Developing traditional craft villages associated with local specialties.

Ca Mau, the southernmost point of Vietnam, has long been famous for its many specialties that embody the flavors of the river, forest, and sea, such as shrimp, crab, salt, freshwater fish, mud crab, and honey. These are not only characteristic products but also form the foundation for developing traditional crafts linked to sustainable tourism and trade.

• A century of keeping the flame of traditional crafts alive.
• The beauty of traditional craft villages in coastal areas.
• Connecting businesses and promoting Ca Mau specialties in Ho Chi Minh City.
• "Million-dollar" delicacies will converge at the Ca Mau Crab Festival 2025.

Starting with local specialties, people invest in improving quality, gradually forming craft villages specializing in processing local delicacies. In saline areas such as Ngoc Hien, Nam Can, Dam Doi, Cai Nuoc, Phu Tan, and Dong Hai, specialties like dried shrimp, shrimp crackers, salt, and Rach Goc mud crabs stand out.

Making dried shrimp is one of the distinctive and strong industries of Ca Mau.

Preliminary processing of OCOP 4-star dried shrimp at Ngoc Giau Dried Shrimp Facility (Tan Thanh Hamlet, Tan Tien Commune).

Dried shrimp from Ca Mau is famous for its delicious sweetness.

In freshwater areas, the production of dried snakehead fish and catfish patties is thriving. These products are gradually being standardized according to OCOP and VietGAP standards, linked to brand building and collective trademark registration.

The dried snakehead fish product has achieved OCOP 4-star certification from Tam Oanh Dried Snakehead Fish Cooperative (Tran Van Thoi Commune).

Besides production, Ca Mau is combining the development of craft village tourism , creating attractive experiential destinations for tourists. The "A Day as a Farmer or Salt Worker" model – where tourists can participate in interesting activities such as salt making, fishing, catching shrimp and crabs, searching for mud crabs, or making dried seafood – in craft villages attracts a large number of tourists from within and outside the province to participate and experience.

The dried banana craft village in Tran Van Thoi Commune has been maintained and developed for a long time.

In addition, craft villages receive support in trade promotion, product advertising on e-commerce platforms, and expanding domestic and international markets. Many establishments have invested in modern drying technology and vacuum packaging, helping to enhance the value of specialty products and contribute to improving people's income.

Developing traditional craft villages specializing in local specialties, linked with tourism, not only helps improve economic life but also contributes to preserving the traditional cultural identity of the southernmost region of Vietnam. With its existing potential and the right direction, Ca Mau is gradually asserting its position as a center for specialties and tourism in the Mekong Delta.

Shrimp cracker production in Nam Can commune (Hang Vinh dried shrimp village).

This salt product has achieved OCOP 3-star certification from the Dong Hai High-Tech Salt Production and Service Cooperative.

Loan Phuong performed

Source: https://baocamau.vn/phat-trien-lang-nghe-gan-voi-dac-san-a124139.html