Founded in 2016 and based in Nam O Village in Da Nang’s Lien Chieu District, the O Long General Service Cooperative has created closer links amongst the village’s fish sauce makers to develop its own brand name of Nam O fish sauce.

Vats of fish sauce at a production facility

Besides, the Cooperative has played a vital role in solving difficulties facing by small-scale fish sauce makers in sourcing raw materials and increasing the consumption of fish sauce products.

Mr Phan Cong Quang, Director of the Cooperative, said he had to give up his high salary job to preserve the traditional fish sauce making village by setting up a cooperative.

Initially, the Cooperative had 3 young and 4 older members. In the first few years of operation, the Cooperative has earned low profits because Nam O fish sauce products have yet to be popular with local people.

Since the start of 2018, the Cooperative has cooperated with a service company to develop its own brand name and boost the consumption of the village’s products.

Since then, the village’s products have been displayed and sold at fairs and shops specialising selling local specialities across the city, thereby the consumption of the village’s products is more stable.

Mr Nguyen Ngoc Huy, a Cooperative member, said the Nam O Fish Sauce Village has maintained its stable production and business activities over recent years. Thanks to this, most of the fish sauce makers in the Nam O Village are now able to earn stable income.

Over recent years, the Da Nang branch of the Viet Nam Cooperative Alliance has provided active support for the O Long Cooperative.

Most recently, the Cooperative has participated in the city’s Spring Fair 2019 to advertise the brand name of Nam O fish sauce amongst fair-goers.

Besides, the Cooperative has been allowed to access loans at preferential interest rates for purchasing new and modern machines and equipment in a bid to improve the quality of fish sauce products and ensure the hygiene of fish sauce products during the production products.

Currently, the Cooperative is making greater efforts to widely publicise the village’s products amongst its consumers in a more effective manner, as well as make the brand name of Nam O fish sauce become more popular with people nationwide.