Fishermen Celebrate First Catch of the Lunar New Year
On the morning of February 1 (the fourth day of Tet), hundreds of round basket boats and small fishing vessels docked along the shores of Long Hai and Phuoc Hai (Long Dat district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau), bringing in their first catch of the year. This "ocean bounty" reflects fishermen’s hopes for a prosperous year with calm seas and favorable weather.
By 7 a.m., boats began docking at Huong Bien Beach in Long Hai. Within an hour, the shoreline buzzed with excitement as dozens of boats unloaded fresh fish, mackerel, trevally, herring, as well as crabs and shrimp, still lively and flipping in the nets.
Nguyen Van Giang, a seasoned fisherman from Hai Phong 1 neighborhood in Long Hai, wore the sun-darkened skin and lean frame of someone who has spent years at sea. Giang has been fishing since he was 15, following his father out to sea, and has now logged nearly five decades in the trade.
While expertly untangling herring from his net, Giang smiled, sharing that this was his first trip of the year. He set out at 2 a.m. and returned by 8 a.m. with about 15 kg of herring and 5 kg of golden trevally. “Herring fetches a good price at the start of the year, 40,000 VND per kilo compared to just 11,000-12,000 VND during the rest of the year. Along with the trevally, I should make about 700,000 VND. After expenses, I’ll clear 500,000 VND. That’s a great start, especially since the sea’s still rough, the winds strong, and the weather cold,” he said.
Nearby, Nguyen Minh Son from the same neighborhood was busy sorting his catch to sell to tourists. On his first trip of the new lunar year, he caught 12 kg of mackerel and other fish. Tet holiday prices were up over 20%, allowing him to earn nearly 900,000 VND. After covering costs, he pocketed 600,000 VND. “We’re thrilled with a first catch like this. Hopefully, the weather stays favorable, and every day out at sea will be as good as today,” his wife said with a smile.
Long Hai Beach wasn’t just bustling with returning fishermen; tourists flocked to the shore, eager to buy fresh seafood, crabs and fish, to grill or boil right on the spot.
Tran Van Sang, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, was selecting fresh green crabs from Ton Thanh Truc’s basket boat. After some expert bargaining, he bought 2 kg of green crabs at 400,000 VND per kilo and 2 kg of mackerel at 55,000 VND per kilo. With a satisfied grin, he carried his fresh haul to a seaside hut where his family had gathered, and they promptly set up a small stove to cook their seafood. “Every year, my family comes to Long Hai on the fourth day of Tet. We time it perfectly to buy seafood as soon as the fishermen return. The fish, crabs, and squid are incredibly fresh, bursting with ocean flavor. Sitting here by the breezy sea, enjoying this feast, it’s an experience you can’t beat,” Sang said enthusiastically.
In Phuoc Hai town (Long Dat district), from 8 a.m. onwards, basket boats and small fishing vessels continued to dock, bringing in their first catches of the year. The cheerful chatter and laughter of the fishermen reflected their satisfaction with the ocean’s bounty.
Nguyen Van Sau from Phuoc Trung neighborhood in Phuoc Hai had a successful first trip, catching over 20 kg of fish and crabs, which sold for more than 2 million VND. After deducting around 600,000 VND in expenses (fuel, ice, labor), he earned a profit of 1.4 million VND. “The sea’s still rough, the winds are strong, and it’s cold, but bringing in this much is a real blessing. I hope every day this year is like today,” Sau said with a big grin.
While smaller boats made day trips, larger offshore vessels also set out on the fourth day of Tet. At Tan Phuoc Port (Phuoc Tinh commune, Long Dat district), the port authority reported that five boats had registered for departure that day. “Boats started heading out on the fourth day of Tet, but the busiest days will be the sixth and eighth,” a port representative noted.
Tran Dinh Ky, who was preparing his vessel for its first trip of the year at Tan Phuoc Port, said his family owns two 18-meter boats that fish offshore for catfish, snapper, mackerel, and crabs. Each trip lasts about two months. “In 2024, our boats did fairly well. Some trips just broke even, but others brought in profits of 50 to 100 million VND per boat,” he said.
Fishermen noted that last year’s harsh weather made fishing difficult, and Ky only earned about 200 million VND, just a third of his income from the previous year. This time, as they head out on their first trips of the Year of the Dragon, fishermen are hopeful for calm seas and bountiful catches throughout the year.
VFM
