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Organized by Akyn Hospitality Group and its member hotel, The Secret Con Dao, the event continues to offer three distances: 21km, 10km, and 5km, connecting the running community with a message of sea turtle conservation and responsible tourism.
With the overarching spirit of "Every Step - A Thousand Miles of Green," this year's event marks a special milestone: the 5th anniversary of the Run for Sea Turtles in Con Dao. Over four seasons, the event has become more than just an annual sporting activity; it has gradually transformed into an emotionally rich gathering place – where every step carries a love for the sea, islands, nature, and the values that need to be preserved.
This year's theme, "Final Chapter - Beyond the Finish Line," doesn't signify an end, but rather a milestone to look back on a journey built on hard work, collaboration, and unwavering belief in the mission of sea turtle conservation.
This is an opportunity for the Run for Sea Turtles to mark its first leg of the journey – where each step not only contributes to spreading community awareness, but also lays the foundation for more appropriate innovations in the future.
A five-year journey beyond the track.
Originating in Con Dao, the Run for Sea Turtles initiative is built on a simple belief: every step can become a meaningful action if placed within a larger goal. For Con Dao, that goal is to protect sea turtles – one of the unique ecological symbols of this island region.
From its early seasons, the event has offered a different way to experience Con Dao: running along coastal roads, experiencing the peaceful rhythm of island life, listening to stories about sea turtles, and spreading the spirit of green living together. Participants come to Con Dao not only to conquer a distance, but also to become part of a journey to preserve the natural values of the island.
Entering its 5th season, the Run for Sea Turtles continues to affirm its role as a sustainable community initiative where sport, tourism, and conservation meet in a close, positive, and emotionally rich experience. The value of this journey lies not only in the number of participants, but in a community that has come together to believe that tourism can leave a positive legacy in the places it visits.
When conservation becomes an intimate experience.
Through each season, the Run for Sea Turtles has contributed to bringing the image of Con Dao closer to the community in a friendly and emotionally rich way. More than just a destination of blue seas, golden sunshine, and historical stories, Con Dao is also perceived as a place where every visitor can participate in small but meaningful actions for nature.
The race created a new experiential trend: coming to Con Dao to exercise, to connect with nature, to learn more about sea turtles, and to spread the spirit of green living. The participation of athletes, families, tourists, partners, and local people helped make the conservation message more relatable, memorable, and impactful.
Through the support of the community and partners, the Run for Sea Turtles also contributes to creating more resources and attention for sea turtle conservation in Con Dao. Each season is a chance to retell the story of sea turtles – not through empty slogans, but through the real experiences of participants on each route.
The Final Chapter is not the end.
After five years, what remains of the Save Turtles Run is not just the seasons that have been held, the finish lines that have been crossed, or the numbers contributed to conservation. What remains is a community that has come together to believe that sport, tourism, and conservation can meet in one meaningful experience.
Therefore, the Final Chapter does not close the chapter on the spirit of "Running for Sea Turtles." On the contrary, this theme marks a point where the journey needs to be expanded: from a single day run to a long-term story; from an annual event to a community platform; from a conservation message to a more sustained call to action for Con Dao.
Beyond The Finish Line embodies that spirit. What Save Turtles Run creates doesn't stop when the runners cross the finish line. It continues in how participants remember Con Dao, in how they tell the story of the sea turtles, in their more responsible travel choices, and in the new connections between businesses, communities, and local communities.
The icon of season 5
One of the highlights of the Run for Sea Turtles 2026 is the medal design, developed as a symbol of the 5th season. More than just commemorating the journey, the medal also signifies continuity, rebirth, and transformation.
The medal design for the 2026 season also acknowledges a special moment for Con Dao – as this land, rich in natural and historical value, enters a new phase with its status as a Special Economic Zone under Ho Chi Minh City. In that spirit, the medal becomes a dual symbol: both honoring the Run for Sea Turtles journey and marking a new milestone for the destination.
The image of a sea turtle in the blue ocean is reminiscent of the central theme of the journey: the conservation of sea turtles and the marine ecosystem of Con Dao Island. The details of the sea turtle's life cycle symbolize resilience, hope, and nature's ability to return.
The straps for the 5km, 10km, and 21km distances feature images of a mother turtle and her baby turtles swimming in the blue sea, symbolizing the spirit of continuity between generations – a spirit that the Run for Sea Turtles aims to spread after its 5th season.
The event was organized by Akyn Hospitality Group and its member hotel, The Secret Con Dao, with partners and sponsors such as FILMORE, VPBank, ActiveFox, Motive, VASCO, Sendecor, Greenland Travel, Pocari Sweat, TH true MILK, Minh Long Ceramics, Ascentic, TipTop, Salonpas, Vision…
