Ca Mau is famous for many specialties such as dried seafood, fish sauce, crab, puffed rice cakes, etc. In this age of technology and improved transportation, dried seafood, fish sauce, and other Ca Mau specialties can travel further, gradually becoming unique and delicious gifts for many people, and a favorite food for those from Ca Mau living far from home when they feel homesick. This year, due to the pandemic, the availability of these specialties during Tet (Lunar New Year) is facing more difficulties than in previous years.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhu Huynh, 30 years old, residing in Ward 8, Ca Mau City, shared: “As someone from Ca Mau working far from home, every year around Tet (Lunar New Year), I ask relatives to buy local specialties as gifts for my friends at work. Because people in the city may not know or have tasted many of Ca Mau's specialties, and I think they will enjoy them more than the ordinary city food.”

Nguyen Thi Hoang, 51 years old, residing in Ward 9, Ca Mau City, shared: “I have lived far from my hometown for many years. Every time I have the chance, friends ask me to buy some delicious local delicacies from Ca Mau for them. Seeing this, I got involved and started making dried seafood and fish sauce to sell. Others ask me to buy directly from the source at wholesale prices to resell and earn a profit to cover their expenses when they return home.”

Compared to previous years, the business of selling Tet specialties this year is facing some difficulties due to the pandemic. The supply remains abundant and diverse, but inter-provincial transportation is no longer as easy as before.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu, born in 1978, owner of Thuan Kieu clean food store, No. 26, Street No. 6, Ward 1, Ca Mau City, shared: “I do business directly at the store and also sell Ca Mau specialties online. This year, I imported a variety of specialties to sell wholesale and retail within and outside the province. Up to this point, the amount of goods shipped each day has decreased compared to last year. On average, I ship about 1 ton of various specialties per day. In general, this year, due to difficulties in transporting goods and higher shipping costs compared to previous years, the profit margin is lower. Prices have increased slightly because input costs have also risen.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu is busy fulfilling end-of-year orders.

Despite the ongoing and complex pandemic situation, Ca Mau's specialties continue to attract diners from both within and outside the province. Generally, prices for Ca Mau's specialties have increased slightly this year compared to previous years. However, they offer a wide variety of designs and styles, and their quality is increasingly highly regarded.

Ms. Kieu shared: "Normally, prices of goods increase during peak seasons, but this year the increase is due to the impact of the pandemic. Because I mainly sell wholesale, I only dare to increase prices slightly, but in return, I commit to quality and try to find transportation sources with good prices to share with customers."

Some dried and fermented fish specialties from Ca Mau are no longer sold simply by the kilogram as before, but have been industrialized in terms of packaging, vacuum sealing, and come with dipping sauce in each product. With attractive packaging and improved quality, despite the pandemic, customers both within and outside the province still show interest in and prefer Ca Mau specialties for family use and as Tet gifts.

Ngoc Tram Phung

Source: https://baocamau.vn/dac-san-hut-khach-dip-tet-a2222.html