After the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, the Vietnam Air ServicesCompany (VASCO) operated five or six daily flights on the Ho Chi MinhCity - Con Dao route, said Trinh Thi Phuong, head of the VASCO branch inCon Dao.

Particularly, during the festival that fell in themiddle of the first lunar month, even seven flights a day could not meetthe travel demand to Con Dao, a renowned tourist site offshore southernBa Ria-Vung Tau province.

Flights to Con Dao were always fullybooked and travellers had to book tickets days before the trip, Trinhtold Ba Ria-Vung Tau newspaper.

Domestic tourists to Con Daonormally stay one night, in combination with visiting Hang Duongcemetery, Con Dao temple and prisons.

Resorts such as SixSenses Con Dao, Saigon – Con Dao and Con Dao attract a large number offoreign tourists from Europe, the US, Canada, Japan and the Republic ofKorea. They often spend 7-10 days on their trips to Con Dao.

Average room occupancy in resorts in Con Dao reached 80-95 percent during the period.

Con Dao Island is an archipelago, 180km off Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Covering76 square kilometres, the archipelago consists of 16 islands, thelargest of which is called Con Son.

One of Vietnam’s tourist hotspots and described as a paradise in many international travelmagazines, the pristine nature of Con Dao appeals to visitors withbeautiful beaches and pure, blue water.

Apart from its seasideattractions, Con Dao has a national park with rich flora and fauna. Itis home to dugongs, dolphins and sea turtles, which are under threat ofextinction.

The island also houses a special national relic, theCon Dao Prison, where some 20,000 Vietnamese revolutionaries diedduring the war against the French colonialists and American invaders.

Built in 1862 by the French colonists, Con Dao Prison was once dubbed the largest "Hell on Earth" in Indochina.-VNA