Con Dao Museum takes you on a wonderful trip into the island’s past, using the gallant stories of Vietnamese revolutionaries to highlight their endurance and bravery. Their nature, culture, and prison harrowing episodes are also on display for visitors.
Introduction To Con Dao Museum
The Con Dao Museum is a must-visit Cultural Destination on the island of Con Dao, providing a profoundly insightful experience into the rich history of Vietnam across various eras. Located in a sleek building that successfully conserves close to 2,000 artifacts, the museum follows you on a journey from the natural beginnings and culture of the islands right through its dark period as a penal colony.
Located right near the famous prison relics, this museum focuses on four main themes: Nature & People of Con Dao, ‘Hell on Earth’ (prison legacy), Frontlines & Schools, and Today’s Côn Đảo. As you walk through the museum exhibits, you can expect to gain valuable insight into the resilience of the Vietnamese people as well as how this place of suffering has turned into a place of reflection.
History Of Con Dao Museum
The construction of the Con Dao Museum started on December 6, 2009, and the museum was officially completed on October 10, 2010, which was also the day that the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi was celebrated on a large scale.
The museum was built with a total investment of approximately 65 billion VND to preserve precious historical and cultural artifacts from the French and American colonial periods. After it opened its doors, the Con Dao Museum became a highly frequented tourist destination for both domestic and foreign tourists. Tourists from outside the country are very interested in learning about the rich history and cultural artifacts displayed at the museum.
Unique Architecture Of Con Dao Museum
Each of the themes found in the Museum of Con Dao provides an invaluable reflection on its tragic and heroic history of 113 years. The museum’s total floor space housing exhibits consists of one Grand Hall and four main themes.
Grand Hall – The Symbol Of Courage And Freedom
As soon as one steps inside this museum, one is drawn to the imposing sculpture of a lifted arm that breaks free from chains, together with an image of a dove in the Grand Hall. The sculpture stands an impressive 6 meters tall. The meaning of this sculpture represents the Vietnamese nation’s eternal love for freedom and peace. The room carries both artistic and spiritual values that extol the courageous spirit of those Vietnamese individuals who fought hard to protect the nation’s independence.
Theme 1: Con Dao – Nature And People
More than a witness to history, Con Dao is also a place of natural blessings. The next section will introduce the geography, climate, and marine life of the island, as well as the lifestyle, culture, and beliefs of the inhabitants. Models of the forests, coral reefs, turtles, and unique species of the island will be explored by tourists, along with relics of the unique lifestyle of its dwellers.
Theme 2: Con Dao – Hell On Earth
This section recreates the nightmare prison system that led to Con Dao’s status in hell. The realistic exhibits give viewers a glimpse into the small cells of the prisons, including the famous French Tiger Cages and the American Tiger Cages. The exhibits tell the horrifying but inspiring stories of political prisoners who fought with the help of revolutionary ideals despite the immense suffering they underwent.
Theme 3: Con Dao – The Battlefield And The School
Con Dao was more than a prison. It was a ‘revolutionary school’. Even in difficult conditions, inmates continued their studies, writing, and secret revolutionary movements. This site exhibits unique manuscripts, textbooks created by the inmates themselves, as well as secret publications like Sinh Hoạt and _Xây Dựng journals_, which prove how the inmates turned adversity into an element of their strength.
Theme 4: Con Dao Today
It would More than a century of agony has been followed by the resurrection of this site into a place of remembrance, peace, and natural beauty. The final section discusses the transformation of the island into a national special relic site as it becomes an ever more popular site of historical and spiritual interest. The preservation efforts, tourism development, as well as the annual remembrance ceremony in the Hang Duong Cemetery, of national heroes, including Vo Thi Sau, can also be seen here.
3 Unforgettable Experiences You Shouldn’t Miss
Entering the museum of Con Dao is not merely an act of visiting an exhibition hall; it’s an experience of traveling through time, connecting us with the nation’s admirable yet painful history. Each nook of this museum is filled with the resonance of history, heroism, and sacrifice.
Feel The Past Come Alive
Right from the first step into this museum, you can feel the reverence that pervades every moment. The exhibits, artifacts, and life-sized models all bring alive the struggles of Vietnamese revolutionaries imprisoned on this island. The essence of history represents suffering, resilience, of the hope of liberation. It’s an experience that stays with you always in Con Dao Island.
Listen To The Guides’ Emotional Stories
For an unforgettable experience, it’s well worth taking time from your visit to hear the museum guides. Their narrative skills take history beyond mere facts recounted in textbooks. The guides use emotional stories of survival that speak of the strength of political prisoners, their acts of defiance, and their will to survive. This enables the museum-goer not only to experience history through objects, but also through firsthand accounts of the history itself.
Mix Your Trip With Con Dao Prison
To give you a better insight into the history of the region, continue on to the nearby Con Dao Prison. Visiting both attractions in one day will give you a more rounded insight into this piece of history, from the harsh realities of imprisonment, as experienced within the walls of the prisons, through to the spirit of the region, which is represented by the museum.
