Cu Lao Cham: Island of Life

As a foreign correspondent for over 30 years, I have reported on Southeast Asia, focusing particularly on the challenges faced by island communities, who serve as stewards of the ocean. These resilient individuals are staring down the dire effects of climate change as ocean warming, severe cyclones, and mass coral reef bleaching jeopardise their livelihoods.

From the enchanting waters of the Philippines, where the sea-faring Badjao people, known as ‘sea nomads’, first taught me how to dive for natural pearls in the Sulu Sea, to the remote Cu Lao Cham archipelago situated 13 nautical miles off Vietnam’s central coast, where local fishermen vividly demonstrated their profound connection to their East Sea, I recognised the urgency to chronicle their stories.

That’s precisely why I eagerly extended an invitation to Dave and Kathy Monk from Brave New Pictures, a talented husband-and-wife documentary film duo from Chicago to join me on Cu Lao Cham. Upon our arrival on the island on a crisp and clear March day, the serene harbour mirrored a radiant blue hue, while a layer of vibrant corals presented us with a dazzling array of colours – blues, pinks, golden-yellows, and greens, creating a mesmerising spectacle.

Read the full article on Oceanographic Magazine.