The first season of linh fish has arrived at the market at a price of 250,000 VND/kg.

linh fish - Photo 1.

Traders at Nha Bang market said that these linh fish were bought in the area bordering Cambodia - Photo: BUU DAU

On July 3, Tuoi Tre Online recorded that at Nha Bang market, Thoi Son ward, An Giang province, there was linh fish at the beginning of the flood season, with prices ranging from 220,000-250,000 VND/kg (cleaned fish) but "supply did not meet demand".

According to records, linh fish sold at Nha Bang market are small in size. Many vendors at Nha Bang market selling linh fish said they can only buy a very small quantity, about 1-2kg of linh fish/day.

"I bought this linh fish at the border source in Nhon Hoi commune, it was just over 1kg. I cleaned it and sold it for 220,000 VND/kg, some people sold it for 250,000 VND/kg," Ms. H. happily said.

According to observations, at Nha Bang market there are nearly 10 traders selling linh fish. The most are Ms. Y. and her husband, who have more than 3kg of linh fish ready to be sold elsewhere.

"My husband and I bought these young linh fish near the Cambodian border. We have to clean them early, because if we wait too long, the fish will die and we can't clean them. When we finish cleaning the fish, we will marinate them in ice to keep them fresh and then sell them. The price is 230,000 VND/kg.

"The women here want to buy a lot of linh fish but there are none. Because this is the first linh fish season, everyone is trying to find fish to sell for extra income," Ms. Y. added.

At Chau Doc and Tinh Bien markets, there are also linh fish at the beginning of the season at a price of about 250,000 VND/kg, but the quantity is not much. Most traders said that these fish were purchased in the upstream border area with Cambodia.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Tran Anh Dung, former head of the Department of Fisheries of An Giang province, said that at this time, the water on the Tien and Hau rivers has turned murky, indicating that flood water from upstream is flowing into the river branches. However, the water level on the river is not as high as in previous years.

"According to the rule, after the 5th of the 5th lunar month, there will be linh fish at the beginning of the season. The level and quantity depends on the water level. This year, there is no water in the fields yet, the water level in the river branches is not high yet, but linh fish have appeared, I am a bit surprised," Mr. Dung added.

In the Mekong Delta, the appearance of linh fish is a sign that the flood season in the West has begun, bringing alluvium to the whole region. The first linh fish of the season is often braised or fried in flour. This is a famous specialty dish of the Mekong Delta.