Pearls in the East Sea

 Con Dao Archipelago, a group of islands off the shore of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, is an ideal getaway combining land and sea

Con Dao promises tourists a delightful and relaxing vacation this summer.

Earlier this week, we traveled to Con Dao on a well-equipped boat that had been upgraded from a fishing vessel.

The boat ran at a smooth speed of about 20 km/h, the perfect speed to relax, sightsee and take plenty of photos.

The vessel anchored one kilometer off the shore of Bay Canh Islet and our large group was divided in two.

One group went off to swim in the sea and the other began a diving tour.

Underwater, we discovered a world of brilliant coral.

Various species of colorful fish swam around the reefs and we were told we might even see a large, yet gentle sea turtle.

The best places for diving to view coral are Con Son Bay, Bay Canh Islet, Tai Islet, and Tre Islet.

Of these, Bay Canh Islet is the most favored by tourists as it is an ideal spot to swim, dive, have a delicious seafood lunch, and take a lazy nap outdoors.

At 5 p.m., in the center of Con Dao Island, we took a car to Tinh Yeu (Love) Peak.

As the sun began dropping below the western skyline, the whole area changed to luminous shades blue, red, yellow and violet.

It was truly spectacular.

The Con Dao District of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province consists of 14 islands, the biggest of which is Con Dao (Con Lon/Con Son) Island with an area of 51.5 square kilometers.

Con Dao’s coastline stretches 200 kilometers boasting many beautiful beaches, mountains and forests.

To get to Con Dao Island, visitors can take a plane or boat starting from either the beach town of Vung Tau which is 185 km from the island or from Ho Chi Minh City which is 230 km away.