Da Nang has a 90km coastline, and it, therefore, boasts a variety of seafood specialities, including shark fin, fish sauce, and fresh and dried fish, prawns, cuttlefish, and seahorses.

A stall selling dried seafood products in the Han Market

Such products are now available at major local markets, including Han, Con, and Dong Da.

Head of the Management Board of the Han Market, Ms Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, said that the Han Market has over 80 stalls selling fresh seafood, 60 stalls displaying dried seafood products, and 12 others offering fish sauce, ‘mam ca com’ (anchovy paste), and ‘mam nem’ (a type of fish sauce, made from small fish or small shrimps).

Ms Van remarked that, over recent years, traders at this market have made great efforts to diversify their selling products and to ensure trade civilisation to attract more locals and visitors.

Owner of the Thuan Yen stall said that domestic and foreign visitors often buy dried seafood marinated in special seasonings as presents for their relatives and friends.  The prices per kg of such products are ranging between 200,000 and 300,000 VND.

In addition to dried seafood products, visitors to the market often buy ‘mam ca com’ and ‘mam nem’ thanks to their excellent taste which can hardly be found anywhere else in the country.  In particular, the Di Can stall’s products have won the trust of regional gourmets and visitors from northern localities, whilst those of the Nhut Hoang stall are most preferred by customers from southern region.

The city is now home to numerous establishments involved in making dried fish and cuttlefish marinated in special seasonings.  The majority of such venues are located in Son Tra and Hai Chau districts, and the Nam O village in Lien Chieu District’s Hoa Hiep Ward.

Amongst them is the Nghi Ha establishment on Trung Nu Vuong in Hai Chau District.  The venue now has 50 workers involved in making chili sauce, and dried and marinated seafood products.  Its products are now available at many local markets, and shops selling specialities. 

It can be said that the local coastline has provided the city with an abundance of ‘gifts of the sea’, which has helped to advertise the local specialties to gourmets from across the country and even in foreign countries.