On November 18, officials from Long Dien Dong Commune (Dong Hai District, Bac Lieu Province) confirmed that fishermen near the Cai Cung estuary had successfully rescued a pod of stranded dolphins.  

“The incident occurred around 9:30 AM on November 15. Several fishermen spotted more than 20 dolphins stranded during low tide. Fearing for their safety, they gathered to keep the dolphins’ skin moist by pouring water on them and tried to push them back into the sea,” said a representative from Long Dien Dong Commune.  

Due to the dolphins’ large size, however, moving them proved difficult. The fishermen eventually waited for the tide to rise, allowing the pod to swim back to deeper waters.  

The official noted that such incidents are rare in the area. The dolphins were stranded due to low tide but were fortunate to be found on a beach that wasn’t too shallow, enabling them to recover and swim away unharmed.  

During the rescue operation, some residents filmed the event and shared it on social media, sparking widespread attention. One video, posted by Tran My Ai (32 years old, Long Dien Dong Commune), attracted nearly 1 million views and 1,700 comments.  

“I’ve lived by the Cai Cung beach my entire life, and this was the first time I’d ever seen stranded dolphins,” Ai shared. On the day of the incident, she and her husband were collecting shrimp and shellfish when they noticed a strong seasonal wind, prompting them to wait onshore.  

Later, when they ventured into the shallow waters, they discovered the pod of about 20 dolphins struggling. They called for help, and everyone rushed to assist.  

Ai’s husband attempted to pull the dolphins to deeper water, but each dolphin, weighing around 100 kilograms and thrashing strongly, was challenging to move. The fishermen surrounded the pod, pouring water over them to keep them safe and steering them away from the shore.  

Curious about the rare event, Ai filmed and livestreamed it on her social media. She hadn’t anticipated the video’s popularity, as it quickly went viral across various online groups.  

The clip drew numerous comments, with viewers expressing both amazement and concern for the dolphins' safety.  

- User Minh Cuong commented, “These dolphins are common in the southern seas. At the start of the seasonal winds, they often follow schools of fish into river estuaries to hunt.”  

- Another user, Tai Nguyen, wrote, “Dolphins are the fishermen’s friends. They’ve been known to save lives during sea accidents. Returning them to the sea is the right thing to do.”  

Ai emphasized that the local community holds dolphins in high regard. “We live and depend on the sea, and we see dolphins as gentle, friendly creatures. No one here would harm them,” she said.  

For fishermen like Ai, the sighting of dolphins is considered a good omen, symbolizing hope for a prosperous fishing season. “That’s why we always try to protect and help them whenever they’re in trouble,” she added.  

Despite their deep connection to the sea, Ai noted the daily struggles of her trade. Long hours of grueling labor often leave families barely making ends meet. Yet, the dolphins’ appearance brings a glimmer of hope and motivation to persevere.  

Ngoc Lai