Ho Chi Minh City has long been considered the cradle of ornamental fish farming and trading in Vietnam. From a refined hobby, ornamental fish farming has now become a commodity production industry, contributing significantly to the urban agricultural economic value of the city.
According to Mr. Dinh Cong Khanh, Head of the Aquaculture Management Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Fisheries and Fisheries Inspection Sub-Department, the city has nearly 300 establishments and households raising ornamental fish, mainly concentrated in the Cu Chi and Binh Chanh areas. The average annual export volume of ornamental fish is about 15 million fish, with an export value of approximately 15 million USD.
Exports of ornamental fish bring in approximately $15 million annually for Ho Chi Minh City's agricultural sector, with expectations of reaching $100 million by 2030. Photo: Le Binh .
“Ho Chi Minh City currently has about 90 hectares dedicated to ornamental fish farming, with diverse methods ranging from glass tanks and cement ponds to traditional fish ponds. Each year, the city produces over 100 million ornamental fish, including high-value varieties such as discus fish, koi, angelfish, neon tetras, and guppies, which are popular not only domestically but also internationally,” Mr. Khanh informed.
In the first 10 months of 2025, Ho Chi Minh City exported 11.39 million ornamental fish, achieving a turnover of 12.89 million USD - an increase of more than 7% compared to the same period last year. The export market is expanding, with more than 50 countries, of which Europe accounts for more than two-thirds of the total production. Businesses such as Saigon Ornamental Fish Joint Stock Company, Thien Duc Company, Saigon Ornamental Fish Cooperative, Asia- Pacific Ornamental Fish Cooperative, Saigon Vina Ornamental Fish Cooperative, Hong Anh Arowana Company… play a leading role in bringing the Ho Chi Minh City ornamental fish brand to the world.
Ms. Hoang Thi Hue, representative of Saigon Ornamental Fish Cooperative, a leading ornamental fish exporter in the city, shared: “The European market currently accounts for about 60% of our ornamental fish exports. The increasing demand for variety and technical standards forces facilities to invest more heavily in water systems, disease prevention, breeding processes, and especially in crossbreeding.”
Beyond just production, the ornamental fish industry in Ho Chi Minh City is also strongly promoted through promotional activities and professional exchanges. Mr. Tan Xuyen, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Ornamental Fish Association, stated: “Every year, we collaborate with the Department of Agriculture and Environment and other organizations to hold numerous large-scale ornamental fish competitions, attracting hundreds of artisans from both within and outside the country. This is not only a platform to honor skills but also an opportunity to connect, promote trade, and bring Ho Chi Minh City's ornamental fish to regional and international markets.”
Despite its great potential, Ho Chi Minh City's ornamental fish exports still face many obstacles. According to Mr. Ngo Dang Linh, Director of Saigon Vina Ornamental Fish Cooperative, some importing markets have very strict requirements regarding quarantine documents and traceability.
"Without full international quarantine certification, businesses are forced to export goods through a third country. This increases costs, reducing competitiveness and profitability for farmers," Linh said. This reality has prevented export volumes from increasing significantly, despite strong market demand.
Many ornamental fish businesses and cooperatives in Ho Chi Minh City are expanding their scale, diversifying species, and seeking new markets to develop the industry to its full potential and meet expectations. Photo: Le Binh .
The city's fisheries development strategy until 2030 identifies the ornamental fish industry as one of the pillars of its unique urban economy. The Ho Chi Minh City Fisheries and Aquaculture Inspection Department has also made numerous recommendations and taken actions to promote the production and export of ornamental fish.
"The city is orienting the development of ornamental fish farming towards high technology, sustainability, and integration with ecotourism, gradually forming concentrated farming areas with an area of approximately 100 hectares, producing 300 million fish per year, of which more than 100 million are expected to be exported, generating over 100 million USD in revenue," Mr. Dinh Cong Khanh informed.
Ornamental fish from Ho Chi Minh City have become a distinctive export product, providing a stable source of foreign currency and creating jobs for thousands of workers. Ho Chi Minh City is shaping the ornamental fish industry as a link in its unique urban economic chain, combining high-tech production, innovation, and ecotourism. The goal is not only to lead the country in scale but also to establish a brand for Vietnamese ornamental fish on the global export map.
Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/nganh-ca-canh-tphcm-mang-ve-gan-15-trieu-usd-moi-nam-d781710.html
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