Anchovy season brings bumper catches to Mui Ne
For more than a week, fishers in Mui Ne ward (Phan Thiet City, Lam Dong province) have been hitting rich anchovy shoals, landing boatloads of fish each morning. The surge has turned the coastal village into a hive of activity, boosting local incomes and creating jobs across the supply chain.
At dawn, basket boats return from offshore with fresh anchovies glistening in the nets. On the beach, dozens of traders, porters and trucks await. Fish are sorted and weighed directly on the sand before being transported to markets or processing plants.
This season’s anchovy price is holding firm at VND 13,000-15,000/kg (USD 0.50-0.60), with buyers willing to pay higher rates for large, fresh fish. The best quality catch is sold to steaming and processing facilities for export to China, South Korea and Japan. According to veteran trader Le Thi My, with more than 30 years in the business, daily purchases can reach several dozen tonnes, with even the slowest days seeing at least 5-7 tonnes.
“Anchovies travel in shoals, so when fishers strike a run, every trip means a full hold,” said local fisherman Tran Van Chin. “This is peak anchovy season, and even vessels from outside the province are landing in Mui Ne to sell.”
Beyond the fresh market, anchovies are dried for export or used in fish sauce production, a signature product of Phan Thiet. The boom has not only secured incomes for thousands of fishers but also provided steady work for ancillary labor, from porters and drivers to women hired for steaming, drying and sorting. “When the anchovies come in, there’s plenty of work. A day at the plants earns us a few hundred thousand dong, enough to cover family expenses,” said local worker Le Thi Dong.
The Mui Ne Economic Office reported that favorable weather and stable fishing grounds since early 2025 have supported strong landings. Local fleets target multiple species with gillnets, purse seines and longlines, but anchovies and scad remain the mainstay. Key fishing grounds include coastal and nearshore waters, as well as areas around Phu Quy island, the Truong Sa archipelago and DK1 rigs.
With boats landing heavy catches and demand strong from both domestic processors and export markets, Mui Ne’s anchovy season is set to provide a significant boost to the local seafood economy.
VFM
