Giang Côn Đảo · a child of Côn Đảo, family on the island for three generations, many years working in island tourism, founder of Côn Của. Updated 22/10/2026.
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Getting ready to goRead tips on getting there, the best season, costs and itineraries Already in Côn ĐảoStop by the Côn Của stand at the Night Market gate and get your free Indian almond ice cream codeI grew up in Côn Đảo; my family has been on the island for about three generations. In my years in tourism I've met many families coming to the island with all three generations: grandparents wanting to pay respects at Hàng Dương Cemetery once, parents wanting to rest, and the kids just asking "when are we going to the beach".
Côn Đảo family travel is great fun, as long as you go slowly. Here's what I usually tell visitors traveling as a family.
Plane or boat: choosing so grandparents are less tired
According to the VnExpress guide (updated 04/02/2026):
- Flights from Hồ Chí Minh City: about 50 minutes, reference price about 1.3 million đồng one way.
- Flights from Cần Thơ: about 50 minutes, about 1.7 million đồng one way.
- High-speed boat from Trần Đề: about 2 hours. Another source says 2,5 hours; ask the boat company about the actual schedule.
- Boat from Vũng Tàu: about 5 hours. This route is sometimes suspended and then resumed; its current status is unverified, so call the boat company before booking.
My honest advice: if your grandparents get seasick or their backs ache after sitting a long time, then flying is the easiest. The boat suits families in the Mekong Delta near Trần Đề, but there are waves offshore, especially in the monsoon wind season from October to March. VnExpress notes April to June is when the sea is calmest for boat travel.
Cỏ Ống airport is about 15km from the center, about 20-30 minutes by car. For a big family with lots of luggage, book a pickup in advance so grandparents don't have to stand and wait.
Islander's tip: If grandparents have underlying conditions or are taking medication, ask a doctor before the trip, and bring enough of their own medication in carry-on; don't put it in checked luggage.
A light schedule that avoids the harsh sun
When traveling as a family, don't cram things in. One main stop per half-day, and back to the room to rest at midday. The island's midday sun is harsh, and both the elderly and children tire easily.
The Côn Đảo prison relic area is open 7:30-11:30 and 14:00-17:00 every day, including weekends and holidays (VnExpress). Go early in the morning or after 15:00 when it's cooler; don't arrive close to 11:30 or the whole family will end up waiting in the sun.
| Day | Cool morning | Midday | Afternoon and evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Fly or take the boat over, check in | Light meal, afternoon nap | Swim at a beach near the center, dinner, stroll the Night Market |
| Day 2 | Côn Đảo Prison from 7:30 | Back to the room to rest | Cool afternoon or evening: pay respects at Hàng Dương Cemetery |
| Day 3 | Breakfast at the market, an early swim | Buy gifts, check out | Head to the airport or port |
If your family is up for it and wants to go out to the islands to see coral, see 3-day 2-night Côn Đảo itinerary that I've put together. If grandparents get seasick, they can stay and rest on the main island.
Taking grandparents to pay respects at Hàng Dương Cemetery
For many grandparents, paying respects at Hàng Dương is the main reason for the trip. Nearly 2,000 people rest here, including Võ Thị Sáu. The cemetery covers about 20 ha (Sài Gòn Giải Phóng, 29/04/2026) and the paths between sections are quite long, so consider your grandparents' stamina beforehand.
I'll only mention general etiquette that everyone should keep:
- Dress modestly in muted colors. Speak softly, no joking around, no running about.
- Simple offerings are enough. What matters is sincerity.
- Remind the children beforehand: walk gently, speak softly. If a little one gets fussy, have one adult take them outside so the grandparents can take their time.
- Choose a cool time of day, bring water, and let grandparents rest their feet along the way.
As for what offerings to make and how to pray, every family has its own way, and I wouldn't presume to say. Ask the cemetery management board on site, and also ask about evening opening hours, as sources differ.
If you have a relative resting here, look them up beforehand on the website nghiatranghangduong.tphcm.gov.vn. According to Sài Gòn Giải Phóng, the site lets you search by full name, hometown, year of birth and year of death, with a map giving directions to each grave.
I filmed the day I paid respects to Cô Sáu on her death anniversary, January 23 (solar calendar), and a clip about the pace of life on the island:
More vlogs on YouTube: Em Giang Côn Đảo · Giang Côn Đảo · Côn Của
Young children at Côn Đảo beaches
From March to September Côn Đảo's sea is usually calm, good for children to swim. From October to March there are monsoon winds and bigger waves, and some days you can't go in the water. Whatever the season, keep these in mind:
- Swim early in the morning or in the afternoon after 16:00. The midday sun is harsh and children's skin burns easily.
- Always have an adult right beside the child in the water. Bring a life jacket for the child.
- If the waves are big, let the child build sandcastles on the shore; don't push them into the water.
Đầm Trầu Beach is right next to the airport, with planes landing right overhead; kids who love planes will surely enjoy it. Read about other beaches in What to do in Côn Đảo, and choose your travel month in Which months are best in Côn Đảo.
Islander's tip: Every evening there's the Night Market on Phạm Văn Đồng Street. Right at the market gate is the Côn Của stand, open 7:00-23:00. Kids settle right down after some Indian almond ice cream, and grandparents can sit with a drink and rest their feet.
What to eat in Côn Đảo that suits the whole family
With grandparents and young children, soft, easy-to-eat, non-spicy dishes are best. What to eat in Côn Đảo that suits everyone? Here are dishes I often recommend to families, which I've also filmed clips of:
- Breakfast at the Côn Đảo market: some dishes are just 3.000đ a portion (price when I filmed the clip; it may have changed).
