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Con Dao digital nomad guide

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Nomad score 4.9/10

8.6855, 106.6067 Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh #2664

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Researched Updated Oct 19, 2026 Last changed Oct 31, 2026 About guide entries

Essentials

City
Con Dao (Con Son) is the only special zone of Ho Chi Minh City, in place since 1 July 2025. The town is on Con Son, the largest of 16 islands, about 185 km from Vung Tau. 1 2 3
Population
About 12,500 people in 9 residential areas, on about 76.78 km2 (HCMC press centre, 27 August 2025). 2
Internet Speed
Ookla Vietnam median fixed download was 361 Mbps in August 2026 (country figure; no Con Dao table). Numbeo puts unlimited broadband of 60 Mbps or more at about 241,000 VND a month (17 October 2026). 9 10
Currency & Banking
Vietnamese dong (VND). Vietcombank USD selling rate 26,100 VND per US dollar on 19 October 2026. Declare cash over 15 million VND or 5,000 USD. 29 13
Tap Water
Not for drinking; use bottled or filtered water. A 1.5 litre bottle is about 13,000 VND on the national survey (Numbeo, 17 October 2026). 11 25 10
Power
About 200 V at 50 Hz. power-plugs-sockets.com lists types A, C and D and dual 110/220 V in some sockets. Carry a multi-type travel adapter. 46 12
SIM Card
A Vietnam prepaid plan with calls and 10GB+ data is about 150,568 VND a month (Numbeo, 17 October 2026). Buy it on the mainland; no Con Dao counter price was on an operator page. 10
Banking for Expats
Agribank has a branch in Con Son town. You generally cannot send money abroad from a Vietnamese account unless the recipient is family; Wise, MoneyGram and Western Union are the usual outward routes. 37 11
Accommodation
Town guesthouses about 350,000-700,000 VND a night; air-conditioned rooms often 700,000-1,000,000 VND (guide updated 14 October 2026). Six Senses Con Dao is the luxury resort on Dat Doc. 24 25
Cashless Friendly
Cash is still the norm at Cho Con Dao and small restaurants. Grab 2024 Con Dao taxi note allows card or wallet payment on those trips. 31 22 25
Short Term Rentals
Book town guesthouses by the night, about 350,000-700,000 VND (guide updated 14 October 2026). A month is a run of those nights, not a condo lease. 24
Budget Accommodation
Con Son town centre, around Nguyen Hue and Tran Phu: basic rooms about 350,000-700,000 VND a night (guide updated 14 October 2026). 24
Best Area to Stay for Tourists
Con Son town centre, Nguyen Hue and Tran Phu: walkable to the market, the prison museum and An Hoi beach. 24
Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
The same town centre, near Cho Con Dao and Bar 200, rather than the Dat Doc resorts. Guesthouse Wi-Fi is often slow. 24 44 36

Working and Networking

Best Coworking Space
No coworking desk is published for the island. Work from a hotel or cafe; Nicobar Cafe is on Duong Van Manh, khu 6. 23 24
Best Cafe for Work
Bar 200, 4 Nguyen Duc Thuan, for coffee and Western food by the market. OpenStreetMap also maps a Bar 200 on Nguyen Van Linh. 44 36 25

