With coastal city characteristics, Cam Pha City has its own fish market which has seen busiest at 3 – 4 a.m and ended at just dawn. Ben Do fish market has become a cultural feature, an idyllic corner associated with the buslting city in the coal mining area.
The Ben Do fish market is located at the end of Dat Do road in Cam Thuy ward along the coast of Bai Tu Long Bay, considered as the largest seafood wholesale market in Cam Pha city. Hundreds of boats pass by the market every morning. The market attracts not only locals but also tourists who want to find a great place to contemplate the early morning sunrise at sea and immerse in the bustling atmosphere of trading, witness sparkling fresh cuttlefish, the pink-white prawns...which can only be seen in the coastal city.
A long time ago, the whole Ben Do area was surrounded by expansive tidal flats. As a result, boats and ships could not reach the shore, forcing the small-scale traders to wade ashore to take shirmps and fish. This explained the name “Wadingmarket” or Loi market another name of the Ben Do market.
Along the coast of Bai Tu Long Bay with abundant seafood sources, the Ben Do fish market has plenty of seafood, such as sardines, golden rabbitfish, prawns, cuttlefish, mantis shrimps etc. To meet the seafood demand at the martket, everyday, the fishing boats often sail away from midnight and return to dock at around 3 -4 a.m, in time for the busiest time of the market. Some boats go to sea 30 nautical miles out of the shore meanwhile some boats only catch fish around the Bai Tu Long Bay. Or sometimes, seafood is caught from floating farms of the local fishermen.
The Ben Do Fish Market at the current location is not under the planning of Cam Pha city, however, in a different perspective, this market becomes a cultural destination associated with the life of fishermen around the Bai Tu Long Bay. If one day the Ben Do fish market is no longer in operation, people will extremely remember the early days when it was still dark, they had to look at the lights and choose each squid, shrimp and fresh seafood .... For many people, the market reminds them of beautiful childhood memories.
Translated by Thu Giang