- Hủ tiếu with braised beef (bò kho): rich broth, a warming breakfast for grandparents.
- Bánh xèo, bánh khọt (crispy pancakes): the whole family sits rolling herbs, as fun as eating at home.
- Bánh bèo (steamed rice cakes): soft and small, so even grandparents with weak teeth can eat them.
- Vegetarian restaurant: for grandparents who eat vegetarian on the full moon and first day of the lunar month, there's the Madam Hà vegetarian restaurant I filmed.
Order seafood in small amounts and choose well-cooked dishes for the elderly and children. The Night Market also has many non-seafood dishes, which I cover in the article Côn Đảo Night Market.
I filmed a few short clips so you can picture it more easily:
More vlogs on YouTube: Em Giang Côn Đảo · Giang Côn Đảo · Côn Của
Preparation checklist for each family member
Take a photo of this table and go through it the night before you leave:
| Family member | Documents, health | Items to bring | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandparents | ID card (CCCD); enough personal medication for the whole trip, kept in carry-on; ask a doctor if there are underlying conditions | Wide-brimmed hat, light jacket, comfortable non-slip shoes, water bottle | Modest, muted clothes for paying respects; choose a low-floor room |
| Parents | ID card (CCCD); tickets, booking codes; numbers for the boat company and pickup | Sunscreen, waterproof bag, power bank, a little cash for the market | Book pickup in advance; allow extra time to get to the airport or port |
| Young children | Child's documents as required by the airline, usually a birth certificate; check with the airline before the flight; the child's own medication if any | Life jacket, swimwear, hat, sunscreen for the child, sand toys, familiar snacks | Explain beforehand how to behave at historic sites and the cemetery |
Gifts to bring home for grandparents and relatives
My suggestions by recipient:
- For elderly relatives: ginger and kumquat candied fruit with Indian almond (mứt gừng tắc hạt bàng). Dried honey banana, small-root ginger, kumquat and sesame, with the warm spice of ginger and the light tang of kumquat, suits older folks who like traditional treats.
- For children and those with a sweet tooth: banana candy with Indian almond (kẹo chuối hạt bàng). Siamese bananas cooked down on grilled milk rice paper, with the sweetness coming mainly from the bananas.
All three lines of Côn Của Indian almond candy use coconut-milk malt syrup instead of white sugar, no butter, one price of 95.000đ a bag. The candy is still sweet, so if grandparents need to limit sugar, give them only a little, or ask a doctor. If you're not happy, Côn Của will exchange it or give you a refund.
See Côn Của Indian almond candy
For other things worth buying, read the article Côn Đảo specialties to buy as gifts.
Frequently asked questions
Should elderly grandparents go to Côn Đảo by plane or by boat?
If grandparents get seasick, the roughly 50-minute flight from Hồ Chí Minh City is easiest. The boat from Trần Đề takes about 2 hours, suits families in the Mekong Delta, and is best in the calm sea season.
Which season is good for taking young children to Côn Đảo?
From March to September the sea is usually calm. From October to March there are monsoon winds and bigger waves; on rough days let the child play on the shore.
What should I keep in mind when paying respects at Hàng Dương Cemetery with grandparents?
Dress modestly, speak softly, keep offerings simple. The cemetery covers about 20 ha, so go when it's cool and let grandparents rest their feet along the way.
What to eat in Côn Đảo that suits a family with grandparents and young children?
In the morning, market snacks and hủ tiếu with braised beef; in the afternoon, easy-to-eat bánh xèo, bánh khọt and bánh bèo; for vegetarians there's a vegetarian restaurant.
This article shares travel experience, not medical advice. Ticket prices, boat schedules and opening hours may change, so please check again before you go. For questions specific to your family, message Giang, or read Côn Đảo travel experience.
- VnExpress, Cẩm nang du lịch Côn Đảo (Côn Đảo travel guide), updated 04/02/2026, viewed 22/10/2026: flight times, airfares, Trần Đề and Vũng Tàu boats, calm sea months, distance from the airport, prison relic opening hours, Đầm Trầu Beach, monsoon wind season.
- Sài Gòn Giải Phóng, TPHCM ra mắt nền tảng số quản lý Nghĩa trang Hàng Dương (HCMC launches digital platform to manage Hàng Dương Cemetery), 29/04/2026: area of about 20 ha, nearly 2,000 graves, grave lookup at nghiatranghangduong.tphcm.gov.vn.
- MIA.vn, Các tàu cao tốc đi Côn Đảo (High-speed boats to Côn Đảo), 27/09/2023, viewed 22/10/2026: Trần Đề to Côn Đảo boat about 2 hours 30 minutes (old article, current schedule unverified).
- Côn Của, Indian almond candy product page, viewed 22/10/2026: ingredients, candy prices, return policy.
- Em Giang Côn Đảo YouTube channel: clips of the 3k breakfast at the market, Madam Hà vegetarian restaurant, bánh xèo and bánh khọt, bánh bèo, hủ tiếu with braised beef, paying respects to Cô Sáu on her death anniversary 23/1.
Coming to the island? Message me for your ice cream code
If you're coming to Côn Đảo soon, leave me your contact. I'll send an ice cream code via Zalo or Messenger; show it at the Côn Của stand at the Night Market gate and the cup of Indian almond ice cream is on me. While you're at it, ask me about itineraries, places to stay or the turtle release tour, and I'll point you in the right direction; just message naturally like a friend.
If you like the taste of Indian almond, you can take candy home as gifts.