
Bãi Nhỏ BeachVietnam Beach Guide
Sixty metres of golden sand the town forgot to share




About
Bãi Nhỏ is a compact 60-metre strip of golden sand tucked behind the national park patrol boat pier on Hòn Trác, Côn Đảo. The beach is invisible from the main road, which is exactly why it stays empty while other shores fill up. Turquoise water laps in with barely a ripple — the pier structure shelters the cove and keeps the surface calm even when the wind picks up elsewhere. Patrol boat activity is a constant, low-key backdrop, lending the spot an unhurried, working-island atmosphere rather than a resort one. The vibe is relaxed, the sand is clean, and the whole place feels like a local secret that hasn't been traded away yet.
How to get there
From Côn Đảo town centre it's a quick 5-minute drive — the beach sits right at the edge of town, so access is easy and daily. Free street parking is available near the pier; just make sure you don't block patrol boat access lanes, which are in active use. You can also reach Côn Đảo by ferry — the Côn Đảo Express service runs a roughly 210-minute crossing to the island. The nearest major airport is Can Tho International Airport (VCA), about 187.6 km away.
Who it's for
For couples
The sheltered cove and empty golden sand make Bãi Nhỏ a genuinely quiet escape for two — no vendors, no noise, just calm turquoise water and the occasional distant hum of a patrol boat heading out.
For families
The flat, easy access and safe, calm water make this a low-stress option for families with younger children — the sheltered bay means no strong surf to worry about, though parents should keep kids away from the active pier and boat lanes.
Our take
Swimming is safe here, and the calm turquoise water is the real draw — but stay clear of the patrol boat lanes near the pier, which are in active use. Bãi Nhỏ is genuinely one of those places that rewards the curious: invisible from the road, empty on arrival, and sitting right at the edge of Côn Đảo town with almost no effort required to reach it. The 60-metre strip of golden sand is small by any measure, but the sheltered water and total absence of other visitors make it feel disproportionately good. It pairs naturally with a visit to the Con Dao National Park Headquarters or the sobering history of Con Dao Prison just 1 km away — this isn't a beach you fly across the world for on its own, but as part of a Con Dao day it's a quiet, unhurried reward. Come in the dry season between November and April for the best conditions, and bring your own water.
What to do
The Con Dao National Park Headquarters sits about 1 km away and serves as the main visitor centre — a worthwhile stop before or after the beach to understand the island's ecology. History runs deep here: Con Dao Prison (Phú Hải Camp), also around 1 km away, is a sobering and important museum housed in the former colonial prison complex. Hàng Dương Cemetery, roughly 2 km out, is a historic pilgrimage site for Vietnamese revolutionary prisoners and one of the most culturally significant spots on the island. For a longer excursion, Mũi Cá Mập is about 1.4 km away, and the more remote Bãi Ông Đụng is reachable at around 7 km.
Frame the 60-metre golden sand strip from the water's edge with the patrol pier receding into the background — the contrast of working infrastructure against turquoise water is the shot that makes this beach different from every other Con Dao postcard.
Early morning gives you the cleanest light and an empty frame; the pier itself, shot from the sand at low angle, tells the whole story of this hidden local secret in one image.
Where to eat
The closest dining options are a short drive from the beach — Ngọc Diễm is about 3.8 km away, and Bar 200 is around 4 km out. Ớt and Yin Yang Foods & Balancing Con Dao are both within 4.2 km if you want more variety after a morning on the sand. There are no food vendors at the beach itself, so bring water and snacks if you plan to stay a while.
Where to stay
Orson Hotel and Resort is the closest option at 1.8 km from the beach — a convenient base for early-morning visits before the day warms up. Con Son Hotel and Velar Hotel are both around 4 km away, with Ba Doan and Ngoc Lan Hotel rounding out the choices at just over 4 km. Staying close to town means you're well-positioned for both the beach and the island's cultural sites.
Photography
The best shot is from the sand looking back toward the patrol pier, with the turquoise water and golden sand in the foreground and the national park infrastructure framing the scene — morning light keeps the water colour vivid and the pier in soft shadow. If you want the beach to yourself in the frame, arrive early; the spot stays empty throughout the day.
Good to know
Patrol boats operate from the adjacent pier, so stay well clear of the boat lanes when you're in or near the water — this is a safety rule, not a suggestion. Do not obstruct national park patrol boat operations and always respect pier access for park staff; this is working infrastructure, not a photo prop. The beach is sheltered and swimming is safe, but keep an eye on boat movements and give any vessel a wide berth. Flat access makes it easy to reach, though the pier area may have some obstacles, so watch your footing near the dock.
Map
Nearby places
Ngọc Diễm
Bar 200
Yin Yang Foods & Balancing Con Dao
Nam Hai quàn
Orson Hotel and Resort
Con Son Hotel
Velar Hotel
Ba Doan
Ngoc Lan Hotel
Con Dao National Park Headquarters
Con Dao Prison (Phú Hải Camp)
Hàng Dương Cemetery
Things to see around Côn Đảo
Con Dao National Park Headquarters
Main visitor centre for the national park; adjacent to pier area.
Con Dao Prison (Phú Hải Camp)
Former colonial prison complex now operating as a museum.
Hàng Dương Cemetery
Historic cemetery and pilgrimage site for Vietnamese revolutionary prisoners.
Frequently asked
The information on this page is provided for guidance only and may evolve. Access conditions, safety and infrastructure can change without notice. Always check official sources before traveling.
Other beaches in the region
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More beaches in Vietnamese Coast
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Photo credits
Sources and licenses for the photos shown above.
- Photo 1 — Tuderna · source · CC BY 3.0
- Photo 2 — Tuderna · source · CC BY 3.0
- Photo 3 — jon crel · source · CC BY-ND 2.0
- Photo 4 — jon crel · source · CC BY-ND 2.0
- Photo 5 — jon crel · source · CC BY-ND 2.0
- Photo 6 — jon crel · source · CC BY-ND 2.0










