In Tam Giang lagoon, which is considered a shallow sea, there is a type of seafood that is considered the "rice bowl" of many fishermen.

On the weekend, we had the opportunity to follow Mr. Dang Van Cho (70 years old), a fisherman in Cu Lac village, Quang Loi commune, Quang Dien district (Thua Thien Hue) to Tam Giang lagoon to check the shrimp and fish traps that had been set the night before.

Just a few hundred meters from shore, we saw dozens of conical hats and bucket hats bobbing up and down with the waves. They appeared and disappeared next to aluminum boats and white styrofoam boxes.

That strange thing was explained by Mr. Cho (boat owner): "Those are fishermen in Tam Giang lagoon who are catching clams, that is, catching clams in brackish water to make a living."

Coming closer, indeed, there were fishermen soaking in the water, their feet constantly stomping on the mud to search for snails.

7am is the time when people start rowing boats to find a place with water up to their chests before diving.

Ms. Le Thi Hoa (63 years old, a fisherman in Tam Giang lagoon) said that 7am to 12pm is the right time to search for clams. Because at this time, the water level in Tam Giang lagoon is still quite shallow, fishermen can easily find clams without being hindered by water.

According to Ms. Hoa, after 12 noon, the water level will rise very high, which is also the time when fishermen start to go ashore, ending about 5-6 hours of soaking in the water.

Each fisherman will be equipped with a large foam box, a few bags and an indispensable small boat, which is both a means of transportation to the lagoon and a place to store the shrimp every time they catch a big shrimp catch.

In particular, the snails do not move, they lie still under the mud and people will stomp on them, grope and pick them up with their feet and then put them in a styrofoam box.

Depending on the weather, sometimes fishermen catch hundreds of kilograms, but sometimes they catch just a few kilos.

However, in this large Tam Giang lagoon, in addition to aquaculture and fishing, catching snails is also a profession that can make money.

Despite the immense hardship, the fishermen here still endure soaking in the water for hours, and basking in the sun for half a day to dive and find clams.

“Sometimes I earn a couple hundred thousand dong from this job, but soaking in the water for too long makes me exhausted. Although I’ve gotten used to it, when the weather turns cold, my whole body aches, my limbs are weak, and I’m especially susceptible to catching a cold,” said Ms. Hoa, a clam catcher.

Mrs. Hoa breathed heavily, probably from struggling with the water for too long.

Just like Mrs. Hoa, the fishermen here were exhausted after 9am, everyone was panting and exhausted.

They did not gather together to grope, each person stomped in different positions far apart.

Panoramic view of Tam Giang lagoon, where fishermen are fishing

To have full styrofoam boxes, their hands have turned pale.

The result after 5 hours of catching clams by a fisherman on Tam Giang lagoon

After reaching the shore, the baskets of bamboo shoots will be purchased on the spot by traders, the remaining bamboo shoots will be sold by local people to those in need.

1kg of shrimp is sold by fishermen for 3,000 to 5,000 VND.

Mussels are a nutritious food and have a very fragrant taste after processing, so there are many delicious dishes cooked with this seafood.

When you bring the shrimp home, you must soak it in clean water, cut fresh chili into small pieces and put it in a basin to let the shrimp release the dirt inside. Soak for about 5 hours before cooking.

Source: https://danviet.vn/o-pha-tam-giang-noi-duoc-vi-la-bien-can-co-loai-hai-san-duoc-coi-la-can-cau-com-cua-bao-ngu-dan-20240530144447677.htm