Awakening Quang Ninh's sweet snail farming potential

From Thanh Lan Island (Co To Special Zone) to Dong Mai Ward, sweet snail farming is generating high economic efficiency, providing Quang Ninh's aquaculture farmers with an additional option amid the numerous difficulties facing many traditional farmed species. With advantages in natural conditions and consumption markets, along with increasingly refined farming techniques, sweet snails are emerging as a high-value aquaculture species in the province.

Efficiency of pioneering models

As one of the first farmers to introduce sweet snails to Dong Mai Ward, Nguyen Manh Tung began farming this species in 2021. After conducting trials under various conditions, he found that the local waters have suitable salinity and bottom substrate, creating favorable conditions for the snails to grow well.

He currently operates four farming ponds, with an area of 1,600-3,000 m²/pond, and has successfully completed four production cycles. According to Tung, sweet snails are a high-value species but are also highly demanding. Their feed must consist of fresh fish caught on the same day, without the use of spoiled fish or fish showing signs of chemical preservation. Even when feeding, different types of fish should not be mixed, as this could reduce the snails’ ability to catch their prey.

In addition to trash fish, Tung has also experimented with beef liver sourced from inspected slaughterhouses and initially recorded positive results. However, according to Tung, the most important factor remains keeping the pond bottom clean. After each feeding, workers must carefully collect every piece of fish bone to minimize the accumulation of organic matter that can pollute the water and create favorable conditions for pathogens to develop.

"I used to farm sweet snails on tidal flats in Co To. When I switched to pond farming, environmental management became much more proactive. This has also helped stabilize the snails’ survival rate and growth rate," Tung shared.

Based on farmers' experience, sweet snails take about 6 to 7 months to reach commercial size. Tung opts for off-season farming, stocking juveniles from around October and harvesting from May to July of the following year, when selling prices are typically higher. With an area of 1,600-3,000 m²/pond, each pond can produce around 7 tons/crop. During peak demand, snails weighing 100–120 individuals/kg are purchased directly at the farm by traders for VND 350,000–360,000/kg.

According to Tung, compared with shrimp farming, sweet snail farming carries lower risks if the water environment and feed supply are well managed. Amid mounting pressure on diseases and production costs in shrimp farming, sweet snails are a promising species that local farmers should consider developing.

Also in the Co To Special Zone, the sweet snail farming model operated by Dong Sy Nguyen is a typical example of boldly adopting a new aquaculture species. In the early days, his biggest challenges were a lack of technical information and quality seed. The juveniles had to be ordered from reputable hatcheries in Nha Trang or Phu Yen and transported by air, resulting in relatively high costs. Against this backdrop, Nguyen proactively studied specialized materials and online resources and connected with experts to gradually refine a farming process suited to the marine conditions of Co To.

After more than three years, his model, initially covering about 1,000 m² with 24 farming tanks and two lined ponds and requiring a total investment of around VND 1 billion, has maintained an annual output of 3–5 tons of sweet snails. The products are mainly sold in Co To, with some transported to the mainland for seafood restaurants. Selling prices range from VND 250,000 to VND 400,000/kg, depending on size.

Enormous potential from natural advantages and market demand

Beyond the positive results recorded by individual farmers, industry experts have also highly valued the development prospects of this farmed species. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Dat from the Quang Ninh Provincial Center for Agricultural Extension and Forest Management and Protection said that in 2025, the unit implemented a commercial sweet snail farming model in Thanh Lan commune on a 1-ha area. Initial results showed that the model helped farmers increase their income by around 30% compared with many traditional farmed species in the locality.

Building on these results, in 2026 the center continued to promote the model's expansion while strengthening technical consulting and transferring farming practices, enabling farmers to select disease-free seed, adopt environmentally friendly farming methods, and improve production efficiency.

According to Mr. Dat, farmers need to pay special attention to selecting seed from licensed facilities, with clear origins and full quarantine certification. Transportation must be carried out quickly to minimize deterioration in seed health. In addition, farming areas must have access to clean water, be located away from potential sources of pollution, and strictly comply with environmental and technical requirements.

For feed, the use of fresh, clean raw materials is mandatory to minimize the risk of disease outbreaks. This is also a key factor determining product quality and the economic efficiency of the entire farming crop.

According to industry experts, Quang Ninh has many advantages for developing sweet snail farming. In addition to favorable natural conditions, including seawater with stable salinity, the province also has a broad consumer market thanks to its strong tourism sector and proximity to China, where demand for high-quality seafood products is substantial.

Mr. Do Dinh Minh, Director of the Quang Ninh Sub-Department of Seas, Islands, Fisheries, and Surveillance, said the province is stepping up the management of marine farming areas toward sustainability while encouraging the replication of high-tech, environmentally friendly farming models. Priority is being given to developing key high-value aquatic species that are well suited to the conditions of each marine area.

Pioneering farming models have shown that when farmers master the techniques, effectively control the farming environment, and target the right markets, sweet snail farming can become an efficient production model. This direction not only increases incomes for coastal communities but also helps diversify the aquaculture sector and create additional momentum for sustainable development of Quang Ninh’s marine economy.

In January 2025, the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee issued Plan No. 20/KH-UBND on the planning, management, conservation, and exploitation of aquatic resources through 2030, with a vision to 2050. The province currently has more than 32,000 ha of aquaculture, including over 21,000 ha of inland farming and more than 10,000 ha of marine farming.

$ 1 = VND 26,480 - Source: Vietcombank.