Exploiting the value of fishing villages to enhance tourism

Fishing village - where the rhythm of sea life is most authentic

From Mui Ne fishing village to Con Cha fishing port, everywhere you can see dozens of boats docking, baskets of fresh fish carried by the hands of the transporters to the beach. At this time, the seafood market soon begins to bustle, laughter mixed with the smell of the sea. Ms. Tran Thi Minh Phuong, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, shared: "I have traveled to many places but was captivated by the feeling of standing in front of the morning moment welcoming the sunrise in Mui Ne fishing village. Watching fishermen pull nets, classify fish and sell them on the spot, I understand more about Phan Thiet - Mui Ne, which is not only beautiful but also rich in marine life".

Not only can tourists watch, they can also buy fresh seafood right on the beach, from mackerel, mackerel, crab, squid, octopus... and ask the small kitchen nearby to cook it on the spot. Such sea-flavored breakfasts are becoming an indispensable highlight for tourists when traveling to this blue sea country. At coastal beaches such as Co Thach or Tien Thanh, the experience of pulling nets with fishermen is strongly attracting domestic and international tourists.

It was the moment when the sky had just begun to lighten, groups of fishermen stood in two rows, their hands tightly gripping the nets, their faces covered in sweat and seawater but their eyes always shining with hope. They invited tourists to join them, pulling the nets and chatting intimately about the fishing profession. Mr. Nguyen Minh Tam, a fisherman in Tien Thanh fishing village shared: “We are very happy when guests join us in pulling the nets. People learn more about the hard and fun fishing profession, and fishermen feel like they get to share the stories of the fishing village. One day when they pulled in a good catch, the whole group, guests and locals all cheered loudly.”

After the catch, the seafood mixed with crabs and small shrimps is given to tourists who participated in the net removal as a gift for the first day. Many groups bring it down to the fire of nearby restaurants, grilling fish and steaming seafood right on the beach. The scent of smoke mixed with the sea breeze creates a simple but unforgettable culinary experience.

Joining fishermen in netting is one of the interesting experiences. — Participating in removing fishing nets with fishermen is one of the interesting experiences. Photo: M.Van

Towards experiential tourism - the story of the near future

Mr. Nguyen Anh Khoa - one of the long-time tour guides of Sao Mai Tourism Service Company (Saomaitour in Binh Thuan ward) said: “The tour of waking up with the sea has recently become one of the unique products, attracting a large number of tourists thanks to its high experience and difference compared to traditional tours. Tourists today not only want to sightsee but also want to immerse themselves in the life of the local community. The moments of welcoming the boat back to the wharf, watching fish being transported to shore, visiting the early seafood market or experiencing with fishermen pulling nets, classifying seafood... are the unique values that the coastal localities in the Southeast of Lam Dong province can continue to promote strongly. This is also a sustainable direction to build a sea tourism brand associated with fishing village culture”.

To do this, it is thought that Phan Thiet - Mui Ne needs to focus on developing a comprehensive range of early sea experience products: from sunrise tours, trawling tours to early morning seafood market exploration tours, all designed to lead tourists from observation to direct participation, helping them understand the sea trade and connect with the local community. Connecting craft villages and fishing villages will form a continuous chain of sea cultural experiences: tourists can participate in trawling, then watch how fish sauce is made, weave nets or watch basket boats being repaired, then enjoy seafood prepared by the fishermen themselves. This not only prolongs the length of stay but also distributes economic benefits more widely to many households in fishing villages.

Tourists when coming to Phan Thiet often take a boat to visit and buy seafood (1).jpg — Tourists coming to Phan Thiet often stop by Con Cha Fishing Port to sightsee and buy seafood.

In addition, to ensure authenticity and safety, the province needs to encourage the replication of the Community Tourism model by supporting the training of local guides, providing instructions on labor safety when participating in net fishing, building transparent standards on prices, services and commitments to preserve traditional fishing occupations. Regarding infrastructure, the locality prioritizes improving facilities for early morning visitors such as parking lots, access to the sea, arranging stops, temporary waste treatment areas and first aid stations to reduce environmental impacts and ensure safety for visitors. An important highlight is the construction of a "marine cultural space" - a place to display basket boats, fishing gear, tell fishing stories, combine cuisine and experiential activities. This will be a space for both education, promotion and creating livelihoods through specialty and processing shops, helping the values of the fishing profession become sustainable tourism products...

exploiting the value of coastal villages to promote tourism (1).jpg — Exploiting the value of coastal fishing villages to enhance tourism

For the model to be effective in the long term, there needs to be coordination between the government, businesses and the community in sharing benefits and conserving aquatic resources. These steps will contribute to making the experience of "waking up with the sea" a typical local tourism product. From the dawn on Mui Ne beach to the bustling seafood market at Con Cha fishing port, from the sparkling catch of fish at Phu Hai Port to the trawling nets in Co Thach, Tien Thanh... all are creating a "living resource" that few destinations have. Not flashy or elaborate, the experience of a fishing village in the early morning in Phan Thiet - Mui Ne touches the emotions of visitors with the authenticity and generosity of the coastal people.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/khai-thac-gia-tri-lang-chai-de-nang-tam-du-lich-409048.html