Birds of a feather flock together to Vietnam's last island outpost

By Nguyen Sy Duc   July 2, 2017 | 08:55 pm PT
The tiny uninhabited island off Binh Thuan Province attracts thousands of birds every summer.
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Its international name is Poulo Sapate, but in Vietnam it is known as Hon Hai because it looks like a shoe called "hai" that Vietnamese people used to wear. Geographically speaking, Hon Hai is a huge limestone lying in the middle of the South China Sea, known as the East Sea in Vietnam.

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There is no fresh water on the island, explaining why it is always pure and peaceful. Those who want to reach the island have to hop on a fishing boat before jumping into a coracle for the rest of the trip.

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Every year in June and July, thousands of birds return to this island to lay eggs after months spent on the wing.

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Here comes a swallow.

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This seabird is not scared of heights!

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Welcome to the world, little chick!

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A small, speckled egg.

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This little island, which is only 130 meters long and 60 meters wide, may be uninhabited, but that does not mean it has escaped human hands. Hon Hai stands in a critical position, marking Vietnam's eastern boundary on the world map.

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The country has built a lighthouse and a stone plinth to mark its territory.

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Another important construction on this island is a tunnel stretching 170 meters through the huge rock to the summit.

 
 
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