HCMC aims for an ornamental fish center combined with tourism

Known as the country's "ornamental fish capital," Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) supplies tens of millions of ornamental fish annually for the domestic market and exports to numerous countries. Ornamental fish farming and trading are mainly concentrated along Luu Xuan Tin Street (Cho Lon ward) and Nguyen Thong Street (Xuan Hoa ward), as well as in large-scale production farms in Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, and Binh Chanh.

Despite their long-standing history, these business sites remain spontaneous, small-scale, and lacking synchronous planning. Most people come primarily for buying and selling, with little space for sightseeing or experiences, leaving the tourism potential of ornamental fish untapped.

HCMC has many advantages: a favorable climate, a diverse broodstock production system, a highly skilled workforce, and an extensive distribution network. In 2024, the city's ornamental fish output reached nearly 120 million heads, with approximately 15 million fish exported, generating more than USD 13 million in value. The city has set a target of USD 100 million in ornamental fish exports by 2030. Ornamental fishkeeping is an increasingly popular hobby in many developed countries, becoming a unique tourism product in major cities worldwide.

Nevertheless, HCMC’s ornamental fish industry still focuses mainly on traditional production and trading, with its tourism potential untapped. Building an ornamental fish market combined with tourism experiences is considered a solution to elevate this typical product, stabilize output, and add highlights for urban tourism.

Mr. Tan Xuyen, Head of the HCMC Ornamental Fish Sub-Association, said the sub-association is petitioning the city's Department of Agriculture and Environment and People's Committee to allow the establishment of an ornamental fish center that combines business and experiential activities.

"Tourists could observe the entire farming process from incubation and nursery to adult fish, visit artistic aquariums, aquatic species, and bonsai displays, and photo zones with colorful fish. They could feed the fish, experience modern farming technology, join aquascaping workshops, or purchase related souvenirs," Mr. Xuyen shared.

As a major urban center, HCMC can integrate the ornamental fish center with culinary spaces, garden cafés, and OCOP product showcases, forming a service complex closely tied to tourism. Such a center will not only attract domestic visitors but also become an attractive stop for international tourists, especially from Asia and Europe, where ornamental fishkeeping is a popular pastime.

For breeders and businesses, a professional ornamental fish center would enhance product value, reduce fragmented competition, provide a stable output, encourage well-planned investments, foster the application of modern technology, and ensure quality and biosecurity. For the tourism sector, the city would gain a distinctive product, helping diversify the tourist’s experiences.

Globally, this model is not new. In China and Thailand, ornamental fish markets have been operating for years, delivering economic efficiency. A typical example is Chatuchak Market in Bangkok, Thailand, which sells a wide range of arowana, flowerhorn, discus, and angelfish species, along with aquariums and accessories, making it a renowned destination for ornamental fish enthusiasts.

Mr. Nguyen Van Phung, Chairman of the HCMC Ornamental Creatures Association, stated that ornamental creature production plays a key role in the city's agricultural growth. An ornamental fish center would not only meet domestic demand but also boost exports, generating significant foreign currency revenue.

However, realizing this idea will not be easy. Investment capital, land planning, and infrastructure development remain major barriers. The ornamental fish market must be designed to meet environmental standards, ensure quarantine, and prevent disease spread. The city will also need mechanisms to encourage businesses and support breeders in shifting from traditional models to those integrating tourism services.

Previously, the HCMC Department of Agriculture and Rural Development researched and proposed that the People's Committee allocate land funds and set rental rates to establish the ornamental fish center, with Dam Sen Cultural Park (Binh Thoi ward) suggested as a potential site. However, the project has yet to be implemented.

According to experts, if methodically deployed, the ornamental fish center combined with tourism would bring multiple benefits: building a brand for HCMC's ornamental fish, elevating the city's position as a leading ornamental fish hub in Southeast Asia; contributing to tourism revenue, creating jobs, enhancing product value; and forming an urban cultural-ecological highlight where tourists can admire the diverse beauty of ornamental fish and learn about the traditional fish farming craft.

With the right investment and direction, HCMC can fully own a unique "Aquarium Market" in the heart of the city, which not only strengthens the ornamental fish industry in production and exports but also allows it to shine in the service sector, turning ornamental fish into a signature tourism brand.