Dawn comes early in Phuoc Hai, in Ho Chi Minh City’s Vung Tau area. At around 6 am, small round basket boats return to shore after a night at sea, carrying catches of fish, squid, shrimp and crabs.
The sight of the little circular boats against the blue water has become a defining feature of the fishing village beneath Minh Dam Mountain.
As the boats reach shore, fishermen hurry to untangle their nets and sort their seafood to keep it fresh before taking it to market.
Nguyen Ngoc Chau, 55, was visibly disappointed after returning from a night at sea with only a few crabs.
“Seafood catches have fallen significantly in recent years,” he said. “We used to earn an average of VND 500,000 (about USD 19) a night. Now we make only around VND 200,000 (about USD 7.70).”
Nguyen, 46, who has been part of the village since childhood, said about 80 per cent of residents depended on fishing for their livelihoods.
“Things are different now. There are fewer fish. Those who can afford it have replaced their basket boats with larger vessels equipped with GPS, fish-finding equipment and radios so they can fish farther offshore. Those of us who fish close to shore earn very little,” he said.
More than a century after its establishment, Phuoc Hai continues to follow the rhythms of life at sea. After selling their catch, fishermen return home to mend nets and rest before preparing their gear for the next trip in the late afternoon or evening.
Le Huu Duc, 58, said basket boats used relatively little fuel but yielded smaller catches. On calm days, he might bring home several dozen kilos of fish; in rough seas, the catch could fall to just 5-7kg.
He said he had to make two trips a day to earn enough to support his three-member household.