Entrance Fee
The admission charge to the Con Dao Museum and its affiliated cultural and historical attractions is 50,000 VND per person per visit, valid for the following five sites, and also Con Dao Prison:
- Con Dao Museum
- Governor’s Palace
- Phu Hai Prison
- Phu Binh Prison
- French Tiger Cage
Discount Policies:
- 50% discounts for residents in communes designated as specially disadvantaged under the Government Program 135.
- Discounted rates for persons with meritorious services in the revolution, and budgeted rates in each category.
- Discount rates for senior citizens in accordance with the current regulated rates.
Opening Hours
Con Dao Museum is open every day from 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM.
The ideal time to visit the islands is between March and October, when the weather will be agreeable, the sea is calm, and the conditions will be favorable for island excursions. This timeframe is also the nesting season for sea turtles, providing visitors with a unique chance to observe these incredible creatures in their natural habitat.
How To Get To Con Dao Museum
Whether you are coming from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or any other province, there are several convenient options to get here, depending on your needs and travel plans.
By Plane
From April 1, 2024 onwards, Vietnam Airlines operates flights to Con Dao from Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho. The flight time is around 45 minutes, and you can always come from other cities to Ho Chi Minh City or Can Tho, and then you can take the flight to Con Dao. Taxi, hotel shuttle, or motorbike taxi can take you from Con Dao Airport (13 km away, about 20 minutes) to the town center. From the town center, it is just a few minutes by motorbike, taxi or walking to the museum.
By High-Speed Ferry
For those of you who want a direct experience with the combination of land and sea, you can take a bus or private car to one of the following ports:
- Cat Lo Port (Vung Tau)
- Tran De Port (Soc Trang)
- Ninh Kieu Port (Can Tho)
Then, from there, you can take a high-speed ferry at one of the ports to Con Dao. The travel time on a high-speed ferry will be approximately 1.5 hours to 4 hours, depending on the route you take. When you arrive at Ben Dam Port (Con Dao), there will be taxis or motorbikes to take you to the town center (10.5 km).
By Helicopter
The Southern Helicopter Company operates a helicopter route from Vung Tau to Con Dao, with flights twice a week (Friday and Sunday). The flight is an hour in duration. The departure is from Vung Tau Airport (38 30/4 Street) and the arrival is at Con Son Airport (in Con Dao District, Ba Ria – Vung Tau).
Local Transportation
Once on Con Dao Island, you can rent a taxi, car, or motorbike for personal use or travel with a small group. For large tour groups, you can rent multi-seat buses to move around. Rented motorbikes are inexpensive, typically rented for around 100,000 – 200,000 VND per day. The museum is located on Nguyen Hue Street and it’s probably best to look at some maps in advance if you’re going to navigate alone.
Things To Know Before Traveling To Con Dao Museum
Visiting the Museum of Con Dao can be more than just sightseeing. It can be an unforgettable experience of exploring history. To make it more worthwhile, it is significant to consider the following guidelines:
- Wear modest attire. Avoid clothes that reveal or draw excessive attention.
- Do not take pictures in the restricted region, according to museum rules.
- Do not touch or disturb the artifacts on display.
- Speak in a low tone and do not disturb other tourists.
- Do not bring food or liquids into the museum. Dispose of all trash appropriately.
- Do take the time to read up on the history of this museum prior to visiting.
- Follow the museum’s guidelines given by museum authorities, or follow all notices issued.
FAQs About Con Dao Museum
Visiting the Con Dao Museum prompts many questions for first-time visitors. To help you plan your visit and enjoy your experience, here are some frequently asked questions.
Can I take photographs or videos inside Con Dao Museum?
Photography is not permitted in some areas of the museum, especially where various historical artifacts with value are displayed. Visitors should obey any signage or instructions from a museum employee regarding the instructions for taking photos. All of these control the potential for damaging the collection of fragile exhibits.
Is Con Dao Museum appropriate for children?
Yes, children can learn about history and culture at the museum, but an adult should supervise them. Some exhibits depict the prison’s brutal conditions, which may or may not be appropriate for very young children. Interactive activities at exhibits will help older children enjoy their visit as well.
How long do you need to plan for the Con Dao Museum?
Most visitors stay for about 1.5 to 2 hours or so in order to have sufficient time to see all the exhibits and special exhibits throughout the museum. Visitors can easily visit this museum along with other nearby historic sites over the span of a day.
Final Thoughts: Is Con Dao Museum Worth Visiting?
The Museum of Con Dao is more than a historical location – it’s an experience where one can feel the spirit of the history of Vietnam. The Museum of Con Dao is not merely an informative location about the history of this nation’s fight for freedom. For anyone interested in history or curious about the rich heritage of this nation, this museum will prove to be an emotionally moving experience. You can visit this museum with us, Seni World, to experience the amazing history of this place.
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