Menu
Destinations→Locations→Blog→Map→About→
beach · nature · con dao

Đầm Trầu beach

Bãi Đầm Trầu is one of the most striking beaches on Côn Đảo - a crescent of fine white sand backed by primary rainforest, ranked in Travel + Leisure's Top 25 Beaches in the World in 2021. Its most unusual feature: it sits directly below the flight path of Cỏ Ống Airport, where planes pass just overhead on approach - one of the only places in Vietnam where you can swim while watching aircraft land.

Top 25 Beaches in the WorldPlanes Landing OverheadCoral ReefDay-Trip Beach
Get Directions

Overview

Best Time to Visit
Roughly 7-10 AM or 3-5 PM for the gentlest light and coolest temperatures for swimming and photos; low tide gives the best snorkeling conditions; check flight schedules or an app like Flightradar24 if plane-spotting is your goal, since arrivals are often a little ahead of schedule
Entry Fee
A small entrance fee applies (commonly cited around 2,000-3,000 VND/person), plus parking (roughly 3,000-5,000 VND/scooter). Deckchair and hammock rental runs about 30,000-40,000 VND/hour if you don't want to sit directly on the sand.
Opening Hours
Open all day
Address
Huyện Côn Đảo, Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu

Things to Know

Crowds
Very quiet and uncrowded, especially at the end of the day or outside peak times
Safety
Monkeys near the western side of the beach are known to steal food and drinks - keep bags closed and food out of reach. Tide timing matters for the stream crossing at the beach entrance and for snorkeling - visiting before roughly 3pm and wearing water shoes for the crossing both help.
Accessibility
Reachable by scooter via the main road, with the turnoff about 200m before the airport. Recently improved roads have made access easier. Free seating directly on the sand is available if you'd rather skip the chair rental.
Seasonal
Less windy than other Côn Đảo beaches during the windier season (roughly from December onward)

About This Place

What Makes Đầm Trầu beach Special

Bãi Đầm Trầu takes its name from a legend of impossible love: a young man named Cau rescued a girl named Trầu from drowning at sea, and the two fell for each other - only to discover they were half-siblings. Cau fled to another island, where a betel palm grew on his grave, giving that island its name, Hòn Cau. Trầu returned each day to the cliff where they had met, and when the truth finally reached her, she threw herself into the sea. The bay where she fell is Đầm Trầu. The legend aside, the beach itself is one of the most distinctive in Vietnam: a crescent of fine white sand (reports vary on the exact length, from around 700m to 1km) backed by dense primary forest, with rocky outcrops, a coral reef visible in the shallows, and a peculiarity that earns it a category of its own - the beach sits directly underneath the approach path to Cỏ Ống Airport, just a little over 1km away. Multiple times a day, aircraft pass low overhead as they come in to land, close enough to feel the engines, creating one of the most photogenic and improbable beach backdrops in the country. In 2021, Travel + Leisure ranked it among the top 25 most beautiful beaches in the world.

How to Get There

Getting There

Bãi Đầm Trầu is roughly 14km north of Con Son town, very close to Cỏ Ống Airport - the turnoff is about 200m before the airport itself. From the town centre, follow the Cỏ Ống road north - the beach is well-signposted and the route passes through forested sections with gentle hills before descending to the coast. By motorbike the journey takes 25–30 minutes; by taxi about 20 minutes. From the airport itself, it is only 5–10 minutes away - worth stopping at if arriving by air. To reach Côn Đảo: fly direct from Ho Chi Minh City (around 45 minutes), or take a high-speed ferry from Vũng Tàu (about 3–4 hours) or from Trần Đề port in Sóc Trăng (about 2 hours).

What to Expect

On the Ground

The beach curves in a crescent shape, bordered on both sides by rocky headlands with coral and rock pools. The water is clear and calm enough for swimming and snorkelling close to shore, best at low tide; the coral reef is accessible without a boat. A stream near the beach entrance needs crossing, easiest with water shoes and before the tide comes in too far. The forest at the back of the beach provides intermittent shade and the air is noticeably cooler than the open coast. Deckchairs and hammocks can be rented for a modest hourly fee if you'd rather not sit on the sand. The main draw beyond the sand and water is the plane-spotting: flights approach from the north and pass very low directly over the beach before touching down on the runway just behind the tree line. Simple seafood shacks operate seasonally near the beach, generally from around midday until dusk. Keep an eye on food and drinks, since monkeys near the western end of the beach are known to steal from unattended bags. There are no permanent facilities beyond this, which contributes to the beach's relatively undeveloped character despite its international recognition.

