Coral reefs of Vietnam host high biodiversity and hold significant ecological and economic values for the country. However, in recent years, increasing anthropogenic and climate pressures have caused drastic degradation of these ecosystems. Effective conservation requires reliable monitoring programs that integrate innovative approaches with traditional survey methods. Here we will present the preliminary results from the VIBRANT project (https://site.unibo.it/vibrant/en) developed under the 8th Executive Program for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Vietnam and Italy, through collaboration between the University of Bologna (UNIBO) and the Vietnam Institute of Oceanography (IO). VIBRANT aims to assess the health of coral reefs along the south-central coast of Vietnam by combining established monitoring protocols with advanced techniques, including digital imaging and environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. Field surveys were conducted during summer 2025 in the shallow coral reefs of Nha Trang Bay and Nui Chua National Park, encompassing sites characterized by different levels of protection and anthropogenic pressures such as urbanization and tourism. Acoustic habitat mapping was performed using side-scan sonar, while reef condition was assessed through underwater visual censuses following the Reef Check protocol. Coral bleaching was evaluated using the CoralWatch method. Furthermore, the effectiveness of different eDNA sampling methods (e.g., eDNA metaprobes, water samples, and sponges as natural samplers) in capturing benthic metazoan diversity will be evaluated through COI and MiFish metabarcoding analyses. These biological data will be integrated with environmental parameters to provide a comprehensive assessment of reef ecosystem health. The results will support evidence-based conservation policies and contribute to the design of effective management, conservation, and restoration strategies for coral reefs along the south-central coast of Vietnam.