Vietnam has banned swimming and scuba diving at a popular central tourist spot in an attempt to revive its damaged coral reef, officials said Monday. The communist nation boasts more than 3,200 kilometers of coastline with crystal clear waters, vibrant sea life, and sandy beaches that are a huge tourism draw. Coral reefs across Southeast Asia have been badly hit by global warming, with scientists warning their degradation could have devastating environmental and economic knock-on effects.

Vietnam halts scuba diving off popular island to protect coral. (2022, June 29). Manila Bulletin, p. 9.