Nam Du or Con Dao: Which Island to Choose for Summer 2026?

Both Nam Du and Con Dao are undiscovered beach gems of the South. But they serve two different types of tourists — and the costs differ significantly. This article honestly compares them so you can choose the right island for your summer trip. For further comparison, read the article Con Dao or Phu Quoc for a more complete perspective on Southern island choices.

🏝️

Nam Du & Hon Son

Kien Giang
2.5h by boat from Rach Gia
Untouched, cheap, beautiful beaches

🌊

Con Dao

Ba Ria - Vung Tau
45–55 min flight from HCM
Most beautiful beaches in VN, sea turtles

1. Beaches & Nature

🏝️ Nam Du & Hon Son

Bai Bang (Hon Son): turquoise water, fine white sand
Bai Bac (Nam Du): clear water, empty, shallow coral
21 large and small islands — you can rent a boat to explore
Still very untouched, little affected by mass tourism

🌊 Con Dao

Dam Trau Beach: often ranked among the most beautiful beaches in VN
Clearest water in VN — can see the bottom at 4-5m depth
Sea turtles come ashore to lay eggs (May - October)
The whole island is a National Park — strictest conservation

🏆 Beaches: Con Dao is slightly better in water quality and conservation. Nam Du is more beautiful and diverse in the number of beaches and islands.

2. Costs — Significant Difference

Expense	🏝️ Nam Du 2D1N	🌊 Con Dao 3D2N
Transportation	Bus + boat ~300k–500k	Flight ~500k–1.5m
Accommodation	200k–400k/night	300k–700k/night
Dining	100k–200k/day	150k–300k/day
Sightseeing	100k–200k	100k–300k
Estimated Total	1.5m–2.5m/person	3m–6m/person

🏆 Prices: Nam Du clearly wins — 2-3 times cheaper than Con Dao. The main reason is not needing a flight ticket.

3. Transportation

🏝️ Nam Du

From HCMC: Bus to Rach Gia (3.5h) → speedboat to the island (2.5-3h)
Total time: about 6-7 hours
Transportation cost: ~300,000-500,000 VND/person round trip
No need to book tickets too far in advance

🌊 Con Dao

From HCMC: Flight from Tan Son Nhat (45-55 mins)
Total time: about 2-3 hours (including check-in)
Transportation cost: ~500,000-1,500,000 VND/person round trip
Should book flight tickets early by 2-4 weeks, especially in summer

4. Highlight Activities

🏝️ Nam Du & Hon Son

🤿 Snorkeling shallow coral near the shore
🎣 Night fishing and squid fishing with locals
🥾 Hiking Hon Ngang for panoramic archipelago views
🚤 Renting a boat to explore small islands
🏖️ Swimming at Bai Bang beach — the most beautiful in the West
🦞 Eating cheap fresh seafood by the beach

🌊 Con Dao

🐢 Watching sea turtles lay eggs at night (May-Oct)
🤿 Diving to see deeper pristine corals
🏛️ Con Dao Prison + Hang Duong Cemetery
🚲 Renting bicycles/electric motorbikes to explore the island
🌅 Watching sunset at empty beaches
🌿 Hiking through Con Dao National Park

Summary & Conclusion Table

Criteria	🏝️ Nam Du	🌊 Con Dao
Beach quality	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Easy to travel	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Unique features	Many islands to explore	Sea turtles, history
Suitable for students	✅ Very suitable	⚠️ More expensive
Suitable for couples	✅ Good	✅ Most ideal

🏝️ Choose Nam Du if...

✅ Budget under 2.5 million/person
✅ Student group or young friend group
✅ Want to explore many small islands
✅ Like squid fishing, shallow coral snorkeling
✅ Can be flexible for a 2-3 day weekend

🌊 Choose Con Dao if...

✅ Want the most beautiful beaches, clearest water
✅ Going on honeymoon or special anniversary
✅ Want to watch sea turtles lay eggs
✅ Like to combine history + nature
✅ Budget of 4-6 million/person is no problem

💡 Best recommendation

Go to both in a 4-5 day itinerary: Nam Du + Hon Son 2D1N → Ca Mau 2D1N. Or dedicate Con Dao Tour 3D2N for special occasions like honeymoon, and Nam Du for an annual friend group trip. Ba Ngoai Homestay has tours for both — contact us for a combined itinerary consultation.

Explore the magnificent untouched nature in Ca Mau

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take from Saigon to Nam Du?

A total of about 6-7 hours: bus from HCMC to Rach Gia port (about 3.5 hours), then a speedboat to the island (2.5-3 hours). People usually depart from HCMC the night before, sleep in Rach Gia, and catch the boat early in the morning to save time.

Can Nam Du and Con Dao be visited in one trip?

Not convenient because the two islands are far apart and moving between them is complicated. It's best to divide them into 2 separate trips. If you want to combine beach islands in the same itinerary, Ca Mau + Nam Du is a more reasonable choice because Rach Gia (Nam Du pier) is only about 130km from Ca Mau.

Where does Ba Ngoai Homestay's Nam Du Tour depart from?

Nam Du & Hon Son Tour departs from Rach Gia pier, Kien Giang. If needed, Ba Ngoai Homestay can combine pick up from Ca Mau City and then move up to Rach Gia before going out to the island. Contact Mr. Bi via Zalo 0919 244 834 to arrange a suitable pick-up point.