Fishery development is associated with tourism advantages

Phong Nha town (Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province) is located in the heart of the world's natural heritage Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park. With the advantage of being situated along the Son River, originating from Phong Nha cave, it has created a clean environment for cage fish farming.

Mr. Nguyen Van Binh, Chairman of Phong Nha town's People's Committee, said that the whole town has nearly 400 households raising fish in cages with over 700 fish cages, mainly carp, eel, tilapia, black carp… For many years now, Cage fish farming has brought stable income for people; many households get rich.

On average, the total income of people from cage fish farming is nearly VND 20 billion per year. The income of fish farming households has also been increased, contributing to raising the average income of people in the area to approximately VND 50 million/person per year.

Mr. Nguyen Van Duc's family (Gia Tinh residential group, Phong Nha town) raises three cages of carp with more than 1,200 fish. His family's carp are raised with natural food, including seaweed growing in rivers and banks, banana stalks, rice bran, cassava leaves... The fish is raised for 2-3 years before being sold. The fish meat is tough, delicious, can be cooked in many attractive dishes, so people and tourists love it.

Near the end of the year, traders come to their homes during the fish harvest season to purchase, supply restaurants and hotels in and out of town, and take them to other provinces.

Mr. Duc said: "Son river carp has been known by many people thanks to the "Phong Nha carp festival" held every year. There is also a type of black carp that is very popular with tourists."

The "Phong Nha carp festival" started at Phong Nha Tourism Center (belonging to Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park), first organized in 2016.

Mr. Le Chieu Nguyen, Deputy Director of Phong Nha Tourism Center, said that every year, on the occasion of April, we cooperate with local authorities to organize the "Phong Nha carp festival." This festival creates a brand for local aquaculture products and associates with heritage sites. These festivals have attracted thousands of foreign and domestic tourists to enjoy.

The "Phong Nha carp festival" is a series of activities attracting tourists such as a tourist boat parade to honor beautiful tourist boats and safe boating and dragon boat racing; Competition to pick up seaweed, cut bananas for fish, the contest for big, beautiful, and healthy fish to honor fish farmers, and then hold an auction of the winning fish. The festival also has a fish stocking contest, a food festival...

Quang Binh Tourism Club once invited Master Chef Pham Tuan Hai to show off his talent with a menu of 7 dishes from Son river carp. Master Chef Pham Tuan Hai has processed Son river carp into 7 delicious, attractive, and beautiful dishes with masterful skills.

Son river carp is considered a famous culinary symbol of Phong Nha - Ke Bang and Quang Binh tourism. Fish along the Son River give tourists new, attractive, aesthetic, and nutritious experiences.