Phu Yen - Waking up at 3am, blogger Vinh Gau went to the two fish markets of An Hai and Long Thuy to wait for the ship to return, bringing along fresh seafood to buy and enjoy on the spot.
Blogger Vinh Le (Vinh Gau) made two trips to the fishing villages of Long Thuy and An Hai in Phu Yen at the beginning of the year. Both left a deep impression on the male tourist thanks to the peaceful beauty and early fish market.
In the picture is Long Thuy fishing village at dawn, in the distance you can see the night fishing boats returning.
Vinh said he woke up at around 4:30am to watch the first boats return. If there is squid, he will buy some to bring to a local restaurant to have them make banh xeo.
Long Thuy fishing village is more than 7km from Tuy Hoa city center, famous for making fish sauce. Recently, many tourists have also started to come to the village to relax, swim in the sea and immerse themselves in the peaceful atmosphere here.
As the morning progressed, more boats returned. Baskets of anchovies weighing up to 10 kg were brought ashore and sold to traders. The day Vinh arrived at Long Thuy, fishermen did not catch much squid because the sea was rough.
When the seafood was brought ashore, traders would bargain on the spot to get the goods they wanted. Vinh described the scene as a mini auction as people tried to grab the baskets of fish.
"Maybe because in the sea, people talk louder, so those who don't know will think they are arguing," he said. After a few minutes, the basket of goods would find a winner, and the warehouse owner would bring out another basket for another auction. Each auction only lasted a few minutes, and in the end, everyone could leave with a smile.
If they needed to carry a large quantity, people would rent an ox cart, which could carry up to 30 baskets for 50,000 VND each time. In addition, some people also agree to carry the goods for 10,000 VND each time.
Panoramic view of the fishing village from above.
Vinh said that the life of the people in the fishing village is quite prosperous because many houses have been newly built. The road to the village has many bustling shops.
In the afternoon, people often gather on the embankment to talk and check the sea situation. They often go out to sea in the late afternoon or after 8pm and then return early the next day with boats full of seafood if favorable.
From Long Thuy fishing village, visitors can easily see Hon Chu - a small island in the middle of the blue sea. Hon Chua still retains its wild beauty with fine white sand, clear and calm sea water, bringing a feeling of relaxation to anyone who sets foot on it. The island has five areas serving tourists, from SUP rowing, swimming, diving to overnight camping and is an ideal place to admire the brilliant sunset over the sea.
If there is time, the blogger also suggests visitors visit the peaceful fishing village of An Hai, about 25 km from Tuy Hoa.
An Hai stands out with its characteristic small red-tiled houses, no noisy traffic, only the sound of the waves. The tiny alleys, just enough for a pedestrian or a motorbike to weave through, create a rustic, intimate space. A sense of peace suddenly rushes in, making people feel lighter and more relaxed than ever.
When arriving at Long Thuy, Vinh Le also woke up early to see the early fish market of the fishing village.
The market in An Hai fishing village starts from 3am to about 7am. The dark An Hai beach suddenly becomes lively with the bright lights from the flashing green and red lights on the boats, blending with the yellow and white lights from the headlamps of fishermen untangling their nets.
The time frame from 3am to 5am is mainly a playground for local people. After 5:30am, the number of tourists gradually increases, eager to explore this unique early market.
He noticed that the fishermen here are very meticulous, removing fish and crabs caught in the nets gently and skillfully to avoid injuring or breaking the seafood.
In the picture, traders are looking at the goods to bargain with the boat owner.
The last boats reached the shore when the sun was high in the sky. The crowd was also gradually decreasing, but Vinh saw that as the morning wore on, the new batches of fish were bigger.
Tourists can buy squid from new fishing boats and bring it to the village's banh xeo shop to make it, costing only 2,000 VND for labor.
In the fishing villages of An Hai and Long Thuy in Phu Yen, the cost of living is reasonable, mainly serving local people, so the prices are affordable. Accommodation costs are diverse, suitable for many needs, ranging from 400,000 VND to 2 million VND per night, depending on the quality of the room.
"Many people who come to Phu Yen only visit famous places, but that is not really complete," he said. A visit to the fishing villages offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in local life, from exploring the bustling seafood market at dawn to relaxing afternoons by the beach. Sitting and enjoying the breeze, chatting and getting to know the locals, also helps visitors understand more about the rustic culture and open-mindedness of Phu Yen fishermen.