The sorption properties of some sands selected in the coastal zones of economically important, but at the same time ecologically oppressed territories of Vietnam are considered. The purpose of the research is to assess the absorption capacity of sands in relation to emulsifi ed petroleum products, to identify their ecological role in typical situations of spillage of small amounts of toxic substances. It is shown that the sorption qualities of the sands depend on the location of the sands, their geochemical and granulometric heterogeneity.