Nearly 100 whales spotted off Vietnam’s Phu Quy Island

Nguyen Trong Tan, a local tour guide, on Sunday told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the encounter occurred on March 31 while he and his friends were exploring the waters by speedboat.

Initially, the group was thrilled to see two blue whales, each about 17 meters long, gliding past.

Tan, who grew up in Phu Quy, said he was familiar with the species but had never seen such a large gathering.

About an hour later, the group was stunned as a pod of nearly 100 whales approached.

“It was the first time in my life I had experienced such a magical moment,” he recalled.

Although they were nervous at first, the divers decided to plunge into the water to observe the whales up close.

Tan said the animals were friendly, swimming playfully around the group.

At one point, some divers even touched the whales’ bodies.

The pod eventually moved farther offshore after about an hour.

Phu Quy Special Zone consists of 12 islands covering more than 18 square kilometers, with a population of over 32,000.

Located 56 nautical miles from the beach destination of Phan Thiet, Phu Quy is considered a strategic rear base linked to Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) Special Zone.

Provincial authorities plan to develop Phu Quy into a hub for green marine economy, trade, modern services, and eco-tourism.