Tam Giang Lagoon is the largest lagoon in Vietnam as well as in Southeast Asia. As a result, it has abundant of aquatic products such as mullets, shrimps, clams, oysters, crabs and so on. I had a short time being a translator for a project to preserve wetland of Hue which is sponsored by UNDP; therefore, I often traveled around Tam Giang Lagoon with their mission. Moreover, going fishing on Tam Giang Lagoon is always fun because living with local fisherman is the greatest experience of bio-tourism.
Tam Giang - Cau Hai is about 22,000 hectares with about 230 kinds of fish, many kinds of seaweed, plankton, and even birds. It is a great example for bio-diversity. Two of my favorite places to go fishing with fisherman are Chuon Lagoon and Quang Ngan, two parts of Tam Giang Lagoon. Chuon Lagoon is closer to Hue city, only about 20 minutes while Quang Ngan takes us about 40 minutes to get there.
The activities are the same when we arrived the lagoon edge where we met the fisherman at their houses, aka tour facilities. We had a short walk on sandy mud path to the boats. Local people also use bamboo to make bridges. I hope you are brave enough to cross these bridges and more important that you have to be skinny as most Vietnamese.
When we got on the boat, the fisherman took us around the lagoon in a maze of fences of net. These fences of net creates territory of different family in the village. The territory of water surface will be inherited by descendants of a family, from generation to generation. The local fisherman nowadays not only earn for living by fishing only, but also raise fish and shrimps semi-naturally.
We fished with a long net that slowly drop into the water while the boat was moving. The long net stretching by a long line of buoys and a long line of lead. The fishing net would be pulled up after being released all. You can see what we got!
After using a long fishing net, the fisherman took us to a special trap called "No". It is a cylinder shaped trap made of bamboo, wood and net. It has an opened side that faces to the system of "Sao" (fences of nets). The "Sao" is often set up in V shape, looking from above. So the bottom of V is where "No" is put. Fish will get in there follow the water flow.
Horray! I hope you can see so many fish inside a trap. We were so excited when we fist saw it. Local fisherman often takes them out in the early morning, but they do it in the afternoon for us to see in the tour. After taking out all fish, the trap was put back in the same place for a next day harvesting.
Where a trap "No" is put for a great catch of fish
Being aware of a fact that aquatic products can be reduced one day in the future. The local fisherman use "Sao" to make area for fish to lay eggs inside. In the middle, many sticks like a bush will be a good place for fish eggs and then they can raise the fish in their territory. In laying season, net will be pulled up for fish to go in and lay eggs, then the net will be put down for raising in a eco-friendly method of farming.
That is also the reason why I worked with the project by UNDP for more breeding fish in the lagoon. Beside some political movement, we also release more baby fish to the lagoon. The project encourages a stable livelihood for local fishermen, who have been living on land villages but spending much time on floating bamboo tents to take care of their properties.
After the tour of fishing, we were heading back to the facilities for a treat from what we caught from the trap. Surely, more seafood were prepared by local family than what we had on that day. On the way, we recognized how complex the route in this maze of fences. We thought we would be lost without a local fisherman.
We enjoyed Kinh fish pancake and crabs. I was not surprised for their fresh taste. Yummy! A great day of activities on beautiful lagoon ended with tasty food. We had not had such a great treat like that before.
Spending time with local fishermen in tours as a tour guide and in project as a translator, I think I am lucky to have good experience in this beautiful wetland. The beauty and authenticity of Tam Giang Lagoon are undeniable for most of us. My friend tour guide Le Nhat Quang often roams around the lagoon to have great shots of it. Let's enjoy them and come visit it with us oneday!
Photo credit to me and Le Nhat Quang
@tungphong
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A great place to spend a holiday on. That looks interesting! I live in Cambodia. You know, The fish harvest in Cambodia may not always be enough to meet demand, however. To deal with this problem, as well as increase their profit, some farmers have started their own fish farms by turning one or more of their fields into a fish pond. In Cambodia there are several provinces where fish farms can be found nowadays. One of them is Kampong Chhnang, about 90 kilometres northwest of Phnom Penh, where freshwater fish are produced. Such an investment has both advantages and disadvantages. Although it may be a pleasure to fish in rivers and lakes, fish farms provide a reliable production is one advantage. Another is that fish from fish farms are cheaper than those caught from rivers and lakes. My house is located nearby the river too, but it still hard for me to go fishing. I appreciate you.
I have been in Tonle Sap once and I saw people living on it with some fish cages as well. I think they are raising freshwater fish. In my area fish farms are on brackish water so different kinds of fish are available. It is good to hear that you have a sustainable source of fish. We are doing the same trying to maintain our source of aquatic products. I love Siem Riep and I want to be back one day.
Hiya, @choogirl here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1451.
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What a great tour! No one can guide better the fisherman about their job. I never see fish pancake before, mind-blowing 😋
Yes it is. I love the food most. 😂 Banh khoai ca kinh is famous in Chuon Lagoon.
That's interesting to know how people catch fish in Tam Giang Lagoon. I have never tried Kinh fish pancake but it looks delicious.
The dish is so good when you have it with raw fish sauce. Pancake and rice wine are two things you should try when visiting Chuon village. Cheers.
Yay! 🤗
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