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Story: Nam Hoa
Photos: Quang Ngoc, Thien Nguyen
The islands of Con Dao Special Zone emerge like an emerald necklace, strung between the boundless blue sky and the vast turquoise sea. Under the jurisdiction of Ho Chi Minh City, Con Dao is a place to slow down and listen to the waves whisper stories.
Visitors to Con Dao can listen to the ocean, savor the serene beauty of its forests and seas, and quietly watch mother turtles return at night to lay their eggs on white sands – an eternal cycle of life between sea and sky. Comprised of 16 small islands, this “string of green jewels” remains one of Vietnam’s most unspoiled archipelagos, with some islands open to visitors and others strictly protected to safeguard their rare ecosystems.
Natural splendor
Morning at Con Son Pier (914 Pier) – the first sunlight dances on the waves. Our boat leaves a foamy trail across the sea as we begin our journey of discovery. From the water, we glimpse Base Point A3 on Tai Lon Islet and Base Point A4 on Bong Lan Islet before heading toward a crescent of white sand nestled between two ridges south of Bay Canh Islet, the second largest in the chain. Its ecosystem flows seamlessly from tropical rainforests to mangrove forests and coral reefs. Walking barefoot on the fine sand, we listen to whispering waves beneath the blue sky, then trek to the lighthouse for a sweeping view of Con Dao.
To the east lies Cau Islet, smaller at around 98 hectares, blessed with rare freshwater springs, rows of rustling palms, and crystal-clear waters. As the sun sets, the sky turns honey-gold. We sit on the sand and watch the light shimmer across the waves, with Bay Canh Lighthouse glowing in the distance.
An eternal cycle
Con Dao is home to Vietnam’s largest population of sea turtles – especially the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), known locally as Vich. Con Dao National Park records nesting activity across multiple sites, including Bay Canh, Cau, Tre Lon, Duong Beach, and Tai Lon Islet. Since 2023, the Park has recorded 1,995 mother turtles nesting, with a total of 6,011 nests and 573,555 eggs safely relocated to protected hatcheries, from which nearly 355,000 baby turtles safely made their way to the sea.
At night, under the high moon, we follow the conservation rangers in silence to watch mother turtles dig their nests, lay eggs, and gently cover them before returning to the sea. The scene feels sacred – simple yet profound. At dawn, we gather again to see hundreds of hatchlings crawl toward the waves, leaving tiny tracks in the sand before disappearing into the surf. Many are moved to tears, witnessing this quiet symbol of the ocean’s eternal rhythm of renewal and return.
Con Dao is more than a tourist destination – it is an open-air lesson in ecology. As we depart, our hearts are full of this archipelago’s pristine beauty, the harmony of sea and forest, and the eternal song of the waves.
