The animal was spotted around midday drifting onto the sand in Tam Thang Ward, HCM City. It had already died when waves carried it ashore.
Authorities said rescuers quickly examined the carcass and coordinated with relevant agencies to handle the case in line with regulations.
Initial observations identified the animal as a green sea turtle, a rare and protected species in Vietnam.
The cause of death has not been determined. Experts say sea turtles can die from various factors, including entanglement in fishing nets, collisions with vessels, ingestion of plastic waste or exhaustion during migration.
The incident attracted crowds and follows similar cases of dead sea turtles washing up along Vung Tau’s coastline in recent years.