Dolphin, a specialty of Dong Thap, a delicious fish that looks like an ornamental fish, just hearing the name makes many people spend money to buy it.

For a long time, freshwater dolphins have been considered a specialty of Dong Thap during the flood season. The specialty dolphins only appear in large numbers during the flood season, so they are very popular in restaurants and sold at very high prices, even selling for 800,000 VND/kg in some years.

The flood water from upstream is the time when red-tailed blue dolphins (common name of Western dolphins) follow the upstream Mekong River to Dong Thap province.

Freshwater dolphins in the Mekong River - a specialty of Dong Thap in the flood season. The price of dolphins in the early flood season is often high, up to 800,000 VND/kg. (Photo: Nguyen Van Tri/VNA).

Many fishermen catch large red-tailed blue dolphins to sell, and raise the small fish and then harvest them to sell during the flood season.

Currently, at Cao Lanh city market and markets in Dong Thap province, the average price of this fish is from 450,000 to 500,000 VND/kg.

For a long time, this fish has been considered a specialty that appears a lot during the flood season, only appearing a lot during the flood season so it is very popular in restaurants and sold at a very high price, even some years it is sold for 800 thousand VND/kg.

The red-tailed blue dolphin (Western dolphin) with the scientific name Botia modesta Bleeker is a freshwater fish with smooth, shiny turquoise and red-blue skin.

Harvesting freshwater dolphins during flood season in Tan My commune, Thanh Binh district, Dong Thap province. (Photo: Nguyen Van Tri/VNA)

The tail, fins, and fins of the fish are a beautiful orange-red color, 2-5 cm in size, about 7-10 cm long, and the head has two curved, pointed, crossed spikes. Some people say that underwater this fish makes a "squealing" sound like a pig, so the people of the West named it the Western dolphin.

Because the natural red-tailed blue dolphins are increasingly depleted and scarce during the flood season, many households have bought baby red-tailed blue dolphins caught naturally in the flood-prone districts and brought them to ponds to fatten.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hien in Tan My commune, Thanh Binh district said that on average 1kg can produce about 200-400 fish fry.

He released 200kg of fish fry on an area of ​​1,000m2 of water surface. After 9 months of raising, he harvested nearly 1 ton of commercial fish, earning a profit of more than 100 million VND.

Mr. Nguyen Van Duong's family in Phu Loi commune, Thanh Binh district has been raising red-tailed blue dolphins for more than 3 years with a pond area of ​​more than 5,000 square meters. This year, Mr. Duong's family earned more than 1 billion VND in profit.

Harvesting freshwater dolphins during flood season in Tan My commune, Thanh Binh district, Dong Thap province. (Photo: Nguyen Van Tri/VNA).

Mr. Duong said that raising red-tailed blue dolphins is very elaborate, using clean pond water, feeding the fish with industrial food, oxygenating the pond water, and running additional water propellers.

When the weight reaches about 28-30 fish per kg, it is ready to harvest. On average, farmers earn more than 200,000 VND/kg.

The small number of fish but high consumer demand makes freshwater dolphins in the West sell for high prices.

In addition to retail sales at the market, dolphins are purchased by eateries and restaurants to prepare delicious specialties from the upper Mekong River and serve diners.

This type of fish is currently a specialty dish in the West and can be processed into braised dishes, grilled with salt and chili, or cooked in sour soup.

Source: https://danviet.vn/ca-heo-dac-san-dong-thap-loai-ca-ngon-trong-nhu-ca-canh-chi-nghe-ten-khoi-nguoi-xuong-tien-mua-20250310075954957.htm