A video showing a large pod of dolphins repeatedly surfacing and moving across the waters near Phu Quy Special Zone in Lam Dong Province has attracted hundreds of thousands of views on social media in recent days.
Many viewers expressed surprise at the sheer number of dolphins, while others called on residents and visitors to help keep the surrounding waters clean so more dolphins would return.
Huynh Van Ka, 26, a resident of Phu Quy Special Zone, told Dantri that he filmed the footage during a fishing trip on October 6, when he spotted the pod near Hon Tranh.
The dolphins were spread across an area of about 1–2km, with groups repeatedly swimming alongside his boat. Based on his observations and years of experience at sea, Ka estimated that the pod contained about 1,000 dolphins.
“Dolphins usually return to the waters around Phu Quy at the beginning and end of the year. This year, there seem to be more of them,” he said.
According to Ka, dolphins tend to swim and travel alongside boats. Pods in the area can remain for about two weeks, depending on sea conditions.
He believes abundant food and clean marine waters are among the reasons the dolphins gather in such large numbers.
Fishermen have also previously reported sightings of blue whales in the waters around Phu Quy.
Do Minh Chuc, deputy chairman of the Phu Quy Special Zone People's Committee, told Dantri that the large number of dolphins spotted on the morning of October 6 suggested that food sources, including squid, were abundant in the waters around the island.
He said the sighting was also a positive sign for the area's marine environment.
Local authorities have urged residents and visitors to minimise their impact on the marine ecosystem and not throw rubbish into the sea, helping preserve natural food sources for marine life.
No tours or other services for dolphin-watching trips have been organised in the area so far, authorities said.
Phu Quy has increasingly attracted visitors with its island scenery and activities such as coral diving, stand-up paddleboarding, trips to Hon Tranh and experiences of local fishing village life.
As of September 6, Phu Quy had welcomed 165,860 visitors, 26,024 more than in 2025, including 4,862 international tourists. The figure puts the island close to its target of 173,000 visitors for the year.
Phu Quy is a small island about 120km south-east of Phan Thiet. The surrounding waters also include Hon Da Cao, Hon Do, Hon Tranh and Hon Hai.
Covering just over 18 square kilometres, the island offers beaches, natural attractions and activities suitable for several days of exploration.
The best time to visit Phu Quy is generally from December to June. Ferry journeys to the island take about 2.5 to 3.5 hours, depending on the vessel.