Tourist Returns 14 kg of Pebbles to Co To Island After a Decade

A rare apology sparks a wider lesson in responsible travel

A visitor from Ha Long has mailed back 14 kilograms of pebbles taken from Mong Rong Beach on Co To Island in northern Vietnam a decade ago, along with a handwritten apology and cash to cover delivery. The Co To Department of Culture and Information confirmed receiving the package on Nov. 17 and said the stones will be returned to the shoreline. The unusual gesture has ignited a wider conversation about responsible travel, the fragility of island ecosystems, and the growing public awareness that even small souvenirs can add up to a big loss for nature.

According to officials, the sender collected the stones between 2015 and 2018, drawn by their shapes and colors. Years later, after learning about marine conservation, the traveler chose to return the pebbles and express regret for removing them from their natural setting. Local authorities described the return as the first voluntary case of its kind in many years, and a sign that public attitudes toward nature protection are shifting.

The letter that accompanied the package conveyed that change in outlook. The traveler wrote candidly about the harm caused to a place cherished by visitors and residents alike, and asked that the stones be placed back where they belong.

In the letter, the tourist said:

“I have damaged the pristine beauty of the island. I apologize and hope that these rocks will be returned to their original location.”

Nguyen Hai Linh, head of the Co To Department of Culture and Information, praised the move. He said the pebbles will be returned to Mong Rong Beach and used the case to remind visitors that taking natural items like rocks or corals degrades the island’s coast.

“This action is very valuable, showing that awareness of responsible tourism is improving.”

What happened on Co To Island

The department said the parcel came from a sender identified as Vu Nguyen. Inside were pebbles of different sizes, a handwritten note, and VND100,000 attached for shipping. Officials plan to return the stones to the spot where they were collected and are using the case to reinforce guidance for visitors. The message is simple: do not remove rocks, corals, sand, shells, or marine life. Such acts are prohibited under Vietnam’s Cultural Heritage Law and local conservation rules because they damage geological formations and coastal ecosystems.

Mong Rong Rock Beach, in the south of Co To Island, is famous for layered sedimentary formations created over thousands of years. The rock strata sweep across the shoreline in bands of color and texture. They are the product of slow natural forces. Human removal disrupts that record and the protective functions these rock beds provide.

Mong Rong Rock Beach geology

Layered sedimentary rocks at Mong Rong were formed by the gradual deposition and compression of sediments, later shaped by waves, currents, and weather. The result is a natural gallery of patterns and angles. Pebbles on such coasts are not decorative extras. They are part of a living system. When visitors take them away, the missing pieces leave gaps in a natural barrier that took centuries to form.

Why do pebbles matter to beaches and reefs

Pebbles and cobbles act like armor for the coastline. When waves hit a rocky or shingle beach, that loose layer absorbs and deflects energy. The stones shift and settle with the tide, slowing the water, protecting the sand and soil behind them, and reducing the force that would otherwise erode cliffs and dunes. Remove enough stones and more wave energy reaches the shore. Erosion accelerates. The coastline retreats.

Those stones also create microhabitats. Gaps between pebbles hold moisture and shelter small creatures. Algae attach to them, then grazers feed on the algae, then fish feed on the grazers. Tiny crabs, snails, and insects find cover in crevices. What looks like a simple pile of stones is a maze of homes for life at the water’s edge.

Coral reefs perform a similar protective role offshore, while supporting some of the richest biodiversity in the sea. Coral heads break waves before they reach beaches, and the maze of branches provides habitat for juvenile fish. Removing corals is illegal and cruel to marine life. It also undermines the coast by removing one of its natural shields and can degrade water quality when disturbed.

Many travelers assume that pocketing a few shells or stones is harmless. On popular beaches, small acts by many people add up. Millions of visitors, over many seasons, can strip a shoreline of the very features that make it special. Once erosion begins, it is hard to stop, and the entire beach experience suffers.

The law: what you can and cannot take

Vietnam’s Cultural Heritage Law and local conservation regulations make it illegal to remove or displace natural geological formations on protected shores like Mong Rong. Authorities can confiscate items and penalize offenses. The rule exists for a reason. Taking stones is not a victimless act. It exposes the beach, harms wildlife, and erases the history of a landscape.

Other destinations face the same challenge. In Italy, authorities in Sardinia have seized sand and pebbles from tourists at airports for years. One well known case in 2019 involved a couple caught with 40 kilograms of white sand in their car. Penalties on the island range from hundreds to thousands of euros, and police have warned that larger cases can trigger criminal charges. The aim is not to punish travelers for the sake of it. The goal is to protect beaches that cannot replace what is taken at the pace of tourism.

In Greece, Skiathos has confronted a wave of losses at Lalaria Beach, a bay that rose to fame after it appeared in a popular film. Locals placed boxes at the airport labeled for pebble returns, ran a campaign urging people to take a picture instead of a pebble, and backed it with fines. Coastguard officers inspect boats that land at the cove and boat captains warn passengers before they step ashore.

