Con Dao – A Sanctuary for Sea Turtles

According to Con Dao National Park, hundreds of mother turtles return to nest on the islands each year, mainly on smaller islets such as Bay Canh, Cau, Tre Lon, Tai. Nesting season runs from April to October, with peak months from June to September.During this period, when the tide rises at night, 100–150kg mother turtles slowly make their way up the beach, searching for the perfect spot to dig a nest and lay their eggs. It is a sacred moment — a symbol of renewal for a species threatened with extinction.
 

📸 Photos: Con Dao National Park

A Journey to Witness Turtle Nesting

To join this activity, visitors must register with Con Dao National Park, which arranges trips to the most active nesting islands — especially Bay Canh Island, the most popular site. Tours usually begin in the late afternoon. After taking a canoe to the island, visitors are guided by rangers who explain the turtles’ reproductive behaviors, conservation measures, and rules for observing the nesting process. When night falls and the moonlight shimmers on the sand, you may quietly watch as a mother turtle digs her nest and gently drops each round, white egg into the pit — a scene both magical and deeply emotional.

After nesting, rangers carefully relocate the eggs to protected incubation areas to maximize hatching success. After 45–60 days, baby turtles emerge and are released back into the ocean under the excited watch of visitors.
 

📸 Photos: Con Dao National Park

Releasing Baby Turtles into the Sea

Another favorite experience is releasing hatchlings back to the ocean. Holding a tiny turtle in your hands and watching it instinctively make its first journey toward the waves is a moment that stays with you forever — a powerful reminder of the importance of wildlife conservation.

📸 Photos: Con Dao National Park

A Meaningful Eco-Tourism and Conservation Experience

Con Dao was the first place in Vietnam to implement a sea turtle conservation program in the 1990s. Thanks to decades of dedicated work by rangers and the local community, hundreds of thousands of eggs are protected and successfully hatched each year — playing a vital role in restoring turtle populations in the region.

Turtle-watching tourism not only offers a unique nature-based experience but also raises awareness of marine protection. Every visitor becomes an “environmental ambassador,” helping preserve Con Dao’s precious biodiversity.

Visitor Guidelines

To ensure a safe and meaningful experience, please keep in mind:

• Register with Con Dao National Park and follow ranger instructions.

• Maintain silence; avoid flashlights or loud noises that may frighten turtles.

• Do not touch or disturb nesting turtles.

• Wear appropriate footwear; bring mosquito repellent and water.

• Do not litter — help protect the marine environment.

Sample Itinerary

• Afternoon: Depart for the island, explore local ecology, and set up overnight stay.

• Evening: Observe mother turtles nesting with guidance from park rangers.

• Next morning: Participate in releasing baby turtles (if a hatch occurs). Return to Con Dao.

Official Tour Registration

Since this is a special eco-tourism activity, all turtle-watching tours are organized exclusively by Con Dao National Park.

Con Dao National Park Management Board

• Address: Ma Thien Lanh Road, Zone 3, Con Dao Special Zone, Ho Chi Minh City

• Phone: (0254) 3830 669 or 0917 693 309

• Website: condaopark.com.vn

A Must-Try Experience in Con Dao

Watching sea turtles nest is one of Con Dao’s most extraordinary eco-tourism activities — a chance to connect deeply with nature and witness the miraculous cycle of life.
If you visit during nesting season, don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience to appreciate the rare natural gifts that make Con Dao so special.