In mid April, Vien competed at the Oceanman Maldives 2026 championship, taking part in the 10km, 2km and team relay events. She impressed international observers by winning four gold medals.
During her stay, the decorated swimmer joined a popular diving tour to swim with sharks, one of the Maldives’ most sought after tourist activities.
Unlike the fearsome image often associated with sharks, those commonly encountered in the Maldives are nurse sharks, a relatively docile species found in tropical and subtropical waters across the Pacific, Indian Ocean and the Caribbean.
To meet tourist demand, destinations such as Maafushi island offer professionally organised shark diving tours at varying price points, typically around USD 100 depending on the package.
Vietnamese travellers visiting the Maldives can benefit from a 30 day visa on arrival policy for tourism purposes. Visitors are required to hold a passport valid for at least six months, along with return flight tickets and hotel booking confirmation.
Nguyen Thi Anh Vien is widely regarded as the most successful swimmer in Vietnam’s history, with a record 25 gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games.
Oceanman is a prestigious global open water swimming series held across Europe, the Americas and the Asia Pacific. The 2026 Maldives edition attracted a record 532 athletes from 40 countries and territories.