Crafting for the Future — Inspired by Con Dao

Con Dao Island is known as one of Vietnam’s most pristine natural environments.
With its crystal-clear waters, rich biodiversity, and a history marked by political imprisonment, it is a place where beauty and sorrow coexist.

In November 2025, Xuan Thi Handmade Crafts was invited to attend the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Green List certification ceremony and had the opportunity to observe conservation efforts within the national park firsthand.

Experiencing the quiet yet powerful initiatives taking place on this island became a meaningful moment for us to reflect on what it truly means to create for the future.

Con Dao — Where Life Returns to the Sea

At Con Dao National Park, a meticulous sea turtle conservation program operates 24 hours a day to ensure the safe hatching of eggs laid by mother turtles.

Mother turtles carefully select fine sandy areas near vegetation, lay their eggs, cover the nest, erase their traces, and quietly return to the sea.
Within six hours of laying—when embryonic development is temporarily paused—park staff collect the eggs, allowing them to be safely relocated.

The eggs are then transferred to protected facilities, where they are carefully nurtured until hatching.

Through these efforts, millions of baby turtles have safely returned to the ocean over the past 30 years.

Sea Turtle Nesting Conservation at Con Dao National Park

At Con Dao National Park, a carefully managed conservation program operates 24 hours a day to ensure the safe hatching of eggs laid by mother turtles.

Mother turtles select fine sandy areas near vegetation, lay their eggs, cover the nest, erase their traces, and quietly return to the sea.
Afterward, park staff locate the nest and collect the eggs within six hours of laying. During this period, embryonic development is temporarily paused, allowing the eggs to be safely relocated.

The collected eggs are then transferred to protected facilities under the park’s management, where they are carefully maintained in optimal conditions until hatching.

Through these efforts, millions of baby turtles have safely made their journey back to the ocean over the past 30 years.

Invitation to the Green List Ceremony

In 2025, Con Dao National Park was officially recognized under the IUCN Green List, an international standard for protected areas that meet strict criteria in ecosystem conservation, management, and community collaboration.

This recognition reflects the global value of Con Dao’s natural environment.

Xuan Thi Handmade Crafts, a brand rooted in respect for handcraft, nature, and the future, was honored to be invited to this ceremony.

Witnessing conservation efforts firsthand reaffirmed our commitment as a brand.

Conservation Programs Experienced On-Site

Alongside the ceremony, several programs were conducted to deepen understanding of conservation practices.

We participated in a tree-planting initiative as part of forest regeneration efforts, where our founder, Xuan Thi, personally planted a tree—contributing to the island’s future ecosystem.

Con Dao is also one of Vietnam’s largest sea turtle nesting grounds.
After traveling thousands of kilometers, mother turtles return—often after 30 years—to the very beach where they were born to lay their eggs.

Only one in a thousand hatchlings survives to adulthood.
Yet here, life continues its quiet cycle.

This enduring rhythm of life is why Con Dao is known as “an island where life returns to the sea.”

Nature and History Intertwined

We also visited a 240-year-old natural heritage tree known as the “Sao Tree,” symbolizing the long-standing preservation of the island’s ecosystem.

Later, we visited the historical site of Ma Thien Lanh Bridge, where we offered flowers and a moment of silence.
During the 1930s, under French colonial rule, prisoners were subjected to forced labor, and 356 lives were lost at this site.

It was a quiet moment of reflection on the painful history that exists alongside the island’s natural beauty.

We concluded our visit with an ecosystem exhibition hosted by the national park, gaining a deeper, structured understanding of the island’s flora, fauna, and conservation efforts.

Taking Action for the Future

What connects all of these initiatives is a shared commitment:

“To take action today to ensure this island remains for the future.”

Conservation is not the responsibility of a select few.
It is shaped by the everyday choices and actions of each individual.

This is something we deeply felt during our time on Con Dao.

Con Dao Series — Handcrafted from Nature

The Con Dao Series is a collection inspired by the cycle of life, the grace of mother turtles, and the strength of nature experienced on the island.

Just as turtles return to the beach where they were born, we sought to capture the quiet power of nature in items used in everyday life.

Each piece reflects the rhythm of nature through the careful work of artisans—woven and embroidered with intention.

Supporting Sea Turtle Conservation

A portion of the proceeds from the Con Dao Series is donated to Con Dao National Park to support sea turtle conservation efforts.

Your choice of a single item can become a small but meaningful contribution to protecting the ocean’s future.

Available at Con Dao National Park

As part of this initiative, selected items from the Con Dao Series are now permanently displayed at the Con Dao National Park exhibition space.

Visitors to the island can experience the products firsthand and purchase them on-site.

This marks an important step for the brand—bringing to life the cycle between nature conservation and handcraft.

Closing

Where handcraft meets Care.

A place where craftsmanship meets compassion—
and where that connection gently continues into the future.

Our experience in Con Dao taught us that true beauty lies in caring for what comes next.