"Hunting" moon crabs
Fishing pier on Phu Quy island
The high-speed ferry from Phan Thiet to Phu Quy Island is deserted during the rainy and stormy days, but before that, every weekend, it was packed with people jostling to experience it.
Being on the Phu Quy Express high-speed train, the first experience of going to sea on a sleeper bus was very strange. Most first-time visitors were excited when the train started moving, but after only a few high waves, many people started to turn pale. Two and a half hours passed very long, and finally the train reached the port. Many people in the group were feeling seasick, but the motivation to experience a new land helped visitors recover faster.
Phu Quy Island is quite large, but there are no taxis or public buses. The main means of transportation is motorbikes, the rental price is 120,000 - 150,000 VND/bike/day depending on the type, but one thing in common is that there is no gasoline, customers receiving the motorbike from the pier must stop to fill up at a nearby gas station, and the lowest price is... 50,000 VND/trip.
When going to an island, you must definitely enjoy seafood, and when going to Phu Quy Island, you must find moon crabs. According to fishermen on the island, moon crabs are a type of seafood that lives hidden in coral reefs around the islands, usually only appearing during the south wind season. Around Phu Quy Island, there are nearly a dozen small islands, such as Hon Trung, Hon Khoai, Hon Tranh, Hon Tam, etc., where there are many moon crabs. Fishermen often just row small boats to the islands around the main island during the south wind season to easily catch crabs. There are many islanders who have been away from home for decades, now returning to find moon crabs; but it is not the right season, so they have to search hard but cannot find this type of crab.
Mr. Cao Minh Hung, living in Thu Duc City (HCMC) said: "Hearing that moon crab is a specialty here, we went to the largest seafood warehouses on Phu Quy Island, but only one warehouse had this crab, the price was up to 650,000 VND/kg. Looking at the outside appearance, moon crab has a very strange color, orange-red, pink-red and mixed with dark red spots. In terms of size, it is similar to Ca Mau crab but the claws seem much sharper and more pointed."
Not as good as Ca Mau crab?
Moon crab is a natural specialty of Phu Quy island, not easy to find and buy.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Phuong, a preschool teacher in Ho Chi Minh City, shared: "Taking advantage of the summer vacation, our family organized a trip to Phu Quy Island with about 9 people. We heard about the specialty of moon crab, so we tried it. In terms of price, it is higher than Ca Mau crab, but if we compare the sweetness and aroma, I think it is not as good as Ca Mau crab. Many people in the group also shared the same opinion."
Mr. Truong Ngoc Tien, residing in Thanh Loc Ward, District 12 (HCMC), said: "I have tried both types of crabs mentioned above, so I can compare and feel the difference. Moon crabs live naturally in the sea, so their shells are very thick and hard like rocks, and therefore they are very heavy. With a higher price and heavier shell, of course they cannot be compared to Ca Mau crabs. In terms of meat quality, moon crabs are tougher, but because the shell is too hard, it will cause difficulties for diners. Even if there is a tool to open the shell, it is not easy to get the crab meat. Meanwhile, Ca Mau crabs are raised semi-naturally, so their shells are thin and the meat is soft, making them easier to eat for many people."
Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Thu, director of a seafood export company, commented: Ca Mau sea crab is considered a popular type of crab and is loved by many people because of its low fat content, high protein, and abundance of minerals and vitamins. Most restaurants and seafood eateries in major cities across the country use the Ca Mau crab brand for advertising, even though the origin may not be true. Currently, the output of Ca Mau sea crab is quite large, not only supplying the domestic market but also exporting to many countries around the world. Meanwhile, moon crab is a natural crab in offshore waters, the quantity is not much and does not really meet the criteria, so it has not been bred or raised commercially, but is only exploited in the natural environment.
Mr. Nguyen Van Loc, a fisherman on Phu Quy Island, said that with the rapid increase in tourists to Phu Quy Island, the demand for moon crabs has also increased, but customers who want to eat them must order a few days in advance. Moon crabs that have been kept for a long time will not be fat anymore, the best is to eat them right away from the sea, they will be very fragrant and delicious.
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