Ho Hoa Binh, with a length of over 230 km and a capacity of up to 9.5 billion cubic meters of water, is the largest artificial lake in Vietnam. It is not only an important hydroelectric project for the nation but also a source of clean water for aquaculture. The lake’s specialty fish, such as chiên, bỗng, lăng, dầm xanh, and trắm đen, have become a valuable food source, contributing to the economy of Hòa Bình province and its surrounding areas.
CREATING STABLE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
On the rippling waters of the Hòa Bình hydroelectric lake floats the aquaculture farm of Cường Thịnh Construction and Services JSC, a pioneer in cage fish farming following VietGAP standards in Hòa Bình province. Since 2013, the company has focused on researching, investing in, and exploiting aquatic resources in the Đà River lake, developing the aquaculture sector under the brand name Cường Thịnh Fish.
Starting with an initial scale of 20 cages, the company now operates approximately 250 VietGAP-certified cages, farming high-value specialty fish such as lăng, dầm xanh, ngạnh, trắm đen, rô phi, diêu hồng, and carp, along with various fish breeds. This fish farm provides stable employment for over 20 workers, with an average income ranging from VND 8 to 12 million per person per month.
“Due to the clean water in the lake and its natural circulation, the cage nets only need to be disinfected every 8-10 days using a spray hose or lime. After three years, the fish can reach a weight of 10-15 kg for trắm đen and 5-10 kg for lăng.”
Ms. Bùi Thị Lưu, caretaker of the fish cages at Cường Thịnh Fish.
Ms. Bùi Thị Lưu, who takes care of the fish cages at Cường Thịnh Fish, shared that each cage is stocked with 4,000-5,000 fingerlings. After three months, the fish are separated into another cage with a density of 1,000 fish per cage. Every late afternoon, Ms. Lưu feeds the fish a diet mainly consisting of grass and a mixture of crushed, dried, and ground shrimp, resulting in firm and flavorful fish meat.
At this fish farm, the workers are assigned specific tasks, such as feeding, harvesting, and repairing cages, and they perform their duties with enthusiasm. According to Mr. Hà Công Hưởng, an experienced cage fish farmer, cage fish farming involves working on the lake year-round, living alongside the fish. The only joy after a day’s work is witnessing the growth of the fish. Thanks to the natural flow of the Đà River and the abundant food sources, the cage-farmed fish here have firm and flavorful meat.
“My wife and I have been living on the lake for nine years now, farming fish cages for Cường Thịnh Fish,” shared Mr. Hưởng excitedly. “Our daily routine includes feeding the fish early in the morning, followed by inspecting and repairing the cages to ensure their sturdiness and safety. This job provides a stable income and has enabled us to build a house in our hometown.”
Ms. Bùi Thị Lưu, Mr. Hưởng’s wife, added that from May to July, the fish grow most favorably, while from July to November, the rising water level causes the decay of shore plants, which can affect the fish’s health. To ensure the best environment for the fish, regular cage cleaning and disinfection with lime powder are necessary, performed twice a month.
“Cage fish farming is not just a means of livelihood but also a passion,” expressed Ms. Lưu. “If one does not love the fish and find happiness in watching them grow, they probably wouldn’t choose this profession.”
According to Ms. Bùi Thị Muốn, the manager of the Cường Thịnh Fish farm, most of the workers at the fish farm are unskilled laborers from the districts of Hòa Bình province. When hired, the company provides them with technical training and knowledge about cage fish farming. The stable income and guaranteed benefits have led many to develop a long-term attachment to the profession.
STRICT FARMING PROCESS AND GAP STANDARDS
Mr. Phạm Văn Thịnh, Director of Cường Thịnh Construction and Services JSC and Vice Chairman of the Hòa Bình Young Business Association, shared his “fate” with the fish. Growing up beside the Đà River, he had long nurtured the idea of developing fish farming, recognizing the lake’s clean environment and abundant natural food sources.
“With the desire to develop and popularize high-quality fish species and enable people to access and consume high-quality fish, I embarked on building a model for farming various fish species in Hòa Bình lake,” Mr. Thịnh shared. “Starting with no knowledge about fish, I learned from books, fellow farmers, and industry experts. Despite numerous challenges, I have successfully established the ‘Đà River fish’ brand.”
