The waters of Quang Ninh, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Quy Nhon, Phu Quoc, and Con Dao all provide diving services to see corals.
Snorkeling to see corals is chosen by many tourists when vacationing in the seas, with a variety of services. Along the coast from North to South, visitors can choose to see corals on a day tour, use a snorkel, gas cylinder or wear a hat to walk in the sea. Here are some suggested places and services, according to local tour guides and providers.
Photo: Shutter stock
Snorkeling at Co To Island, Quang Ninh
Co To Island is the only licensed coral diving service in the North. Implemented from April 2023, visitors can now see corals in Cung Ton, Chim Island and Ong Tich Island in Thanh Lan island commune, about 80 km from the mainland.
The diving tour costs 1.5 million VND per person including a tram to pick up, canoe to the dive site, fruits, drinking water, diving equipment, insurance. In addition, there is also an underwater walking tour for 1.3 million VND. Visitors can also book additional boating services, underwater photography, and eating seafood at sea for from 100,000 VND to 300,000 VND per person. Children over 6 years old can participate in the activity.
For sea walking, visitors will be equipped with a special hat, weighing about 30 kg, capable of withstanding high pressure underwater at a depth of about 20 m. The helmet has a hundreds of meters long air hose connected from the pump on board to pump oxygen to divers.
Photo: VnE
Scuba diving at Son Tra Peninsula, Da Nang
Located 8 km from the center of Da Nang , Son Tra peninsula has beautiful beaches such as Nam beach, Rang beach, Butt beach, and North beach. These beaches have a large slope, clear water, suitable for fishing and snorkeling to see corals. Each day tour costs about 600,000 VND per person.
The tour will depart from the city center in the morning. After visiting some places, visitors go to the coral diving area. Son Tra Peninsula has five locations in the coral protection zone, with a total protection area of about 134 hectares, including Sup Island, Butt Beach, Nom Beach, East Bai Bac, and Huc Lo.
The area where you can dive to see corals is on the edge of Sap Island, about 1.8 km from the shore. Visitors will be equipped with life jackets, goggles, and snorkels to swim freely and watch corals in the form of shallow diving.
Photo: VNN
Snorkeling in Cu Lao Cham, Quang Nam
In a one-day tour to explore Cu Lao Cham Island, besides visiting famous tourist attractions on the island, visitors will often combine swimming and snorkeling to see corals.
The canoe will take visitors to Dai Island, Lap Beach to participate in the experience of swimming and watching corals. Before going into the sea, visitors are instructed, equipped with life jackets, specialized glasses, snorkels and shallow diving, not to affect the protected coral reefs in Lá island, Dai island or North beach, Nan beach, Tra beach.
The activity lasts for about 30 minutes, before visitors return to the beach for lunch. The price of the adult package tour ranges from 500,000 VND to 700,000 VND.
Photo: Scuba Diving Fage
Diving in Ly Son, Quang Ngai
Diving activities in Ly Son are concentrated on Be Island (An Binh Island) in the form of shallow diving. If you are on Be Island, you can buy a tour here, while guests from Lon Island, actively move to Be Island or book a package tour from Lon Island.
The experience tour has a regular price of 550,000 VND per person including shuttle bus to visit spots, casting fishing nets, diving to see corals, SUP paddling during the day. Visitors will be guided to take a basket boat to Bai Sau, distribute life jackets, diving goggles and watch corals at a depth of 1-2 m.
Photo: Vi vu Ly Son
Snorkeling in Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh
The two main places to see corals in Binh Dinh are Ky Co, Nhon Ly commune and Kho island, Nhon Hai commune. Dry Island is located in the bay, so it is quite quiet, is one of the most beautiful coral viewing spots in Quy Nhon, allowed to exploit tourism. Corals in Hon Khoi are located close to the shore, only 1-2 m from sea level.
Just by wearing a life jacket, glasses, and facing the sea, visitors can see the beauty of corals with schools of small colorful fish swimming around. In summer, there are also apricot seaweeds, so it is suitable for tourists who like to take pictures.
The price for sea walking service in Quy Nhon ranges from 1 to 1.2 million VND per person for 20 minutes and 15 photos. Diving with a gas tank costs about 700,000 VND to 800,000 VND. Snorkeling is usually included in the island tour, or costs 50,000 VND for children.
