At around 5:00pm every day, fishermen in Tho Quang Ward, Son Tra District, Da Nang, start to head out to sea for inshore fishing activities. Despite having been hit hard by fuel price hike over the past time, local fishermen have still made efforts to sail ships out to sea in a bid to catch seafood and protect Viet Nam's sovereignty over its sea and islands.

Fishermen together conducting fishing activities in the middle of the night

When it got dark, fishing vessel DNA 90582, captained by Mai Duc Dung residing in Tho Quang Ward, took us out to sea to catch seafood.

Once arrival at a suitable fishing location, Mr. Dung anchored the boat and turned on all the lights on the boat to attract fish.

In about 2-3 hours of waiting, crew members on board began to fish for squid in preparation for their late-night meal. In just a few moments, fresh squids were caught on the boat one by one, making everyone excited.

In addition to freshly-caught squids, fishermen beg for fish from fishing boats operating nearby.

“While we have not had time to catch fish for a late night meal, our crew members will ask for food support from fishing boats operating nearby. Like us, they will come to our boat to ask for fish when in trouble. No matter how much we quarrel when we are on the shore, when we go to the sea, everyone will temporarily put aside their own affairs and help each other when possible” added fisherman Nguyen Van Viet.

Most of crew members onboard have decades of experience in fishing. For them, the sea is a place not only to earn for a living but also to show their responsibility for the profession left by their ancestors.

“I have stuck to the fishing job for three decades. For us, going to the sea is not only to earn for a living, but also express our responsibility for the country’s waters. Despite many difficulties, including recent hikes in fuel prices, we have still struggled to head out to sea in an effort to earn our livings as well as to protect the country’s sacred sovereignty over its sea and islands" said captain Dung.

Despite feeling tired after many hours of travelling by sea, we had an unforgettable experience about fisherman night life at sea from fishing for squid, catching seafood in the middle of the night, and sitting on a small boat in the middle of the sea to have a dinner.

A meal on a fishing boat

The man had to put on rubber boots and stand on the lever to support other crew members pulling the fishing nets behind.

Although fishing is extremely hard work, fishermen always show their optimism through smiles

The man wiping sweat on his face with his T-shirt after hours of pulling the fishing net

As dawn breaks, fishermen take a rest

Fresh fish after a night's work of fishermen

While the fishing boat returns to shore, crew members together sort fish into trays for sale.

After a night of fishing, fishermen come ashore to sell the fish they have caught from the previous night.

A lot of traders are waiting for fishermen right next to the shore.

Reporting by CHANH LAM - Translating by M.DUNG