Con Dao isn’t the kind of place you stumble into. There’s no overland road, no train, no bus that drops you off at a beach. You either fly, or you take a boat. And because the island is 230 km offshore with a famously short runway and a sea that turns rough in the wrong months, getting the logistics right actually matters.

The hassle is exactly why Con Dao is still incredible. It acts as a filter. It keeps the massive crowds away.

In this guide, I’m going to break down my exact Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao travel timeline. I’ll walk you through the three actual ways to get there in 2026 (flights, the Vung Tau ferry, and the Soc Trang ferry), what it costs, the seasickness factor nobody warns you about, and how to actually book it without getting ripped off.

This article is a deep dive into the transport side of things. If you’re looking for what to actually do once you arrive, where to stay, and the heavy history of the island, check out my detail travel guide.

Quick Answer: Flying from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao is the right call for most travelers. It’s a 45-55 minute flight on VASCO/Vietnam Airlines or VietJet, fares start around 1,100,000 VND (~$43 USD) one way if you book a few weeks out, and you’re on the island before you’ve finished a coffee. The ferry from Nha Rong Port or Vung Tau takes 5-7 hours and costs less, but the schedule is thin.
The flight:
- VASCO (Vietnam Airlines subsidiary) runs 4+ daily flights; VietJet adds 2 more
- ATR-72 turboprop, small cabin, 7kg carry-on limit is enforced
- Fares from ~1,100,000 VND (~$43) one way if booked early; up to 1,800,000 VND ($70) last minute
- Check-in quirks and luggage limits you need to know before showing up
The direct ferry from HCMC (Hiep Phuoc Port):
- Phu Quy Express and Con Dao Express depart from Hiep Phuoc Port, Nha Rong Port or Saigon Port.
- About 5-6 hours on the water; Phu Quy Express runs Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat only
- Fares: 880,000 VND (~$34) standard, 1,100,000 VND (~$43) VIP on weekdays
- 25 km from District 1, factor in the early morning drive to the port
The Vung Tau ferry route:
- Bus/car from HCMC to Vung Tau (2-2.5 hours) plus Phu Quoc Express ferry (4.5 hours)
- Total 7-9 hours door to door; fares 790,000 to 1,250,000 VND for the ferry leg
- More departure days than the direct Saigon option
The Soc Trang/Tran De route:
- Bus from HCMC to Tran De port (~4.5-5 hours), then 2.5-hour ferry
- Total 9-12+ hours; cheapest option but the most moving parts
- Superdong tickets from 390,000 VND (~$15) ECO; only makes sense if you’re already in the Mekong Delta
What I’d actually do:
- Weekend trip or anything under 5 days: fly, no question
- Slow traveler who wants the journey itself: ferry via Vung Tau
- Tight budget combining with Mekong Delta: Soc Trang route

Short Videos

Option 1: Flying

If you’re coming to Con Dao for a few days and you’re based in Saigon, just fly. The math is pretty simple. The ferry saves you maybe $20-30 over a flight. In exchange you spend an extra 4-5 hours on a boat. That’s a lot of Con Dao time to trade.

The Airlines

Two carriers currently fly the SGN-VCS route.

VASCO is the Vietnam Airlines subsidiary and the main operator. They run 4+ daily flights depending on season, on ATR-72-500 turboprops. The planes hold around 70 passengers and the cabin is tighter than anything you’ve been on recently. Vietnam Airlines codeshares on several departures, so when you’re searching you’ll see both names pop up on the same aircraft.

VietJet Air added flights to Con Dao in late 2023 and runs 2 daily departures. The fares are sometimes lower than VASCO, but VietJet’s usual checked bag fine print applies. Read the fare conditions before you assume the headline price includes luggage.