Transportation

Best Taxi/Ride App
Green SM electric taxis were to start a partial Con Dao fleet in September 2025; book in the Green SM app. Grab published a 7-seat tariff from 15 May 2024: 15,000 VND for the first 500 m, then 20,000 VND per km under 16 km. Nicobar quotes a 7-seat airport or port car at 250,000 VND. 21 22 23
Bike/Scooter Rental
Nicobar Hotel: Honda Vision 150,000 VND a day (motorbike licence required, fuel extra) or a VinFast electric scooter 200,000 VND a day. 23
Best Beach Nearby
Dam Trau (Bai Dam Trau), near Co Ong, is on the bus 173 loop. An Hoi is the town beach, about a 10-minute walk from the centre. Wikivoyage warns of strong gusts at Nhat Beach on the southern tip. 39 3 24 25
Top Regional Airline
Vietnam Airlines subsidiary VASCO flies Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to Con Dao (VCS) in about 1 hour 15 minutes. A one-way economy fare shown for 26 October 2026 started at 1,258,181 VND. 4
Top International Airline
No overseas flight lands at Con Dao Airport. Connect through Tan Son Nhat on Vietnam Airlines. 4 1
Highway Access
There is no mainland expressway. Coastal roads run about 14 km from Con Son town to Co Ong Airport and about 14 km south to Ben Dam port. 23
Main Train/Transit Hub
Con Dao Airport (Co Ong) is about 14 km north of Con Son town, and Ben Dam port is about 14 km to the south. The Superdong ticket office is on Tran Phu, khu 6. 23 5
Public Transport Passes
Electric bus 173 links Cho Con Dao and Co Ong Airport (17.1 km, about 30 minutes, 05:00-19:00, from 25 December 2025). Fares run from 5,000 VND under 3 km to 40,000 VND for the full route. There is no monthly pass. 3
Regional Travel
Superdong lists Soc Trang (Tran De) to Con Dao at 08:00 and 13:15, and the return at 08:00 and 13:00. A reseller quotes an adult fare of 363,273 VND and says the Con Dao stop moved temporarily to Ben Dam from 14 September 2026. Times shift with the tide. 5 26

Health and Wellness

Best Hospital
Trung tam Y te Quan dan y, 68 Huynh Thuc Khang, khu dan cu so 3. Phone (0254) 3830127; emergency 115 or (0254) 3830128. Serious cases mean evacuation to Ho Chi Minh City. 6 25
Yoga & Wellness Centers
Six Senses Spa, Dat Doc Beach: 60-minute yoga 135 USD, plus 5 percent service charge and local tax (spa menu, December 2025). 28 25
Gyms & Fitness Centers
Six Senses lists personal training at 135 USD for 60 minutes, plus service charge and tax. No town gym membership was confirmed. 28
Laundry Services
Nicobar Hotel, Duong Van Manh, khu 6, offers guest laundry. The rate is at the desk, not on the services page. 23

Food and Drink

Best Food Delivery App
No food-delivery app was confirmed for the island. Eat at Cho Con Dao or at restaurants in Con Son town. 31 25
Best Local Dish to Try
Fresh seafood. Fodors names trumpet snails (oc hoang hau) on Nguyen Duc Thuan. A national inexpensive restaurant meal is about 50,000 VND (Numbeo, 17 October 2026); island plates run higher. 44 10 24
Affordable Shopping Spots
Cho Con Dao, Nguyen Van Linh, khu 6, for fruit and everyday goods. The market opens early, about 06:00. 47 25
Grocery Delivery
Shop at Cho Con Dao, Nguyen Van Linh, khu 6. No grocery-delivery app was confirmed. 47 25
Bar/Nightlife Area
Bar 200, by the market at 4 Nguyen Duc Thuan. OpenStreetMap also has a Bar 200 node on Nguyen Van Linh. The town is quiet after dinner. 44 36 25
Local Brewery
No brewery is mapped on the island. Beer is sold at hotels and at Bar 200. 25 36
Wine Bars
Six Senses By The Beach, Dat Doc, serves wine with dinner. No separate wine bar was confirmed in town. 44 25
Street Food Stalls
Cho Con Dao, Nguyen Van Linh, khu 6, and small restaurants on Nguyen Hue. Prices are higher than on the mainland because food arrives by ship or plane. 47 25
Popular International Cuisine
Bar 200, 4 Nguyen Duc Thuan, for pizza, burgers and breakfast. 44 25

