Creating more livelihoods for people in border areas.

Thuong Phuoc is one of the border communes of Dong Thap province. Taking advantage of the available natural conditions, during the recent flood season, the commune implemented a model of fish farming in the fields combined with tourism services to experience the flood season.

The fish farming group in Giồng Bàng hamlet, Thường Phước commune, is harvesting its fish.

This contributes to protecting aquatic resources, providing additional livelihoods for people in border areas, and promoting the local image.

The flood season has ended, and the fish have retreated into the canals and ditches in the rice fields. Members of the Giồng Bàng Hamlet Fish Farming and Storage Group in Thường Phước Commune are harvesting fish in area 2 to sell to local markets. Initially, they harvested about 7 tons of various fish species such as snakehead fish, catfish, tilapia, mudfish, and bait fish (used as feed for aquaculture and for making fish sauce)... Total revenue exceeded 92 million VND, with each member earning a profit of 2.5 - 3 million VND. Area 1 is expected to be harvested around the Lunar New Year of the Horse in 2026.

Mr. Tran Van Binh, Party Secretary and Head of Giong Bang Hamlet, said: "This is the second year the locality has implemented the model of storing freshwater fish. This year's flood season saw higher water levels than in previous years, making it difficult to use nets to store the fish. The nets were submerged deep, resulting in a lower quantity of stored fish compared to last year. However, thanks to utilizing existing nets and mangrove stakes from the previous flood season, investment costs were reduced, and most people participating in the model made a profit."

According to Mr. Dang Van Be, head of the Giong Bang hamlet's fish farming group, from the beginning of August 2025, when the floodwaters arrived, the members of the group busily prepared nets, boats, mangrove stakes, etc.; together they proceeded to plant mangrove stakes and enclose the fields with nets to raise fish during the flood season. The fish enter the fields, reproduce, and feed on natural food sources. The Giong Bang hamlet's fish farming group has two fish farming areas: area 1 is about 100 hectares, and area 2 is 50 hectares, with about 90 members participating.

When floods come, fish flow into the fields in large numbers. Due to the need to earn a living, some people engage in destructive fishing practices such as using electric shocks or nets with small mesh sizes. This has led to a decline in aquatic resources. The Giồng Bàng Hamlet Fish Farming and Storage Group was established to provide farmers with additional income and, at the same time, help prevent destructive fishing practices.

The fish farming group in Giồng Bàng hamlet, Thường Phước commune, harvests the fish gradually to sell at local markets.

According to Nguyen Hoang Nhung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thuong Phuoc commune, the model of raising and storing fish in flooded fields during the flood season brings many practical benefits, helping to reduce production costs and improve economic efficiency for the people. The model also effectively utilizes low-lying land during the flood season, helping to increase income, create jobs, and stabilize people's lives.

Besides economic benefits, fish stocking during flood season also contributes to the protection and regeneration of aquatic resources, limits overexploitation of natural resources, and adapts to climate change. Through the form of fish stocking groups, the spirit of solidarity and cooperation among the people has been strengthened, making a positive contribution to local socio-economic development.

Taking advantage of the model of raising and storing freshwater fish during the flood season, the leaders of Thuong Phuoc commune and Giong Bang hamlet agreed on a plan and implemented a flood season tourism experience, creating a positive effect and attracting many tourists from near and far. Tourists can visit the Thuong Phuoc International Border Gate; take souvenir photos and learn about National Border Marker 240 bordering Cambodia; visit the flood season fish farming area in Giong Bang hamlet; and experience fishing with the locals…

Mr. Tran Van Binh, Party Secretary and Head of Giong Bang Hamlet, considered the "leading figure" behind the flood season tourism experience in Thuong Phuoc, shared that on the first day, they welcomed 4 groups of nearly 70 tourists, and he and the local people were very excited, striving to serve the visitors attentively. In nearly 3 months, the flood season tourism experience in Thuong Phuoc attracted 54 groups with nearly 1,000 visitors from within and outside Dong Thap province, generating nearly 200 million VND in revenue. The flood season tourism activity has created jobs for dozens of local workers, each earning an average income of about 3 million VND per month.

Mr. Nguyen Van Cao, residing in Giong Bang hamlet, Thuong Phuoc commune, happily shared that this year, the model of raising and storing fish in the fields combined with tourism has brought his family two additional sources of income during the flood season. These include a share of the profits when the fish-raising group harvests the fish, and additional income from rowing boats to take tourists on sightseeing tours. Having both money and the opportunity to introduce his hometown to others is excellent.

Tran Van Binh, Party Secretary and Head of Giong Bang Hamlet, shared that, building on the positive results achieved, in the next flood season, the locality will research and organize more diverse activities so that in addition to visiting the flooded rice fields and experiencing fishing, tourists can also immerse themselves in the lives of the local people. The locality encourages people to participate in community tourism; and mobilizes some households to plant Sesbania grandiflora. This is a characteristic plant of the flood season, usually producing many flowers during the flood season and can be processed into many delicious dishes.

The fish farming group in Giồng Bàng hamlet, Thường Phước commune, harvests fish by setting traps.

Raising and preserving fish naturally during the flood season, combined with community-based tourism development in Thuong Phuoc border commune, is an environmentally friendly economic model that is beginning to show effectiveness. This model not only promotes the image of the people and land of Thuong Phuoc in particular, and Dong Thap province in general, but also contributes to increasing income and improving the lives of people in the border area.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/them-sinh-ke-cho-nguoi-dan-vung-bien-20260107073731373.htm