What is Con Chim Island like?
Con Chim Island is a small 62-hectare islet in the Co Chien River, about 15 kilometers from Tra Vinh city. Around fifty families live here, relying on a mix of farming and aquaculture that changes with the seasons: rice when the water is fresh, shrimp and crabs when the river turns brackish. The community has been developing tourism since 2019, with a focus on eco-friendly practices and giving visitors a look into daily rural life.
The atmosphere is quiet and rustic, more like stepping into a village than arriving at a polished tourist attraction. Simple houses, coconut groves, and flower-lined paths make it a pleasant place to cycle or walk, while the hospitality of locals is at the center of the experience. Most visitors are domestic tourists, and activities—like folk games or cooking local snacks—are designed with them in mind. For foreign travelers, it may feel a bit raw and unpolished, but that is also part of the charm. If you’re looking for a peaceful break, personal interaction with locals, and an authentic countryside setting rather than big sights or major attractions, Con Chim is worth considering.
What to Do and See on Con Chim Island
1. Cycling or walking the island
The best way to experience Con Chim is slowly—either on foot or with one of the bicycles locals lend to visitors. The island is small enough to explore in a couple of hours, with paths winding through rice fields, coconut groves, and small canals. You’ll pass simple homes roofed with coconut leaves, water jars at the doorsteps, and flower-lined lanes that make the place feel like a lived-in village rather than a tourist attraction.
2. Traditional Mekong Delta games & activities
Locals often organize folk games and farming-related activities for visitors. These range from crab catching and shrimp fishing to rope skipping and other traditional games. For foreign travelers, they may feel a little staged, since they are mainly aimed at Vietnamese tourists, but it’s still an unusual chance to join in on something you probably won’t find elsewhere. It’s more about the interaction with locals than the games themselves.
3. Food experiences
Food is a highlight of the island, though in a very rustic way. Instead of restaurants, families cook different dishes for guests—one house might serve coconut cakes, another shrimp salad, another crab or sour fish soup. There are also snacks like grass jelly drinks and butterfly pea flower tea. It’s homestyle cooking, not polished dining, but the meals are fresh, local, and memorable for their simplicity.
4. Community market & local crafts
Depending on when you visit, you might come across a small community market where locals sell vegetables, eggs, fish, and cakes. It’s not a big attraction, but it gives you a look at the kind of everyday produce people here live on. Handmade sweets and snacks are often available too, which make good small souvenirs to take with you.
5. Staying overnight in homestays
Con Chim has just a handful of homestays, run by local families. Facilities are basic but comfortable enough if you don’t expect too much luxury. Staying the night gives you a chance to experience the slower pace of island life, eat dinner with a family, and even spot fireflies along the river after dark. It’s not for everyone—service is simple and mostly geared towards domestic visitors—but it can be one of the most authentic ways to connect with the place.
Location & Getting there
Where is Con Chim Island?
Con Chim Island lies in Hoa Minh commune, Chau Thanh District, about 15 kilometers northeast of Tra Vinh city. It sits in the middle of the Co Chien River, one of the Mekong’s main branches. The islet is small and rural, and the only way to reach it is by ferry.
From Ho Chi Minh City to Tra Vinh
To get to Con Chim, you first need to reach Tra Vinh city. From Ho Chi Minh City, the journey takes about 3–4 hours:
- By bus: Several companies run frequent services from Ho Chi Minh City to Tra Vinh. Reliable names include Phuong Trang (Futa Bus), Tan Thanh Thuy, and Kim Hoang. Buses depart from Mien Tay Bus Station and cost around 110,000–130,000 VND. Sleeper buses are the most comfortable option.
- By private car: If traveling with family or in a group, hiring a car with driver is faster and more flexible, though more expensive. Expect 3–3.5 hours of driving, depending on traffic.
- By motorbike: Possible for adventurous travelers, but less practical due to distance and road traffic.
From Tra Vinh City to Con Chim Island
From the center of Tra Vinh, take National Road 53 toward Chau Thanh District. After about 10 kilometers, you’ll reach Ba Tram Ferry dock (also called Phuong Vinh – Long Hung ferry). The crossing to Con Chim is short and inexpensive.
- You can bring a motorbike across on the ferry, or leave it with locals on the mainland side for a small fee and continue on foot.
- Once on the island, most visitors walk or borrow bicycles to get around. Cars cannot enter the island.
Practical visiting information & Tips
Ferry crossing
The only way to reach Con Chim is via the small local ferry at Ba Tram dock. The ride takes just a few minutes and costs very little, but the ferry runs on a limited schedule—especially outside peak hours—so plan your timing carefully. It’s a no-frills crossing used by locals daily, not a tourist service.
Getting around the island
Once on the island, the only transport options are walking or cycling. There are no cars, and no formal rental shops either, but families lend out simple bikes to visitors. Distances are short, so you can comfortably explore the whole island in a couple of hours.
Best time to visit
The island is best enjoyed in the cooler parts of the day—early morning or late afternoon—since there is little shade on the paths. Seasons also affect the landscape: from October to February the fields are green with rice, while from March to September water turns brackish and shrimp or crabs are farmed instead. Both offer a different view of local life.
Eating on the island
There are only a few independent restaurants or cafés. Most meals are arranged through households or homestays, with each family preparing their own specialties—ranging from coconut cakes and local soups to shrimp and crab dishes. It’s simple home cooking, and you should expect set meals rather than menus.
What to bring
- Cash: there are no ATMs or card facilities.
- Sun protection: hat, sunscreen, sunglasses.
- Mosquito repellent: especially if staying overnight.
- Water and snacks: limited options on the island.
- Overnight essentials: torch/flashlight, personal supplies.
Language & communication
English is rarely spoken on Con Chim. Most interaction is in Vietnamese, so having a translation app is very helpful. If you want a smoother experience, consider arranging a guide who speaks both English and Vietnamese.
Is Con Chim Island worth visiting?
Con Chim Island is not the kind of place with big landmarks or a long list of attractions. What it offers instead is a quiet glimpse of rural Mekong Delta life, where tourism is small-scale and woven into the daily routines of local families. If you enjoy rustic settings, slow travel, and the idea of joining locals for simple meals or cycling through rice fields, it can be a rewarding stop.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for polished services, a wide choice of things to do, or “must-see” sights, you may find the island underwhelming. Activities are basic and geared more toward domestic visitors, so the experience feels raw rather than curated for international travelers.
The charm of Con Chim lies in its lack of crowds—sometimes you might be the only foreigner there—and its role as a community-based tourism project that still feels authentic. For most travelers, it works best as part of a broader Tra Vinh itinerary that also includes Khmer pagodas, Ba Om Pond, or other cultural highlights in the area.