“Currently, the primary market for Cường Thịnh Fish is Hanoi, with major partners being large supermarket systems such as Big C Northern, Winmart, and Lotte, along with renowned restaurants.”
Mr. Phạm Văn Thịnh, Director of Cường Thịnh Construction and Services JSC.
In the initial phase, the company conducted experimental farming in about 20 to 30 cages, and the positive results led to an increase in the number of cages over the years. Currently, the company farms approximately 240 cages with over ten different fish species, including specialty fish such as dầm xanh, lăng, and chiên.
According to Mr. Thịnh, introducing fish to supermarkets is not an easy task. “When I first started fish farming, I struggled to find buyers. Fortunately, through trade promotion activities and market research, I met partners with significant demand—large supermarket systems. I understood that getting our fish onto supermarket shelves would be challenging due to the stringent requirements, so we proactively produced commercial fish following a clean process and ensured a healthy water environment, thus meeting our partners’ expectations,” affirmed Mr. Thịnh.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
With the vision of establishing Cường Thịnh Fish as the number one brand in Vietnam in freshwater fish farming, the company, from the very beginning, has been committed to producing Đà River fish that meet Vietnamese standards and VietGAP standards. This ensures that customers receive clean, delicious, and superior-quality fish that meet food safety criteria.
“The upcoming strategy for Cường Thịnh Fish is to develop Đà River fish products to the level of export, comparable to tra and basa fish, contributing to making Hòa Bình a major fish hub in Northern Vietnam. We aspire for Đà River fish to become not just a specialty of Hòa Bình but also a renowned brand in the international market.”
Mr. Phạm Văn Thịnh, Director of Cường Thịnh Construction and Services JSC.
In 2019, the People’s Committee of Hòa Bình province recognized Cường Thịnh Fish’s black lăng fish fillet and Đà River tilapia fillet as 4-star OCOP products.
Beyond its own farm, Cường Thịnh Fish has implemented production linkages with over 20 households on the Đà River lake. This collaboration aims to expand the scale of cage fish farming and ensure stable output. By reducing intermediaries and protecting consumers’ interests, this linkage has improved the incomes and living standards of the participating households.
“In the market today, we observe some traders importing fish from other places and temporarily ‘homing’ them in the Đà River before selling them just a few days later,” Mr. Thịnh noted. “This unfair competition reveals the presence of ‘fish washers,’ who engage in dishonest business practices by trading fish with unclear origins under the Đà River brand. In contrast, Cường Thịnh Fish is committed to supplying the market with fish that are genuinely raised in the Đà River, with a minimum commercial age of three years. We promise to deliver value, quality, and satisfaction to our consumers.”
Currently, Cường Thịnh Fish farms and sells approximately 600-700 tons of aquatic products annually, with specialty fish accounting for 20-25% of the total output.
The potential for fish farming in the Hòa Bình hydroelectric lake is vast, but the commercial fish supply to major markets like Hanoi remains modest. Specialty fish like trắm đen, despite a selling price of VND 300,000 per kg, are still in short supply. With a vision to become the leading brand in Vietnam in freshwater fish farming by 2025, Cường Thịnh Fish aims to provide Đà River fish that meet international quality standards…
The full content of this article was published in the Vietnamese Economic Magazine, Issue 4+5-2025, released on January 27, 2025. Dear readers, please refer to the following link for the complete article: https://postenp.phaha.vn/tap-chi-kinh-te-viet-nam/detail/1194
Ripe Wax Apples in High Demand, Prices Soaring Over 100,000 VND/kg
This year, early-ripening red dragon fruit prices reached 75,000 – 135,000 VND/kg, and the market is bustling with many customers looking to buy.
Watermelons fetch good prices, boosting farmers’ spirits
Watermelon farmers in Nong truong Viet Trung township, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province, have been excited in recent days because the watermelon of the winter-spring crop has been sold at a good price, bringing in higher profits than in many years. On average, each hectare of watermelon yields nearly 60 million VND.
