Photo courtesy of Tuoi Tre

 

Hundreds of villagers and visitors surged into a protected freshwater wetland in Quang Tri Province on Saturday for a one-day fishing festival rooted in more than 300 years of local tradition.

The annual event took place at the 10-hectare Tra Loc wetland in Hai Xuan Hamlet, Vinh Dinh Commune. Residents had kept the site closed to fishing for the entire year, allowing fish stocks to recover while the wetland served as a natural reservoir for the summer-autumn rice crop.

A year of protection, one day of fishing

Village elders choose an auspicious date only after the farming season ends. This year's festival began at 5.30am with a traditional ceremony before drums signalled that fishing could begin.

People carrying bamboo fishing baskets, nets, scoops and woven containers then spread across the muddy water in search of fish and shrimp. Groups worked together to drive fish into selected areas, while successful catches were raised overhead to cheers from the crowd.

The festival attracted residents as well as visitors from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Hue and other parts of Vietnam. Organisers and villagers regard the gathering as much more than a day of fishing: it links the community's agricultural calendar, wetland conservation and shared heritage.

Tradition brings families home

Local resident Le Duy Long said he returns every year because the festival is a source of pride for Tra Loc. Many people who work elsewhere also travel home to join the event and help maintain the tradition inherited from their ancestors.

Another resident, Le Quang Xu, jokingly described the opening of the wetland as the village's most important day of the year. The celebration also gives children direct contact with rural life. Nguyen Ngoc Phuong, who travelled from Hue with her two children, said the value was not the number of fish caught but the chance for them to experience mud, teamwork and the effort behind farming.

By protecting the wetland throughout the year and opening it for just one communal day, Tra Loc combines practical water management with conservation and cultural continuity.

What it means for foreigners in Vietnam

For foreign residents and travellers, the Tra Loc festival offers a rare look at a living rural tradition rather than a staged attraction. Visitors can observe communal fishing and local agricultural practices, but should follow village guidance and respect the wetland's year-round protection. The event also highlights how environmental stewardship and community celebrations remain closely connected in rural Vietnam.

 

 

 

30 August 2026

A nice balance between ecological preservation & human greed. Something lost to the modern world.

Introduce fish tacos 👍