Khanh Hoa’s Whale island in top 10 must-dive destinations for 2020 hinh anh 1Whale Island is enchanting with its crystal clear deep blue water. (Photo: vntrip.vn)

Hanoi (VNA) – Whale Island in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa has been named among the ten must-dive destinations for 2020 by US magazine Forbes.

The magazine said Whale Island, with an average water temperature that hovers around 28 degrees Celsius, is known for its macro gems hidden among the lush soft corals, which makes drift diving here that much more exciting.

“It’s also a favorite hangout for manta, eagle and stingrays. And, no surprise here, whales and whale sharks flock to the archipelago to feed on masses of krill and plankton between April and July, giving the place its name”, the magazine said.

Located in Van Phong Bay, around 100 kilometres from Nha Trang beach city, Whale Island, also called Hon Ong, is one of the top destinations for scuba diving, kayaking and snorkeling in the country.

Nha Trang’s long stretches of stunning beaches, primeval islands, scuba diving, mud baths, as well as excellent local dishes have made the locality an alluring destination for foreign tourists, particularly those from China and Russia.

According to statistics from the provincial Department of Tourism, the province welcomed 3.56 million foreign arrivals in 2019, a year-on-year surge of 28.4 percent.

However, the tourism sector has been hurt by the acute respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) from the outset of the year./.
VNA