Are There Sharks In Vietnam? Know Before You Go

Vietnam is known for its natural beauty – and it has a bit of everything from mountains to beaches. But are there sharks in Vietnam?

This is a question I had before I visited, and I imagine it’s one you have too. Now, after spending over a month travelling all throughout Vietnam, I know the answer.

To cut to the chase, yes, there are sharks in Vietnam. But don’t worry, you probably won’t even see one during your trip.

I’ll go into more detail throughout this post as I’ve created an in-depth guide to sharks in Vietnam.

Are There Sharks In Vietnam?

Yes, there are sharks in Vietnam.

Good news if you’re a shark-lover, bad news if you are Galeophobic.

Vietnam has a border with the South China Sea the whole way up its East Coast, and this part of the Pacific Ocean is known to have sharks, meaning it’s possible to see sharks in Vietnam.

Don’t worry, it’s not particularly common to see sharks while visiting. I didn’t see any and I spent more than one month in the country.

If you do happen to see a shark, it’s most likely going to be a baby shark (if you have kids, they might give you PTSD to the song).

Vietnam has a tropical climate, meaning the water is warm, which attracts sharks as they prefer these conditions. And humans too, which is why you go to Vietnam, right? 😉

Although I bet you didn’t know that JAWS actually has an underlying Vietnam War theme.

A panoramic view of an empty beach with golden sand, a few strolling people, and lush palm trees along the shoreline.

If you are scared of sharks, don’t worry, you can relax on the beach and swim in the sea with no concerns. You probably won’t even see one, but if you do, the sharks in Vietnam are usually more scared of humans than humans are of sharks.

The likes of the Blacktip Reef Shark are known to be shy animals and in the event one approaches you, it’s out of curiosity rather than anything else.

To be honest, if you are to be scared of something from the ocean in Vietnam it should be jellyfish rather than sharks. They’re much more common and actually pose a threat.

Underwater view of a grey reef shark swimming near a vibrant coral reef teeming with various fish species

As of writing this in April 2024, the last recorded shark attack in Vietnam was in 2010 and there have only been 10 attacks since records began, none of which were fatalities.

For reference, 18 million people visit Vietnam every year. So your chances of being attacked by a shark are incredibly slim.

On the other hand, if you do want to spot sharks during your trip, there are some great shark species to look out for and some hotspots where they are commonly seen.

But to answer the question, yes, there are sharks in Vietnam. You are unlikely to see one, but yes, they will be in the ocean.

What Types Of Sharks Are In Vietnam?

There are lots of different species of sharks in the Vietnamese waters. In fact, there are 38 different types of sharks which have been spotted off the coast of Vietnam.

The most common sharks to be spotted are:

Blacktip Sharks
Bigeye Thresher Sharks
Bull Sharks
Dusky Sharks
Coral Catsharks
Whale Sharks
Great White Sharks
Great Hammerhead Sharks
Whitetip Sharks
Bamboo Sharks

A single shark swimming above the sandy ocean floor in clear blue waters with sun rays filtering through

But the list is huge! If you’re an animal lover, knowing the waters are filled with some of the most iconic sharks like Great Whites and Hammerheads is amazing.

The marine life found in Vietnam in general is spectacular – especially in the coral reefs.

Are The Sharks In Vietnam Dangerous?

For the most part, the sharks in Vietnam are not dangerous.

If you are only swimming when you are at the beach, you will be in shallow waters which sharks don’t tend to venture into.

On rare occasions when a shark does go into shallow waters, it’s most likely to be Blacktip Reef Sharks which are scared of humans so an attack is unlikely.

The vast majority of sharks in Vietnam pose no threats to humans as the most common types are shy animals.

Shark Attacks In Vietnam

Records of shark attacks in Vietnam seem to be hard to come by online. The latest database I could find shows the last attack in 2010 but it wasn’t a fatality.

There are some stories about a brutal shark attack during the Vietnam War which killed a lot of American soldiers. But the statistics throughout the article don’t make sense, so how true it is, I’m not sure.

But as I said earlier, the sharks in Vietnam are generally shy so an attack is unlikely. And if you somehow do get attacked, it’s not likely to be fatal.

Where Are There Sharks In Vietnam?

There are sharks all along the coast of Vietnam. If you are unfamiliar with the geography of Vietnam, it’s a long strip of a country which has a coastline the whole way up. Anywhere there is ocean water, there is a chance of sharks in Vietnam, no matter how small.

