them.

concluding

Many parents still think that when children travel, they won't learn much about the world around them and it will be a waste of money. But after many trips with my own family, I believe that children's thinking about the world is very unique, and we should create opportunities for them to develop that. Moreover, family trips not only help to bond family members, but we – the adults with many stresses and responsibilities – also receive a positive energy from our children.

Additional information

Vehicle:Currently, there are only two flight routes to Con Dao operated by VASCO Airlines, departing from Ho Chi Minh City or Can Tho. You can also choose to take a high-speed ferry from Vung Tau or Soc Trang to Con Dao.

Time:The ideal time to visit Con Dao is from March to the end of September; from October to February, the sea around Con Dao is usually rough.

Accommodation:There are many hotels, resorts, and homestays in Con Dao. This time, my family stayed at Nicobar – the only "green" hotel with a small indoor forest (address: Duong Van Manh Street, Zone 6, Con Dao town).

Some of the attractions in Con Dao:Tau Be Cape, Nhat Beach, Vong Beach, Dam Wharf, Nui Mot Pagoda, An Hai Lotus Lake, radar peak where you can admire the panoramic view of Con Dao…

Some historical sites in Con Dao:The tomb of Vo Thi Sau, Hang Duong Cemetery, Con Dao Prison historical site, heritage tree groves, Phu Hai Prison, Hang Keo Cemetery…

Some good restaurants in Con Dao:

- Thu Ba Seafood Restaurant

- Snail Restaurant 16

- Hoang Quyen Clay Pot Rice Restaurant specializes in Southern Vietnamese cuisine.

- Nguyen An Restaurant specializes in Northern Vietnamese cuisine.

- Noodle dishes like vermicelli, pho, and hu tieu are available at stalls in the market; they're cheap and delicious.

Note:In Con Dao, there is an insect called the "Eye-Eyed Thrips." When bitten, the contact area swells and takes about 10 days to heal. Little May U was unfortunately bitten by an Eye-Eyed Thrips, causing her eye to swell, but thanks to the treatment from experienced doctors there, she fully recovered after only 2 days.

Here are some tips for traveling to Con Dao with young children:

- You should only let your child swim in the sea in the morning and afternoon when it's cool; the midday sun is too strong and not good for young children.

- It is recommended to use a roll-over float to ensure your child's safety while swimming.

- Bring insect repellent and topical cream for jellyfish allergies.

- Keep a close eye on young children; never let your gaze wander.

Ngo Tran Hai An