A 527-passenger high-speed ferry will start sailing between central Ho Chi Minh City and the remote island of Con Dao on June 6, restoring the only direct sea link from the city to one of Vietnam's most storied destinations after a nine-month break.
One-way fares run from VND965,000 (US$37) to VND1.325 million, and the crossing takes about five hours and 15 minutes in good weather.The operator, Thanh Thanh Phat Passenger Transport Co., marked the relaunch with a ceremony at Nha Rong-Khanh Hoi port on June 1 and said the first commercial sailing would leave June 6.The new vessel, the Phu Quy Express 02, is an aluminum trimaran more than 52 meters long that carries up to 527 passengers across VIP and standard cabins with both seats and sleeping berths, a clear step up from the 374-capacity boat used when the route first opened. It was built domestically at the Hong Ha Shipyard, part of Vietnam's defense industry.Sailings depart Ho Chi Minh City at 6:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from Nha Rong-Khanh Hoi port. Return trips leave Con Dao at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Seated weekday tickets cost VND965,000 to VND1,125,000 and berths slightly more, while weekend, public holiday and Lunar New Year fares climb to as much as VND1,325,000 for a berth.The route first launched in March 2025 but was pulled in September that year so the operator could service its fleet and invest in a larger vessel. A separate Con Dao ferry that ran from Hiep Phuoc port, in the former Nha Be area, remains suspended after passengers complained the terminal sat too far from the city center and was awkward to reach, and the operator trimmed that service for the low season.