VASCO from Ho chi minh city to Con Dao island scaled Vietadvisor

VASCO from Ho chi minh city to Con Dao island 2 scaled Vietadvisor

Prices and When to Book

VASCO/Vietnam Airlines one-way fares run 1,100,000 to 1,800,000 VND ($43-70) depending on how far ahead you book and whether it’s peak season. I usually sort this out 3-4 weeks before I go. Any closer than 10 days and prices tend to spike, especially on weekend departures.

VietJet base fares can dip below 1,000,000 VND on promos, but adding a checked bag (usually 250,000-330,000 VND extra) brings it back up. Vietnam Airlines’ economy fare includes a 23kg checked bag, which is cleaner if you’re packing for anything longer than a weekend.

October through December tends to have lower fares. March to May and the long national holiday windows (30/4, Tet) are when everything fills up and prices jump. Book at least a month ahead during those windows.

The Luggage Thing (Actually Important)

Con Dao airport has a short runway. The ATR-72 has a small overhead bin. I’m not being dramatic: this causes real problems for people who show up with full-size carry-ons.

The cabin bag limit is 7kg. This is lower than most flights and the staff at Tan Son Nhat check it. The overhead lockers on an ATR-72 are also shallower than you’re used to. A standard 55cm carry-on may not fit. Bags that are too big get gate-checked into the rear luggage hold, which is fine, but good to know in advance so you’re not surprised.

Total checked baggage allowance on VASCO/Vietnam Airlines is 20kg on domestic fares.

Pack lighter than you think you need to anyway. Con Dao is not going anywhere fancy.

The Luggage Thing to con dao island Actually Important 4 scaled Vietadvisor

The Luggage Thing to con dao island Actually Important 2 scaled Vietadvisor

Getting to Tan Son Nhat from District 1

Grab to the domestic terminal from most of District 1 runs about 120,000-180,000 VND. If you’re going anywhere near 7am or 5pm, add 15-20 minutes for traffic on Cong Hoa street.

The domestic terminal is T1, separate from the international terminal. Smaller and faster to get through. Still, Con Dao flights sometimes depart from remote stands, so allow a full 90 minutes from arriving at the airport to departure.

Landing at Con Dao Airport (VCS)

Co Ong Airport is about 13 km from Con Son town. The drive takes 20-25 minutes.

Your options from the airport:

Hotel pickup. Most guesthouses will arrange this if you ask when you book. Often free or a flat 100,000-150,000 VND. Worth confirming before you land.
Taxi. Around 200,000-250,000 VND to Con Son town. Grab technically works on the island but availability is sparse; don’t count on it.
Motorbike taxi. If you’re traveling light, the cheapest and fastest way in. A handful of xe om drivers wait outside arrivals.

There’s a motorbike rental shop right outside the airport gate if you want to skip the transfer and ride in yourself. Rentals on Con Dao run 100,000-150,000 VND per day and the road to town is one route with zero navigation required.

Landing at Con Dao Airport VCS scaled Vietadvisor

Landing at Con Dao Airport VCS 2 scaled Vietadvisor

Book Con Dao flights through 12Go, they compare VASCO, Vietnam Airlines and VietJet in one place with e-tickets that work on your phone.

Option 2: Direct Ferry from HCMC (Nha Rong Port)

This is the route for people who want the sea crossing as part of the trip rather than something to get through. It’s longer, it’s slower, and on a decent weather day it’s genuinely good.

How It Works

The main operator on the direct HCMC–Con Dao route is Phu Quy Express, departing from Nha Rong Port or Hiep Phuoc. The address is 157 Nguyen Tat Thanh. Grab there from central Saigon runs around 30,000-40,000 VND and 15-25 minutes depending on traffic.

The boat departs at 7:00 AM and arrives at Ben Dam Port on Con Dao around noon, roughly 5 hours later. The return leaves Con Dao at 1:00 PM and gets you back to Nha Rong in the evening.

Con Dao Express (also called Thang Long) runs a similar service from the Hiep Phuoc Port with slightly different timing. Check both when booking as schedules shift by season.

