Unlocking the potential of marine aquaculture in Ho Chi Minh City: [3] Linking aquaculture with tourism

Ms. Le Thi Thu Cuc (Tam Thang Ward) started marine farming in 2018 with just 10 cages of golden pompano on the Cha Va River. After making a profit, she reinvested and now owns more than 30 cages raising marine fish such as golden pompano, barramundi, and grouper in Gan Rai Bay, Long Son Commune. Two years ago, seeing high market demand, she expanded into oyster farming with 28 rafts. Each raft holds about 40 bamboo poles with baskets attached, 8–9 baskets per pole, each basket weighing 3–4 kg, with a six-month culture cycle.

Cuc uses high-quality industrial feed from De Heus and Thang Long, supplemented with vitamin C and minerals to boost fish immunity. Disease management is strictly applied, and growth is monitored through regular sample weighing to fine-tune feeding levels.

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By applying ecological farming practices, Ms. Cuc’s floating cages minimize the use of antibiotics, focusing on disease prevention rather than treatment. Oysters are farmed using embryo seeding into shells, with solid anchoring systems and scientifically arranged hanging baskets, which help reduce losses from waves and accelerate breeding compared to traditional methods.

As a result, her caged fish output reaches about 25 tons per year, while oysters yield around 80 tons annually, bringing in roughly USD 32,000 in profit. In addition, Ms. Cuc has developed eco-tourism activities linked to marine farming, offering visitors the chance to tour fish cages, experience rowing, fishing, oyster harvesting, and enjoy fresh seafood on site. “Combining marine farming with eco-tourism not only increases income but also promotes seafood branding and creates jobs for local people,” she shared.

Like Ms. Cuc, many households raising fish and oysters along the Cha Va estuary have also launched marine-based eco-tourism services. This provides multiple income streams, boosts local branding, and gives farmers greater control over seafood marketing compared to before.

However, marine farming is directly affected by weather, climate change, environmental conditions, and water quality. Prices remain unstable and dependent on traders, especially for small-scale farmers without stable sales channels. High investment costs and risks from disease or natural disasters also constrain the sector’s growth.

Recognizing these challenges, Mr. Nguyen Quy Trong Binh and other local farmers along the Cha Va River established the Nhu Y Long Son Cooperative in 2022. Starting with seven members, it managed about 5 hectares of water surface and an annual output of 900 tons.

After three years, the cooperative has expanded to over 300 farms with more than 13,500 marine cages across roughly 3,000 hectares of river surface. It now cultivates a variety of high-value species such as lobster, grouper, cobia, sea bass, pomfret, and especially Long Son oysters, with annual yields ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 tons.

The cooperative applies modern technology, including clean substrates, Norwegian round HDPE cages, automatic sensor-based environmental monitoring, and shading systems to reduce heat and protect seafood. In processing, products such as pre-steamed oysters, frozen oysters, and oyster powder are developed, using vacuum packaging and MAP technology to preserve freshness and meet export standards. “We replaced old tires with bamboo substrates, used durable plastic cages resistant to strong waves, and deployed monitoring devices measuring pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and temperature to provide early risk warnings,” Mr. Binh explained.

The cooperative also promotes an oyster-farming model combined with ecotourism. Visitors can tour the cages, experience harvesting, and enjoy fresh oysters on-site, becoming “fishermen for a day.” “By integrating marine economy, tourism, and science and technology, we’ve increased the value of oysters by 3 - 5 times compared to raw sales, built the Long Son oyster brand, raised local incomes, and advanced sustainable fisheries,” Mr. Binh noted.

Ms. Pham Thi Na, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ho Chi Minh City, assessed that Nhu Y Long Son Cooperative is effectively leveraging the locality’s dual strengths - tourism and aquaculture at the estuary. This approach simultaneously drives both economic sectors while reducing dependence on traders.

Sharing the same perspective, Mr. Tran Cong Khoi, Head of Aquatic Breeds and Feed Division (Directorate of Fisheries and Fishery Surveillance), emphasized that Ho Chi Minh City should expand this model given its proven effectiveness. He noted that oyster-based tourism should not be limited to the Cha Va River but extended to other rivers and lakes. Long Son oysters are renowned nationwide for their high nutritional value and sustainable economic benefits for local communities.

“We highly value this model. Cooperatives and affiliated facilities have been purchasing farmers’ products, ensuring stable value and bringing real profits to the people,” Mr. Khoi said.

However, many farmers in Cha River and Con Dao, including Nhu Y Long Son Cooperative, are facing difficulties renewing expired marine farming licenses due to zoning constraints. This has forced them to restrict or suspend farming and business activities.

“We hope that local authorities and relevant agencies will expedite the reissuance of licenses and establish stable farming zones, avoiding conflicts with other sectors. This would give farmers confidence to invest in high-tech marine farming and sustain the local traditional fisheries,” Ms. Le Thi Thu Cuc proposed.