As part of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Hoa Binh Province Da River Fish and Shrimp Festival, the auction of specialty fish from the Hoa Binh reservoir attracted significant attention.
Specialty fish at the ceremony of the 2024 Hoa Binh Province Da River Fish and Shrimp Festival.
Thousands of attendees cheered as bidders
competed for prized catches. A commercial sturgeon weighing over 45 kg from Hai
Dang Aquaculture Co., Ltd. fetched a final price of 150 million VND (60 USD),
while a 25-kg black carp from Cuong Thinh Aquaculture and Services Co., Ltd.
was sold for 105 million VND. Both fish were raised in the Hoa Binh reservoir,
known for its high-quality aquatic products that meet the standards of even the
most discerning consumers.
This marks the second year the festival has been
held at a provincial level, aiming to enhance the value of aquaculture and
develop signature tourism products for Hoa Binh. The opening night drew
thousands of residents and tourists to the province's Exhibition and Trade
Center for shopping, entertainment, and experiences.
Hai Dang Aquaculture Co., Ltd., with over 20
years of aquaculture experience in the Hoa Binh reservoir, showcased its live
specialty fish and shrimp, alongside a variety of processed products. Many of
these items meet 3-star and 4-star OCOP standards.
Recognising the potential of integrating cage
fish farming with tourism, the company has expanded its hands into eco-tourism
services, offering restaurants, accommodations, and professional guided boat
tours. Their efforts aim to attract both domestic and international visitors to
the region, often referred to as the "Halong Bay of the mountains".
The Hoa Binh reservoir area has significant
potential for developing aquaculture alongside eco-tourism, community tourism,
and leisure activities, according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural
Development. The province currently maintains 2,695 hectares of fish farming in
reservoirs and 4,987 fish cages, with an estimated 2024 aquaculture production
of 12,500 tonnes. Fish cage farming on the Da River has become a major
contributor to the agricultural sector's growth.
Efforts to align aquaculture with eco-tourism
are part of a broader initiative to establish the Hoa Binh reservoir as a
National Tourism Area, per Resolution 14-NQ/TU. Presently, the area boasts over
100 lodging facilities employing 1,200 workers, and approximately 300 tourist
transport vehicles. An interconnected network of restaurants, tourist sites,
and lake experiences has created a diverse tourism ecosystem, increasingly
appealing to visitors.
These developments highlight promising
opportunities for local authorities and communities to expand cage fish farming
and tourism, positioning the Hoa Binh reservoir as a leading economic and
tourism hub in Vietnam’s ethnic minority regions.
The Department of Industry and Trade of Hoa Binh in collaboration with the People's Committee of Da Bac district launched an exhibition fair on November 26 at the Da Bac District stadium, displaying unique products of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas in the district.
The 2nd Da River Fish and Shrimp Festival took place in the northern province of Hoa Binh from November 19-23. Present at the opening ceremony of the festival were Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Phi Long, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Quoc Tri, Chairman of the provincial People's Council Bui Duc Hinh, and Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Bui Van Khanh, among others.
The 17th Congress of the Hoa Binh provincial Party Organisation for the 2020–2025 term set out 19 key objectives and tasks, including four targets for the agriculture sector namely an average growth rate of 4.5% for agriculture-forestry-fisheries; forest coverage of over 51.5%; access to clean water for 95% of the rural population; and 70% of communes achieving new rural standards.
The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on November 20 coordinated with Hai Dang Group Hoa Binh Seafood Company Limited to release 1.5 tonnes of fries into Hoa Binh Lake to regenerate aquatic resources, with a total value of 266 million VND (10,460 USD).
On the afternoon of November 16, Nguyen Phi Long, alternate member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, held a reception for a delegation from the Indian Embassy led by Ambassador Sandeep Arya. The delegation included the chairperson of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, embassy personnel, and Indian businesses operating in Vietnam. Accompanying Long at the meeting were leaders of the provincial People's Committee and representatives from various departments and sectors.
