Mr. Liem catches clams under the canopy of mangrove trees.
Clams are mollusks similar in shape to mussels and oysters, but larger, growing in mudflats and muddy areas near river mouths. In the Vinh Loc area, scientific studies have concluded that this species is Polymesoda erosa. The clam bed, discovered more than 10 years ago, covers an area of approximately 70-80 hectares with a very large reserve. This is a native aquatic resource that provides income for the local community. Authorities in the former Bac Lieu province (now Ca Mau province) have conducted numerous surveys and scientific research projects on the clam bed in Vinh Loc commune.
Mr. Dang Van Nho, a long-time resident of Ben Bao hamlet, Vinh Loc commune, said: "Actually, local farmers have discovered and exploited clams for a very long time, mainly for family consumption or selling in small quantities. But since the authorities started researching, Ba Dinh clams have become a brand with widespread popularity."
Steamed clams with ginger are a popular dish on the Tet (Lunar New Year) feast table in Vinh Loc commune.
According to Mr. Dang Van Nho, Ba Dinh clams are characterized by their large size, firm flesh, fragrant aroma, and distinctive sweet taste. Large clams can weigh 20-30 clams per kilogram, with the smallest weighing around 40-50 clams per kilogram. These clams are considered "gems in the earth," found under the coconut palm trees of Vinh Loc. In the past, almost everyone in the area, adults and children alike, could catch them to "hunt for these gems."
In the early days of the Spring of the Year of the Horse (2016), we followed Mr. Nguyen Thanh Liem, a farmer from Ben Bao hamlet, Vinh Loc commune, to catch clams under the mangrove trees. Mr. Liem explained that clams live in muddy soil, so when the tide recedes and the bottom is exposed, you can walk on the mud and observe the bubbles rising to the surface – that's where the clams are. When the tide rises, with years of experience, people only need to look for the bubbles to catch them. In some places, if you're lucky, you can catch a dozen clams at a time. If you're lucky, you can earn 4-5 kg in a single clam-catching session. Following Mr. Liem for about two hours, we harvested a bag of clams weighing nearly 3 kg, with many large, plump clams.
Ba Dinh clams can be prepared into many delicious dishes. The simplest is to just boil them in water until they open their shells; a more elaborate method involves boiling them with lemongrass, meaning boiling them in water, lemongrass, and seasonings. But there are also more sophisticated dishes. Mr. Liem's family treated us to a very flavorful grilled clam with scallion oil, with a harmonious blend of flavors and sweet, chewy clam meat. Clam porridge is also a memorable delicacy of the people of Vinh Loc. Soft-cooked white rice porridge, seasoned with spices, is topped with freshly extracted clam meat, coriander, ginger, and served with bitter herbs, mustard greens, and a free-range chicken egg – making the bowl of porridge even more wonderful.
Walking along the roads to Vinh Loc commune, it's easy to find roadside stalls selling clams, priced around 30,000 VND/kg. Ba Dinh clams are increasingly establishing their brand, becoming a delicacy on banquet tables and a gift carrying the flavor of the Ca Mau river region. To preserve and develop the local clam beds, the Vinh Loc commune authorities are urging residents not to over-exploit and destroy the clams, but only to catch the large ones, helping them to continue to reproduce and thrive.
Indeed, for this resource to be sustainable, rational exploitation, preservation of its habitat, and raising community awareness are essential. When properly conserved, the Ba Dinh clam will forever remain a "precious gem" in the soil, contributing to nurturing the lives and identity of the people of Ca Mau today and in the future.
Text and photos: DANG HUYNH
Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/san-ngoc-trong-long-dat-ngay-dau-nam-a198931.html
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