Con Dao beach among world’s best: Travel + Leisure

Situated at the edge of Con Dao National Park near the French-built Con Dao Airport (some 14 kilometers from the island’s downtown area), the crescent-shaped beach features “distinct golden sand, soft swells, and shady groves of bamboo and evergreen trees,” according to Travel+Leisure.

“It’s the kind of place to spend the day gently swinging in a hammock or walking in the surf with a freshly hacked coconut.”

Due to its location close to the airport, swimmers can watch planes take off and land.

The ideal time to visit Con Dao is from March to September, when the water is calm and ideal for swimming.

Tourism services such as bars, canoe rentals and camping are available for tourists on the island.

Other beaches included on the list were Clearwater Beach in the U.S., Saud Beach in the Philippines, Railay West in Thailand, and Elafonissi Beach in Greece.

Situated around 230 kilometers (143 miles) southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, the Con Dao Archipelago had been relatively overlooked by tourists for years until Hollywood couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie visited with their children in 2011.

Tourists can reach the archipelago by air or boat.