Con Dao National Park has an exceptional commitment to biodiversity conservation and effective protected area management. The park safeguards a rich mosaic of tropical ecosystems, including evergreen rainforests, mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds, supporting nearly 3,000 species. It is a vital nesting site for Green Turtles and one of Vietnam’s last refuges for Dugongs. The park’s management demonstrates strong planning and implementation, with programs for forest and marine resource protection, species monitoring, and community co-management. Its clear zoning, robust ranger capacity, and scientific research initiatives underpin its conservation success. Recognized nationally and internationally (RAMSAR, ASEAN Heritage Park, and IOSEA Sea Turtle Site), the park exemplifies excellence in ecological stewardship and sustainable tourism.
Conservation
The Park has developed a long-term biodiversity management and conservation plan for the period 2021-2030. The Park has organized the protection of forest and marine resources using many forms such as: Ranger stations patrolling and protecting in assigned areas. Coordinated inter-sectoral patrols with military and police units, protecting aquatic resources and communities. The rangers are equipped with weapons, support tools and equipment such as ships, canoes, patrol equipment such as camera traps, drones to patrol and protect forests and seas.
Successfully restored the population of wild animal such as long-tailed macaques (increased to 2,000 individuals in 2015) and the population of Ratufa bicolor condarensis, Callosciunis finlaysonii, Sus scrofa, and Caloenas nicobarica which were heavily damaged by storm Linda in 1997. The park also is one of the most successful case of Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) restoration in the world. After 31 years of restoration (1993-2023), there are 13,419 Green Turtles returning to Con Dao National Park to nest, and laid 39,201 egg nests, and 2,585,472 baby turtles have been hatched and released into the sea.
The population of Green Turtles reproducing at 18 beaches in Con Dao National Park and increasing steadily through each reproductive cycle. In 2023, there are 765 Green Turtles mother reproducing with 2,262 nests, 166,177 turtle eggs were hatched into young turtles and released into the sea. The park also conserving a healthy coral reefs: The total area of coral reefs is 1,800 hectares. The monitoring data showed that the average coverage was 25% in 2005, and it increased up to 48% in 2023. Seabird species are all increasing. A total of 10 seabird species were monitored in 2025 is 15,070 individuals (1.7 times higher than in 2021 and 1.9 times higher than in 2020), of which many species will double in number such as Thalasseus bergii; Sterna dougallii; Sterna sumatrana; The remaining species such as Sula leucogaster; Anous stolidus; Ducula bicolor will increase by 1.1 times or more or not decrease.
Good governance
Con Dao National Park is located in the Con Dao district, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. The Park is directly managed by the People’s Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, with the participation of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and related departments and agencies, the People’s Committee of Con Dao District and the local communities living around the Park. On July 1, 2025, Vietnam adjusted the administrative areas of provinces, cities, and areas. Con Dao National Park is located in the Con Dao Special Zone, Ho Chi Minh City.
According to Decision No. 48/QD-UBND, Con Dao National Park belongs to the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. The park boundary has been clearly defined on maps and in the field. There are no land or sea disputes for the local community. The Management Plans of the Con Dao National Park are consulted by local authorities and communities. 1. The Park’s functions, tasks, and powers are clearly defined by legal documents. 2. Community consultation is a mandatory process for developing the Sustainable Forest Management Plan and the Management Plans of the Park. 3. The Sustainable Forest Management Plan has been approved by competent authorities as a long-term management plan (2021-2030) to conserve and promote the basic values of the National Park
Community benefits
The park facilitated for local people to be educated and learn about the Forestry Law, the Fisheries Law and prohibited activities. People can participate in consultation meetings, workshops, and signing commitments to protect forest and marine resources to raise awareness and change their habits of using wild animals and plants products.
Through existing programs and projects, the Park has supported 70 households to loan 2.6 billion VND from the Natural Resources Conservation and Development Fund with low interest rates to convert their occupations to suit the local tourism economic development orientation; The Park has supported for 35 households having 50 inland waterway vehicles to transport tourists to visit Con Dao National Park.
Fishermen are participated in coral restoration programs, eradicate crown-of-thorns starfish, collect trash on coral reefs and seagrass beds and are paid 1,000,000 VND per diving day by Park. The park signed forest protection contracts with 7 households and units about 1.000 hectares and to be paid 420,000,000 VND/year.
1. The community is high awareness raising on conservation; to be supported in developing livelihoods such as loans for production, developing ecotourism, restoring corals, collecting trash on coral reefs, seagrass beds, etc.
2. Addressing threats to the original forests and seas of the National Park.
Con Dao National Park was established on March 31st, 1993 under Decision No. 135/TTg of the Prime Minister. The main functions are biodiversity conservation; environmental protection; environmental education; storage and regulation of freshwater resources and development of ecotourism.
