6 Best Restaurants in Con Dao Islands, Side Trips from Ho Chi Minh City

More of a café than a bar, this tiny place makes fantastic sandwiches, salads, and pizzas, making their own pizza dough, sandwich bread, and burger buns in house. The interior is simple, yet welcoming, with wooden blinds, rattan tables and chairs, and photos and propaganda art on the walls. The tiny veranda is a great spot from which to watch Con Son daily life. In high season, it's worth calling first to make sure you get a table.

A visit to Con Son isn't complete without a meal at Thu Ba. Chef Thu Ba works her magic in the kitchen while her daughter Thuy works the guests in the homey front section, recommending dishes from the extensive menu full of Vietnamese seafood, pork, and beef dishes (the slipper lobster is highly recommended). Western and Vietnamese options are available for breakfast and Thu Ba can also prepare picnics for hikers and campers.

Nonguests are welcome at the luxury Six Senses Con Dao's main restaurant, which is the perfect venue for a romantic meal of freshly caught local seafood and fine wine overlooking Dat Doc Beach. It's just as stunning by moonlight as it is during the day. The menu is Asian fusion with a hint of French influence.

This is a cute and simple drinks-only café consisting of a few tables and umbrellas set under the trees in front of the former French Maison des Passagers (Customs House). The outdoor-only setup gives customers a great view of An Hai Beach, making it an ideal spot for sunset drinks, except when the staff turn up the V-pop volume or when it rains.

Half a block north from the market, this bright, fan-cooled café has a rustic chic style featuring driftwood, rope, hessian, and a pool table. The menu is geared toward travelers, with pizza, burgers, and a small selection of Vietnamese dishes. The breakfast menu offers an extensive range of international breakfasts including the full English. There are regular barbecue nights and Vietnamese street food nights. Staffers are friendly and are happy for guests to stay until the wee hours.

A spartan open-air local joint that's been the go-to place for domestic tourists to Con Dao for years, Tri Ky is worth a visit if you love fresh well-cooked seafood. The specialty is oc ban tay (hand snail); try it stir-fried with garlic—it tastes a lot better than it sounds!