Many people may think breeding ornamental fish is a hobby, but the demand for the fish at home and abroad means it’s a booming industry. In Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s largest ornamental fish producer, the trade is being developed to boost the whole agricultural sector.
From initially a few local species, breeders in Ho Chi Minh City have developed more new hybrid ones with eye-catching appearance, meeting increasing demand from both local and foreign markets.
In 2018, Ho Chi Minh City led the nation in producing some 182 million ornamental fish. It earned 22.4 million USD from exporting more than 20 million fish.
Vietnamese ornamental fish are popular in many choosy markets such as the US, the EU, and the Middle-East, becoming a million-dollar urban agriculture sector.