Culture and Attractions

Must-See Landmarks
Con Dao Prison (the tiger cages), a special national historic site. From 1 October 2026 the ticket, including Con Dao Museum, is 60,000 VND. 7 32 25
Museums & Art Venues
Con Dao Museum, 10 Nguyen Hue, is included in the 60,000 VND prison ticket (from 1 October 2026). 7 33
Historical Sites
The French and later tiger-cage camps in town, and Hang Duong Cemetery. 25 32 27
Religious Sites
An Son Mieu (the Phi Yen temple) is in Con Son town. The walk to Ong Dung also passes Hang Duc Me, a Virgin Mary grotto. 42 45
Annual Events
The death anniversary of Vo Thi Sau. The 74th memorial was 22-23 January 2026 at Hang Duong Cemetery (khu B) and Con Dao Temple. 27
Cultural Districts
Con Son town: the prison quarter and the waterfront. Bus 173 runs along Ton Duc Thang, Nguyen Hue, Vo Thi Sau and Pham Van Dong. 25 3
Local Markets
Cho Con Dao, Nguyen Van Linh, khu 6. It is also the town end of bus 173. 47 3
Historic Buildings
Camp 3 of Con Dao Prison, the French-era cells in the town centre, and Con Dao Museum at 10 Nguyen Hue. 25 32 33
Local Heritage
The prison island and Hang Duong Cemetery, where the Vo Thi Sau memorial is held. Wikivoyage says as many as 20,000 people are believed to have died in the prisons. 25 27

Nature and Outdoor Activities

Nearby Nature Escapes
Ong Dung beach, a forest walk west of town. The 2022 park notice charges 50,000 VND per adult for the Ma Thien Lanh-Hang Duc Me-Ong Dung route. 8 45
National Parks Nearby
Con Dao National Park covers much of the 16-island archipelago and the surrounding sea. Many islands were protected in 1984 and the park was enlarged in 1998. 40 1
Cycling/Walking Paths
Con Son town is flat and walkable in the morning or evening. The coastal road to the airport or to Ben Dam is about 14 km. 25 23
Scenic Viewpoints
The So Ray observation tower looks over the town and the sea. Park route 11 climbs toward Nui Thanh Gia. Expect strong wind at Nhat Beach. 25 8
Birdwatching Locations
The Ong Dung forest walk. The park asks visitors to start before sunrise to hear the birds. 45 8

Other Services and Amenities

Parcel Delivery Service
Buu dien Con Dao (the district post office) is at 48 Nguyen Hue. 49
Libraries & Study Spots
The district library is at 1 Le Hong Phong. An English-language collection was not confirmed. 48

Business

Corporate Tax
Standard corporate income tax is 20%. Oil, gas and some mining rates are higher; qualifying smaller firms can be 15% or 17%. 16
Dividend Withholding Tax
Individuals pay 5% on dividends. Dividends a Vietnamese company receives from another Vietnamese company are not taxed again if the payer already paid corporate income tax. 14 19
Tax System
Residents (183 days or more in a calendar year or in 12 consecutive months, or a permanent home, or a rented house with a definite lease) are taxed on worldwide income. Non-residents pay a flat 20% on Vietnam employment income. 14 15
Highest Income Tax Bracket
35% on annual taxable employment income above 1,200 million VND (above 100 million VND a month). PwC, reviewed 23 September 2026, under the 2026 brackets. 14
VAT
Standard VAT is 10% (also 0%, 5% and exempt). A 2 percentage-point cut applies to certain goods and services from 1 July 2025 through 31 December 2026. 17
Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
Vietnam has no CFC rules. Related-party transactions follow transfer-pricing rules (Decree 255/2026/ND-CP from 1 July 2026). 18
Property Tax
No annual wealth tax. Non-agricultural land-use tax on houses and apartments is 0.03% to 0.15% of the prescribed price per square metre. Foreigners cannot buy land; land-use leases run up to 50-70 years. 17 11
Property Transaction Tax
The seller pays 2% personal income tax on real-estate sale proceeds. The buyer pays a registration fee of 0.5% of the official land-price valuation, not necessarily the contract price. 14 20
Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
No digital-nomad visa or nomad tax rate. Many passports, including the UK, get 45 days visa-free; a longer stay uses an e-visa of up to 90 days. Stay 183 days and worldwide income is taxed, up to 35%. 13 14 15

About these guide entries

Method
Researched
Last updated
Oct 19, 2026
Last changed
Oct 31, 2026

Checked against the sources below and compared with similar cities. Numbers in the list point to these sources.

