Bustling early-year fish harvests in Tuyen Quang

At the beginning of the year, as cold weather blankets Tuyen Quang, lively scenes unfold along the Lo River and across hydropower reservoirs with the season’s first fish harvests. From dawn, traders from many localities flock to the riverbanks and floating cages to purchase fresh fish for restaurants nationwide. For local fishermen, selling fish at the start of the year is not only about income but also about “taking good fortune” for a prosperous year ahead.

Early-year fish harvests are a positive sign for fishing communities in Tuyen Quang.

With nearly 20 years of experience in cage fish farming on the Lo River, Le Anh Minh of Residential Group 4, Nong Tien Ward, is a familiar face among local fishermen. After mass deaths of prized Chien fish since late 2023, he and many other households shifted to farming Nganh catfish. Thanks to a relatively short farming cycle and stable prices of around VND 250,000 per kilogram, his family now harvests about two tons annually. In the first week of 2026 alone, Minh sold five quintals of commercial fish, earning more than VND 70 million.

In the same fishing community, Tran Thi Vui is widely admired for her resilience. After losing all her fish cages in the devastating floods of 2024, she boldly relocated in early 2025 to the Nam Nhun hydropower reservoir in Lai Chau Province to farm Nganh catfish. Benefiting from clean water and favorable conditions, her family sold three tons of fish at the beginning of 2026. If conditions remain favorable, total output this year is expected to reach 11 tons, generating profits of nearly VND 500 million.

Following provincial consolidation, Tuyen Quang now boasts about 18,600 hectares of water surface and more than 3,000 fish cages, with many localities focusing on specialty fish farming in reservoirs. In Na Hang Commune, Trinh Van Ha has emerged as a pioneer in sturgeon farming. Starting with just four cages in 2007, he has expanded to 70 cages. Each year, he sells over three tons of sturgeon at prices of around VND 250,000 per kilogram, earning profits of approximately VND 500 million.

Beyond economic value, fishing villages on hydropower reservoirs have increasingly become attractive destinations for experiential tourism. Visitors arrive by boat, stay overnight on floating houses, and enjoy freshly prepared fish dishes, providing fishermen with additional income. According to provincial agricultural authorities, Tuyen Quang will continue promoting aquaculture in a biosecure and closed-loop manner, closely linked with tourism development. This approach aims to improve livelihoods, ensure food safety, and gradually bring local specialty fish products to larger and more demanding markets.

As a new year begins, the bustling early fish harvests and the integration of aquaculture with tourism are emerging as bright highlights in Tuyen Quang’s fisheries sector, contributing to a peaceful riverine lifestyle that offers an appealing retreat for urban visitors seeking tranquility and renewal in the northern highlands.

Le Duy