Phuoc Hai town is famous for having the oldest fishing village in thecoastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, but local families, who have beenfishing for many generations, are facing growing hardship withincreasingly reduced incomes.
One of the main reasons for thethinning out of their wallets is the sharp reduction of seafoodresources caused by overfishing by locals who often ignore regulationsand catch fish of all kinds and sizes to sell.
"It's growingdifficult to make a good living from fishing because of the significantdepletion of seafood in recent years," said Tran Van Sy, 37, an owner ofa small motorboat who manages to pocket an average 500,000 VND (25 USD)each trip at sea to help feed his family of six.
Like Sy, Nguyen Van Sau, 36, and Nguyen Van Duc, 47, also face much lower incomes and have begun to worry about their future.
"Manyowners have had to sell or reduce the number of their boats to copewith the reduced yield and rising costs. Fishing is no longer amoney-spinner," Tran Van Vinh, a veteran fisherman, said.
Moreover,the fishermen's self-admitted habit of indulging themselves in drinkingafter each sea journey and exchanging nearly all of their hard-earnedmoney for crates of beer and food contribute to their struggle tosurvive in a slowly recovering economy.
Duc's 21-year-old sonhas followed his father's footsteps and become a fisherman, and Sy andSau's young children will probably do the same, as they lack education,like many young people, to move to another line of work.
Thelack of diversity in the town's economic structure, which hashistorically been dominated by the fishing industry, provides fewchoices for young people in a town that has no bank branches or ATMs. (Abigger town seven kilometres away, however, has a bank and ATM.)
TranThi Thanh Thao, who is on the staff of the town's Division of Labour,Social Affairs, and Invalids, said that up to 80 percent of the town'syoung people have no choice but continue to follow their grandparentsand parents as fishermen.
"Many leave school because there areno other jobs for them besides fishing," said Thao, adding that only sixyoung people from the town went to vocational school last year.
Sau said: "We know nothing besides fishing and my children will be at sea we cannot afford to allow them to go to school."
He complained that it was tough to provide enough money for his children so they could attend and complete high school.
So what path can be offered to these fishermen to help them escapetheir predicament? And how can town officials make improvements thatwill benefit their people?
With the rapid depletion of seafoodresources, developing an alternative source of income like home-staytourism services could be one way of enhancing living standards andreducing the need for families to overfish.
But, the authoritiesof Phuoc Hai town, which has a population of under 100,000, would befaced with a challenge, as such services would need to developsustainably and hire trained staff.
In addition, localauthorities would need to rigidly enforce rules on sustainableexploitation of seafood resources, and at the same time begindiversifying the town's economic picture to provide the locals withanother livelihood.
Town officials say they are aware of the potential for tourism, and have built a new hotel and are welcoming investors.
Theyrealise that a major selling point is the town's striking feature ofhaving one of the long-standing fishing villages in the province locatedon its coastal edge.
As the mainstay of the province's fishingindustry, the town is home to thousands of households who generationafter generation have used round basket boats and small and largemotorboats to catch fish from onshore to offshore areas.
Duringthe morning and afternoon, the beach and street in front of the villageand facing the sea is lively as colour-painted boats of all kinds anchorto unload fish for women who sell them at local markets or to traders.
Anddespite their conservative appearance and their reticent nature, thevillage people are generally friendly and honest. Talking with thefishermen about their sea trips often provides interesting stories thattourists would enjoy.
Many households, especially young coupleswho use small motorboats or round basket boats to make their one-dayfishing trips, fish early and return at around lunch.
These youngfamilies, who have a level of education that is much better than theirparents (whose language level is rather basic), could help initiatehome-stay services.
Tourists could stay at the young couple'shouses, and sleep, eat, and go out on casual boat trips or evenaccompany fishermen on their daily rounds at sea.
"We would participate in a home-stay if the town has a plan to develop the service at the village," Duc said.
Like Duc, Sau and Sy are enthusiastic about the idea.
"I would take part if my family was asked," said Sau, who has four children and a wife.
Only20km away from Vung Tau city and half that distance to Long Hai town,Phuoc Hai might not have the natural and economic conditions for a majortourism centre, but it is certainly a well-deserved place to visit.
