The seafood market is bustling.

Around 5 a.m., the sea was shrouded in a silvery mist, and the waves lapped gently against the shore. The first rosy rays of dawn spread across the gray sky, shimmering on the sides of the boats as they made their way back to the harbor.

Out at sea, the flickering lights of boats shone like falling stars on the water's surface, blending with the thin mist and the salty scent of the sea breeze. On the dock, the chatter of traders and the aroma of fresh fish mingled with the sea air, awakening all the senses and signaling the start of a new day of work.

The joy of the locals when they manage to buy fresh fish.

The atmosphere on the dock became busier as fishing boats returned one after another, their sides soaking wet and glistening with seawater. As soon as the boats that had been fishing near the shore docked, the fishermen swiftly transferred baskets of fresh anchovies, sardines, mackerel, tuna, squid, and other fish into smaller boats for transport ashore.

This is also when the My Quang fish market begins. The pungent smell of fresh fish, mixed with the scent of engine oil, damp sand, and the hurried breath of a new morning, creates a distinctive atmosphere of this coastal region. Ba Hay, a fisherman with many years of experience at sea, was unloading fish at the dock while shouting loudly over the sound of the waves: “Last night the sea was calm, we caught a good haul of mackerel. A few catches like this will be enough money to buy rice for a whole month!”

On the sandy ground, plastic baskets overflowing with fresh fish, squid, and shrimp gleamed under the flashlight beams. Traders jostled to select goods, the sounds of bargaining, weighing, laughter, and chatter mingling with the jostling for purchases… All of this took place right at the water's edge, creating the bustling atmosphere characteristic of an early morning fish market.

Amidst the bustling crowds, Ms. Tran Thi Ut and her husband from Giai Son village (Tuy An Nam commune) hurriedly parked their motorbike and disembarked at the dock. They had woken up at 4 a.m., finished their household chores, and then drove nearly ten kilometers to My Quang beach to buy the freshest fish to sell at local markets. Ms. Ut has been involved in the fish trading business for almost 20 years, since her children were young. Previously, her husband, Mr. Nguyen The Cuong, worked in the fishing industry, and she single-handedly went to the docks to buy fish to earn money to support their children; in recent years, Mr. Cuong has stayed home as a driver, becoming her "travel companion," taking her to buy fish everywhere.

Fresh fish is sold wholesale to small traders or transported to other traditional markets in the region. The sellers are mostly boat owners, so there's almost no haggling, and transactions are quick and efficient. After carefully selecting her catch, Ms. Ut lightly sprinkles seawater over the anchovies, scad, mackerel, squid, etc., she just bought to keep them fresh. "This job is a bit tough, but it's great when all the fish are sold. Thanks to this, my husband and I have been able to raise our children and send them to school; now our daughter is a teacher," she said, smiling, her hands nimbly arranging baskets of fish still glistening with silver scales, then quickly loading them onto a cart with other traders, preparing to head to the markets in the mountainous areas of La Hai and Phuoc Loc to sell in time for the early morning market.

Ms. Sau Phuoc, a long-time fish seller in My Quang, said in a cheerful voice: "This job is tough but fun. I meet customers every morning. I buy from fishermen and then transport the fish to sell at nearby markets. It feels like I'm carrying the sea everywhere."

Ms. Sau's story paints a vivid picture of the early morning life on the beach, where, starting each day as the sea awakens, My Quang fish market transforms into a bustling "wholesale hub." For tourists, visiting My Quang market is a special experience: watching the sunrise, breathing in the sea breeze, and buying fresh seafood right at the water's edge. Ms. Dinh Thi Ngoc Diep, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, happily remarked: "The prices aren't much different from the markets in the city, but here the fish have just been pulled up, not yet frozen, so they taste sweeter. My friends absolutely love this market, so on my trip here, I was determined to visit it. Seeing the piles of fresh fish and shrimp right at the water's edge is truly incomparable."

Early in the morning, the fishing boats return to the harbor carrying full catches of fish.

No one knows exactly when the fish market at My Quang beach was established, but for the locals, it has become an indispensable part of their daily lives. For the fishermen, the market is a place to quickly sell their freshly caught fish, from anchovies, mackerel, and scad to fresh squid and shrimp. Each market day is an opportunity for them to share stories about the sea, about calm nights with boats full of fish, and fishermen laughing, but also about stormy times when the catch is empty and they return to shore without a wink.

For local traders, My Quang fish market is not just a place for buying and selling, but also a vibrant "news bulletin" every morning – where prices, fish quantities, weather forecasts, and news from the sea spread quickly and rhythmically. Baskets of fresh fish, lively bargaining, laughter and conversation mingled with the sound of waves… all blend into the daily rhythm of the entire fishing village.

Fish from My Quang sea are transported by traders to markets throughout the region, bringing the salty taste of the sea to the meals of the local people. Thanks to the fish market, the fishing industry has become sustainable, providing fishermen and their families with a stable income, while maintaining the unique cultural characteristics of the fishing village residents.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202508/xon-xao-cho-bien-5480de8/