Ms. Hoang Ngan, who sells freshwater fish and other specialties from the Mekong Delta in Tam Binh ward (Ho Chi Minh City), said that these days the water level in localities in the Mekong Delta is receding rapidly, and the natural freshwater fish population has decreased significantly.
Since the beginning of the flood season, Ms. Ngan has been directly purchasing freshwater fish from farmers in the Nga Nam area of Can Tho City (formerly part of Soc Trang province) to distribute in Ho Chi Minh City. After delivering to wholesale customers, she sells the remaining fish retail at her family’s stall.
Currently, the amount of freshwater fish that Ms. Ngan sells to the market each day has decreased compared to before because, at the end of the flood season, the amount of fish that can be purchased is no longer abundant.
Eels from rice paddies at the end of the flood season are priced at over 300,000 VND/kg (Photo: Nam Binh).
Meanwhile, consumer demand remains strong. This is also the time of year when freshwater fish are at their best: after growing in the flooded fields, the fish are plump and have firm flesh, making them highly sought after in the market.
The prices of freshwater fish at Ms. Ngan’s stall range from 100,000 to 200,000 VND/kg. Snakehead fish are priced at 150,000-170,000 VND/kg; exceptionally large ones weighing 600g or more are sold for 200,000 VND/kg. Goby and anchovy fish are both priced at 100,000-120,000 VND/kg.
In particular, Ms. Ngan sells wild eels for 320,000 VND/kg, many times higher than farmed eels, but she only manages to get a few each day.
Ms. Ngan sells ground freshwater crab for 100,000 VND/kg, but she doesn’t have much in stock. Similarly, with snakehead fish, even though it’s the weekend market and customers are asking to buy more, she can’t get enough to sell.
According to Ms. Ngan, some rare delicacies, such as live dolphins, currently command very high market prices, ranging from 500,000 to 700,000 VND per kilogram, but are almost unavailable. Customers who want to eat them must place orders in advance and wait; she will deliver them when they become available.
Due to low yields, by just after 8 am, Ms. Ngan’s fish stall only had snakehead fish, tilapia, and a few eels left; all other types had been ordered by customers (Photo: Nam Binh).
Ms. Tu Hanh, a small trader at the Thu Duc wholesale market for agricultural products and food, also shared that at this time of year, freshwater fish are at the end of their season; specialty fish that are large, plump, and meaty fetch higher prices.
According to her, this year the floodwaters in the Mekong Delta provinces receded faster than last year, resulting in a smaller catch of freshwater fish. However, the demand for freshwater fish during the flood season remains high, so prices have not decreased, and may even have increased.
Some specialty fish species, such as catfish, snakehead fish, and large eels, are currently priced at 230,000-250,000 VND/kg, but there isn’t enough supply to meet customer demand.
According to Ms. Tu, the amount of freshwater fish caught annually, in addition to being sold fresh in the market, is also bought up by fish sauce and dried fish processing facilities. With reduced production and many buyers vying for the same quantity, the selling price has increased significantly.
In the upstream area, speaking to the press, Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, Director of the Quyet Tien Ecological Agricultural Production Cooperative (Phu Tho commune, Dong Thap province), said that the early receding of water has shortened the fish storage period this year, leading to a decrease in harvest compared to the same period last year. It is expected that the freshwater fish season will end in about a week, allowing farmers to prepare for planting the winter-spring rice crop.
The plump freshwater fish at the end of the flood season are favored by many consumers (Photo: Nam Binh).
According to the Southern Institute of Water Resources Planning (SIWRP), flood levels on the Mekong River are receding and will continue to decrease rapidly during the early months of the 2026-2027 dry season.
SIWRP reports that the peak of the main flood season in the Mekong Delta this year occurred in October but at a low level and receded quickly. The total flood volume in the delta in 2026 is estimated at 290 billion m³, about 3% lower than the multi-year average and 21% lower than in 2025.
To date, water levels at Tan Chau and Chau Doc remain low. Forecasts indicate that by November 30th, water levels at the two stations will be 1.85 m and 1.9 m respectively, significantly lower than the same period in previous years.
The rapid receding of floodwaters has shortened the time available for raising freshwater fish in many localities. The fish haven’t had time to grow large enough, and their weight remains low, resulting in lower harvest yields compared to the previous year.