Vietnam's Nha Trang Bay draws tourists with coral reef diving, freediving during National Day holiday

A representative of Avatar Vasada JSC, which operates the Van San Dao Coral Project at the Vega City Nha Trang resort complex, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper on Sunday that many visitors had chosen its tours to explore the coral nursery beneath the bay in recent days.

The nursery, covering more than two hectare, is home to over 100,000 coral colonies that are being cared for, cultivated and protected, according to the company.

Visitors can dive to see the corals while being supervised by professional divers to ensure their safety.

Tickets cost VND1.2-1.5 million (US$47-59), allowing visitors to explore the underwater coral nursery with scuba equipment for 15-30 minutes.

Visitors can also try freediving in areas featuring stretches of white sand on the seabed of Nha Trang Bay.

Nguyen Duong Chi, a 29-year-old visitor from Ho Chi Minh City, said she was excited to try scuba diving for the first time, wearing an oxygen tank and fins to explore the bay's coral reefs.

"The experience was so exciting. The corals were beautiful. I had only seen corals in movies before, so seeing them with my own eyes was amazing," Chi said.

In addition to viewing the corals, visitors can plant corals themselves on the seabed under the guidance of experts, according to the company.

Marine and island tours in the bay have also been bustling during the first days of the National Day holiday, with many travel companies deploying as many tour guides as possible to meet visitor demand, according to local authorities.

Tran Van Phu, head of the Nha Trang tourist wharf management division under the Nha Trang Bay Management Board, said around 7,000 visitors took marine and island tours in the bay on August 30.

International tourists accounted for nearly 40 percent of the total, Phu said.

The most popular destinations included Mun Islet, Tam Islet and Coral Bay, he added.