Current schedule as of 2026: Phu Quy Express runs Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. That’s only 4 days a week, which limits your flexibility considerably compared to a flight.

Direct Ferry from HCMC Nha Rong Port 3 Vietadvisor

Direct Ferry from HCMC Nha Rong Port scaled Vietadvisor

The Boat Itself

The Thang Long is a large super-ferry, 77 meters long with capacity for over 1,000 passengers across three deck classes:

VIP cabin (lower deck): reclining seats with footrests, personal screens, a complimentary soft drink
ECO seats (standard): the bulk of the ship, perfectly fine for a 5-hour crossing if you’re not fussy
Rooftop cafe deck: open air, sea views, drinks sold separately. This is where to be if the weather cooperates.

Fares (Hiep Phuoc to Con Dao, 2026):

Seat class	Weekday	Weekend / Holiday
VIP	1,100,000 VND (~$43)	1,200,000 VND (~$47)
Standard/ECO	880,000 VND (~$34)	980,000 VND (~$38)
Children	700,000 VND	780,000 VND

Plus an 18,000 VND port arrival fee at Ben Dam per person.

Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao island travel timeline

What the Crossing Is Actually Like

The first stretch leaving Saigon is river and inner bay, not much to look at but calm. Once you’re in open sea, the character of the trip depends on weather. In calm conditions (roughly March to October), it’s a relaxed 5-hour stretch with real sea views and enough time to eat, sleep, and watch the water.

November through February is the rough season. Swells build fast and the boats cancel on short notice. If you’re taking the ferry in those months, have a flight option as a backup and don’t schedule your crossing for the day before you need to be somewhere.

No motorbikes or cars are allowed on the passenger ferries. You rent on arrival.

From Ben Dam Port to Con Son Town

Ben Dam Port is 15 km from Con Son town center, about a 20-minute drive. Same options as from the airport: hotel pickup (arrange in advance), taxi (200,000-300,000 VND), or motorbike taxi. Drivers wait outside the terminal.

What the Crossing Is Actually Like scaled Vietadvisor

What the Crossing Is Actually Like 3 scaled Vietadvisor

Option 3: Ferry Via Vung Tau

The most popular ferry route to Con Dao and the one with more daily departures. The trade-off is adding 2-2.5 hours of travel each way to get between Saigon and Vung Tau.

The Route Breakdown

Getting to Vung Tau first: Limousine vans from District 1 offices cost about 160,000-200,000 VND and take 2-2.5 hours. A Grab works too but gets expensive solo. The cheapest option is Phuong Trang bus from Mien Tay, around 95,000-185,000 VND, though Mien Tay itself is 40 minutes from District 1. Full breakdown of this leg is in my HCMC – Vung Tau transport guide.

Vung Tau to Con Dao: Ferries depart from Cau Da Port in Vung Tau. Main operators are Phu Quoc Express and Phu Quy Express.

Journey time is about 4.5 hours. The Vung Tau crossing is slightly shorter than the direct HCMC departure.

Fares (Vung Tau to Con Dao, 2026):

Seat class	Weekday	Weekend / Holiday
VIP	1,000,000 VND (~$39)	1,100,000 VND (~$43)
ECO	790,000 VND (~$31)	950,000 VND (~$37)
Children	630,000 VND	760,000 VND

The ferry leg is cheaper than the direct HCMC departure, but once you add the cost of getting to Vung Tau, the total comes out similar. The real advantage here is schedule. More departures from Cau Da Port than from Hiep Phuoc, so you have more flexibility on which days you can go.

If you’re already combining a trip to Vung Tau and Con Dao, this is the obvious choice. You’re going to Vung Tau anyway.

Check availability and book both the Vung Tau limousine and Con Dao ferry through 12Go, both legs in one transaction, which beats chasing individual operator websites in Vietnamese.

