The sea turtle conservation program at Con Dao National Park, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province is one of the meaningful programs organized by IUCN Vietnam in coordination with Con Dao National Park every year.
For volunteers who are young people aged 21 - 45, the program not only contributes to restoring sea turtle conservation but also raises awareness of environmental protection, advertising Con Dao tourism to a large number of tourists.
Knowing that the program has been around since 2022, Bui Minh Tuan (29 years old, Hanoi) had to wait 3 years to have the opportunity to participate: "I came to Con Dao for the first time in 2022. At that time, I had listened to and watched many videos about sea turtle conservation activities. I started to cherish the desire to participate in this program from that moment on".
Living in a beautiful place without dead corners
Minh Tuan excitedly shared his extremely special experience when he lived in Bay Canh, a beautiful and famous island in the Con Dao archipelago: I have traveled around Vietnam 4 times and encountered countless beautiful scenes. But this is the first time I have lived in such an absolutely beautiful place.
Bay Canh Island has a long, smooth white sand beach, clear blue sea water reflecting the coral reefs at the bottom. Because Hon Bay Canh is not polluted by light, at night, visitors can watch the sparkling starry sky.
In addition, what moved Tuan especially was the feeling of "returning to childhood" when he was able to cook firewood every day, eat familiar dishes, watch the starry sky, catch fish in the sky... Although simple, these are things that are not easy to find in the bustling, bustling urban life.
According to Tuan, if you do not register as a volunteer, visitors should still visit Bay Canh Island in particular or Con Dao in general: " Bay Canh Island is very beautiful and pristine. It can be said to be one of the places I found best during my 3 years of traveling around Vietnam. So take the opportunity to enjoy it, feel it, and capture the best moments.
Sea turtle conservation work
Tuan shared that the volunteers' job is to wake up at 2am every day, walking many kilometers to watch mother turtles come ashore to lay eggs. Power outages and lost waves on the island occur frequently during heavy rains. Due to the high exposure to saltwater, some of his filming equipment was also damaged.
"There are hardships and lack of amenities. But in return, it is a feeling of living for real, living slowly and doing something meaningful to protect nature. At night, watching mother turtles slowly step up from the sea to sow springing life makes me nervous to the point of stopping breathing. I have never felt so close to nature, said the male volunteer.
He affirmed that this volunteer trip helped him see more clearly the majestic but also very fragile nature. He understands why seemingly small things such as not turning on flashlights or not throwing garbage out into the environment are so important.
To prepare for the 10-day volunteer trip, Tuan researched and read many documents about turtle relatives, characteristics, classification, and current status in Vietnam. In addition, he only prepared for the camera, was healthy, and had good spirit to take on a large amount of work.
The most important thing is probably respect for nature, to walk slowly, speak slowly, and not to do anything beyond limits or interfere in nature. Because I came here to witness and learn how to accompany it, Tuan said.
Minh Tuan believes that 10 days is too short a time to fully feel and capture the beauty of Bay Canh Island. Even though he did not register as a volunteer, he will continue to return here to travel.
As a lover of nature and photography, I see Con Dao with the most pristine and harmonious beauty I have ever set foot in: blue sea, old forest, coral, hills and even beautiful coastal roads. In addition, there are historical sites that preserve the images of our ancestors during the process of fighting the invasion.
For 4 years traveling across the country, I have not seen a place with such a perfect combination. For me, Con Dao is the most beautiful place in Vietnam, Minh Tuan affirmed.
