According to authorities in Song Cau Ward, Dak Lak Province, the incident occurred at around 1 pm on April 9 when fishermen discovered the whale stranded along the coast.
Local residents attempted three times to push the animal back into deeper waters, but it repeatedly drifted ashore.
The whale, weighing approximately two tonnes, washes ashore in Dak Lak Province on April 9 (Photo: Minh Nguyen).
Do Thanh Dung, head of Vinh Hoa residential area in Song Cau Ward, said later that day that the whale was eventually brought onto land. If it dies, local fishermen plan to conduct a traditional burial ceremony on the morning of April 10.
Fishermen are expected to bury the whale according to custom (Photo: Minh Nguyen).
Whales are deeply revered by coastal fishing communities in Vietnam, where they are believed to bring good fortune. When whales are found stranded or weak, fishermen often make efforts to rescue them, and if they die, they are given ceremonial burials in line with long-standing local customs.