Nguyen Van Dien, a fisherman in Quang Binh Province, caught a 20-kg sea lion while the animal was basking on a small rock off Hon La Bay Monday.
Photo: Tuoi Tre
He has released the meter-long animal into his fishpond.
Local authorities have advised Dien to release it into the sea, but he has refused saying he not only wants a compensation of VND20 million (US$1,000) but also coverage by the local TV station.
Sea lions live in temperate climates and have never been seen in Vietnamese waters.