Dau Tieng, the country’s largest artificial lake, spans Tay Ninh, Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City, covering more than 270 square kilometres with a capacity of about 1.58 billion cubic metres.
Formed by damming the Saigon River, construction began in 1981 and was completed in 1985.
In recent months, the southern region has entered peak dry season conditions, with persistent heat steadily reducing water levels.
In upstream areas such as Tan Thanh Commune in Tay Ninh, receding waters have revealed wide stretches of land covered with grass, algae and moss.
Residents of Tan Thanh Commune, Tay Ninh, are taking advantage of the low water levels to paddle their boats into the lake and fish.
Locals said the area is submerged in the rainy season but becomes grass-covered land in the dry months, often used for grazing livestock.
The vast reservoir is home to various fish species, with dozens of fishermen from Tay Ninh, HCM City and Dong Nai casting nets daily to catch carp, tilapia and catfish. Binh, 45, said he catches about 50 kilogramme of fish a day, selling them to traders at VND 15,000-20,000 per kilogramme.
Le Van De, 45, a fish buyer in Tan Thanh Commune, has set up a tent by Dau Tieng Reservoir, where he and workers wait for fishermen to return with their catch.
Nguyen Van Co, 14, helps sort fish into plastic baskets for resale. He said his father died early and his mother remarried, leaving him and his sibling out of school as they work daily to earn a living.
During the dry season, falling water levels at Dau Tieng expose vast alluvial flats. For over 40 years, the reservoir has played a key role in irrigation and flood control.
The area offers ideal spots for fishing, sightseeing and enjoying the reservoir’s tranquil setting.
Along Dau Tieng Reservoir in Cau Khoi Commune in Tay Ninh, receding waters reveal lush alluvial flats, turning the lakeside into a popular spot for locals to cool off.
Le Van Be, 51, from Cau Khoi Commune said water levels at Dau Tieng drop rapidly in the dry season, especially upstream, before rising again in the rainy months. Fishing remains a key livelihood for many locals.