The park is located offshore to the Southeast of Vietnam, belongs to Con Dao district, Ba Ria – Vung Tau province from 8°34’ – 8°48’ North to 106°31’ – 106°46’ East. The total area is 19,883.15 ha (including forest area on islands and sea area) including the forest area 5,883.15 ha with 3 terrestrial function zones:
And the marine protection area 14,000 ha is also consist of 3 function zones:
The marine buffer zone is 20,500 ha.
The both of forest and sea boundaries have been demarcation clearly on the map and field. The terrestrial area is mainly mountainous, formed by granite ranges from Southwest to Northeast. The highest points are the peaks of Thanh Gia Mountain and Nui Chua Mountain with 577 m and 515 m ASL respectively. The highest point on the small islands is 396 m ASL.
The park has a typical tropical with seasonal rain climate with the average temperature is 26.9°C, and an average annual rainfall of 2,200.7 mm, divided into 2 seasons: rainy season from May to November, dry season from December to April (next year).
The park has typical tropical forest and island ecosystems of tropical evergreen rainforest; tropical semi-deciduous rainforest; tidal sand banks; primary mangrove forest; intertidal and subtidal reefs; and seagrass beds that are connected to each other, creating habitats for nearly 3,000 species of terrestrial and aquatic.
Natural resources and biodiversity are very abundant with many threatened species in the IUCN Red List, including: 76 terrestrial species, and 72 marine species. The Green Turtle population has increased steadily through each reproductive cycle. In 2023, 765 mother turtles came to lay eggs with 2,262 nests, 166,177 baby turtles were hatched and released into the sea.
The park is one of two sites in Vietnam where the Dugong dugon population is distributed and still remains. The park also has a large coral reef ecosystem about 1,800 hectares of typical fringing reefs and non-fringing reefs types. The seagrass ecosystem which spans about 1,000 hectares, and is an important foraging habitat for the endangered sea mammal as the Dugong.
Thus, Con Dao National Park is a pool of valuable gene and species: Terrestrial species: Flora: 11 endemic species such as Dipterocarpus condorensis, Ilex condorensis, Pavetta condorensis, Psychotria condorensis, etc. and 47 endangered species such as Cycas micholitzii, Cycas siamensis, Cycas pectinata, Dalbergia oliveri, Dalbergia rimosa, Afzelia xylocarpa, Pterocarpus indicus, Lumnitzera littorea.
Fauna: 6 endemic species such as Macaca fascicularis condorensis, Callosciunis finlaysonii, Ratufa bicolor condorensis, Dibamus kondaoensis, Cnemaspis boulengeri and Oligodon condaoensis and 29 endangered species such as Macaca arctoides, Pteropus vampyrus, Ratufa bicolor condarensis, Pitta nympha, Caloenas nicobarica, Ophiophagus hannah, Python molurus), Caloenas nicobarica, Varanus salvator, Python reticulatus, Macaca fascicularis condorensis, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Viverricula indica, Lepus nigricollis.
Marine species: 04 species of flora, 16 species of Mollusca, 06 species of Echinodermata, 12 coral species, 24 Osteichthyes species, 02 reptilia species; 01 seabird species; 07 mammal species. Some rare migratory marine species include Chelonia mydas, Dugong dugon, Sula leucogaster.
The park is implementing a comprehensive program to protect its values, consist of:
Con Dao National Park has been award with many national and international commendations such as RAMSAR (2013); Important Sea Turtle Conservation Area in the Indian Ocean – Southeast Asia (IOSEA-2019); ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP-2023); Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMA-2019). The park is also recognized as “The most sea turtles hatching and releasing into the sea Site in Vietnam (2009), and “Trung Island where the seabird sanctuary with the highest breeding density in Vietnam” (2024) by Vietnam Records.
There are 27 trees species in the parc that have been certificated as a Vietnamese Heritage Trees by the VACNE, including: 01 of Lumitzera littorea and 02 of Bischofia javanica (2017); 02 of Terminalia catappa, 01 of Hopea odorata, and 21 of Heliotropium foertherianum (2024).
The EAGL acknowledges that Con Dao National Park has met the key criteria and requirements of the IUCN Green List, including:
Good Governance
The Park demonstrates inclusive governance, engaging a broad range of stakeholders through transparent information-sharing and feedback mechanisms. These processes ensure that management decisions are well-informed and responsive to stakeholder concerns.
Sound Design and Planning
The Park applies sound planning processes that integrate the views of all relevant stakeholders. Stakeholder concerns are reflected in management plans, supporting effective implementation and adaptive responses to conservation challenges.
Effective Management
The Park is managed in line with national standards and international best practices. Management systems facilitate meaningful stakeholder participation, enabling their contributions to be incorporated into conservation actions when needed.
Positive Conservation Outcomes
The Park delivers measurable conservation outcomes, with evidence of recovering populations of key species and habitats. Achievements include the successful conservation of marine turtles, the protection and regeneration of forest ecosystems, and stable or increasing trends in bird and primate populations
