Green Island: [Part 3] Preserving the Brand of the Pearl Island

For sustainable development, Con Dao is following the principle of developing green tourism, reducing single-use plastics, and preserving the ecosystem as its greatest asset.

"If the beach is full of trash, tourists won't come back."

For many years in a row, Con Dao has been consistently named and honored by world- renowned travel magazines such as Time Out (UK), Lonely Planet Travel and Leisure, Business Insider, and CNN television as one of the most pristine, beautiful, and peaceful destinations in the world.

Unlike bustling, densely populated tourist cities, Con Dao possesses a unique beauty with its slow pace of life, clear blue sea, expansive primeval forests, and almost untouched, pristine air. This sense of tranquility and relaxation, along with its rich natural ecosystem from the forest to the sea, is what attracts both domestic and international tourists whenever they visit this island.

Van Phai, a freelance tour guide in Con Dao, looked at the stream of tourists and whispered, "People come here because the sea is still beautiful."

Con Dao Island is one of the world's most pristine, peaceful, and attractive island destinations thanks to its nearly untouched natural ecosystem. Photo: Le Binh .

Years ago, many tourists were surprised to see ocean trash covering some beaches in Con Dao after strong winds. At one point, the sight of plastic bottles, fishing nets, and styrofoam containers lying along the water's edge caused many to worry that this famously pristine island would gradually lose its inherent beauty.

"Tourists are very concerned about the environment now. If the beach is full of trash, they won't come back. In fact, many tourists have complained about this in the past. Now, reviews and comments from international tourists no longer mention this issue," Van Phai added.

According to statistics, in 2025, Con Dao welcomed over 612,000 tourists with tourism revenue exceeding 3,060 billion VND. However, along with that growth rate comes an increasing amount of household waste.

Every day, the island generates approximately 25-27 tons of waste, including over 4 tons of plastic waste. During peak tourist season, the amount of waste can almost double. Meanwhile, the entire island currently has only one central landfill, which has been operating for nearly 40 years and is already overloaded.

This is both a source of pressure and a great motivation for Con Dao, where tourism is playing an increasingly important role in local economic development.

"We will not sacrifice the environment for economic growth."

This was the directive of Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Tran Luu Quang during a working session with the Party Committee and People's Committee of the Con Dao Special Zone, in the context of the island entering a new phase of development after becoming a special zone of Ho Chi Minh City.

According to Ho Chi Minh City's orientation, Con Dao must develop in the direction of a "green, smart, and livable island," harmonizing conservation and development, and absolutely not sacrificing the environment, heritage, and ecosystem for short-term economic growth.

Ho Chi Minh City is orienting the development of Con Dao Island according to the "green, smart, and sustainable island" model, prioritizing the conservation of marine and forest ecosystems and the development of high-quality ecotourism. Photo: Hoang Trang .

According to the People's Committee of Con Dao Special Economic Zone, the locality is prioritizing a tourism development model that is linked to nature conservation, reducing single-use plastics, and controlling environmental pressure.

Many accommodation establishments have begun to shift towards environmentally friendly practices such as using refillable water bottles, limiting plastic bags, sorting waste at source, and using recycled products. According to WWF Vietnam, 145 tourism businesses in Con Dao have now committed to not using single-use plastics.

During the period 2022-2025, the plastic reduction program in Con Dao also recorded the collection and processing of over 176 tons of plastic waste, and the recycling of over 50 tons of waste through the circular economy model. Notably, the amount of plastic waste released into the environment has decreased by 96.7% compared to 2020.

During a recent working session with the Party Committee and People's Committee of Con Dao, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Duoc emphasized the requirement to develop the special economic zone in the direction of a "green, smart, and sustainable island," absolutely not sacrificing the environment for short-term economic growth.

According to Ho Chi Minh City leaders, Con Dao's greatest advantage lies not in its urban or industrial scale, but in its rare natural ecosystem, historical and cultural value, and pristine nature, which very few destinations still retain. Therefore, all development plans must prioritize environmental protection and conservation.

