Traveling to Con Dao by ship is not very new, it is only during the last trip that I first tried to experience the double-body high-speed train from Vung Tau. This is a route to Con Dao by a new high-speed train, which was put into operation in February this year, so I enlisted to quickly share the experience with it so that you have more choices when preparing to visit Ms. Sau
Running frequency and fare of Vung Tau – Con Dao high speed train
The exact name of the train line I just went to was Con Dao Express 36. This trip has 2 runs and returns every day, each lasting about 4 hours:
- Vung Tau – Con Dao: Departure at 8:00
- Con Dao – Vung Tau: depart at 13:30
Harbor in Vung Tau
Currently the service provider has 2 fare frames, including weekdays (Monday to Thursday) and weekends (Friday to Sunday) / Holidays. Next, there are 3 different prices in each frame. Currently (July 2019), the specific fare is as follows:
- Weekday
- Adult: VND 660,000 / ticket
- Children (6-11 years old) and older people (over 60 years old): 540,000 VND / ticket
- VIP tickets: 1,200,000 VND / ticket
- Weekend / Ceremony
- Adults: VND 880,000 / ticket
- Children (6-11 years) and older people (over 60 years old): 710,000 VND / ticket
- VIP tickets: VND 1,200,000 / ticket
How to buy high-speed train tickets and go to the pier
To buy high-speed ticket tau to Con Dao, you can find Google agents to sell train tickets or buy online yourself, I buy according to this link. Last trip I bought tickets online before 10 days. After filling in the information about the passenger, the date of departure and leaving the phone number, the next morning there is a staff member of the carrier Zalo to consult. After closing the information, I pay the full fare by transferring and receiving electronic tickets, which is quite simple in general. In addition to your way, if you want to pay real tickets for real tickets, you can go directly to the shipping company's office in Saigon or go directly to the ticket counter at the pier in Vung Tau.
E-tickets I receive after paying the full fare online
Regarding the departure to the pier, when buying the train ticket, I was advised to take the Sai Gon – Vung Tau bus from Express 36. Fares are 100 thousand VND / person / person, slightly lower than some other cars. However, because the trip from Saigon departs quite early, around 3-4am and only pick up passengers at some fixed points along the route, I don't go this way.
Vung Tau – Saigon bus for guests to take a train from Con Dao, pick up guests right opposite the pier so it is quite convenient
Instead, I drove outside to Vung Tau a night before going out to eat, going to Con Dao early in the morning, so it was always healthy and convenient. Afternoon in Saigon, I just ride the train, the 29-seat car is new, beautiful and running well, not racing like other Saigon-Vung Tau passenger cars I have ever come across. Of course, you can also ride a motorbike or a car to Vung Tau, then find a place to park your car for a few days during the outing, as long as you feel comfortable and comfortable. 
Equipment and facilities on board
With the price of tickets I bought for Eco class for passengers in the lower compartment, the utilities I found are good. For the rest, since it is not possible to board the upper floor for VIP tickets, it is unclear whether there is much difference on that, if any of you have already gone on the VIP ticket of this speedboat, then share it with everyone.
Passenger compartment from the outside
Entrance to the ship
Ticket operators use a device to scan bar codes on tickets so the ticket inspection section is quite quick
The shipping line said that each Express 36 can accommodate up to 600 passengers. For Eco class, passengers sit on the lower floor of the ship, which is divided into 2 front and rear compartments. Each seat has a clear number, just follow the number of seats on the ticket and sit. However, the seat next to the window will be positions that will have more benefits than other seats.
There are large air-con on the ship for air cooling and security cameras
Upstairs for VIP guests
The first is that this location can admire the sea or live virtually comfortably, depending on your preferences but not depending on others. Next to the location next to the window, there will be a separate power outlet, very convenient for you to charge your phone or laptop. Other seats that you want to use are of course help.
Plugging in a backup charger or phone charging is very convenient
In addition, by default sitting next to the window, there will be a luggage compartment at the top, some other seats will not be available. It can fit backpack bags without leaving the floor, entangled and stunned. In return, if you need to go to the toilet or buy food and drinks will be quite troublesome because you need to go through 3 other seats to move to the hallway.
Luggage compartment above the window
More about the seat on the chair is quite comfortable. Each chair has 2 hands based on 2 sides, can adjust the reclining backrest, space for extra leg, I am 1m70 tall, sitting comfortably. In addition, the back of the front seat has an additional net bag as well as a small dining table that can be opened and closed at will.
Spacious seats, large headrests, wide leg room
The front table can be opened and closed, there is room for fixing cups and water bottles
Button to change the tilt of the backrest
By default, each Eco class passenger will be given a cold towel and a small bottle of mineral water on board. If you are hungry or want to refresh yourself, there is a small corner selling all kinds of noodles and soft drinks of all kinds. As a glass of spicy noodles below cost 20 thousand, small bottles of soft drinks also cost 20 thousand. In addition, I find that there is also coffee or energy drinks, not sure if the price is different.
