Samples of agar from a red seaweed grown in the lagoon of Binh Tri Thien (Vietnam) were analyzed at the University of Lille (France). Colorimetric methods and IR spectroscopy indicated that the agar had high 3,6-anhydrogalactose and low sulfate contents (32.7% and 2.2% respectively). The 6-0-methylgalactose levels, quantified by GLC, averaged 18%. By using 13 C-NMR, 2'-0-Me-3,6-anhydrogaIactose was detected. The chemical composition of this agar is discussed and compared with agar produced in Vietnam.

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