An old port, Vung Tau has been the premier beach resort in southern Vietnam for most of the 20th Century, and was the first area of Vietnam to become a popular vacation and health destination for tourists.
The 16 Con Dao Islands (Côn Đảo), make up an archipelago which contains a National Park, but the main island was also once the site of a French-run prison for Vietnamese involved in the independence movement. Con Dao's beaches are generally shaded with evergreen trees, and the islands also boast lush forests. They are located about 230km from Ho Chi Minh City and 180km Southeast of Vung Tau.
