early mornings

Nha Trang has many small markets, often nicknamed "Osin Market," "Squatting Market," "Mobile Market," or "Invisible Market"... These markets usually gather in a street corner, an open field, or generally anywhere that can be used for selling goods. They only appear at a set time in the morning and then disperse.

The fish market in the early morning mist

Recently, following city regulations aimed at maintaining order and clearing sidewalk encroachments for commercial purposes, the markets have become more orderly. However, the fish vendors have switched to a mobile selling model. For example, on Vo Thi Sau Street, near Binh Tan Market, the vendors have adopted a mobile selling model, selling fish in small baskets and approaching passersby to offer their wares. The fish are typically sold in half-kilogram trays, eliminating the need for customers to choose. In fact, the fish at the mobile market on Vo Thi Sau Street is very fresh and delicious, thanks to the supply from Cua Be fishing port, and most of the vendors here are residents of Cua Be.

Let me tell you about Da Lat, which also has a fish market. It's a small market located right at the foot of the stairs leading from Nguyen Van Cu Street to Nguyen Chi Thanh Street. There's a lot of fish for sale there; however, according to the locals, the fish has been frozen, so its flavor is diminished. In contrast, the fish in Nha Trang are naturally fresh and lively, especially the mackerel, which is delicious and often steamed before being brought to Da Lat to ensure freshness. Then there's Phu Quoc. Right at Ham Ninh market, in the afternoon, there's a separate fish market that only sells fish (opposite is a vegetable market that only sells vegetables). The fish in Phu Quoc are fresh and delicious because Phu Quoc is surrounded by islands. And if you stroll through Phu Quoc market, you'll see countless fish and seafood stalls under the bridge, all at surprisingly cheap prices.

Nha Trang is blessed with a diverse marine resource of shrimp and fish, especially anchovies, which are used to make Nha Trang fish sauce. The bustling fishing ports, from the main to the smaller ones, create a vibrant atmosphere on misty mornings. Fishing boats that went out to sea at night return to the harbor before sunrise. At that time, a huge variety of fish are unloaded ashore, and a unique profession exists: fish sorting. The fish displayed in the markets have already been sorted.

Fishing ports like Hon Ro port, Vo Thi Sau street port, for example, or sometimes boats dock at some convenient location to unload their fish. Very quickly, after the fish are sorted, buyers immediately purchase them, and the fish sellers also buy them at prices depending on the market day. And the fish markets in Nha Trang form in the misty morning.

Along the embankment of the Cai River, from the Muong Thanh Hotel, circling past the Ha Ra bridge, fish are displayed for sale in the sunlight still lingering on the treetops. There are mackerel, scad, pomfret, anchovies, barracuda… all very fresh, just looking at them makes you want to buy them. Some people, out of habit, stop by early in the morning to buy their favorite fish before going to work. These small fish markets, with women who seem to have dedicated themselves to buying and selling fish, display the fish in attractive plastic or woven bamboo baskets, clearly categorized. Passersby can't help but stop to choose, because the fish are so incredibly fresh. Usually, prices vary daily; no one haggles, only a small discount for a friendly gesture if a picky customer is encountered. Each fish seller always carries a scale to weigh the fish, a cutting board to prepare the fish, a sharp knife, and a sharp pair of scissors. Buyers usually ask for the fish to be prepared for them; few buy it and then have it prepared. Laughter fills the early morning mist, mingled with the sound of the waves.

Early in the morning mist, I strolled to the fish market. The fishmonger displayed a basket of scad fish, saying it had been a long time since she'd had such delicious fish. Very quickly, people bought this type of fish, perfect for cooking sweet dishes, and the basket of fish sold out in a flash…

The early morning fish markets in the heart of Nha Trang city quickly sell out their goods, usually within an hour, returning the space to the street.

Source: http://baolamdong.vn/du-lich/202408/nhung-som-mai-6022da7/