Sothe new path for Phuoc Hai Town and its old fishing village could beone of sustainable development, one that offers an alternative income,reduces overexploitation of fish and encourages families to invest ineducation for their children.-VNA
One of the main reasons for thethinning out of their wallets is the sharp reduction of seafoodresources caused by overfishing by locals who often ignore regulationsand catch fish of all kinds and sizes to sell.
"It's growingdifficult to make a good living from fishing because of the significantdepletion of seafood in recent years," said Tran Van Sy, 37, an owner ofa small motorboat who manages to pocket an average 500,000 VND (25 USD)each trip at sea to help feed his family of six.
Like Sy, Nguyen Van Sau, 36, and Nguyen Van Duc, 47, also face much lower incomes and have begun to worry about their future.
"Manyowners have had to sell or reduce the number of their boats to copewith the reduced yield and rising costs. Fishing is no longer amoney-spinner," Tran Van Vinh, a veteran fisherman, said.
Moreover,the fishermen's self-admitted habit of indulging themselves in drinkingafter each sea journey and exchanging nearly all of their hard-earnedmoney for crates of beer and food contribute to their struggle tosurvive in a slowly recovering economy.
Duc's 21-year-old sonhas followed his father's footsteps and become a fisherman, and Sy andSau's young children will probably do the same, as they lack education,like many young people, to move to another line of work.
Thelack of diversity in the town's economic structure, which hashistorically been dominated by the fishing industry, provides fewchoices for young people in a town that has no bank branches or ATMs. (Abigger town seven kilometres away, however, has a bank and ATM.)
TranThi Thanh Thao, who is on the staff of the town's Division of Labour,Social Affairs, and Invalids, said that up to 80 percent of the town'syoung people have no choice but continue to follow their grandparentsand parents as fishermen.
"Many leave school because there areno other jobs for them besides fishing," said Thao, adding that only sixyoung people from the town went to vocational school last year.
Sau said: "We know nothing besides fishing and my children will be at sea we cannot afford to allow them to go to school."
He complained that it was tough to provide enough money for his children so they could attend and complete high school.
So what path can be offered to these fishermen to help them escapetheir predicament? And how can town officials make improvements thatwill benefit their people?
With the rapid depletion of seafoodresources, developing an alternative source of income like home-staytourism services could be one way of enhancing living standards andreducing the need for families to overfish.
But, the authoritiesof Phuoc Hai town, which has a population of under 100,000, would befaced with a challenge, as such services would need to developsustainably and hire trained staff.
In addition, localauthorities would need to rigidly enforce rules on sustainableexploitation of seafood resources, and at the same time begindiversifying the town's economic picture to provide the locals withanother livelihood.
Town officials say they are aware of the potential for tourism, and have built a new hotel and are welcoming investors.
Theyrealise that a major selling point is the town's striking feature ofhaving one of the long-standing fishing villages in the province locatedon its coastal edge.
As the mainstay of the province's fishingindustry, the town is home to thousands of households who generationafter generation have used round basket boats and small and largemotorboats to catch fish from onshore to offshore areas.
Duringthe morning and afternoon, the beach and street in front of the villageand facing the sea is lively as colour-painted boats of all kinds anchorto unload fish for women who sell them at local markets or to traders.
Anddespite their conservative appearance and their reticent nature, thevillage people are generally friendly and honest. Talking with thefishermen about their sea trips often provides interesting stories thattourists would enjoy.
Many households, especially young coupleswho use small motorboats or round basket boats to make their one-dayfishing trips, fish early and return at around lunch.
These youngfamilies, who have a level of education that is much better than theirparents (whose language level is rather basic), could help initiatehome-stay services.
Tourists could stay at the young couple'shouses, and sleep, eat, and go out on casual boat trips or evenaccompany fishermen on their daily rounds at sea.
"We would participate in a home-stay if the town has a plan to develop the service at the village," Duc said.
Like Duc, Sau and Sy are enthusiastic about the idea.
"I would take part if my family was asked," said Sau, who has four children and a wife.
Only20km away from Vung Tau city and half that distance to Long Hai town,Phuoc Hai might not have the natural and economic conditions for a majortourism centre, but it is certainly a well-deserved place to visit.
Sothe new path for Phuoc Hai Town and its old fishing village could beone of sustainable development, one that offers an alternative income,reduces overexploitation of fish and encourages families to invest ineducation for their children.-VNA