Image: Dung Nhan
Snorkeling at Vinh Hy Bay, Ninh Thuan
Located near Ninh Chu beach and Nui Chua National Park, Vinh Hy Bay is one of the most beautiful bays in Vietnam. Here, visitors should take a tour of the bay by glass-bottom boat. During the 2-hour journey, visitors will take a boat through Yen Cave, Turtle Island, Rai Cave, then be provided with the necessary equipment to dive and explore the underwater world including diving suits, snorkels.
Guests will follow the train for about 10 people, the price is from 1.5 million VND to 2 million VND per boat. At the end of the journey, the ship will take visitors to Bai Coc to rest and enjoy fresh seafood, at their own expense. Some tours include lunch, visitors should ask carefully before booking.
Photo: Diving Group
Snorkeling in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa
Nha Trang is one of the first destinations in Vietnam to organize snorkeling tours to see corals. From Nha Trang City, visitors will buy tours to islands such as Silk Island, Mieu Island, Bai Tranh, and Mot Island. In addition to sightseeing boats and swimming off the island, visitors will be able to participate in diving experiences such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and walking on the seabed.
About 2 years ago, some previously famous coral diving spots in Nha Trang such as Mun Island were asked to stop operating to protect coral reefs and marine ecosystems.
Depending on the provider, the price of a day tour to the island including lunch ranges from 600,000 to 800,000 VND. If you participate in scuba diving and sea walking, the cost will be doubled. In Nha Trang , there are also diving classes. Students must register in advance to reserve a seat and have an eligible health check-up. Each course costs from 10 million VND.
Photo: Viator
Snorkeling in Phu Quy, Binh Thuan
Bai Can on Phu Quy Island is a spot for lovers of SUP paddling and diving. This is a coral reef with an area of about one square kilometer, located in the eastern part of the island. Corals include many types such as rock corals, table corals, cabbage corals combined with grape seaweed carpets and many colorful fish species.
To get to the coral viewing point, visitors move about 300 m from the shore. Tours often combine SUP paddling and scuba diving. The best time to dive for coral reefs is from March to August every year. Visitors are equipped with SUP paddles, paddles, life jackets, diving goggles, snorkels, propellers. Divers will be photographed underwater or on the SUP using a flycam.
The price of scuba diving ranges from 250,000 VND to 350,000 VND per adult. The package tour costs about 800,000 VND.
Image: Huynh Ka
Snorkeling in Phu Quoc, Kien Giang
Visitors to Phu Quoc often choose a tour program of 3-4 scenic islands, traveling in a day by canoe, from 7-8 am to 16-17 pm, departing from An Thoi port in the South Island.
The journey is popular through islands such as Mong Tay island, May Rut island (Inside and Out), Gam Ghi island, Roi island and some other islands. Guests will have a lunch on the island, taking photos with a professional crew (underwater or on a SUP from a flycam). The tour price is from about 550,000 to 700,000 VND, including snorkeling to see shallow corals. Note, if in the North Island, visitors will have to pay a travel surcharge.
If you want to experience more coral viewing, you can sign up for a walk on the seabed at the Coral Park for tourism. This cost outside the tour, ranges from 1 to 1.2 million VND per person. Visitors are not allowed to enter the Phu Quoc Marine Protected Area, which is a coral sanctuary.
Photo: Vinpearl
Snorkeling in Con Dao, Ba Ria - Vung Tau
The best time to scuba dive in Con Dao is from March to September every year. The best snorkeling spots in Con Dao are Bay Canh island, Tai island, and Cau island. Tourists who are afraid to move can visit Ong Dung beach.
According to an announcement from Con Dao National Park, some corals in Con Son Bay, Dam Tre and Hon Cau are being bleached due to rising sea temperatures. This area has been being surveyed by scientists since May to find solutions to save corals and limit tourism exploitation.
Coral diving tours in Con Dao cost an average of 700,000 VND per person, including tours and scuba diving. Visitors are provided with items for coral diving activities in Con Dao from the checkpoint and ensure safety during the diving process.
Photo: VnE
According to VnE