In places like Nha Trang and Phu Quoc Island, sharks are at the most common. Although the sharks that do inhabit these waters are typically smaller species, such as bamboo sharks and reef sharks.

You can also see sharks in Central and Southern Vietnam in the waters around Ho Tram and Mui Ne. However, these are predominantly areas where sharks are not commonly encountered by beach-goers and instead are far out at sea.

Again, even though I said you can see them, you’ll have a hard time doing so as it’s so uncommon to spot one.

Are There Sharks In Ha Long Bay?

No, there are no sharks in Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay.

This is because the UNESCO site has shallow waters, which sharks tend to avoid as they prefer deeper water.

Technically it is possible for there to be sharks there, but it’s extremely unlikely. You’re more likely to encounter jellyfish.

A traditional wooden boat on calm emerald waters with towering limestone cliffs and misty background in Ha Long Bay

Are There Sharks In Mui Ne?

Aside from its sand dunes, Mui Ne is known for its fishing village, which must mean there is a prominent amount of fish, which in turn, probably means there are sharks.

And this is indeed the case – there are sharks off the coast of Mui Ne, but they’re always far out and nowhere near the beaches.

Plus, it’s usually shy species like reef sharks and bamboo sharks who tend to avoid interaction with humans at all costs.

Colorful fishing boats densely packed in a calm bay with a busy fishing village visible in the background

Are There Sharks In Phu Quoc?

As an island off the coast of Vietnam, you probably can guess that there are sharks in Phu Quoc.

The waters around Phu Quoc are home to a variety of marine life, including smaller shark species such as bamboo sharks and blacktip reef sharks.

It’s a great place for snorkelling and diving, and the presence of sharks is just one example of why. But again, don’t worry, they aren’t near the beaches.

A serene view from a balcony overlooking a tropical beach resort with palm trees and a calm blue sea under a clear sky.

What To Do If You Encounter A Shark

Since there are sharks in Vietnam, it’s important to know what to do if you encounter one. But before telling you that, here is how you can lower your chance of seeing one as much as possible.

Swim in Designated Areas: Only swim in areas where there are flags allowing you to swim, or in areas with a lifeguard on duty.
Avoid Swimming at Dawn and Dusk: Sharks are most active during this time and most likely to be feeding.
Don’t Swim Alone: If you are in a group, the chances of a shark bothering you are lower.
Avoid Areas with Fishing Activity: Sharks eat fish, so naturally, they will be drawn to these areas.
Avoid Wearing Shiny Objects: Sharks are attracted to shiny things because they can resemble fish scales to them. It’s best to leave these items out of the water.

But in the low chance you do encounter a shark and it begins to attack you, this is what you should do:

Stay Calm and Composed: If you panic it can make you appear distressed, which the shark can sense.
Maintain Eye Contact: Try to keep your eyes locked with the shark. They often avoid direct confrontation so eye contact can discourage them.
Stay Vertical: Sharks typically eat prey which swims horizontally. If you are vertical, they’re less likely to mistake you for prey.
Slowly Back Away: If you’re able to, slowly and calmly move away from the shark. Of course, don’t splash or make rapid movements.
Push it under you: If a shark swims directly at you, see if it’s possible to redivert its path by pushing it under you or to the side. Often you can just move their momentum.
Defend Yourself if Necessary: If a shark seems very aggressive, experts recommend defending yourself by aiming for its sensitive areas such as the eyes or gills with a firm push or punch. Note that this is only a last resort.
Get Out of the Water: Sounds obvious but when it’s safe to do so, slowly and calmly move towards the shore or back to your boat. Again, avoid splashing.
Avoid Isolation: If you’re swimming in a group as I recommended and you spot a shark, stay together. Sharks are more likely to stay away from groups of people.
Do Not Block Their Path: If a shark is swimming towards you, try not to get out of the way of its path. Allow it room to pass; most sharks are not interested in attacking or eating humans and are likely just curious.

Conclusion

And there you have it, a complete guide to sharks in Vietnam.

To summarise, yes, there are sharks in Vietnam, but firstly, you are unlikely to even see one during your trip, and secondly, if you do see one, it’s going to be more scared of you than you are of it.

If you are keen on seeing sharks during your trip, I recommend going to Thailand too as sharks there are much more common, especially in the likes of Maya Bay.