I. The meticulous hobby of the Saigonese

The pastime is suitable for both young and elderly

Across Truong Chinh street (in the district of Tan Binh) it is simple to spot vendors selling ornamental fishof various hues and varieties. These "miniature" stores are a dependable address for "trainee artiste" in the ornamental fish breeding and raising industry, where consumers of all ages are always present.

Here, ornamental fish are traded in numerous varieties, categories, and price points. According to a survey, each fish is sold for 2,500 VND to hundreds of VND per head, and is available for all categories of consumers.

Nearby, the "street" of ornamental fish on Truong Chinh (Tan Binh) is also a reliable address for many aquarists.

These "supermarkets" offer a comprehensive selection of ornamental fish in a range of sizes and prices that are affordable for many individuals. Hundreds of people come here after office hours to buy, sell, trade, and gain knowledge about ornamental fish farming.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Trung Tin Aquarium Store (Truong Chinh Street, Tan Binh District) is known as a large ornamental fish store. According to Ms. Mai, the store's manager, the store welcomes hundreds of clients every day, ranging from young children to elderly aunts and brothers. Due to this, the store trades hundreds of various ornamental fish every day. Companion items, such as fish aquariums, seaweed, embellishments, and fish food, are also rapidly consumed.

At the Arowana Vietnam fishmonger (No. 880 Tran Hung Dao, District 5), the variety and hues of Arowana fish genuinely overwhelmed us. According to the store's proprietor, Mr. Vo Minh Tri, there are many rare species of arowana fish such as Blood Arowana, Ngan Long abino, and Kim Long... They are also known as the monarch of ornamental fish due to their regal attractiveness and high price.

"There are also customers who come to purchase directly, as well as customers who purchase from a distance. We provide Arowana fish to clients not only in Ho Chi Minh City, but also throughout the nation. There are Arowana fish ranging in price from a few million VND to mutant fish with unique designs and colors costing up to three or four billion VND, which is within the budget of many participants, according to Mr. Tri.

An enduring refined recreation of the citizens of Saigonese

Saigon is a country with just more than three hundred years of civilization and development. Southerners in general and Saigonese in particular have a compassionate, hard-working - hard-spending personality. Childhood in the South is associated with flamboyant fishing excursions. These are also the causes and conditions that led to the establishment of ornamental fish businesses and farms in Saigon.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Phung, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Agricultural Industry Association, the development of ornamental fish aquaculture is due to the rising living standards of Ho Chi Minh City residents, which has increased the demand for employment. They have chosen ornamental fish as decoration because they are both elegant and less expensive, and because they are lovely.

"Aquariums are not a novelty. Aquarists now have access to preferences on par with those of developed nations, as the market increasingly caters to this pastime professionally. Aquarium enthusiasts are often more patient than the average person. Mr. Nguyen Van Phung remarked, "Fish is not like other pets; it cannot cry or sing. People and animals can only perceive each other's beauty and affection through their eyes; perhaps this is what shapes the personalities of aquatic hobbyists - calm and conventional."

From a different perspective, few people are aware that Saigon ornamental fish once "claimed dominance and ruled" in Asia. Mr. Truong Hoang, former director of Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that ornamental fish aquaculture in Saigon was very popular and grew rapidly prior to 1975. Specifically, in the ornamental fish competition held in Hong Kong between 1972 and 1973, there were a total of 10 prizes, of which Saigon won eight, including the First and Second Prizes.

"Perhaps because of how we make a living, ornamental fish aquaculture is overlooked. In addition, foreign market demand is becoming more upscale, causing Vietnamese ornamental fish to fall further and further behind. Mr. Truong Hoang shared that ornamental fish in Ho Chi Minh City have only recently regained their position, found their own niche, and returned to the export "race".

The oldest ornamental fish market in Saigon is located on Luu Xuan Tin street (District 5) between Tran Hung Dao and Hai Thuong Lan Ong streets. This road is so brief that there are fewer than 50 dwellings on both sides. However, few people are aware that this street has specialized in ornamental fish for decades, catering to the sophisticated pastime of Saigon residents.

Mr. Vo Thanh Liem, proprietor of the Da Tuong ornamental fish business (District 5), stated that his family has bred ornamental fish for five generations. Each family member has worked in the ornamental fish industry in the past, and this is considered a hereditary occupation that provides a stable income.