Sea voyages that bring "New Year's blessings"

As is customary, every year, as Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, fresh and processed seafood products in Lam Dong province fetch high prices due to strong consumer demand.

Fishermen exploit marine resources in coastal areas.

Wishing for a prosperous Lunar New Year.

In the final days of the twelfth lunar month, many fishing boats from coastal communes and wards of Lam Dong province have returned to shore to anchor and celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year). However, offshore, many large-capacity vessels are still diligently fishing. Meanwhile, in the coastal areas, smaller fishing boats are out fishing during the day, searching for schools of fish and hoping for good fortune in the final days of the year.

At Lien Huong fishing port (Lien Huong commune), taking advantage of a day with little wind, fishermen fishing near the shore struck a rich school of scad. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, a fish dealer at the port, said: “Depending on the day, I gather from a few dozen kilograms to hundreds of kilograms of fish to resell for profit. In the last few days alone, fishing boats near the shore have been catching scad, which are selling for 60,000 - 150,000 VND/kg depending on the type.”

Mr. Nguyen Thao (born in 1967), from Lien Huong village, Hamlet 14, owner of the fishing boat BTh 96935 TS, with a capacity of 410 HP, specializing in offshore fishing, recently returned from a long fishing trip. Mr. Thao shared that every fisherman hopes for a safe return from each fishing trip, along with holds full of fish. Despite the current northerly wind season, which is unfavorable for fishing, his boat continues to operate in Con Dao, returning to shore after about half a month. Depending on weather conditions and fish schools, each trip yields a catch of 2-3 quintals (200-300 kg) or sometimes tons of various fish. For boat owners like Mr. Thao, besides relying on the sea for their family's livelihood , they also bear the responsibility of caring for their crew members. Therefore, despite the difficulties, the support from the border guard and local authorities is a driving force that gives them the confidence to venture out to sea and continue their fishing activities.

Fishermen in Lien Huong have a successful season catching grouper at the end of the year.

The sea creates livelihoods.

Along with fishermen in Lien Huong commune, the seafood harvesting activities of fishermen in other coastal communes and wards of Lam Dong province are also quite vibrant at this time. The family of Mr. Nguyen Gat (residential area 30, Phan Thiet ward), the owner of three large fishing vessels (around 500 horsepower), is a prime example. Mr. Gat is one of the boat owners from Phan Thiet ward who participates in fishing in the Con Son sea area, contributing to the protection of national sovereignty at sea. Currently, due to his advanced age, Mr. Gat has handed over the fishing operations to his children.

When we arrived, just before Tet (Lunar New Year), all three of his family's fishing boats were still operating offshore. Although Mr. Gat wasn't directly at sea, he monitored the boats' movements using GPS software for close management. The owner of the fishing boats said that his family currently has 60 crew members on board. This was their last fishing trip of the year, so everyone hoped for a bountiful harvest to ensure a prosperous Tet for their families.

For those who make a living selling seafood, like Ms. Nguyen Thi Ty (Binh Thuan ward), the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year) are the busiest. Her husband goes out to sea near the shore every day. Besides selling the seafood her family earns, Ms. Ty wakes up at 3 a.m. every day, drives her motorbike from home to the Mui Ne coastal area to buy fish from fishing boats to sell for profit. Ms. Ty shared: "Near Tet, seafood prices are higher than usual, but demand increases, so I earn a good profit each day, enough to cover my expenses during the New Year and Tet holidays."

As the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 approaches, along with the joy of the new spring comes the worry of making a living. Despite facing many difficulties, boat owners like Mr. Thang, Mr. Gat, and other "logistics" workers in the fishing industry still rely on the sea for their livelihood.

According to statistics from Lam Dong province, in 2025, the total fisheries production of the province is estimated to reach 252,530 tons, an increase of 4.89% (marine fisheries production is expected to reach 251,920 tons, an increase of 5.39%).

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/nhung-chuyen-bien-don-loc-tet-423079.html