Con Dao Island to launch first electric bus route by late 2025
The new bus network will connect major transport hubs, including Ben Dam Port and Con Dao Airport, to the island’s center, enhancing access to one of Vietnam’s most beautiful and unspoiled destinations.
THE HANOI TIMES — Con Dao, an island located about 230km off Ho Chi Minh City, is set to launch its first electric bus route in December as part of efforts to promote green transportation.
First large-sized Vinbus electric bus is operated in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of the municipal Department of Construction
According to the Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Construction, Con Dao’s bus network will feature six routes, spanning about 74 kilometers. They are expected to cover about 90% of the special zone’s road network.
The city will launch electric buses with capacities ranging from 28 to 60 seats each, especially those linking the island's central area and Con Dao Airport at a distance of about 17km.
The new route, which will be named No.173, will operate daily from 5 AM to 8 PM, with each trip lasting around 30 minutes and a service frequency of every 15 minutes.
Following the operation of route No.173, the HCMC Department of Construction plans to launch the remaining electric bus routes in subsequent phases.
In 2026, the city plans to expand the remaining electric bus routes in Con Dao and other coastal areas of the city.
Con Dao, which is named "the most mysterious island on earth" by Lonely Planet and Travel + Leisure, includes 16 mountainous islands and islets, with a total land area of 75 square kilometers and a local population of 5,000.
Con Dao Island is one of Vietnam’s most beautiful and unspoiled island destinations.
Once known as a colonial prison island, Con Dao today is famous for its pristine beaches, coral reefs and lush forests protected by Con Dao National Park.
The island is also a site of national remembrance, home to the historic Con Dao Prison and Hang Duong Cemetery, where national heroine Vo Thi Sau rests.
With eco-friendly resorts and turtle conservation programs, Con Dao has become a symbol of Vietnam’s blend of natural beauty, history and sustainable tourism.
