Dau Tieng Lake's communities transform livelihood

Mastering information, mastering technique

In hamlet B4 of Loc Ninh commune, Tay Ninh province, everyone knows the commercial softshell turtle–farming model of Mr Pham Van Toai, a 2023 Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer. Though now over 60, he continues to study, experiment, and apply scientific and technical advances to farm turtles effectively. “Farming today isn’t just about physical labor - you need technique and information,” Mr Toai said.

Mr Toai’s farm is well-built: from the concrete walkway to the straight, clean ponds, with shade trees planted along the banks. Holding a nearly one-kilogram turtle in his hand, he explained that turtles require a long farming cycle (more than 14 months before harvest) but the meat is delicious, nutritious, and sells at a stable price of about 300,000 VND per kilogram, ensuring profit for farmers. Success or failure depends heavily on technique and water quality.

Thanks to technical guidance from veterinary officers and the Tay Ninh Sub-Department of Livestock and Aquaculture, local farmers now know how to manage rainwater, prevent flooding, and supplement feed with vitamins and minerals to strengthen the animals’ resistance. “When you follow the right techniques, the water stays clean, the turtles stay healthy, grow fast, and losses are minimal,” Mr Toai shared.

Not far away is a 1,000-square-meter turtle farm owned by Mr Pham Van Dang, divided into separate zones for breeding, egg incubation, and juvenile nursing.

During the rainy season, he pays close attention to weather reports and strictly follows the advice of aquaculture officers to minimize the risks posed by sudden weather changes. “Turtles are very prone to infections and fungal diseases. Whenever the weather shifts, I use salt and lime to disinfect the ponds, and sometimes additional treatments following the aquaculture officers’ guidance,” Mr Dang said.

“Turtle farming isn’t difficult. You just need to be willing to learn, follow proper techniques, and keep the environment clean. I’m no longer poor, and now I can help others around me do the same,” he added.

A sustainable poverty-reduction “lever”

With the advantage of being near Dau Tieng Lake and the central Eastern canal system, aquaculture has helped the lakeside communes of Phuoc Minh – Loc Ninh – Ben Cui (now all part of the new Loc Ninh commune) successfully eliminate poverty.

According to leaders of Loc Ninh commune, under the provincial Aquaculture Development Plan approved in Decision 1515/QD-UBND (2022), the locality has zoned 82 hectares for aquaculture. They have also invested in drainage systems to collect livestock wastewater, built three environmental treatment tanks, and coordinated with the Green Environment Company to operate a centralized water-treatment system that meets standards before release into the irrigation network.

The commune has also disseminated information on support policies for linked-production chains under Decision 23/2019. Under the policy, the State contributes 30% while residents contribute 70%. After the policy was widely explained, many farmers joined, including the Loc Ninh Agricultural Services Cooperative and the Hiep Ninh Snakehead Fish Farming Collective, which received a total of 807 million VND in support.

“With the 30–70 cost-sharing mechanism, farmers are encouraged while still having responsibility and ownership of the project,” said Mr Nguyen Van Dung, Vice Chairman of Loc Ninh commune.

From snakehead fish, tra fish, and tilapia to turtle farming, many households now earn a stable income of 200–250 million VND per year, far higher than rice farming or other low-value crops. As a result, the commune no longer has poor households — only a few near-poor families, mostly those with labor-limiting conditions.

“With the principle of ‘teaching people how to fish instead of giving them fish,’ this is the key to poverty reduction in our commune. Going forward, we will continue implementing community-development projects, livelihood support, and capital-management groups for vulnerable households, aiming for sustainable poverty reduction. When people gain access to knowledge, technical guidance, land-use planning, and support policies, they can proactively produce, manage risks, and increase their income,” Mr Dung emphasized.

*Currency exchange: USD 1 = VND 26.378 - Source: Vietcombank, November 17, 2025.