Two whales were spotted feeding near Cu Lao Mai Nha Island off Vietnam’s central coast, attracting attention from tourists and local residents, the Tuoi Tre news site reported.
Tran Thi My Ha, a local tour guide, recorded the scene at around 9:45 a.m. on May 15 while taking visitors on a boat tour near the island, located in Dak Lak Province. “One whale was estimated to be about 10 meters long, while the other measured around six to seven meters in length,” Ha said.
The pair repeatedly surfaced and dived while hunting fish, delighting tourists on nearby boats. Visitors filmed and photographed the whales as seabirds swooped toward schools of fish gathering near the animals’ open mouths. The whales then suddenly closed their mouths, dived beneath the surface and slapped their tails against the water, sending white sprays into the air.
According to local fisheries authorities, whale sightings are relatively common in waters off the former Binh Dinh and Phu Yen provinces during this time of year, as the animals migrate along fish currents in search of food. The sightings are a positive sign of healthy marine ecosystems and abundant food sources in the area.
‘Stand banh mi’ trend fuels craze for Vietnamese banh mi
A viral social media trend dubbed “Stand banh mi,” inspired by the classic song Stand by Me, is drawing growing numbers of foreign tourists to Vietnam in search of the country’s iconic street sandwich.
Thousands of TikTok users have posted videos of themselves dancing while eating Vietnamese banh mi, using the phrase “Stand banh mi” as a playful pun. The trend has spread across international social media platforms and online communities dedicated to Vietnamese food.
Aliyah, a 20-year-old tourist from Britain, said she traveled to Danang after watching videos of travelers eating banh mi on Vietnamese sidewalks. She said Vietnamese banh mi stands out for its crispy crust, roast pork with crackling skin, pickled vegetables and rich sauces. Her boyfriend can eat up to 10 banh mi a day, trying different fillings, Aliyah told the VnExpress news site. Videos of her street-side banh mi experiences in Vietnam have attracted hundreds of thousands of views on social media.
The trend has also sparked discussions in the “Vietnamese Banh Mi Appreciation Society,” an online community with more than 200,000 foreign members. Beyond sharing recommendations for popular stalls, members debate details ranging from bread texture and fillings to regional differences in flavor.
Nguyen Tien Dat, a representative of the Hanoi Tourism Association, said social media trends such as “Vietnam is Calling,” “Vietnam Hauls” and “Stand banh mi” are helping boost tourism in Vietnam. “International visitors are increasingly exploring local culture through landscapes, street food and fashion,” he said.
Communal kitchen for families of child cancer patients
A free communal kitchen beside Hue Central Hospital has become a lifeline for dozens of families caring for children with cancer, helping them ease financial pressures during lengthy treatment periods.
Known as “Hope House,” the facility has operated since 2015 and currently supports around 50 families. Parents can use gas stoves, cooking utensils, refrigerators and washing machines free of charge, needing only to bring their own ingredients.
Nguyen Cong Ty, 43, whose 14-year-old son is being treated for bone cancer, said the kitchen eased the financial strain of staying in Hue for months of treatment. “Children with cancer need home-cooked meals, but renting a room with a kitchen is too expensive,” Ty told the VnExpress news site.
The kitchen is located near a local market, allowing parents to buy fresh ingredients daily. Families said preparing meals themselves helps children eat better than hospital boxed meals.
Truong Kim Yen, head nurse of the pediatric oncology department and manager of Hope House, said monthly operating costs for rice, gas, electricity and water total about VND10 million and still depend largely on charitable donations. “We try not to let the kitchen close because the children need meals every day,” Yen said.
Two rare sea turtles rescued on Con Dao
Two environmental workers rescued two endangered sea turtles trapped in drifting fishing nets off Con Dao, in an incident that has drawn praise for raising awareness about marine conservation.
The workers discovered the exhausted turtles while collecting marine waste along the coastline on May 14, authorities in the Con Dao Special Zone said. They cut away the nets entangled around the animals before releasing them safely back into the sea.
The rescued turtles were identified as green sea turtles, a protected species under Vietnam’s wildlife conservation laws, according to the Nguoi Lao Dong news site. Authorities described the rescue as a meaningful act that promotes environmental awareness and encourages community responsibility in protecting marine ecosystems.
Con Dao Island is known for its rich marine biodiversity and as one of the country’s most important nesting grounds for sea turtles. However, marine plastic waste and abandoned fishing gear remain major threats to wildlife in the area.
