Enjoying the cool water from Tay Con Linh mountain range, every household in Phuong Do commune (Ha Giang) has a small pond to raise the "five noble water fish" - silver carp.
Since ancient times, catfish have become an indispensable part of the lives of the Tay and Dao people in Phuong Do commune (Ha Giang). These fish ponds have been passed down from generation to generation.
The silver carp is now not only a traditional local fish, but also a geographical indication, bringing tourists back to the Tay and Dao villages at the foot of Tay Con Linh mountain.
The ponds of silver carp at the foot of Tay Con Linh
According to the elders in the village, the silver carp is a natural fish that lives in large rivers in the northern mountainous region such as the Lo River, Gam River, and Mien River. Silver carp was once one of the five types of fish offered to the king: silver carp, anh vu fish, catfish, green dam fish, and fried fish.
Located halfway up the Tay Con Linh mountain range, Mr. Ban Van Hao's fish pond (Khuoi My village, Phuong Do commune) has existed since before he was born. Mr. Hao said that since he was a child, he followed his father to catch fish fry in the Lo River.
At that time, there were still many silver carp in the wild. They had the habit of laying eggs in sandy areas near fast-flowing water, so they just needed to be caught and released in the pond.
Silver carp are easy to raise, but if the water source is not clean, the precious fish will just leave in droves. That is why, in the past, the Tay and Dao people in Phuong Do commune have led water from the majestic Tay Con Linh mountain range to their ponds to have a clean water source. One pond is connected to another, ensuring that there is always water coming in and out, creating an oxygen-rich environment for the fish to grow.
The pond was small but had hundreds of silver carp. Mr. Hao fed the fish a handful of grass in the garden. The whole school slowly gathered together, swimming on top of each other, competing for food.
Each one is as big as a thigh. The oldest one is 50 years old, the "youngest" one is almost 20 years old.
"I never get tired of watching this fish. I'm 70 years old, but my son is 50 years old.
This fish is omnivorous but grows slowly, taking 2 years to reach 1kg. The biggest one is about 100kg, but to reach that weight it takes 30 years to raise it," said Mr. Hao.
They are as slow as lightning, with long, sturdy bodies, blue-gray backs, hard scales, purple-red fins, and shiny green heads covered with green moss.
Mr. Hao said that there are no more fish in the Lo River now, and if you want to find more fish to raise, you have to travel far to the Gam River or the Mien River to buy them. The fish that have been with the family for half a century are cherished as valuable family assets.
Developing tourism from silver carp
Not only Ha Giang Although Tay people are new to raising silver carp, the tradition of raising this fish has become a cultural feature to promote local tourism.
From a species of fish raised to improve life, the fish ponds in Phuong Do have now become a highlight attracting tourists to the Tay village.
Following the winding concrete road around the green rice fields, Mr. Nguyen Van Cay's homestay (Tha village, Phuong Do commune) is a traditional wooden stilt house of the Tay people.
Before, Mr. Cay only stayed around the village, he saw that every house's fish pond was the same, because every house in the village had silver carp. Since working in tourism and traveling a lot, Mr. Cay has realized that his village is different because of the fish pond in front of his house.
"Guests who come to my house just sit and watch the fish all day. The fish have become tame over time. Whenever they see people, the whole school swims over there. Some guests even buy bread to feed the fish. But these fish are also often moody. I catch them and release them, and for a month they don't even come to eat," Mr. Cay said.
In 2021, this traditional silver carp product was recognized as a geographical indication of Ha Giang. Since then, tourists have known more about Ha Giang silver carp. They come to Phuong Do to enjoy this valuable royal fish dish.
According to Mr. Bui Duc Dinh - Chairman of Phuong Do Commune People's Committee, local people have taken advantage of this to turn silver carp into a branded product, contributing to the development of tourism in Phuong Do and improving the lives of local people.
Local authorities create conditions and encourage households to expand their silver carp farming model to serve the increasing demand of tourists.
Every month, Mr. Nguyen Tat Thang's family (Phuong Do commune) buys more than 300kg of commercial silver carp from households in the commune to process, serving the needs of tourists to enjoy this royal fish dish when coming to Ha Giang. Mr. Thang said that Ha Giang silver carp is recognized as a geographical indication, helping the local traditional fish breed to have a brand.
The price of the fish increases gradually according to the weight of the fish. A 4kg fish costs 400,000 VND/kg; 5kg and 6kg fish cost 100,000 VND/kg each. A 10kg fish costs tens of millions of VND.
October and November are the months when tourists flock to Phuong Do the most. The income from the silver carp alone brings his family about 80-170 million VND.
Delicious dishes with silver carp such as grilled fish, braised fish with pickles, and salad are all prepared in the Tay style. "Tourists who enjoy the dishes all praise Phuong Do silver carp for being delicious, sweet, and having just the right amount of chewiness and crunchiness," said Mr. Thang.
Source
Comment (0)