The Saigon River has a host of tributaries, of which many have remained heavily polluted but some have been cleaned up, allowing fish to return. If some might think of going to the bar, café, theater or tourist park for recreation, other Saigonese love fishing at night. Fishing is not new but doing it in the evening is a little bit strange.
People go fishing at Bach Dang Wharf in HCMC’s District 1 in an afternoon
When the sunset comes, delighting the city with simmering lights from the towering buildings and street lamps, one can see large numbers of people fishing at night, most of them men who are businessmen, workers and students, among others. For all of them, going fishing is a hobby which they can only do after a hardworking day. ‘In unclean canals, there is not plenty of fish. From afternoon till late night, I can catch just a few, or nothing at all but I like it as it gives me peace of mind in this bustling city,” a man fishing along the canal on Vo Van Kiet Boulevard said.
That’s why when the dusk comes, enthusiasts bring fishing rods and baits, then sit on anything available along the canals such as grass, stones, bridge walls and motorbikes or the plastic chair they carry along. Popular fishing venues are along Tau Hu Canal on Vo Van Kiet Boulevard, Bach Dang Wharf and the Saigon River in District 1, Den Bridge in District 2, Thu Thiem Bridge and some sections in Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe canal basin in District 3.
It is funny to know that this is also a chance for them to meet friends, have a date with their partners or gather with family. “I often take my girlfriend to Bach Dang Wharf for fishing and to go sightseeing along the Saigon River at night. This is a beautiful place to enjoy fresh air, cool winds, and look at small and large boats in the river,” said Tran Quang Hai, a student in HCMC, adding this hobby is cheap and suitable for students coming from other provinces like him.
Under the dim light from street lamps and from cruising boats, families gather together, with the husband dropping the line, and the wife and kids eating snack and playing games. ‘We are workers, so we don’t have much money to visit luxury entertainment areas. We choose this kind of entertainment as a way to get together to talk about life and any other things,” said a migrant worker in District 7 identified as Hoang.
For some businessmen, this is also a time for them to get some peaceful moments and think about business plans. “It’s peaceful when going fishing like this. I can recall my childhood memories. I and some friends in hometown often went fishing our hometown’s stream,” said a middle-aged man going with a group of about ten.
The number of fish caught is not important for those people but the fishing hobby helps them improve patience and skills.
Over 9 p.m., some men still go fishing along Tau Hu Canal on Vo Van Kiet Boulevard
