The magazine said Whale Island, with an average water temperature that hovers around 28C, 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 favourite 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 km from Nha Trang beach city, Whale Island, also called Hon Ong, is one of the top destinations for scuba diving, kayaking and snorkelling 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.
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%.
* Meanwhile, five hotels in Vietnam have been named in the list of star-rated hotels in 2020 selected by Forbes Travel Guide.
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A view of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi (Photo: VNA)
The Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi in the capital city and the Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam get five stars, the highest ranking.
The other three are rated four-star, which are the Intercontinental Resort Da Nang Sun Peninsula in the central city of Da Nang, and The Reverie Saigon Hotel and Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel both in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Forbes Travel Guide identifies itself as the only global independent assessment unit in the hotel business. Only 20% of hotels rated by this organisation are 5-star hotels.
Founded in 1958, the Forbes Travel Guide (then called Mobil Travel Guide) is the oldest travel handbook in the US, and the first to offer a 5-star rating system for the hotel industry.
