Con Dao is home to many rare and endangered species listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book, including the Con Dao Black Squirrel, the Mun Squirrel, the Nicobar Pigeon, the White Gygis Bird, the Dugong (found only in Con Dao and Phu Quoc within Vietnam), and especially sea turtles.
According to scientists, Con Dao receives the highest number of nesting sea turtles in Vietnam each year. On average, a mother turtle lays about 240 eggs per season (with around 91 eggs per nest), and more than 80% of the eggs hatch successfully. The remaining eggs are unfertilized, fail to develop, or the hatchlings die inside the shell. The survival rate of hatchlings from the moment they enter the ocean until adulthood is extremely low—only 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 10,000—due to various natural threats and human-related impacts.
The waters around Con Dao serve as nesting grounds for Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbill Turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata). Within Con Dao National Park, 14 beaches are known nesting sites, covering tens of thousands of square meters. The largest nesting beaches—Bay Canh Island, Cau Island, Big Tre Island, Tai Island, and Duong Beach—each have ranger stations staffed with 5–8 forest rangers tasked with protecting natural resources and implementing conservation activities.
Every year from May to October, over 400 mother turtles come ashore on Con Dao’s protected beaches to nest. More than 150,000 hatchlings are rescued and released back into the sea annually, with hatching success rates reaching 87%. During the peak nesting months, some beaches witness 10–20 turtles nesting in a single night.
History and Key Activities of the Conservation Program
Since 1994, Con Dao National Park has implemented a comprehensive sea turtle conservation program with the following objectives:
Research and Monitoring
- Tagging turtles and attaching satellite transmitters
- Measuring physical characteristics
- Studying nesting and migration behaviors
Protecting Nesting Habitats and Eggs
- Conducting daily patrols
- Cleaning and leveling nesting beaches
- Relocating eggs to safe hatcheries to avoid flooding and predators
Hatchery Management and Rescues
- Establishing protected incubation stations
- Monitoring embryo development
Releasing hatchlings safely into the sea
Con Dao National Park is the first site in Vietnam to successfully implement a sea turtle conservation program. More than 85% of Vietnam’s nesting sea turtles return to Con Dao annually, making it one of the largest Green Turtle nesting populations in Southeast Asia. The Vietnam Record Book has recognized Con Dao as the place where the highest number of baby turtles is released back into the ocean.
Why Sea Turtles Nest at Night
Sea turtles rely heavily on instinct to return to the exact beach where they were born. They come ashore only at night, avoiding bright lights and noise. Scientists explain that a turtle takes about 35 years to reach reproductive maturity—during this time, it lives entirely underwater and strengthens its flippers exclusively for swimming. These flippers are powerful in the sea but weak on land, so turtles wait for high tide to minimize the exhausting journey across the sand.
Tracks left on the beach also help rangers identify the species—such as Green Turtles or Leatherbacks.
Call for Community Support
July and August mark the peak of the nesting season, and during this time, Con Dao National Park faces significant manpower shortages to manage the conservation workload. The Park hopes to receive community support to help protect these endangered sea turtles.
A Unique Experience for Visitors
Beyond visiting the famous historical and spiritual sites—such as Hang Duong Cemetery, the grave of national heroine Vo Thi Sau, the memorial of former General Secretary Le Hong Phong, and the French & American Tiger Cages—visitors should not miss a chance to explore Con Dao’s pristine ecological treasures.
A trip to Cau Island, Bay Canh Island, Tai Island, or Trac Island allows visitors to swim, snorkel, and admire colorful coral reefs shimmering beneath the calm ocean surface.
No eco-tourist who visits Con Dao National Park ever leaves without wanting to return. If you have the chance, watching sea turtles nest and lay their eggs at least once in your life is truly unforgettable. To take part in this experience, guests must stay overnight on the island, be patient, and rely on a little luck. The nesting season typically lasts from June to September.
Ecotourism Contact
For information or bookings related to sea turtle conservation tours in Con Dao, please contact:
Ecotourism Office – Con Dao National Park (CDNP)
Tel: 0254.3830669 – 0254.3858792
Website: www.condaopark.com.vn
