“Everyone who joins the tour feels happy and grows a deeper love for nature and wildlife—baby turtles are so fragile,” shared Huỳnh Thống Nhứt, his eyes shimmering with pride after a long night guiding visitors to watch mother turtles lay their eggs.
Born in 1993 and trained as a professional tour guide, Nhứt spent years traveling across the Mekong Delta and Central Vietnam before fate brought him to Con Dao in 2016. Since then, he has “fallen deeply in love” with this sacred island.
“Con Dao is special. Facilities are still limited, so tour guides here must truly love the job, love the island, and be willing to endure the hardship,” he said.
A Peaceful Life on a Sacred Island
In Con Dao, Nhứt embraces a simple, slow-paced lifestyle that revolves around nature. He wakes up at 4 a.m. to meditate, teaches yoga at 5 a.m., and only then begins his workday. Some days he works from home; others he guides visitors from early morning until 10 p.m.
“Con Dao isn’t just my workplace—it’s where I’ve learned to listen to myself, to connect with nature and with the spiritual energy of the island,” he shared.
A Special Tour: Watching Sea Turtles Nest
Among all the tours he leads, the turtle-nesting tour is the one closest to his heart.
From April to September, mother turtles (green sea turtles) return to the sandy shores of Con Dao—the very beaches where they were born decades ago—to lay their eggs. “It’s one of nature’s miracles and one of the greatest blessings Con Dao receives,” Nhứt explained.
“Turtles usually nest at night. They pick soft sand near shrubs, dig a deep pit, and gently drop each egg using their hind flippers. A mother turtle can lay around 100 eggs, and the process takes nearly an hour,” he said.
Once the mother turtle leaves, forest rangers carefully relocate the eggs to a protected hatchery to keep them safe from tides and predators.
This tour is limited to 40 visitors per night, and everyone must turn off lights and keep absolute silence to avoid frightening the turtles.
“People are always moved after witnessing it. That moment makes them appreciate nature so much more—seeing how weak and delicate baby turtles are gives you a new perspective on life,” he added.
One memory he treasures is of a group of Japanese teachers who came for a short-term teaching assignment. They returned every year just to watch the turtles again. “They said they had never witnessed anything so sacred,” he recalled with a smile.
Two Signature Travel Experiences
Nhứt specializes in two main types of tours:
Spiritual Journeys
Visiting historical sites, temples, serene beaches, and nighttime visits to Hang Duong Cemetery.
Adventure & Nature Tours
Exploring small islets for snorkeling, mountain hiking, swimming, turtle-watching, and experiencing the untouched beauty of Con Dao.
Beyond guiding, he also helps arrange flights, ferry tickets, meals, accommodations, and custom itineraries for visitors.
When the “Northeast Monsoon” Arrives
Working on an offshore island often comes with unpredictable challenges—especially during monsoon season (October to March).
“When the sea gets rough, boats can’t depart, and visitors get stuck on the island for days. I have to run everywhere to find rooms, arrange meals, and take care of them. It’s exhausting, but fun—because those who stay longer often experience a different, more intimate side of Con Dao.”
At night, he still leads cemetery visits. “At first, smelling incense every night was overwhelming, but gradually I got used to it. Each night becomes a quiet journey that touches the heart,” he said softly.
A Gentle Life Surrounded by Sea and Sky
After many years, Con Dao has become home.
“Waking up to the sky and the sound of waves is enough. There’s no chaos here, no theft, no rush. You can leave your motorbike outside overnight without locking it,” he laughed.
On an island once known as the ‘Hell on Earth,’ he has found his own peaceful paradise—
a place where people live in harmony with nature,
where baby turtles return to the sea,
and where every step carries a beautiful story whispered by the ocean.
