The market opens at 3:00 am every day. The dim lights, just bright enough to illuminate the path, empower the headlamps, chest lights, and flashlights worn by market vendors and customers.
Headlamps are indispensable for fishermen unloading their catch, as well as for sorting, weighing, and calculating prices.
By the time the headlamps are no longer needed, the sky has brightened, and the market has thinned. This is a typical day at the An Hai fishing village market.
The An Hai fishing village market is a must-visit destination for seafood lovers. Here, you’ll find a wide variety of fresh seafood that has just been caught. To experience the best seafood, wake up early and head to the market to handpick your own catch for your meal.
Phu Yen has 189 km of coastline and numerous fishing villages with gently sloping, golden sand beaches. Except for areas with fishing ports, where large boats depart for deep-sea fishing, smaller boats that fish near the shore typically return in the early morning to moor at the designated landing site.
Freshly caught fish of various types are sorted and sold wholesale by women and mothers to smaller vendors or taken to markets in the surrounding areas.
Transactions at the early market are swift, allowing buyers to reach distant markets in time. Sellers here rarely inflate prices, because, as one woman explained, “We sell so that others can resell and make a profit. We don’t need to mark up the prices.”
A unique aspect of An Hai fishing village is that visitors can watch the moon, wait for the sunrise over the sea, breathe in the fresh morning air, observe fishermen casting their nets, and purchase fresh seafood right on the shore where the fishing boats are moored.
We joined other vendors in purchasing a small amount of fresh fish, snails, and squid, and then stopped by a local pancake vendor in the fishing village to have her cook the fresh squid we had just bought.
For tourists visiting the beach, purchasing fresh seafood on the shore is an unforgettable experience. The market by the sea, and the sea in the heart of the town, are not only beautiful sights but also hold deeper meanings. Many people visit the market not to buy or sell, but simply to help fishermen push their boats or watch them unload their catch of fish, crabs, and other seafood from their nets.
The An Hai fishing village market is a must-visit destination for seafood lovers. Here, you’ll find a wide variety of fresh seafood that has just been caught. To experience the best seafood, wake up early and head to the market to handpick your own catch for your meal.
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