  1. Wikipedia: Con DaoReference
  2. HCMC press centre: Con Dao special zone, 27 Aug 2025Official
  3. VnExpress: electric bus 173, 24 Dec 2025News
  4. Vietnam Airlines: Ho Chi Minh City to Con DaoOfficial
  5. Superdong departure boardOfficial
  6. Con Dao military-civilian medical centreOfficial
  7. Con Dao Prison ticket from 1 Oct 2026Official
  8. Con Dao National Park route fees, notice 22 Jun 2022Official
  9. Ookla Vietnam median speeds, August 2026Measurement
  10. Numbeo Vietnam, updated 17 Oct 2026Index
  11. UK guidance: living in VietnamOfficial
  12. Power plugs and sockets: VietnamSecondary
  13. UK FCDO Vietnam entry requirementsOfficial
  14. PwC Vietnam individual taxes, reviewed 23 Sep 2026Professional
  15. PwC Vietnam tax residence, reviewed 23 Sep 2026Professional
  16. PwC Vietnam corporate income tax, reviewed 23 Sep 2026Professional
  17. PwC Vietnam VAT and land tax, reviewed 23 Sep 2026Professional
  18. PwC Vietnam CFC and transfer pricing, reviewed 23 Sep 2026Professional
  19. PwC Vietnam dividend income, reviewed 23 Sep 2026Professional
  20. House and land registration fee 0.5 percentSecondary
  21. Green SM and Con Dao Group, 4 Sep 2025Official
  22. GrabTaxi 7-seat launch note, 15 May 2024Official
  23. Nicobar Hotel Con Dao servicesOfficial
  24. Con Dao budget hotels, updated 14 Oct 2026Secondary
  25. Wikivoyage: Con DaoSecondary
  26. Con Dao Express Superdong fare, page dated 30 Jul 2026Secondary
  27. Vo Thi Sau memorial, 22-23 Jan 2026Official
  28. Six Senses Con Dao spa menu, December 2025Official
  29. Vietcombank USD selling rate used by the Vietnam country prepOfficial
  30. OSM Con Dao AirportReference
  31. OSM Cho Con DaoReference
  32. OSM Con Dao PrisonReference
  33. OSM Con Dao Museum, 10 Nguyen HueReference
  34. OSM military-civilian medical centre, 68 Huynh Thuc KhangReference
  35. OSM Six Senses Con DaoReference
  36. OSM Bar 200, Nguyen Van LinhReference
  37. OSM AgribankReference
  38. OSM Con Dao District Post OfficeReference
  39. OSM Bai Dam TrauReference
  40. OSM Con Dao National ParkReference
  41. OSM Hang Duong Cemetery management officeReference
  42. OSM An Son MieuReference
  43. OSM Con Dao District LibraryReference
  44. Fodors Con Dao restaurantsSecondary
  45. Con Dao National Park: Ong Dung routeOfficial
  46. Wikivoyage Vietnam: electricitySecondary
  47. Con Dao tourism portal: Cho Con DaoOfficial
  48. Con Dao district libraryOfficial
  49. GHN post office list: Con Dao bureau at 48 Nguyen HueSecondary