Option 4: Bus + Ferry via Soc Trang (Tran De Port)

The route for people combining Con Dao with a Mekong Delta trip, or when budget is the real constraint. I’ve done it once. I’d do it again only under those specific circumstances.

The Route

From HCMC, a sleeper or express bus to Soc Trang takes 4-5 hours. Phuong Trang and similar operators run this, around 150,000-200,000 VND. From Soc Trang, a shuttle or taxi covers another 35-40 km to Tran De Port. Then a 2.5-hour ferry crossing to Ben Dam Port on Con Dao.

Total door-to-door from District 1: 9-12 hours, depending on connections.

Ferries from Tran De

Two operators dominate this route:

Superdong. The budget option. ECO tickets from 390,000 VND (~$15) on weekdays, 450,000 VND on weekends. No frills, but gets you there.
Con Dao Express. Slightly more expensive, modern catamaran, smoother ride.

The 2.5-hour crossing is shorter than either the Vung Tau (4.5 hours) or direct HCMC route (5 hours), which matters if rough weather is a concern.

Note: Soc Trang province merged into Can Tho City administratively in mid-2025. Booking platforms may list this as “Can Tho to Con Dao” or “Tran De to Con Dao.” Same port.

Bus Ferry via Soc Trang Tran De Port to Con dao island 2 scaled Vietadvisor

Bus Ferry via Soc Trang Tran De Port to Con dao island scaled Vietadvisor

Who Should Actually Take This Route

Honestly, not many people coming from Saigon. The time cost is significant for a modest money saving. It makes sense when:

You’re doing a Mekong Delta trip and Soc Trang is already on your route
You want to bring your own motorbike to the island (the Tran De ferries allow bikes; the Vung Tau and Hiep Phuoc ones don’t)
Budget is genuinely tight and you don’t mind a long travel day

If none of those apply, take the flight.

The Weather Problem (Don’t Skip This Section)

Con Dao sits in the South China Sea. The island is remarkably undeveloped partly because getting there has historically been difficult. Weather is a real variable in the logistics.

Rough season: November to February. Swells can reach 3-5 meters. Ferries cancel without much notice. The flight is a 55-minute hop that runs almost regardless. If you’re going to Con Dao in these months with a firm schedule, a flight home, a work deadline, fly both ways and don’t gamble on the boat.

Main season: March to October. Ferries run reliably, seas are generally manageable, and the island is at its best. April through September is peak domestic travel season in Vietnam, when flights and the better ferry spots book out weeks ahead.

I always book the return trip before I leave Saigon. Con Dao is a small island with thin departure options. If you leave the return open and try to book it on the island, you’ll find fewer choices at higher prices. It’s not a scam, just supply and demand with 4 ferry days a week and a small airport.

The Weather Problem to Condao 5 scaled Vietadvisor

The Weather Problem to Condao 4 scaled Vietadvisor

The Timeline: What Each Option Actually Looks Like

Here’s what each route maps out to from a District 1 hotel on a typical departure day.

By plane:

6:00 AM: Grab to Tan Son Nhat domestic terminal (about 40 min)
7:00 AM: Check in and through security
8:00 AM: Depart on earliest VASCO flight
9:00 AM: Land at Co Ong Airport
9:30 AM: At your hotel, unpacking

By direct HCMC ferry (Hiep Phuoc):

5:30 AM: Leave District 1 for Hiep Phuoc Port
6:30 AM: Check in at terminal (30-45 min before departure)
7:00 AM: Depart Hiep Phuoc Port
12:00 PM: Arrive Ben Dam Port
12:30-1:00 PM: At hotel after taxi from port

By Vung Tau ferry:

6:00 AM: Limousine departs District 1 for Vung Tau
8:30 AM: Arrive Cau Da Port, check in
9:30 AM: Depart Vung Tau (check current schedule)
2:00 PM: Arrive Ben Dam Port
2:30-3:00 PM: At hotel

By Soc Trang bus + ferry:

Midnight or early AM: Night bus from HCMC to Soc Trang
5:00 AM: Arrive Soc Trang, transfer to Tran De port
7:00-8:00 AM: Ferry departs Tran De
9:30-10:30 AM: Arrive Ben Dam Port

The Soc Trang route does land you at Con Dao by mid-morning, which is its main practical advantage. But a night bus plus a dawn port arrival is a lot to front-load on a leisure trip.

