Dong Thap Fishers Set Sail in the First Days of the New Year

(DTO) After days of reunion with their families and while the festive spirit of the Lunar New Year still lingers in every household, fishers in Dong Thap are once again busy preparing for a new journey. 

The sea calls, and they answer, carrying hopes for a smooth, prosperous first voyage of the year, with good catches and good prices.

A LIVELY START TO THE NEW FISHING SEASON

Gia Thuan Commune is home to Dong Thap Province’s largest fleet of offshore fishing vessels. In the first days of the lunar year, Vam Lang Fishing Port (Gia Thuan Commune) is bustling with activity as fishers prepare to head out to sea.

Taking advantage of the favorable weather, hundreds of fishing vessels rushed out to sea in the early days of the new year.

On the morning of the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, at the Can Loc anchorage, the sound of engines mixed with lively calls between fishers created the familiar rhythm of the coastal village. Vessels, fully stocked with fuel, ice, food, and supplies, pulled up anchor and set off.

Onshore, boat owners and crew members hurriedly lifted and arranged materials. Though everyone was busy, their eyes shone with optimism.

When we arrived, the trawler owned by Nguyen Van Dung (from Gia Thuan Commune) was preparing to depart. According to Dung, his vessel had been docked for more than 20 days for the Lunar New Year break. After time spent with his family, he and the crew were ready to return to the open sea to make a living.

He shared: “My family prepared ice, fuel, and food days before our departure. Every year, my boat begins its first trip on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. Last year, the catch wasn’t great, but we still made a profit.”
After enjoying the spring festivities with his family, fisherman Đoan Hoang Tam (from Gia Thuan Commune) was also busy preparing to set sail. His family’s two trawlers had been docked for over a month for the holiday. Along with time spent with loved ones, he had to get everything ready for the first voyage of the year.

Tâm said: “Last year, both of my boats had good catches and earned profits. This first trip will last around five months. After being caught, the seafood will be iced and transferred onto service vessels to be brought ashore. Each year we have two major trips, so this first one is very important. My boats will depart on the ninth day of the Lunar New Year.”

It is not only the boat owners who are ready. The crew members are also prepared for the long journey. With more than 40 years at sea, Nguyen Van Lum has long been familiar with the offshore breeze, having started as a young boy.

“I began going to sea at 13. My father was a fisherman too. Income in this job is shared based on a set ratio. After expenses, profits are divided 60% for the boat owner and 40% for the crew. On average, with a five-month trip, crew members like me earn from 50 to 70 million VND. Fishing is a tough job. We face dangerous waves and winds, not to mention being away from family. But once you’re used to a job, it becomes your life. Everyone who works at sea hopes for calm waters and plentiful catches so that the whole crew can earn a good income,” Lum shared.

AND THE HOPES AHEAD

For fishers, the first voyage of the year carries profound significance. They pour their full dedication and their hopes into this opening journey to sea.

The family of Tran Van Thanh (from Gia Thuan Commune) owns a trawler that operates offshore. After nearly a month docked for the Lunar New Year holiday, they began preparing ice, fuel, and food from the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. The crew members were also called in to gather and load supplies onto the vessel.

While directing his crew as they arranged the equipment, Thanh said: “I planned to depart on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, but moved it to the eighth. Everything is ready now. Last year, overall, we had a decent season. In this line of work, we just hope for a good catch and good prices so everyone has enough to support their families.”

Nguyen Van Lai and his wife, owners of the Dai Loi fishing vessel (Gia Thuan Commune), were just as busy. Early on the morning of the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, they hurried to load essential supplies for their first trip of the year.

Their two trawlers were filled with provisions one after another. Lai personally captains one vessel, while the other is operated by his younger brother.

According to Lai, in 2025, after deducting expenses and the crew’s share, his family earned a profit of around 3 billion VND. “My two boats have been docked for two months for the holiday. Last year we had a great season. Seafood prices were good, so profits were strong. The year before that was only average. This year, many fishers here had successful catches, so a lot of boats have already departed on their first trip this year,” he said.

Lai added that his family must invest nearly 2 billion VND to prepare for this voyage. Fortunately, last year’s good harvest made it possible to cover these expenses.

“In this job, the only worry is when crew members suddenly quit or cause trouble. As for the catch, even a slow season usually doesn’t mean a loss. This year, I just hope we catch as well as in 2025 and sell at good prices,” Lai shared.

Each boat leaving the harbor carries not only fuel and provisions, but also countless hopes. Behind the waves lies the ache of missing home; ahead is a challenging journey to earn a livelihood.

But for the fishers of Dong Thap, the sea is both a livelihood and a place where they entrust their hopes for a peaceful, prosperous new year. Every vessel, every red flag with a yellow star, serves as a living marker, asserting Vietnam’s sacred and inviolable sovereignty over its waters in the East Sea.

 By ANH THU
Translated by ANH DUC