Ranking third in the list, Con Son has clear water, green hills, and long beaches that are different from the typical Southeast Asian resorts. After the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City, the island feels peaceful, though its calm is closely tied to a difficult history, Lonely Planet wrote on its website.

For over a hundred years, Con Son served as a prison colony. The French first brought political prisoners here, and later, South Vietnam continued the practice. Today, visitors can see the old prison buildings, cemeteries, and the well-known tiger cages, which make Con Son one of Vietnam’s most moving historical sites, it shared.

The island’s natural beauty stands out. Con Dao National Park covers much of the area, and the sea around it is home to coral reefs, tropical fish, and turtle nesting sites. The island is small enough to see in a few days, but there is plenty to keep visitors longer, especially those who enjoy diving, hiking, or staying somewhere that still feels untouched, the travel guide recommended.

Lesotho in Africa tops the list. Other destinations on the list include Tetouan in Morocco, Nagaland in India, Shikoku in Japan, Kanchenjunga Region in Nepal, North Luzon in the Philippines, Tubagua in the Dominican Republic, and Kufstein in Austria.

This is not the first time Con Dao has appeared in international media rankings. Previously, Travel+Leisure magazine named Con Dao the most mysterious island on the planet.

According to the People's Committee of Con Dao Special Zone, the total number of visitors reached over 410,000 in the first half of the year, representing 67% of the annual target and marking a year-on-year increase of 3.5%. Of this total, international arrivals neared 24,000, up 62% from the same period last year. Tourism revenue was estimated at over VND2 trillion, rising by 15% year-on-year.

Con Dao tops Travel+Leisure’s list of world’s 30 hidden islands

VOV.VN - US travel magazine Travel+Leisure has ranked Con Dao, an archipelago off the coast of southern Vietnam, first on its list of the world’s 30 hidden islands, citing its pristine landscapes, unique ecosystem and rich historical heritage.