From 4 am, traders paddle out to meet Ngu My Thanh fishermen returning from their catch. As it is still dark, they wear headlamps to sort seafood on their boats.

The Ngu My Thanh floating market, located in Dan Dien commune, about 15 km from Hue City center, serves as a hub for lagoon fishermen to trade seafood.

The market operates from 4 am to 7 am, as fishermen from Ngu My Thanh, Cu Lac, and surrounding villages return from their night of fishing on the lagoon.

After removing fish from their nets, fishermen take the opportunity to clear debris and wash their nets. Fishing for aquatic products on Tam Giang Lagoon using nets and bamboo traps is a traditional livelihood for local residents.

As dawn approaches, the floating market becomes busy with more fishermen returning, bringing various aquatic products such as goby fish, rabbitfish, tiger prawns, crabs, and eels.

Seafood from Tam Giang Lagoon is brought ashore by fishermen while still fresh. Traders weigh seafood directly on the boats, then transport it to larger markets for sale.

A couple from Ngu My Thanh fishing village diligently untangles their nets after a night of fishing on Tam Giang Lagoon.

Their income depends on the amount of seafood caught; some days they earn hundreds of thousands of dong.

After their fishing trips, fishermen take the time to mend torn sections of their fishing gear.

To facilitate trade and minimize swaying when weighing goods, boats often moor close to each other.

The floating market convenes daily, becoming busier during the rainy and flood season due to an increased seafood catch. It only closes when severe flooding submerges roads, making it impossible for traders to travel.

Vo Thanh