Con Dao Real Estate — What to Know Before You Buy

Con Dao has been a special zone of Ho Chi Minh City since 1 July 2025, formed from the whole of the former Con Dao District (Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province). In 2025, the special zone received about 612,000 visitors, up 4.36%, with tourism revenue of over VND 3,063 billion. The island has 1,461 accommodation establishments with 2,923 rooms.

Why buyers look at Con Dao real estate

• Steadily growing visitor numbers. Besides visitors to the historical sites, Con Dao offers ecotourism: forest walks, diving and turtle-nesting viewing. In 2025 there were more than 25,600 international visitors.
• Conserved nature. Con Dao National Park protects nearly 60 km² of forest on the islands and 140 km² of sea. The landscape is preserved because most of the island is not built on.
• Airport planned for upgrade. The airport is currently a class 3C domestic airport with a capacity of about 400,000 passengers a year, with a runway used mainly by ATR72 aircraft. The adjusted plan raises it to a class 4E international airport, about 2 million passengers a year by 2030. This is a plan; there is no construction milestone yet.
• General plan to 2045. The special zone's general plan to 2045 was approved under Decision 566/QD-TTg of 26 June 2025; the airport and the Ben Dam port upgrade are among the infrastructure projects for 2025–2030.

Getting to Con Dao means a small aircraft or a fast boat, and in rough-sea season trips may be cut. Visitor numbers are still small compared with the larger islands — assume rental occupancy cautiously.

What to check before you buy

• Planning at the exact plot: most of the area belongs to the national park, special-use forest and protection zones of the historical sites. Check the land-use purpose and the detailed plan; do not buy land that has not been legally separated into plots, or land inside a protection zone.
• Land type and term of use: villas and units in resorts are usually on commercial and service land with a fixed term, unlike long-term residential land. Ask which type of certificate you will receive.
• Storms, monsoon, coastal erosion: ask about the setback from the water's edge, embankments and the building's storm resistance.
• Rental and operation commitments: read carefully the operator, how revenue is shared, which costs are deducted and how long the commitment lasts. No level of return is guaranteed.
• Costs on the island: materials, maintenance, utilities and travel all cost more than on the mainland. Add flights and management costs for when you are not on the island.
• Infrastructure that is still a plan: do not pay a price as if the new airport were already built. Count it only once there is an investment decision and a construction schedule.
• New administrative address: contracts and new certificates state Con Dao Special Zone, Ho Chi Minh City. Cross-check against the old district and province names on earlier documents.

How HPR can help

HPR does not currently distribute any project in Con Dao. An HPR consultant can still advise on buying homes and holiday apartments on the island: reading the legal status, planning and leaseback contracts, and comparing with other seaside destinations. You can read about how to choose a tourist or seaside holiday apartment, check a project's legal status, read infrastructure progress without being misled by inflated prices and gross and net rental yield. If you already have a home in Con Dao to sell or rent out, see the rental consignment or apartment resale consignment services.