This orientation is also clearly reflected in the new planning of the special economic zone. Accordingly, Con Dao will develop according to the model of an ecological island and coastal city, prioritizing high-quality tourism, clean energy, circular economy, and environmentally friendly infrastructure instead of mass development.

Experts believe this direction is suitable for the island's natural carrying capacity. Unlike mainland cities, the ecosystem in Con Dao is very sensitive. Even a slight increase in population, construction, or waste could create long-lasting impacts for many years.

Currently, Con Dao Island is located in a sea area with one of the most diverse ecosystems in Vietnam, possessing approximately 1,400 hectares of coral reefs, 2,400 hectares of seagrass beds, and serving as an important breeding ground for sea turtles. Many experts believe that this pristine ecosystem is the island's greatest "asset".

"Once the forest and marine environment is damaged, tourism will also lose its competitive advantage," said Mr. Nguyen Khac Pho, Director of the Con Dao National Park Management Board. Perhaps that is why the phrase "green tourism" is appearing more and more in the local development orientation.

Many accommodations in Con Dao are beginning to transition to a green tourism model, such as limiting single-use plastics, using refillable bottles, and sorting waste at source to reduce pressure on the island's marine environment. Photo: Cuong Tran .

However, along with the development of tourism, environmental pressure is becoming increasingly evident. In recent years, the number of tourists visiting Con Dao has continuously increased sharply, leading to a growing demand for accommodation, transportation, consumption, and waste generation. During peak tourist seasons, ferry routes and accommodation facilities are often almost fully booked.

In its new development strategy, Con Dao is being oriented towards becoming a model "green island" rather than a mass-market tourist city.

Many models for reducing plastic waste, sorting waste at source, recycling waste, and green tourism are also being replicated locally. Numerous accommodation establishments have begun replacing plastic water bottles with refillable dispensers, limiting single-use products, and participating in plastic waste reduction programs.

According to experts, for Con Dao, the important thing is not how many more structures are built, but rather preserving the marine environment, forests, and ecosystems that have made the island unique.

Because if the sea is no longer blue, the coral reefs are damaged, or more and more trash appears on the beaches, Con Dao will gradually lose what has attracted tourists for so many years.

From June 4-6, 2026, in Cua Lo ward (Nghe An province), the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the People's Committee of Nghe An province, will organize a series of communication events in response to World Environment Day (June 5), World Ocean Day (June 8), the Month of Action for the Environment, and Vietnam's Sea and Islands Week 2026.

1. National Forum on Environment and Climate - From Policy to Action

- Time: 8:00 AM, June 5, 2026

- Location: Vinpearl Cua Hoi, Cua Lo Ward, Nghe An Province.

- To participate online: ID: 942 6837 3034. Password: KH0605.

2. National Workshop “Improving Institutions and Policies to Promote Sustainable Marine Economic Development”

- Time: 2:00 PM, June 5, 2026

- Location: Vinpearl Cua Hoi, Cua Lo Ward, Nghe An Province.

- Online participation: ID: 934 2999 5099. Password: HT0506.

3. Art program “Vietnam's Sea - A Journey to Green Space”

- Time: 8:00 PM, June 5, 2026

- Location: Binh Minh Square, Cua Lo Ward, Nghe An Province.

4. National Launch Ceremony in response to World Environment Day, World Ocean Day, the Month of Action for the Environment, and Vietnam's Sea and Islands Week in 2026; Launching the movement "All citizens join hands to protect the environment, for a green, clean, and beautiful Vietnam"

- Time: 6:00 AM, June 6, 2026

- Location: Binh Minh Square, Cua Lo Ward, Nghe An Province.

5. Blue Economy Exhibition - Sustainable Agriculture and Environment

- Time: From June 4-6, 2026

- Location: Binh Minh Square, Cua Lo Ward, Nghe An Province.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/dao-xanh-bai-3-giu-thuong-hieu-cho-dao-ngoc-d813503.html