Travel Tips

Tips

Bãi Đầm Trầu works best as a half-day trip combined with Bãi Suối Nóng - a small secluded beach accessible on foot via a short forest trail from the left side of the main beach. Late afternoon is a particularly peaceful time to visit, as the crowds thin out and the evening light can be excellent - overnight camping is not permitted on the beach, though, so plan to head back before dark. Côn Đảo as a whole has very limited ATMs (only two on the island as of recent reports), so bring enough cash before you arrive. Snorkelling gear should ideally be packed from the mainland.

Insider Tips

Based on real traveler experiences and commonly mentioned advice from multiple visitors.

Download a flight-tracking app like Flightradar24 to time your visit around plane arrivals; flights sometimes land a little earlier than scheduled
Bring water shoes for the stream crossing at the beach entrance, and visit before around 3pm given the tide changes
Drinks from the beachside cafés are a safe bet, but some visitors find full restaurant meals overpriced for the quality
The best plane-spotting window is when flights arrive - check the daily schedule for Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways Côn Đảo routes (the Bamboo flight is often cited as arriving around 3pm) and use an app like Flightradar24 to track real-time arrivals, since planes often land a little early
When plane-spotting, stay well back from any runway fencing, don't swim too far from shore, and keep an eye on your belongings and surroundings - the beach can get crowded during popular arrival times, so avoid running around with your camera to reduce the risk of collisions or falls
Bãi Đầm Trầu Nhỏ (Small Đầm Trầu, also called 'Secret Beach') is reached via a forest trail from the left side of the main beach, about 15 minutes' walk - it's a quieter, more secluded spot than the main beach, historically known mainly to a smaller number of visitors willing to find the trail
If you're heading to Đầm Trầu Nhỏ/Secret Beach, time it around low tide - arrive around midday and plan to head back before 5 PM, since the trail becomes difficult to use once the tide comes in
Overnight camping is not permitted at Đầm Trầu Beach - enjoy it as a day visit and follow local rules on fires and waste
Coral reefs are accessible with a snorkel just off the rocky edges of the beach, best at low tide - bring your own equipment as rentals on the island are limited
The beach is close to Con Son town (roughly 14km) - rent a motorbike (around 150,000–200,000 VND/day) for flexibility; it's only 5–10 minutes from Cỏ Ống Airport, with the turnoff around 200m before the airport itself
Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday heat; the forest behind the beach provides some shade
Time needed: 1-4 hours, depending on whether you swim and eat there
Watch your food and drinks closely - monkeys living near the western side of the beach are known to steal snacks and drinks left unattended
There's a stream to cross near the beach entrance - water shoes make this easier, and it's worth visiting before around 3pm since the crossing gets harder as the tide comes in
Simple seafood shacks near the beach are typically only open from around midday until dusk - don't expect food earlier in the day
Drinks from the beachside cafés are fine, but some visitors find the full restaurant meals overpriced for what you get

FAQ

Common questions from travelers who've visited this place.

Is there an entrance fee?›
A small entrance fee applies (commonly cited around 2,000-3,000 VND per person), along with a modest parking fee (roughly 3,000-5,000 VND per scooter). Deckchairs and hammocks can be rented for about 30,000-40,000 VND per hour.
Can I see planes landing clearly?›
Yes - planes pass low overhead before landing at the adjacent airport. A flight-tracking app like Flightradar24 helps predict arrival times, since flights can land a little ahead of schedule.
Is the beach clean and safe for swimming?›
The water is generally clear and calm with good swimming depth. Cleanliness varies somewhat, with occasional litter reported. Keep food and drinks secured, since monkeys on the western side of the beach are known to steal unattended items.
Explore more
con dao - Full Guide
View destination guide →