On Spain’s Canary Islands, Timanfaya National Park has urged visitors to leave volcanic rocks in place and has warned of fines for theft from protected areas. Park staff say that stones and sand are often found in luggage at the airport. Volcanic rocks shelter fungi, insects, and small plants, and they help soils resist erosion. Removing them creates a domino effect from insects to lizards to birds.

A global pattern of remorse returns

Across Asia and the Pacific, parks and island communities report a steady trickle of packages filled with stones that visitors took as souvenirs and later sent back. On Thailand’s small island of Koh Hingham, a famous story warns that anyone who takes a black pebble will be cursed. The national park office that oversees the island receives stones by mail each year from people who regret taking them. The myth may be colorful, but the outcome is real. The rocks go back to the shore.

In Hawaii, parks have documented cases of visitors mailing back rocks after hearing stories about misfortune that follows people who remove them. Rangers remind travelers that the practice is illegal and that the rocks form part of living landscapes, including areas that are culturally sacred. Whether the motive is respect for culture, fear of bad luck, or a personal change of heart, the returns reflect a growing awareness that nature is not a gift shop.

Education, culture, and enforcement work best together. Clear rules set expectations. Stories and local values help people understand why the rules exist. Visible patrols and airport checks reinforce them. When those elements align, behavior changes and places heal.

What inspired the return in Vietnam

The Co To case did not happen in a vacuum. The island has seen a rise in grass roots conservation, including citizen projects that restore coral reefs. One effort led by diver and entrepreneur Pham Van Duc has focused on bringing back staghorn coral in the waters around Chim Islet. Coral fragments are attached to steel frames and transplanted at about 10 meters depth, which protects them from storm surge and anchors them as they grow. The team reports that they have identified dozens of coral species in local waters and that staghorn coral, once nearly gone from the area, is now recovering across an estimated 500 square meters of seabed.

Coral restoration is not a quick fix. It requires funding, careful site choice, and ongoing care to keep algae, predators, and storms at bay during the early stages. When it works, it brings back habitat for fish and invertebrates, improves the experience for snorkelers, and strengthens the natural barrier that protects beaches. The more intact the offshore reef and the more complete the beach pebble cover, the stronger the coast’s defense in heavy weather.

Officials say that rising public awareness, including stories of local conservation work, is helping visitors rethink old habits. The return of the Mong Rong pebbles is part of that shift. Linh urged both residents and visitors to preserve Co To’s geology and marine life by taking nothing away and leaving nothing behind that does not belong there.

Nguyen Hai Linh said:

“Take nothing from nature and leave nothing that does not belong to the island.”

How destinations can protect geology without alienating visitors

Simple steps make a difference. Clear signs at piers and beaches explain that rocks and sand are part of the island’s heritage and must stay in place. Tour guides can show visitors how the geology formed and why that story is worth protecting. Rangers can give short talks at busy arrival points. The tone matters. People respond when they feel invited to be guardians, not treated as suspects.

Return programs help. Skiathos showed that airport boxes labeled for pebble returns can work. Islands can run amnesty campaigns that allow people to send items back with no penalty. Public posts showing stones returned and placed back on the shore can encourage others to follow.

Digital outreach reaches people before they arrive. Campaigns that say take a picture, not a pebble, resonate when paired with photo contests that reward the best nature shots. Visitor center exhibits can include a scale that shows how many stones vanish each year and what that means for erosion. Apps and QR codes can point out viewpoints where the geology is best seen but not touched.

Community projects turn curiosity into care. Beach monitoring walks and reef planting tours let visitors learn and contribute. Local schools and youth groups can team up with tour companies to host short conservation sessions. When travelers join in, they become allies who spread the message at home.

Practical tips for travelers

Travelers can keep memories and keep beaches intact at the same time. Choose photographs and locally made crafts instead of natural items. Read the rules before visiting a protected site. If in doubt, ask a ranger or guide. Carry a small trash bag to leave the shore cleaner than you found it. If you realize you took something you should not have, return it to the local authority or park office.

• Leave stones, shells, corals, and sand where they are.
• Check local rules before collecting anything from nature.
• Report shops that sell protected items from beaches or reefs.
• Join a guided activity like reef monitoring or a beach care walk.
• Carry a reusable bottle and bag to cut waste on the coast.
• If you took a natural item in the past, send it back.

Key Points

• A tourist from Ha Long returned 14 kilograms of pebbles to Co To Island after taking them between 2015 and 2018, sending a handwritten apology and funds for shipping.
• Co To’s culture department said the stones will be placed back at Mong Rong Beach and called the act a valuable sign of improving awareness.
• Vietnam’s Cultural Heritage Law and local rules prohibit removing natural geological formations from protected sites.
• Mong Rong Rock Beach’s layered sedimentary formations developed over thousands of years and help protect the shoreline.
• Similar problems and penalties exist worldwide, including fines in Sardinia and Greece and seizures of sand and stones at airports.
• Parks in Spain and Hawaii have received rocks mailed back by remorseful visitors, reflecting a wider shift toward responsible tourism.
• Local conservation around Co To, including coral restoration efforts, is rebuilding habitats and strengthening natural coastal defenses.
• Travelers can help by taking only photos, buying local crafts, joining conservation activities, and leaving natural items in place.