Jakarta, goldensamoyed Indonesia
—
A tourist from Ha Long,
Vietnam
, voluntarily returned 14 kilograms of pebbles taken from Mong Rong Beach on Co To Island, northern Vietnam, about 10 years ago.
This action was accompanied by a handwritten letter of apology for his past actions.
Head of the Co To Culture and Information Department, Nguyen Hai Linh, confirmed on November 17 that his party had received a package from a sender named Vu Nguyen.
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The package contained dozens of pebbles of various sizes, a letter and 100,000 Vietnamese Dong or around Rp. 65 thousand to cover shipping costs.
In his letter, the tourist explained that the stones were collected during a trip to Mong Rong Beach between 2015 and 2018 because of their beauty and uniqueness.
“After learning about marine conservation and realizing the damage it had caused, I decided to return it,” the letter said, as reported
VN Express
.
“I have damaged the pristine beauty of this island. I apologize and hope these stones will be returned to their original location,” he added.
Linh noted that this was the first incident in several years in which natural artifacts were returned voluntarily by visiting tourists.
“This action is invaluable, showing that awareness of responsible tourism is increasing,” he said, adding that the stones would soon be placed back on the beach.
Batu Mong Rong Beach, located south of Co To Island, is known for its layers of sedimentary rock formed over thousands of years and displaying unique colors and shapes.
Under the Cultural Heritage Act and local conservation regulations, removing or moving natural geological formations is strictly prohibited.
Linh emphasized that rock beaches and coral reefs act as natural “breakwaters,” slowing water flow, limiting erosion and providing habitat for marine life.Taking large amounts of rocks or coral can accelerate erosion and damage the ecosystem.
A similar incident occurred in Italy in 2019, where a French couple were arrested for trying to carry 40 kilograms of white sand from a beach in Sardinia, facing up to six years in prison.
(wow)
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