Seafood markets in Cua Lo are bustling with tourists

Tourists buy seafood at Nghi Thuy fishing wharf market. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Early in the morning, Nghi Thuy fishing wharf market (Nghi Thuy ward) was bustling with tourists coming to experience the scene of “on the wharf, under the boat”, the boats after days of fishing had docked. Fresh seafood was transported to shore. Fresh fish, shrimp, squid, crab, etc. were brought to the market by women, mothers, and small traders. Tourists were free to choose Cua Lo seafood to bring back to restaurants, hotels to process or package to bring back as gifts.

Ms. Nguyen Tu Trinh, a tourist from Hanoi, said: “Compared to other coastal areas, Cua Lo seafood is still the best. Therefore, every time I go to Cua Lo, my group and I buy seafood to bring back as gifts for relatives and friends. Among them, mackerel is the top choice.”

Fresh seafood is transferred from the boat to the pier to serve tourists. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Besides fresh seafood, tourists also buy squid rolls, shrimp rolls, mackerel rolls, etc. Right at the entrance to the fish market, Ms. Hoa Thi Thao's squid roll stall is bustling with buyers. Ms. Thao said: "Since the beginning of April, there have been many visitors to Cua Lo, so business has been more favorable. Particularly during the recent holidays, the number of customers ordering squid rolls, shrimp rolls, and mackerel rolls has increased dramatically. There were days when I sold a ton of rolls of all kinds to tourists. The prices of the rolls are basically stable, not increasing compared to before."

Squid sausage stall is "popular". Photo: Thanh Phuc

The number of customers buying seafood is high, so logistics services such as: packaging, grilling fish, electric car service, selling foam boxes, shaved ice... are also very popular. Taking advantage of the holidays, not having to go to school, many students help their parents pack seafood, earning extra income.

Mr. Nguyen Cuong - Head of Nghi Thuy Fishing Port Market Management Board said: "To serve tourists during the tourist season, especially during the holidays, we have thoroughly instructed traders at the market on the issue of posting prices, weighing correctly, weighing enough, not soliciting customers, and not arbitrarily raising prices. On the other hand, the work of ensuring food hygiene and safety is also of interest and attention to the people. Therefore, customers can shop with peace of mind, without worrying about being "overcharged".

The service of packing seafood in foam boxes is also "doing well". Photo: Thanh Phuc

Many tourists, who are reluctant to wake up early to go to the wharf, choose Cua Lo seafood market (Thu Thuy ward) to experience and buy seafood as gifts. The seafood market is busiest around 7-9 am every day. Seafood sold at the market are products from the daily trips of fishermen in the area. Hooked squid, boiled squid of Nghi Hai ward fishermen; fresh natural seafood such as: flashing squid, crab, crab... caught by fishermen near the shore; to farmed seafood such as: snails, tiger prawns, grouper, sea bass... of Nghi Tan, Nghi Thiet, Nghi Quang people.

According to a survey, the current prices of seafood at the market have increased slightly compared to the low tourist season, flashing squid ranges from 450,000-600,000 VND/kg, boiled sea squid costs from 400,000-500,000 VND/kg, sea shrimp costs 400,000-500,000 VND/kg, mackerel costs from 180,000-250,000 VND/kg...".

Cua Lo seafood market with a variety of mackerel of various sizes and weights. Photo: Thanh Phuc

At Hom market (Nghi Thuy ward), traders have also prepared a large amount of dried seafood and craft village products such as shrimp paste, shrimp paste, underground fish sauce, and dried shrimp paste to serve tourists.

In addition to traditional markets, these days, seafood processing and fish sauce processing villages in Cua Lo are also crowded with tourists visiting and shopping. To attract tourists, in addition to renovating and upgrading infrastructure; ensuring environmental hygiene, improving product quality, localities also pay attention to improving designs; building display and product introduction points to attract tourists.

Seafood processing villages are also busy serving tourists. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Tran Duc Thuong - Director of Hai Giang Fish Sauce Craft Village Cooperative (Nghi Hai Ward) said: “Tourists often buy high-protein fish sauce, bottled in glass, 500ml capacity, packaged in beautiful paper bags. Understanding customer tastes, we have a variety of designs to meet customer needs. At the same time, visitors to the craft village can experience some of the traditional fish sauce processing stages of the villagers; take souvenir photos and visit the display booth”.

Starting from the holiday season until the end of July is considered the peak of the tourist season, visitors come to Cua Lo not only to relax, swim in the sea but also to enjoy seafood specialties, buy seafood, and craft village products as gifts.

Cua Lo seafood is very popular with tourists because of its freshness and deliciousness that cannot be compared to any other region. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Identifying that this is the "channel" to spread and promote the seafood brand and craft village products in Cua Lo, therefore, right from the beginning of the tourist season, the town has issued official dispatches and announcements on ensuring food hygiene and safety, posting prices, ensuring security and order at markets to serve the needs of tourists for sightseeing, experiencing and shopping.