Change history

    • Grocery Delivery Not available; local shopping at the market is the norm. Shop at Cho Con Dao, Nguyen Van Linh, khu 6. No grocery-delivery app was confirmed.
    • Gyms & Fitness Centers Public outdoor gym equipment along the waterfront (free) or the fitness center at The… Six Senses lists personal training at 135 USD for 60 minutes, plus service charge and tax…
    • Highest Income Tax Bracket 35% for monthly income above 80 million VND. 35% on annual taxable employment income above 1,200 million VND (above 100 million VND a…
    • Highway Access Island ring road (Cung Duong Tay Bac) connects the town to the northern airport and… There is no mainland expressway. Coastal roads run about 14 km from Con Son town to Co Ong…
    • Historic Buildings The former French Governor's Palace (now part of the museum grounds). Camp 3 of Con Dao Prison, the French-era cells in the town centre, and Con Dao Museum at…
    • Historical Sites Phu Hai Prison and the 914 Pier. The French and later tiger-cage camps in town, and Hang Duong Cemetery.
    42 more changes
    • Internet Speed Average 40-60 Mbps; VNPT and Viettel fiber are reliable, but international bandwidth can… Ookla Vietnam median fixed download was 361 Mbps in August 2026 (country figure; no Con…
    • Language Classes None/Private tutors only. not set
    • Laundry Services Most homestays offer laundry for 30,000 VND/kg. Look for 'Giat Ui' signs on Nguyen Hue St. Nicobar Hotel, Duong Van Manh, khu 6, offers guest laundry. The rate is at the desk, not…
    • Libraries & Study Spots The Con Dao Library (limited English selection). The district library is at 1 Le Hong Phong. An English-language collection was not…
    • Local Brewery No local brewery; C-Brewery craft beers are shipped in from the mainland and sold at… No brewery is mapped on the island. Beer is sold at hotels and at Bar 200.
    • Local Heritage Associated with the struggle for independence; the Hang Duong Cemetery is a sacred site. The prison island and Hang Duong Cemetery, where the Vo Thi Sau memorial is held…
    • Local Markets Con Dao Central Market (morning is best). Cho Con Dao, Nguyen Van Linh, khu 6. It is also the town end of bus 173.
    • Main Train/Transit Hub Con Dao Airport (VCS) for flights; Ben Dam Port for high-speed ferries from Vung Tau or… Con Dao Airport (Co Ong) is about 14 km north of Con Son town, and Ben Dam port is about…
    • Museums & Art Venues Con Dao Museum (approx. 50,000 VND) showcasing island history. Con Dao Museum, 10 Nguyen Hue, is included in the 60,000 VND prison ticket (from 1 October…
    • Music Scene Mostly acoustic live music at Infiniti Cafe on weekends. not set
    • Must-See Landmarks Con Dao Prison (Tiger Cages) - 40,000 VND entry fee. Con Dao Prison (the tiger cages), a special national historic site. From 1 October 2026…
    • National Parks Nearby Con Dao National Park covers 80% of the island chain. Con Dao National Park covers much of the 16-island archipelago and the surrounding sea…
    • Nearby Nature Escapes Con Dao National Park - Hiking trails to Ong Dung Beach (60,000 VND permit fee). Ong Dung beach, a forest walk west of town. The 2022 park notice charges 50,000 VND per…
    • Networking Events Informal. Check the 'Expats in Con Dao' Facebook group for occasional meetups at Bar200. not set
    • Parcel Delivery Service VNPost (Post Office) near the museum for international/local shipping. Buu dien Con Dao (the district post office) is at 48 Nguyen Hue.
    • Popular International Cuisine Bar200 for Pizza and Burgers (approx. 180,000 VND). Bar 200, 4 Nguyen Duc Thuan, for pizza, burgers and breakfast.
    • Population Approximately 10,000 residents About 12,500 people in 9 residential areas, on about 76.78 km2 (HCMC press centre, 27…
    • Power 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type A/C/G sockets. Power outages are rare but can occur during storm… About 200 V at 50 Hz. power-plugs-sockets.com lists types A, C and D and dual 110/220 V in…
    • Property Tax Very low land use tax (approx. 0.03% - 0.15% of land value). No annual wealth tax. Non-agricultural land-use tax on houses and apartments is 0.03% to…
    • Property Transaction Tax 2% Personal Income Tax on sale price + 0.5% Registration fee. The seller pays 2% personal income tax on real-estate sale proceeds. The buyer pays a…
