Located about 20 kilometers from downtown Hue City, Ngu My Thanh fishing village, in Đan Điền commune, is home to about 250 households that make a living by fishing and harvesting aquatic products in the Tam Giang Lagoon.
Local elders say that Ngu My Thanh was established around the early 19th century with a few local families. Then, fishermen from Phu Vang and Phu Loc, some several dozen kilometers away by boat, came to fish for a living. Seeing that the lagoon was rich in shrimp and fish and offered favorable conditions for their livelihoods, they decided to settle alongside the people living on land, forming a community of boat-dwelling fishermen.
Van Huu Sang, Director of the Tam Giang–Quang Loi Community Tourism and Services Cooperative, said: “In the past, the people lived on boats and fished on the lagoon for generations. After 1990, they moved onto land and built their lives there. The village was officially named ‘Ngu My Thanh’. The area is blessed by nature with a very beautiful lagoon.”
Ngu My Thanh fishing village has all the distinctive features of a riverside and lagoon-side setting.
Visitors can watch the nostalgic sunrise and sunset over Tam Giang Lagoon, which is surrounded by extensive mangrove forests. They can explore the lagoon’s aquatic life and bird species, try casting nets and setting traps to catch fish and clams, and paddle SUP boards. They can also learn about the local community’s way of life and traditional crafts.
Mr Sang again: “At Ngu My Thanh fishing village, visitors can enjoy the fresh air and amazing sunrise and sunset. The scenery is very beautiful. Tourists mainly travel by boat to explore the Tam Giang Lagoon.”
The tour gives a glimpse into the life of a fishing community and the simple, warm-hearted way of life of its residents. Their everyday activities, such as making nets and fishing with traditional, rudimentary gear, are depicted in colorful murals, adding a softer touch to the village’s roads and concrete fences. Mr. Sang said: “The rainy season in Hue is coming. After the rainy season, the murals in Ngu My Thanh Village will be repainted to make them brighter to promote Tam Giang Lagoon.”
Ngu My Thanh’s floating market opens from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m., when fishermen return after a night of fishing on the lagoon. Fresh seafood items such as goby, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs and eels are traded from boat to boat.
Villager Phan Van Ty said: “At Ngu My Thanh fishing village, people are very friendly and warmly welcome visitors.”
The vast and picturesque lagoon and the riverine lifestyle has attracted many visitors. “Coming here, I felt a sense of peace and tranquility. The air is very fresh. I will come back again.”
“The natural beauty of the lagoon makes me feel relaxed and comfortable. I also learned more about life around Tam Giang Lagoon. I will bring my friends here.”
From a riverside fishing village, Ngu My Thanh has transformed, becoming a magnet for travellers to explore the life and culture of the famous lagoon region of Hue.