Quick Decision Guide

Take the flight if:

Your trip is 3-5 days or less (the time saved is basically most of a day)
You’re going November to February (rough sea season)
You have a fixed flight home and can’t afford a weather delay
You get seasick or just hate boats

Take the direct HCMC ferry if:

You genuinely want the sea crossing as part of the experience
You’re traveling March to October with flexible dates
You don’t mind the 5:30am start and the Nha Be location

Take the Vung Tau ferry if:

You’re already combining this trip with Vung Tau
You want more schedule flexibility than the 4-day Hiep Phuoc service gives you
You have a full travel day and actually enjoy being on the water

Take the Soc Trang route if:

You’re already in the Mekong Delta region
Budget is genuinely the priority
You want to bring your own motorbike

One Thing to Know About Booking

Con Dao is not Phu Quoc. There are no budget airlines dropping prices to $15 on flash sales. VASCO flights fill up, especially on Fridays and Sundays. Ferries on the Vung Tau route sell out on long weekends.

For flights, I book direct on the Vietnam Airlines website or compare on a search tool a few weeks ahead. For ferries, 12Go is the most straightforward option in English with real-time availability. The e-ticket works at the terminal without printing.

If you’re going during Tet, the 30/4 holiday, or the September holiday cluster, book at least a month ahead for both directions. Con Dao fills up faster than people expect during Vietnamese national holidays.

FAQ

How long is the flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao? Actual flight time is 45-55 minutes. Door to door from District 1, budget about 2.5-3 hours including getting to Tan Son Nhat and through security.

What’s the cheapest way to get to Con Dao from Saigon? The Soc Trang bus plus Superdong ferry combination, around 500,000-700,000 VND ($20-28) total one way. The Vung Tau ferry comes in second. The flight costs more but costs less in time.

Can I take a motorbike to Con Dao? Not on the passenger ferries from Hiep Phuoc or Vung Tau. The Superdong from Tran De (Soc Trang) does allow motorbikes. Otherwise, rent one on the island for 100,000-150,000 VND per day. The roads are simple enough that you won’t need your own.

Is the ferry from Saigon to Con Dao safe? The modern high-speed ferries operated by Phu Quoc Express, Phu Quy Express, and Superdong have good safety records. The issue is weather, not the boats. In rough conditions from November to February, cancellations happen. Have a flight alternative in mind if you’re going during those months.

Do ferries run year-round? Schedule reduces in rough season and cancellations are more frequent November to February. Flights run year-round barring severe weather. November to February is when flying is the obvious call.

What’s Con Dao airport like? Small, simple, efficient. The quirk is the aircraft. ATR-72 turboprops with low overhead capacity. Pack your carry-on light and don’t be surprised if the ground crew gate-checks larger bags into the rear hold. It’s standard procedure on this route.

For the broader Saigon practical guide (visa, money, getting around the city, where to stay in District 1), head back to the Saigon travel guide. Any questions about the HCMC to Con Dao leg specifically, drop them in the comments and I’ll answer.

Option	Time (door to door)	Price one way	Best for
Flight (VASCO/Vietnam Airlines)	~2.5-3 hours total	$43-70 USD	Most travelers
Ferry from Hiep Phuoc (HCMC)	~6-7 hours	$34-43 USD	Sea experience, calm season
Ferry via Vung Tau	~7-9 hours	$45-60 USD total	More departures, scenic
Bus + ferry via Soc Trang	~9-12 hours	$20-35 USD	Mekong Delta combo, budget

From the field

My exact Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao island travel timeline