    • Public Transport Passes None. Transportation is strictly private rental, taxi, or walking. Electric bus 173 links Cho Con Dao and Co Ong Airport (17.1 km, about 30 minutes…
    • Regional Travel Superdong Speed Ferry to Soc Trang (approx. 350,000 VND, 2.5 hours). Superdong lists Soc Trang (Tran De) to Con Dao at 08:00 and 13:15, and the return at 08:00…
    • Religious Sites Van Son Tu Pagoda; requires a steep walk but offers incredible bay views. An Son Mieu (the Phi Yen temple) is in Con Son town. The walk to Ong Dung also passes Hang…
    • SIM Card Viettel has the best coverage on the island. Buy at the airport or 'Cua Hang Viettel' on… A Vietnam prepaid plan with calls and 10GB+ data is about 150,568 VND a month (Numbeo, 17…
    • Scenic Viewpoints Mui Chim (Bird Cape) for sunrise and Bai Nhat for sunset. The So Ray observation tower looks over the town and the sea. Park route 11 climbs toward…
    • Short Term Rentals Uyen's House (approx. $25/night) or Con Dao Camping ($30/night) for monthly stays. Book town guesthouses by the night, about 350,000-700,000 VND (guide updated 14 October…
    • Social Events for Expats Friday night drinks at Bar200 (approx. 80,000 VND for a craft beer). not set
    • Street Art Limited; mostly historical murals near the museum. not set
    • Street Food Stalls Con Dao Night Market (Tran Huy Lieu St) for grilled seafood and pancakes. Cho Con Dao, Nguyen Van Linh, khu 6, and small restaurants on Nguyen Hue. Prices are…
    • Studio Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. 45-60 million VND per m² ($1,900 - $2,500/m²). Example: 40m² = 2.2 Billion VND. not set
    • Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. 30-40 million VND per m². Example: 40m² = 1.4 Billion VND. not set
    • Table Tennis Spots Local sports center near the lake. not set
    • Tap Water Not drinkable. Use bottled water (approx. 10,000 VND per 1.5L) or filtered water provided… Not for drinking; use bottled or filtered water. A 1.5 litre bottle is about 13,000 VND on…
    • Tax System Worldwide income for residents (staying >183 days). Residents (183 days or more in a calendar year or in 12 consecutive months, or a permanent…
    • Tech Repair Services Small phone repair shops on Nguyen Trai St; no Apple-certified repair. not set
    • Theater Venues None. not set
    • Top International Airline Connect via Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) or Hanoi (HAN) using Vietnam Airlines. No overseas flight lands at Con Dao Airport. Connect through Tan Son Nhat on Vietnam…
    • Top Regional Airline Bamboo Airways and VASCO (operated by Vietnam Airlines). Vietnam Airlines subsidiary VASCO flies Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to Con Dao (VCS) in about 1…
    • VAT 10% (standard), though some services are 8%. Standard VAT is 10% (also 0%, 5% and exempt). A 2 percentage-point cut applies to certain…
    • Vegan/Vegetarian Options Quan Chay Phuc Loc (Nguyen An Ninh St) offers rice plates for 30,000 VND. not set
    • Wine Bars Sunset Lounge at Six Senses (High-end). Six Senses By The Beach, Dat Doc, serves wine with dinner. No separate wine bar was…
    • Yoga & Wellness Centers Six Senses Spa offers high-end yoga sessions (approx. $40+). Local sessions are… Six Senses Spa, Dat Doc Beach: 60-minute yoga 135 USD, plus 5 percent service charge and…

    fix pass. Power to the country-prep line (200 V, types A/C/D, dual 110/220 V). Banking for Expats drops Vo Thi Sau. Affordable Shopping Spots, Grocery Delivery, Street Food Stalls and Local Markets use Nguyen Van Linh khu 6. Parcel Delivery Service to 48 Nguyen Hue. Libraries & Study Spots to 1 Le Hong Phong. Religious Sites drops Duong Ba Trac. Historical Sites drops Nguyen An Ninh. Annual Events and Local Heritage drop the cemetery-office OSM way. Best Hospital uses the clinic page for khu dan cu so 3. Accommodation, Yoga & Wellness Centers and Wine Bars drop the Six Senses OSM node. Highway Access and Main Train/Transit Hub use Nicobar for Co Ong and 14 km. Best Area to Stay for Tourists drops the market OSM way. Must-See Landmarks cites Wikivoyage for the tiger cages (en.wikivoyage.org, power-plugs-sockets.com, condao.com.vn, thuvienbrvt.com.vn, ghn.vn)

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