Corals of Phú Quốc Island and Vietnam

1. Introduction

The waters around Phú Quốc Island in Kiên Giang Province are home to vibrant coral reef systems, which form part of Vietnam’s diverse marine ecosystems. While these reefs offer outstanding beauty and biodiversity, they also face serious challenges from human-pressure and climate change.

This post aims to:

• give an overview of coral reefs around Phú Quốc,
• locate them in the broader context of Vietnam’s coral reefs,
• highlight some key coral species you might encounter, and
• look at threats and opportunities for conservation.

2. Coral Reefs around Phú Quốc

Extent & Status

According to a 2023 study, the reef-covered area around Phú Quốc was mapped between 2005 and 2018. It noted that in 2018, approximately 513 ha of coral reefs were present around Phú Quốc, of which 290 ha lay within the Marine Protected Area. (Aquadocs)

Species Diversity

In a travel/diving-site summary, Phú Quốc is reported to host around 260 different coral species. (OnBird)
In a scientific microbiome study of coral reef ecosystems in Phú Quốc, researchers examined the archaeal and bacterial communities associated with stony corals (such as Acropora and Lobophyllia) and found distinct micro-biota in coral mucus, sediment and water-column. (VAST Journals)

Key Species You Might See

Some of the species noted around Phú Quốc include:

• Acropora hyacinthus (Table coral) — near-threatened globally. (OnBird)
• Lithophyllon undulatum (Flat plate-like coral) — listed as Near Threatened. (OnBird)
• Diploastrea heliopora (Honeycomb coral) — Near Threatened. (OnBird)
• Many soft coral species (for example, the “Carnation coral” / Dendronephthya) and leather corals. (OnBird)

Diving & Snorkeling Highlights

For your dive-school website, this means guests can expect a range of coral forms: branching table corals, massive domes, plate corals, and soft coral gardens. Shallow dives around 2-10 m give good access to many of these.

3. Coral Reefs in Vietnam – The Bigger Picture

Biodiversity & Distribution

Vietnam’s coastline (~3,260 km) supports a very rich coral-reef fauna. A recent review states that one thousand one hundred (1,100) recorded coral species exist in Vietnam. (ResearchGate)

Condition & Decline

Despite high biodiversity, many reefs are in decline. For example, in Nha Trang Bay (Vietnam’s first marine protected area) about 191 ha of reef were lost between 2002–2024. (Mongabay)
Key stressors: warming sea surface temperatures, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, nutrient/pollution loading, land-use change and tourism development. (Mongabay)

Research Gaps & Conservation Needs

The review highlights that “research and monitoring remain limited in scope, duration and geographic coverage in Vietnam.” (ScienceDirect)
Recommendations include: long-term monitoring, coral resilience studies, reef-restoration techniques, and integration of socioeconomic/policy dimensions.

4. Implications for Dive Tourism & Conservation at Phú Quốc

• Guest Experience: Emphasise that Phú Quốc offers a relatively rich and accessible coral reef environment. Highlight some of the key species (as above) and shallow-reef snorkeling/diving options.
• Responsible Diving & Snorkelling: Given that reefs are under pressure, promote low-impact diving, no-touch policy, good buoyancy control, and perhaps reef-clean up or citizen-science options for guests.
• Stressors to Communicate: Coastal development, sedimentation/run-off, warming waters, and direct reef damage (anchors, careless snorkellers/divers) all affect coral health.
• Conservation Message: Use the wider Vietnam context to show both the value and vulnerability of reefs. Highlight that supporting reef health is good for tourism, fisheries, coastal protection, and biodiversity.
• Link to Your Dive School: On your website, you could include a blog section for “Coral of Phú Quốc” where you profile species, show photos (e.g., of plate corals, branching Acropora, soft corals), mention the checklists, and ‘what to look for’ during a dive/trip.

5. Sample Post (Draft for Your Site)

Here’s a draft you can adapt for your website:

Discover the Corals of Phú Quốc

Beneath the turquoise waters surrounding the island of Phú Quốc lies a vibrant and varied world of coral reefs — home to hundreds of species of hard and soft corals, colourful fish and other marine life.

What you’ll see

• Large table-coral gardens of Acropora hyacinthus – their wide, branching plates creating underwater “canopies” where fish shelter.
• Beautiful massive domes such as the honeycomb coral (Diploastrea heliopora) and flat plate-like Lithophyllon undulatum.
• Soft corals and leather corals, including richly-branched “Carnation” corals and mushroom-shaped leather corals, adding vivid colour and texture to the reefscape.
• A shallow reef-zone ideal for snorkelers or divers (2-10 m) where coral gardens thrive and marine life is abundant.

Why it matters
Vietnam’s coral reef systems are among the most diverse in the region – over 1,100 species have been recorded along the coastline. Yet, these ecosystems are facing increasing threats: rising sea-temperatures, sedimentation from coastal development, outbreaks of coral-eating starfish, nutrient loading and pollution.

Around Phú Quốc, for instance, reef-area mapping indicates several hundred hectares of coral reef remain, and species-checklists suggest roughly 260 distinct coral species occur in the area.

How we dive with care
At [Your Dive School Name], we believe in responsible reef-tourism. Our guides ensure minimal contact with corals, we provide briefing on buoyancy and reef etiquette, and we encourage participation in reef-clean-ups or photographic monitoring. By protecting the reef today, we ensure it continues to delight divers tomorrow.

As you explore our dive sites around Phú Quốc, keep an eye out for the branching table-corals overhead, plate-corals beneath, and the colourful soft-coral gardens. Every dive is a chance to witness the beauty and fragility of coral ecosystems.

Sources & further reading:

• “What coral species you can see in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam” (OnBird) → https://onbird.vn/what-coral-species-you-can-see-in-phu-quoc-island-vietnam/ (OnBird)
• “Metagenomic characterization … coral reef ecosystem of Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam” (Vietnam Journal of Biotechnology) → N. T. Phuong Thao et al., 2023. (VAST Journals)
• “Major coral loss in Vietnam’s first marine protected area” (Mongabay) → June 2025. (Mongabay)

We invite you to dive, explore and respect the underwater wonders of Phú Quốc.

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