A rare and mesmerizing sight off the coast of Hon Dung (Dung Island) in Nha Trang Bay (Khanh Hoa province) has gone viral, after a group of local fishermen encountered a pod of dolphins swimming just meters from their boat on May 18.

Dolphins spotted swimming playfully in Nha Trang Bay.

According to Van, a local fisherman, the dolphins appeared about 10 nautical miles from shore while his group was out fishing. The pod, estimated to include dozens of individuals, swam and leapt in and out of the water for about ten minutes before disappearing into the distance.

"We were all stunned. Seeing dolphins up close like that was magical," Van said. "We quickly grabbed our phones to film the moment and share it online."

The video clips and photos have since spread rapidly across social media, attracting widespread interest from both the public and marine experts.

According to the Nha Trang Bay Management Board, the appearance of dolphins is a highly positive sign - an indicator that the bay’s marine environment is improving and that its ecosystem is recovering.

Dolphin sightings are not entirely new to the region. Similar events occurred in Khanh Hoa waters in 2020 and 2022, with pods reportedly numbering in the hundreds.

Dolphins are marine mammals known for their intelligence and social behavior. Their bodies can range in length from 1.2 to 9.5 meters, with weights between 40 kilograms and over 10 tons. They typically live in pods of several dozen to hundreds in shallow coastal waters and are capable of complex communication. In many cultures, they are regarded as symbols of protection and have even been reported aiding humans in distress at sea.

The recent sighting has been widely interpreted as not only a beautiful moment of nature but also a hopeful sign that conservation and environmental protection efforts are making a difference in Vietnam’s coastal waters.

Xuan Ngoc