Chợ cá Yên Sở, located in Yên Sở Ward, Hoàng Mai District, Hanoi, is the largest freshwater fish market in Northern Vietnam. The market is a bustling hub of activity, with wholesale traders and retailers coming together to buy, sell, and transport fish across the country.
On December 16th, a steady stream of trucks of all sizes could be seen arriving at the market, loaded with ice and fresh fish from various provinces.
Amid the freezing temperatures, traders bundle up in raincoats to keep warm and protect themselves from the icy water as they break up blocks of ice for their customers. The ice is essential for keeping the fish fresh during transportation and for storing them in tanks.
One such trader, Ms. Nhuân, who has been working at the market for almost 15 years, shared her experience. Despite the harsh conditions and unpredictable nature of the business, she and her fellow traders persist to make a living. “No matter how cold it gets, we have to keep working,” she said. “If we take a break during the cold weather, we’ll lose customers.”
Winter is a particularly challenging time for the traders at Chợ cá Yên Sở. Ms. Hoa, another trader, described the physical toll of the job, saying, “This work is very tiring. By the end of each day, my hands and feet are numb, and my joints ache.”
The ice blocks, weighing around 50 kilograms each, are skillfully broken down into more manageable pieces for transport.
The traders’ hands, exposed to the icy water for extended periods, turn red from the cold.
Mr. Hoàng, a local trader, shared his daily routine, which includes handling ice for three to four hours at a stretch. To maintain their health, he and his colleagues make sure to dry their hands with a cloth and warm themselves up as soon as they finish working with the ice.
Inside the market, the wholesale fish stalls are a hive of activity as retailers from across Hanoi come to buy fish and then resell them at other local markets.
Raincoats and rubber boots are essential gear for the traders as they navigate the wet and cold conditions of the market.
While the raincoats provide some protection from the cold, the traders often have to use their bare hands to handle the fish and work in the chilly water.
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