Giang Côn Đảo · a child of Côn Đảo, family on the island for three generations, founder of Côn Của. Updated 22/10/2026.
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Getting ready to goRead tips on getting there, the best season, costs and itineraries Already in Côn ĐảoStop by the Côn Của stand at the Night Market gate and get your free Indian almond ice cream codeAt the stand, every day I'm asked: "Giang, what should I buy to take home as gifts?". So I've written it all down here.
I grew up on the island and have worked in island tourism for many years. In this article I'll be fair: what's at the market, what our family makes, and what suits whom. Read it and choose for yourself.
What to eat in Côn Đảo?
The island is small, so the food revolves around the sea: fresh seafood, snail dishes, a bowl of bánh canh (thick noodle soup) in the morning. I don't name restaurants because they change owners and hours all the time. Any place full of islanders is a good place.
As for the island's "must-try", I'll be honest: Indian almonds. To enjoy on the spot, there's Indian almond ice cream at the Côn Của stand, Night Market gate, Phạm Văn Đồng Street, open 7:00 to 23:00. If it's your first time on the island, read Côn Đảo travel experience and 3-day 2-night Côn Đảo itinerary.
Côn Đảo Indian almonds: the most island-flavored gift
Côn Đảo has lots of Indian almond trees, and the ripe fruit falls on its own. Locals get up early to gather it; an article on the condao.com.vn portal says around 3 or 4 a.m., after the bats have finished eating. The fruit is dried until the shell firms up. How many days of sun varies by source: Pháp Luật newspaper (2014) and condao.com.vn say about 4-5 days of sun, while Côn Của dries them for 7 to 10 days. It depends on the sun and on the household.
After drying, each fruit is chopped open by hand with a knife. The tiny kernel lies inside the hard shell, and sitting for a whole morning yields just a handful. Our family often says: "One kilo of Indian almond kernels is a full day's work chopping fruit one by one". Roasted, they're as fragrant as almonds but richer and nuttier.
On nutrition, a study in Sabah, Malaysia (2022) measured Indian almond kernels at about 22% protein and 49-54% oil. That was a foreign sample. I mention it so you know this is a rich, fatty nut, not any kind of medicine.
People usually say the fruit ripens around July-August. Pháp Luật newspaper noted the fruit ripening at the end of July, but I haven't found an official source on the season (unverified).
To see what the Indian almond ice cream and candy at the Côn Của cart look like, watch these clips:
More vlogs on YouTube: Em Giang Côn Đảo · Giang Côn Đảo · Côn Của
Roasted Indian almonds and candied Indian almonds at the market
At the market you'll find two traditional flavors: salt-roasted (salty, rich, keeping the nut's flavor) and roasted with sugar and ginger (sweet, fragrant with ginger), usually both called mứt hạt bàng (candied Indian almonds).
For prices I only have old figures for reference: an article on mia.vn put candied Indian almonds at about 200.000-280.000đ/kg, sometimes rising to 500.000đ/kg in scarce seasons. That article is old and prices are surely different now, so please ask directly.
Islander's tip: ask to taste first. Good kernels are crunchy and fragrant, with no smell of old oil or any off odor. Looking at the bag, you want whole kernels with few broken bits and little leftover shell. Also ask the roasting date; roasted close to the day you leave is best.
Indian almond candy: easy to give, easy to carry
For gifts to a boss or grandparents, many people prefer something packaged in individual pieces. Starting from the ice cream cart Giang came home to launch, Côn Của added three lines of Indian almond candy:
- Waxy coconut roll with Indian almond (Kẹo dừa sáp cuộn hạt bàng): 200g pack, 23-25 pieces, 95.000đ.
- Banana candy with Indian almond (Kẹo chuối hạt bàng): 250g pack, 18 pieces, 95.000đ. Tree-ripened Siamese bananas cooked down until chewy on grilled milk rice paper, topped with dried coconut and roasted Indian almonds.
- Ginger and kumquat candied fruit with Indian almond (Mứt gừng tắc hạt bàng): 95.000đ. Chewy dried honey banana, small-root ginger, kumquat, sesame, Indian almonds.
All three use a coconut-milk malt syrup instead of white sugar, and no butter. The prices above are listed prices as of 22/10/2026 and may change with the season. If you're not happy, Côn Của will exchange it or give you a refund. For buying in quantity as gifts, see gift combos.
