For over 50 years, this market has been a wholesale and retail hub for fish enthusiasts and traders in Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding provinces such as Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Long An. The market offers a diverse range of fish, from inexpensive breeds to rare species priced at millions of dong each.
Known as a “men’s market,” it sees a predominantly male customer base, a unique feature that adds to the vibrant market culture of Vietnam, typically associated with women.
Even before the sun rises, the “underworld” fish market comes to life, bustling with activity.
Varieties such as seven-colored fish, blue tarzan, tiger, full gold, full red guppy, beta, discus, and three-tailed fish are sold in bags containing 50-60 fish each, priced at 150,000 to 200,000 VND per bag. Additionally, high-value fish like koi and flower horn are displayed on the road, pumped with oxygen. Male shoppers, the primary clientele, use flashlights to inspect the fish and negotiate prices before making their purchases.
From 3 a.m., vendors start sorting, weighing, and packaging the fish into smaller bags for sale.
The fish are sold at wholesale prices, so many buyers purchase dozens of varieties at once and rush to deliver them to their customers. Around 4 a.m., the market is at its busiest, with buyers and sellers crowding the street. As soon as the fish arrive, customers swarm, and vendors provide flashlights to illuminate the bags, making it easier for buyers to choose.
In addition to breeding their own fish, many vendors also buy from local fish farms to offer a wider range of species.
According to the vendors, this fish market has been around since before 1975. Traders from various districts, including Binh Chanh, Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, District 6, and District 8, started gathering on this street to buy and sell fish. What began with a few individuals has now transformed a small road into a bustling market, known for its high-volume transactions. Fish from provinces like Long An, Tien Giang, Can Tho, Vinh Long, and even the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City are brought here and then distributed to fish shops nationwide.
Hundreds of thousands of fish are sold and shipped out every night. Prices in the market are typically 20% lower than in shops. With its unique characteristic of operating only for a few hours in the early morning, the sight of buyers and sellers inspecting fish with flashlights has made this market famous.
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