A whale shark believed to measure around six meters in length was filmed swimming near the coast of Duy Nghia Commune in Da Nang. 

On June 3, Pham Duoc, Chairman of the People's Committee of Duy Nghia Commune, confirmed that the coastal area where the large fish was filmed in a video circulating on social media belongs to the former Duy Hai Commune, now part of Duy Nghia.

According to Duoc, images from the video suggest the animal is most likely a whale shark, a species locally known among fishermen as "ca ong sua." This is not the first time whale sharks have appeared in waters off Duy Nghia.

Earlier, a social media account named "Vinh Cuu" posted footage showing a giant fish swimming near the shore in the Cua Dai area. The account owner said the video was recorded on the morning of June 2 while out at sea.

The person who filmed the footage estimated the animal's length at about six meters. It had a large body and swam slowly near the water's surface. Whale sharks are known for their gentle nature and pose no threat to humans.

"Whale sharks occasionally appear in these waters, but it is very difficult to capture close-up images of them. Yesterday, sea conditions were excellent, so I was fortunate to record a clear video," the account owner said.

Local fishermen said whale sharks tend to appear seasonally, especially when food sources are abundant in the area. The species primarily feeds on plankton and small fish. Despite their enormous size, whale sharks are slow-moving, peaceful animals that do not endanger people at sea.

The sighting adds to a growing number of whale encounters recorded along Vietnam's coastline in recent years, reflecting the rich biodiversity of the country's marine ecosystems.

Ha Nam