Lifting fishing nets in the flood season

As the rainy season arrives and alluvial flows surge through the upper Saigon River, it also marks the beginning of the fishing net season for some residents of Tan Khai Commune, Dong Nai Province.

Nguyen Thanh Hai rowed his boat out to the middle of the stream to remove the fish

Amid that rhythm of life are quiet, unassuming yet persistent figures, as elderly seniors who continue to toil on the water, their lives intertwined with fishing nets soaked in alluvium and memories.

At 60 years old, after more than two decades living on Dau Tieng Lake, at the upper reaches of the Saigon River flowing through Tan Khai Commune, Nguyen Thanh Hai, originally from Dong Thap Province, has become deeply familiar with these waters. When the water rises, Hai begins his daily livelihood with the same bamboo fishing net he has used since his youth. To him, the net is not just a tool for earning a living, but a trusted companion. He preserves the craft as if preserving a piece of his youthful memories.

Hai shared: The job of net fishing is not for the faint-hearted, as it demands strength, patience, and a deep, enduring love for the river. In the thick morning mist over Dau Tieng Lake, net fishers must rise before the sun, row their boats to midstream, one hand removing fish from the net, the other keeping the boat steady against the wind.

Each net spans over 20 square meters, set deep in the lake bed and pulled according to the timing of the rising and receding tides. On a single day, Hai may haul the net dozens of times. Though his back aches and his hands burn, he has never once given up. To him, this is both the most demanding and the most relaxed of all fishing jobs. It’s demanding because there are nights when he must stay up to monitor the tides, yet relaxed because he doesn’t have to work far from home and can bring fish to market early each morning for extra income. The net-raising season is still considered the "money-making" season.

According to Hai, during the rainy season, the catch mainly includes linh fish, white fish, catfish, and tra fish. Catfish average around 4–5 fish per kilogram, while tra fish are larger; yet, the family sometimes catches ones weighing several dozen kilograms. Fish prices have remained relatively stable for some time: tra fish sell for 30,000 VND/kg, catfish for 100,000 VND/kg, and linh fish for 120,000 VND/kg.

Hai is not alone, as many other elderly residents in Tan Khai Commune have spent their entire lives tied to the traditional craft of net fishing. According to the Farmers' Association of Tan Khai Commune, approximately 20 households in the commune earn a living through net fishing and cast netting. These households are concentrated mainly around the Dau Tieng Lake area.

To ensure that fishing activities are carried out safely and in accordance with the law, the commune's Farmers' Association works with hamlet officials to promote awareness among residents. Those engaged in aquatic resource exploitation must comply with legal regulations. Destructive practices that harm aquatic resources, aquatic ecosystems, or breeding grounds are strictly prohibited.

Life grows more modern with each passing day, and the fishing nets will gradually fade over time. Yet somewhere in the heart of Dau Tieng Lake, amid the muddy alluvial waters, silver-haired figures still persist in pulling their nets, as if anchoring a part of the countryside's soul, the soul of its people, with all the simplicity, perseverance, and love they carry.

By Hien Luong – Translated by Quoc Dung, Minho