MEKONG DELTA — Fish farmers in the Cuu Long (
To meet the increasing demand for the tasty treat, farmers are using a new website called Wikimapia to find the best places to breed catfish in the Tien and
The website, owned by the same company that runs the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, has a wealth of aerial photographs and satellite images from around the world, including
Farmers say the images give them a better idea of where catfish are likely to mature best.
"This website allows me to see the whole area. I can figure out which land is suitable for fish breeding," says Nguyen Van Hoa.
The "land hunters", a name that’s beginning to catch on for these innovative fishers, have focused their efforts where the two rivers cross into Can Tho and
"These are perfect spots to breed fish because the area has strong currents to oxygenate the waters and a stable eco-system devoid of pollutants," he says.
"Just by clicking the mouse, I learn the pros and cons of each region. The only thing I have to worry about is the price of the land!" says Hoa.
With the help of his partners, Hoa has also bought 10ha of land in
Last year, fish breeders almost doubled their profits when the price of catfish reached VND15,000 (US$0.93) per kilogram.
The price jumped again in early 2007 to VND17,000 per kilogram, VND7,000 ($0.43) more than it costs to breed the lucrative fish.
Fish farmers in the area say they can now afford luxuries like cars and boats.
Land locked
But as the value of catfish rises, so too does that of the land where farmers set up shop.
In Tan Loc, another prime breeding location, 1,000 sq.m of land can cost upwards of VND280 million (US$17,000), depending on the soil and how good the fishing is.
Le Thi The, a catfish cultivator who made tens of billions of dong exporting seafood last year, says she’s seen land in Tan Loc become much more expensive.
The price for 1,000 sq.m of land went from VND50 million ($3,125) to VND200 million ($12,500) in just three years, she says.
The cost balances out because 10,000 sq.m of fishing land is worth anything from VND700 million (US$43,750) to VND1 billion (US$62,500), says The.
Many farmers haven’t balked at the steep prices because they can recover their money within a year, she says. Producing the fish costs around VND14,000 ($0.87) with the added expense of purchasing land.
Le Van Thanh, a cultivator from Binh Minh District, says there may not be enough land to meet farmers’ needs if the price stays between VND180 million ($11,250) to 200 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
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