Basic ecotouristic information on Con Dao National Park (Vietnam) - localization, access, characteristic, fauna and flora, possible activities.
Localization
Southeastern Vietnam, 180 km far from Vung Tau
Access
Easy. By plane directly from Ho Chi Minh City or by a ferry from Vung Tau.
Characteritic
200 km2; Group of 16 islands and islets - 600 km2 is formed by mainland, remaining 1400 km2 are marine ecosystems. The largest of the three islands is Con Son. Its coastal environment is famous for its scenic vistas and varied coral reefs, which are 300 metres off shore; beaches are sandy or rocky. Con Son Island is mountainous and dominated by a granite ridge which runs from southwest to northeast. The highest points on the island are the summits of Mount Thanh Gia and Mount Chua, at 577 and 515 m respectively. The smaller islands reach a maximum elevation of 200 m. There are no permanent watercourses on the archipelago, only seasonal streams. Con Son and Hon Cau are the only two islands in the archipelago with year-round freshwater supplies. Typical ecosystems: tropical rain forest inland, dry forest along the coast, mangroves, sea and sea coast, coral reefs.
Fauna + Flora
Species List - See the Attachment Below
(Species list may not be complete)
Possible activities
Turtle watching.
Hiking accross the island (jungle, mangrove forests).
Swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, boat trips.
Note
Best time to visit: III-VI.
The archipelago has been inhabited for 4,000 years.
The French colonial government occupied Con Lon Island in the late 19th Century, and established a prison from 1936 to 1975 which is now preserved as a national historic site.