See the three lines of Indian almond candy
One-day sun-dried squid, one-day sun-dried mackerel
The second thing people often carry home is one-day sun-dried seafood. In the calm sea season, roughly March to June, the boats bring in a lot, so there's plenty of it. Côn Của buys directly at the boat and dries it on our own racks: one-day sun-dried mackerel 350.000đ/kg, one-day sun-dried squid 650.000đ/kg (prices as of 22/10/2026). See more in seafood specialties section.
Islander's tip: choose one-day sun-dried squid with a thick body that feels firm in the hand, a translucent slightly ivory color, not dark or bruised. Press lightly and the flesh should spring back, not feel slimy. A light smell of the sea is fine; if it smells off, pass on it. One-day sun-dried mackerel is the same: firm flesh, not mushy.
Gift comparison table
| Item | Who it suits | Storage | Taking it on a plane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt-roasted or sugar-roasted Indian almonds | Snack lovers, nibbling with tea | Cool, dry place; seal after opening | Compact and light; easy to carry when sealed |
| Indian almond candy (coconut, banana, ginger-kumquat) | Gifts for grandparents, bosses, colleagues, children | Keep away from sun, heat and humidity | Pre-packaged, easy to share out as gifts |
| One-day sun-dried squid (Mực một nắng) | Households who enjoy drinking snacks and seafood | Freezer; keep cold throughout the journey | Seal well, keep cold, check in as luggage |
| One-day sun-dried mackerel (Cá thu một nắng) | Households who cook meals daily | Freezer; keep cold | Same as squid; check in as luggage |
| Indian almond ice cream, ice cream in a young coconut | Enjoy on the spot for fun | Eat right away | Can't be taken home |
Whether specialties at the airport are expensive, I talk about in this clip:
More vlogs on YouTube: Em Giang Côn Đảo · Giang Côn Đảo · Côn Của
Getting them home still tasty
Indian almonds and candy are easy: keep them somewhere cool, and don't leave them in a hot car trunk. Coconut candy can soften and get sticky in heat and humidity.
One-day sun-dried seafood isn't fully dry, so it has to be kept cold. Ask the seller to freeze it, seal it in a bag, put it in a foam box with ice and check it in. Put it in the freezer as soon as you get home.
Islander's tip: rules on bringing food onto planes differ by airline and change often. Before your flight, check your airline's website to be sure.
If you have any other questions, just message Giang .
Frequently asked questions
Which Côn Đảo specialty is most worth buying as a gift?
If I could only choose one, I'd choose something made from Indian almonds, because Indian almonds are tied to the island and few other places have them. If someone at home loves seafood, add one-day sun-dried squid or mackerel, but remember to keep it cold all the way home.
How long do roasted Indian almonds and Indian almond candy keep?
Each producer makes them differently, so shelf life varies. Check the date printed on the packaging, ask the seller when it was made, keep it in a cool dry place, and once opened, seal it and eat it soon.
Can I take one-day sun-dried squid on a plane?
Usually you should seal it, keep it cold and send it as checked baggage. Each airline's rules may differ and change often, so ask the airline before your trip to be sure.
Is Côn Của Indian almond candy overly sweet?
Côn Của uses a coconut-milk malt syrup instead of white sugar and no butter, so the sweetness is gentler. Even so, it's still candy, with sugar from the malt and fruit, so it's best enjoyed in moderation.
- Côn Đảo information portal, "Các món ăn ngon từ hạt bàng Côn Đảo" (Delicious dishes made from Côn Đảo Indian almonds), 07/03/2025: condao.com.vn (accessed 22/10/2026).
- Pháp Luật Việt Nam newspaper, "Lạ lùng bàng Côn Đảo" (The curious Indian almond of Côn Đảo), 04/02/2014: baophapluat.vn (accessed 22/10/2026).
- Study on the composition of Indian almond (Terminalia catappa) kernels in Sabah, Malaysia, 2022: eprints.ums.edu.my (accessed 22/10/2026).
- Mia.vn, article on Côn Đảo candied Indian almonds (reference prices, old source): mia.vn (accessed 22/10/2026).
- Côn Của sales page, listed prices and how products are made: dacsan.cuangoncondao.com (accessed 22/10/2026). Prices may change.
Coming to the island? Message me for your ice cream code
If you're coming to Côn Đảo soon, leave me your contact. I'll send an ice cream code via Zalo or Messenger; show it at the Côn Của stand at the Night Market gate and the cup of Indian almond ice cream is on me. While you're at it, ask me about itineraries, places to stay or the turtle release tour, and I'll point you in the right direction; just message naturally like a friend.
If you like the taste of Indian almond, you can take candy home as gifts.