Wi-Fi is available on the ship, however, the internet connection can only be maintained somewhere for 5-10 minutes after the ship leaves, because it is only a few dozen kilometers away from the shore. . This is also a common situation for telephone networks. So there is a television available on the ship to play music or movie videos for passengers to watch. However, because the sound of the train engine was quite noisy, I could not hear the sound but only saw the picture. As for those who need privacy and relaxation, they should prepare noise-proof headphones, because the engine's buzzing will last for 4 hours continuously.
I don't know how, but when I travel, I pay attention to the place of solving sadness. Although it is impossible to ask for comfort as at home, it must be more or less decent. At this level, I am quite satisfied with the Express 36. The toilets at the stern are not very large, crowded people will have to line up but it is clean and neat.
On the ship, of course, there must be a life-saving life jacket in case of a bad case. Even though I saw a lot of life jackets on board, they were not evenly distributed on the ceiling compartments. So when I sit in the middle, I won't be able to get a life jacket right away if I have a problem. At this point, I think it is necessary to rearrange the pond so that it is reasonable, or it is better to put it under each chair as the way on the airplane.
Lifebuoy was stacked on one side of the storage compartment
With large luggage such as suitcases, travel bags and so on, you can ask the staff to arrange the luggage area at the corners. Besides, with large or sensitive goods such as containers of seafood, fish and shrimp (in the afternoon from Con Dao), I saw that before I got on the train, there were brothers who sent in the outer compartment rather than brought into the cabin. guest. The area for deposit of these types of goods is on the bow, you should arrive early before the train runs to facilitate the delivery. Regarding the restriction of baggage (the number of packages or numbers), I have not heard of it, in general, as far as I can see, how much you can carry it, just keep it, the staff of their ship does not make this problem difficult
Area for suitcases, large bags on board
Large and unloaded cargoes will be placed in the bow area
Feel when the train runs
To describe the feeling of this high-speed train running, I found it to be no different than when sitting on a Sai Gon plane to Hanoi. That is to say, he often fluttered in waves but not so uncomfortably with me. The day I went and returned to the sea was quite beautiful, there was no big wind but the rain so I went was not tired much. However, in order to prevent the siblings, the children of the vestibule are weak as well as the time when the wind and the wind turn to the sky, each seat has an empty bag.
Due to both the first and second rounds, I sat in the front compartment in front of me so it is unclear what the feeling of sitting in front and back is different. However, according to some other brothers who have gone and shared it, the area behind and the middle of the train will be less stubborn than the front. In return, the sound of the engine will be heard more clearly.
Update: According to many brothers sharing below, this type of 2-ton ship is only fine when traveling smoothly. With a level of sea level from level 4 to level 5 or above will not be able to run fast and sway much. Generally, before going to the train, prepare more medicine and even if the weather forecast changes in a bad way. As for me, both turns and the sky are beautiful, so in general, I don't think anything
Other notes when taking high-speed trains to Con Dao
One, if you travel on your own, you only need to buy a ticket before departing for about 1 week. With this range, the preparation time to follow is just enough to see if it is okay to watch the weather when planning to go out. Avoid buying tickets too early and fall back into the passive position if unfortunately the weather is bad and the weather is tired and there is a risk of being canceled. At the same time, when buying tickets, ask the staff to choose to close the window to enjoy the benefits mentioned above. In addition, the beautiful time to travel to Con Dao according to many people is from March to September.
Two, the destination of the speedboat at Con Son Island is at Ben Dam, located on the southwestern edge of the island. From here to the center or hotels, the resort has taxis, trams and even motorbike rentals in the port. As I travel light and less luggage and prefer to drive by sightseeing, I chose to rent a motorbike, receive and return the car right at the port. Although the rent of 150,000 VND / day / car is higher than the rental price at the hotel or the central area (about 100 thousand VND / day / car), it is more convenient and a little more expensive than the Take a taxi to the center before renting a car.
The pier in Con Dao has shuttle and motorbike hire services
Three, according to my understanding, the Con Dao Express high speed train will take motorbikes to the island (do not accept large motorcycles). The cost for each turn takes the car and returns about several hundred thousand more. In general, the road on the island is quite beautiful, but it is not long, only a few dozen kilometers around the sea pass, so I think you should consider carefully before deciding to bring your car to the island, because basically people go No and renting a car at the island is enough to have fun
In short, I have the feelings about Vung Tau high speed train to Con Dao as follows
- Eco fare is more reasonable and economical than flying
- Good facilities and services
- The train runs relatively smoothly
Limit:
- It takes a lot of time to travel compared to flying
- Much depends on the weather
- The engine sound is quite noisy
Add some nice photos I took during the last trip so that you can take the motivation to go out
Tuannph
