The Regeneration Zone and the Story of Phuong "Trash"

The Museum of Rebirth

The name Regeneration Zonespeaks volumes about its essence. Located along the coastal road surrounding the island, the Rebirth Zone is listed as a remote destination, requiring a 1km journey through the Ben Dam area. However, our first impression was of the magnificent nature, the harmonious land and sky, and the people who gather here out of their love for nature

Spanning an area of 2,000m2, the Regeneration Zone is nestled within the lush mountains and sea. In front of it stands the majestic Hon Ba, with its deep green color, while behind it is a carpet of grass and pristine forests. Here, visitors can relax their bodies, watch the sun gradually set into the sea, surrounded only by the sound of the wind, the gentle waves lapping against the shore, and occasionally the chirping of forest birds. It is an incredibly tranquil experience, embodying the spirit of rebirth that nature brings.

Visitors can explore the recycling model at the Rebirth Zone.

Amidst the rocky terrain, flowers such as Cuc Nhat, Thuoc Duoc, Trang Bong, Hoa Su, and coconut trees thrive thanks to the care of humans. This is what humans have created in the Rebirth Zone. The highlight of the Regeneration Zone is the exhibition area for recycled items. It consists of five traditional houses with thatched roofs and bamboo walls. We call it a museum, as it showcases hundreds of eye-catching recycled items. There is a corner with blooming flowers of various colors made from straws, plastic bottles, and containers. There are pink pigs, giant bird wings, and plastic storks. There are fish made from foam floating as if swimming. The wall paintings are also made from foam, conveying a message about saving the ocean. And there are cute baskets made from old fishing nets... Nguyen Ngoc Thien, a freelance tour guide who frequently takes foreign tourists trekking in the forest, expressed his admiration for the Regeneration Zone. He always guides his tour groups to visit the site, allowing them to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee while he tells them the story of "rebirth" and continues the mission of serving humanity by spreading awareness about waste recycling in order to foster a deeper love for Con Dao.

Despite the dry and rocky coastal land, the Rebirth Zone strives to beautify the landscape with ornamental flowers.

Contributing to Keeping Con Dao Green

The Regeneration Zone and all the displayed items here are made from ocean waste through the skillful hands of Phuong and his group of like-minded friends. Phuong, originally from Saigon, moved to Con Dao in 2018 to work as a tour guide. In 2020, he opened a coffee shop on the island. Being proficient in English, Phuong made friends with many foreign tourists and started inviting them to join him in collecting trash on weekends. Since there was an overwhelming amount of debris, including buoys, nets, and plastic bottles that couldn't be properly disposed of, Phuong decided to collect them with the intention of recycling them into useful models.

Various charming recycled models at the Rebirth Zone.

From 2020 to 2022, during the outbreak of COVID-19, some foreign tourists got stuck on the island. Among them was one person with expertise in designing products from waste materials. At that time, the group began drawing, cutting, carving, sculpting, making furniture, weaving baskets... from available waste materials. When the People's Committee of Con Dao called for participation in a pilot project to raise environmental awareness among the community and tourists, and to create new tourism products in the Southern part of Con Son Island, with encouragement from the Management Board of Con Dao National Tourism Area, Phuong confidently presented his idea for establishing the Regeneration Zone and was chosen.

A cluster of bamboo from recycled plastic bottles.

I asked how much investment has been made here? Dan Vi Phuong just laughed and quickly cut the unfinished pile of old wood. "Yesterday, there was a strong wind that blew off a section of the roof covering the recycled items. And the roof collapsing and the walls falling is a common occurrence here because this area is prone to whirlwinds. We took the opportunity to quickly reinforce it, as it would be embarrassing if guests came to visit and everything was in disarray." Only one detail is enough to understand that it is only unconditional love that keeps Dan Vi Phuong clinging to this remote and desolate place.

The name board of the Regeneration Zone is made from pieces of wood collected from ocean waste

According to Vo Thi Van, the Director of the Management Board of Con Dao National Tourism Area, the Regeneration Zone has initially created a community playground that connects environmental volunteers who love Con Dao. On weekends, volunteers gather to clean up garbage and create products, models, and utensils from waste materials. The check-in spot to admire the sunset at the Regeneration Zone has helped create a new tourist destination that serves the need for relaxation, enjoying beautiful scenery, and spreading love for nature and the environment in the Con Dao tourism community.

The Recycling Zone is an ideal place to admire the sunset

"The Management Board of Con Dao National Tourism Area has mobilized and is guiding the Regeneration Zone to complete the procedures for establishing an English club here, so that foreign volunteers can teach English communication to students and improve the language skills of the island residents. In addition, the Management Board of Con Dao National Tourism Area is actively promoting this destination to attract outdoor activities, team building, and environmental education extracurricular activities to the Regeneration Zone," said Vo Thi Van.

Dan Vi Phuong introduces a sample of a hand-woven bag made from old fishing nets.