Dining and Drinking in Con Dao Islands

Dining options are still relatively limited, although some new restaurants have opened in the last few months.

Tri Ky on Nguyen Duc Thuan St. offers tasty, fresh seafood at reasonable prices, and has an English menu available, although offerings are relatively sparse. If not well-versed in Vietnamese, the "pick and point" method is usually best for communicating to waitresses what seafood you want.

Tip for breakfast: Go to Bien Xanh café on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street and point some baguettes on display on the cart. They will put some fried eggs, cheese, and vegetables inside. Taste is excellent and should cost 15000 dong. You can also order some coffee for 10000 dong. At least one member of the staff speaks some English.

For lunchtime, you can also find some local restaurants that serve good noodle soups for 15000 dong. One is located on Nguyen Hue street, after the crossing with Vo Thi Sau street, when you drive towards East on the left side. There in the crossing is also a nice, but a bit more expensive restaurant Phuong Hanh for dinner time.

Most of the larger hotels have restaurants attached to them. The Seatravel Con Dao resort has an open-air lobby that doubles as a restaurant, and offers outside seating with excellent views of the ocean. Food prices are somewhat pricey (for Vietnam), but that is the case with most of the hotel restaurants on the island. English menu available, however, some of the better foods, such as their beef and veggie pho, are not listed and usually best ordered by simply asking the waitstaff directly. Western-style breakfast omelette is excellent as well.

The Saigon Con Dao resort also has a restaurant, with views of both the ocean and the old Con Dao prison museum. A pretty good variety of food, and excellent Vietnamese coffee. English menu available.

The Six Senses also offers some more upscale dining options for travelers, but the location of the hotel is outside of the main town. If staying at one of the other hotels (ATC, Seatravel, Con Dao Resort, Saigon Con Dao Resort) located closer to the main town, it is best to get to Six Senses by motorbike.

Decent food is available at most hotels, but be prepared to pay somewhat more than Saigon prices. Also, hotels may not have everything on their menu available. Ice for drinks may run out before the end of the evening.

Beer is available at hotels and restaurants. Cocktails and mixed drinks while offered on hotel menus will not always be available.

There is a shop near the market which has a surprisingly excellent selection of wine and sells cold beer.

Join the fishermen if you are in Con Dao during their few returns to dry land. They seemingly enjoy sitting on the street with a case of beer drinking and chatting. By and large they are very friendly but don't be surprised if you attract a fair few stares as a foreigner.

(Wikitravel)