Things To Do in Con Dao Archipelago

At the time of this writing, the Con Dao Museum had only one English speaker on staff, so chances are, you'll visit the prison areas with large Vietnamese groups. Fortunately, Saigon Con Dao Resort has English-speaking guides who can accompany groups for a fee. Try to go with an English-speaking guide; otherwise, it's a long and dull tour, punctuated by a few brief descriptions like "This is prison toilet," when pointing at a very obvious hole in the ground. The main prison sights are all in the center of town, as is the Con Dao Museum.

Con Dao by the Bells

For Vietnamese, a visit to Con Dao is something akin to standing in front of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia or the Magna Carta in the British Library. As such, old Communist cadre decorum is the rule, and like back in the days when the state ruled every move for citizens, there is a system of bells and announcements telling you what to do. Starting at 5am, you'll hear wake-up music and announcements. At 5:30am, music and instructions follow for exercise time. The lunch bell sounds at 11am, and 1pm is the end-of-lunch (or wake-up-from-siesta) bell. The bell at 5pm signals an end to the workday, and at 6pm you'll hear the news. You will become regimented, cadre.