At this time of day, you'll find Tran Phu Street bustling with people going for early morning swims and exercising. It's a vibrant rhythm of life, and in the distance, as the sun begins to rise above the water, the first golden rays of the day shimmer beautifully. There's a profession, a kind of livelihood, right at the mouth of the Cai River in Nha Trang: fishing with nets, following the waves.
In the past, Tran Phu Street ended at Con Hamlet, now Yersin Park. After Con Hamlet was relocated to Hon Ro, the Tran Phu Bridge was built at the mouth of the Cai River, facilitating traffic connecting Tran Phu Street and Pham Van Dong Street. To prevent the swirling currents of the Cai River from flowing into the sea, especially during rainy seasons and floods, and to ensure coastal erosion, a sloping embankment with square openings was constructed to allow seawater to drain. Large concrete blocks and boulders were placed offshore to block large waves. Over 20 years after its formation, in March, this area becomes a popular destination when green moss appears, clinging to the embankment, concrete pillars, and randomly placed rocks that act as wave barriers. During this mossy season, gentle waves lap against the shore, creating a very evocative landscape.
In the Nha Trang morning, on that mossy shore, people quietly go about their livelihood, pursuing a profession they devised after discovering the laws of nature. That profession is fishing with nets right at the river mouth, where boulders jut out and green moss clings to the rocks.
Early in the morning, the fishermen begin their work. This involves waking up and preparing their equipment: flashlights, diving goggles, fish baskets, and, of course, a three-layered gill net. The three-layered gill net is an essential tool for fishing, considered a professional device that operates on the principle of filtering according to the tides to catch aquatic life. They are made from thin, silk-like nylon threads interwoven to form a cage that can trap fish and shrimp. While you might occasionally see people casting nets on the beach from afternoon to evening, here they cast their nets at dawn in a rather unique location: the river mouth.
By definition, the mouth of the Cai River is where water flows into the sea. This brackish water is rich in plankton, which serves as a food source for fish. The waves here also create a lot of oxygen, which is also suitable for fish. Furthermore, during the moss season, the moss also provides food for fish, and catching them with nets is a unique activity. However, few people choose to cast their nets directly on the rocky reefs due to the risk of tearing the nets and the inherent danger.
In the darkness, illuminated only by the park lights and the light from the Tran Phu bridge, the familiar fisherman followed the path along the stone embankment, choosing a spot to set up his equipment and prepare his net. The standard 100-meter net, with floats on top and lead weights underneath, couldn't drift because one end was secured by a rock, the other by a pre-staked wooden stake. The sea here was only about 1.5 meters deep, just enough for the net to touch the seabed, creating an invisible screen for the fish searching for food. The net-casting process lasted 30 minutes or more, with only a headlamp for observation.
After casting their nets, fishermen usually take a walk to exercise or enjoy a cup of coffee they brought along, admiring the night sea. The sea still ripples and is illuminated by the lights of the lamps. Around 5:30 a.m., they begin gathering the nets, or sometimes a little later. The work starts from the outside inwards. The nets are gradually gathered until they are all neatly held in their hands, in the dawn light.
On that mossy bank, the fishermen sat casting their nets; the moss was very green and the morning was very gentle. I saw many fish in the net, including very large groupers, snapper, and many other kinds of fish. Occasionally, a crab would wander into the net, adding to the diversity of the catch from a morning's fishing trip right at the mouth of the Cai River.
Source: https://baolamdong.vn/luoi-ca-noi-cua-song-cai-386964.html
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