Buzz
'Every participant feels joyful and develops a deeper connection with nature and animals because baby turtles are incredibly delicate,' shared Thong Nhut.
Tour guide recounts the turtle egg-laying phenomenon in Con Dao
After graduating from university with a major in tour guiding, Huynh Thong Nhut (1993) worked in Ho Chi Minh City and traveled across the Mekong Delta and Central Vietnam. In 2016, fate led him to Con Dao, where he fell in love and decided to commit to the place. 'Con Dao is unique; the infrastructure is not like the mainland, so we need guides who love the island, can endure challenges, and are willing to stay for the long term,' Nhut revealed.
'Con Dao is where I work, but it's also a place to explore more about myself, nature, and spirituality,' he said. Every day, Nhut wakes up at 4 am for meditation, teaches yoga at 5 am, has breakfast, and then starts working. Some days, he works from home, while others, he guides guests from 8 am to 10 pm.
One of his most cherished tours involves showing visitors the turtle egg-laying spectacle every summer. Sea turtles, also known as Vich, are distinctive creatures in this marine area. While they roam various places, during the golden period from April to September each year, mature female turtles, after mating, seek out the small and large islands of the Con Dao sea to begin the egg-laying process. Additionally, a fascinating trait of turtles is their tendency to return to their birthplace for laying eggs. Nhut proudly labels this as a 'captivating aspect bestowed upon Con Dao by nature.'
'Turtles lay eggs at night, usually choosing soft sandy beaches near clusters of trees. Using their front two flippers, they dig a nest, and with their hind flippers, they create a deep hole to house the eggs. The egg-laying process can last about 60 minutes. Each time, a mother turtle lays under 100 eggs and can do so multiple times in a season,' he described.
After the mother turtle covers the eggs with sand and returns to the sea, the turtle eggs are brought up to an artificial incubation pond by the island's forestry department to prevent egg inundation during high tides.
Nhut mentioned that this is a special tour with a limit of only 40 visitors per night. Turtles need tranquility; if there are too many guests, the turtles get frightened and won't lay eggs anymore. The forestry department also has to turn off all lights during this time. 'Everyone watching turtle egg-laying is joyful, feeling a deep love for nature and animals because baby turtles are incredibly fragile. I vividly remember a group of Japanese volunteer teachers who visited here for short-term volunteer teaching. For the past two years, they have come to visit the turtles. This phenomenon is rare and intriguing, so they love it,' he proudly shared.
Nhut often guides visitors in two main types of tourism on the island. The first is spiritual tourism, where guests visit historical sites, temples, go on sea excursions, and visit the cemetery at night. The second type is exploration; he takes guests to small islands for activities like playing, admiring the sea, snorkeling to see coral reefs, hiking, and observing turtle egg-laying. In addition to guiding island tours, he also assists tourists in booking transportation, provides dining services, accommodations, and itinerary advice.
Working in island tourism comes with its share of funny and challenging stories. Nhut vividly remembers the gusty winds that last from October to around March. True to its name, this season experiences winds that do not favor the locals, hence the term 'chuong' or obstacle. The sea is rough, and the strong winds are unsafe, so boats are often prohibited or trips are canceled. Essential supplies also cannot be transported to the island. 'Many tourists come here, but there is no boat back, getting stranded on the island for a few days, sometimes even up to a week. Issues arise, such as a shortage of hotel rooms, dining costs... I have to run around everywhere to arrange things,' he candidly expressed. Additionally, Con Dao is also a spiritually significant region, so tour guides frequently take guests to the cemetery at night. 'Every night, we light incense, smell the incense smoke, and return late at night. Initially, it's a bit tiring, but eventually, you get used to it,' he revealed.
Nhut enjoys life on the island and has faced no difficulties in the past 4 years. 'I feel a deeper love for nature, waking up to admire the sky, clouds, and the island sea. Life on the island is peaceful, without hustle and bustle, and there are no worries about theft. At night, I leave my bike outside without locking it,' he happily stated.
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Source: Travel guide Mytour
MytourJune 30, 2020
