ASEAN Heritage Park Status Awarded to Con Dao National Park

The ceremony also celebrated the park’s 30th founding anniversary (March 31, 1993 – 2023). It was a momentous occasion to commemorate the park’s incredible journey of three decades. Attendees were delighted to be a part of this momentous occasion, which marked the park’s 30 years of success and achievements. Everyone expressed their joy and gratitude for the remarkable contributions and dedication of the park’s staff and volunteers over the years.

The Con Dao National Park covers more than 15,000 hectares, including over 6,000 hectares of land and 9,000 hectares of sea. It comprises 14 islands of the Con Son Archipelago, located in the southeast of Vietnam.

Photo: Local Vietnam

With its rich biodiversity, the park was included by the World Bank among the top priority areas among global maritime reserves. In 2013, it was named the world’s 2203rd wetland of international importance by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat, making this park the 6th Ramsar site in Vietnam and the first maritime site earning this title in the country.

The park is safeguarding and preserving hundreds of vascular plant species, many of which are included in the Red Data Book.

The sea turtle conservation programme implemented here over the last 30 years has been instrumental in revitalizing the population of the rare green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). To date, a staggering 2.5 million baby turtles have been released back into their natural habitat.

Photo: condaopark.com

Besides its unique marine biodiversity, the Con Nao National Park was also listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park due to its rich historical and cultural values.

Besides, the Con Nao National Park was listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park thanks to not only its unique marine biodiversity but also rich historical and cultural values.

At the ceremony, the park was honored with a prestigious certificate of merit from the Prime Minister for its outstanding achievements in turtle conservation.

Located in the offshore area of Vung Tau, in the Southeast of Vietnam, Con Dao Island is renowned for its awe-inspiring national park featuring an incredible ecological system. This remarkable environment is ideal for spawning and conserving various marine species, such as turtles, dolphins, and sea cows (dugongs). As a result, Con Dao Mangroves have been recognized as one of the 2,203 Ramsar sites of importance by the World Ramsar Convention Secretariat, making it the 6th Ramsar site in the world and the first one in Vietnam. Furthermore, the Con Dao National Park boasts a remarkable array of vegetation, containing 882 species of vascular plants, including 371 woody species, 30 species of orchids, 103 species of vines, and 202 species of herbs. Of these, 44 species are only found in this park, with some listed as precious, such as Chukrasia tabularis and Manikara hexandra. With its stunning diversity, the Con Dao National Park is undoubtedly a must-visit destination for any nature enthusiast.

Photo: vivutravel

The marine ecosystem of Con Dao Island is incredibly diverse and full of life. It boasts 1,321 species of marine life, including 23 species of mangrove plants, 127 species of seaweed, 7 species of seagrass, 157 species of plankton plants, 115 species of planktonic, 219 species of corals, 5 species of sea animals and reptiles, and 37 species listed in the Red Book of Vietnam. Many of these species are economically valuable, such as seafood and seaweed. Additionally, the island is home to some rare marine mammals, including blue whales (Neophon phocaenoides), dugongs (Orcaella brevirostric), and Dugon dugong (a kind of fish). Most notably, Con Dao is a spawning ground for several species of sea turtles.

Con Dao is renowned for not just its historical sites, such as prisons, quarrying rooms, cells, byres, tiger cages, and cemeteries, but also its “forest museum” of Vietnamese flora and fauna. It is the perfect destination for nature lovers, with its stunning landscapes and seascapes. Its ecological diversity also provides great opportunities for scientific research and exploration.

Photo: This Is Luxury Travel

Coming to Con Dao National Park, visitors have the chance to experience a wide range of unique activities that can make their holiday even more memorable. For instance, visitors can go sightseeing on the 577-meter high Thanh Gia Mountain, offering a panoramic view of Con Dao. It’s also worth a visit to Ong Dung Beach, where visitors can explore the rainforest and go snorkeling to revel in the colorful coral reef beneath the surface of the sea. As the sun sets, the scenery becomes even more magical, providing visitors with an unforgettable experience.