Dak Lak fishermen celebrate Independence Day

Le Hao - Tuyet Huong

Joining the general joy of the whole country celebrating Independence Day, in recent days, many boats full of fish and shrimp of Dak Lak fishermen have also returned to shore, bringing with them joy and confidence in a smooth sailing season.

The ship returned to port, the hold full of fish.

On the morning of August 31, Phu Lac fishing port (Hoa Hiep ward) was busier than usual. Ships docked one after another, the sound of engines mixed with the sound of waves, mixed with the cheerful laughter of fishermen after a trip to sea. In the midst of that scene, the red flag with yellow star fluttered, creating a joyful atmosphere to celebrate Independence Day.

Fishing boats of Dak Lak fishermen docked at port on the occasion of the National Day holiday on September 2nd with the joy of a good harvest.

Mr. Le Hoang Giang in Phu Tho 1 Quarter (Hoa Hiep Commune) excitedly said: "My family's fishing boat PY95599TS just docked at Phu Lac fishing port with a hold full of striped tuna, catfish... Going out to sea with a good catch, returning in time for the September 2nd holiday to reunite with family, this joy is hard to describe."

Fishermen unload fish from the ship's hold.

Giang’s joy is also the common sentiment of hundreds of fishermen when they dock these days. Pham Minh Tuong (34 years old), a captain with 8 years of experience at sea, has just brought his boat back to port after 20 days at sea. His boat’s hold is filled with 30 tons of squid and other pelagic fish such as striped tuna, mackerel, and octopus.

“From the sixth lunar month until now, the sea has entered the floating fish season, all the boats are full, everyone is happy. These types of seafood are unloaded from the boat and there are traders on the spot. The average price of these types of seafood is from 30,000 - 50,000 VND/kg, so this trip was a big win, earning a billion VND. All the boatmen are happy, having money to celebrate the holiday with their families. After that, we rest for a few days, then continue to go to sea,” Mr. Tuong shared.

Squid is brought ashore and weighed for sale to traders right at the port.

Next to him, Pham Thanh Hieu (27 years old) quickly unloaded seafood with his crew. He said: “I have been attached to the sea since I was 17 years old. I have been on both big and small boats, and I get used to it. Sometimes I try other jobs on land, but then I return to the ship because I miss the sound of the waves and the smell of the sea breeze. I am very happy when my trip is successful, especially during this holiday season, I have more motivation to stay at sea for a long time.”

Not only fishermen, but also traders are busy in the common joy. Ms. Le Thi Hoang, who has 8 years of experience purchasing seafood at the port, said: “Every day I purchase about 60 tons of fish and squid of all kinds, selling them to seafood processing companies. Seeing people having a good harvest, bigger boats, and more output, I clearly see that life in the coastal area is getting better and better.”

Traders buy fish to sell to seafood processing companies.

According to Mr. Le Van Chinh, an employee of Phu Lac fishing port, it is currently the right season for floating fish, so the number of ships docking is busier than before. Ships that go nearby return in 1-2 days, with a catch of about 1-2 tons. Ships that go further have a larger catch, sometimes even tens of tons. This time, docking on a big holiday makes people doubly excited."

Trust in the new voyage

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, in August 2025, the output of aquatic products exploited by fishermen in the province reached over 5,800 tons, equal to 105.4% of the same period in 2024. Of which, the output of marine aquatic products exploited was about 5,400 tons, including: 5,026 tons of various types of fish, more than 122 tons of shrimp, 235 tons of squid...

The bustling atmosphere at the fishing port seems to motivate fishermen before each new trip. Urgently loading ice, oil, and food onto the ship to prepare for going out to sea, Mr. Bui Viet Thang (Phu Tho 3 quarter, Hoa Hiep commune), owner of the ship PY95239TS said: "Currently, when we work at sea, we often go in teams. When we see a fish shoal, we inform each other to go fishing together. Thanks to that, the output is stable and the income is also better."

Today’s successful fishing trips are not only thanks to the experience and solidarity of fishermen, but also to the timely support policies of the Party and the State: from preferential loans to build large-capacity ships, fuel support for ships going offshore, to connecting product consumption. Thanks to that, fishermen have more motivation to stay at sea for longer periods of time, exploiting more effectively.

Mr. Pham Minh Tuong confided: “Going to sea is hard, but now that there is a support policy, we feel much more secure. Every successful trip means more income, and we can take care of our families and children’s education. This year’s Independence Day is also happier because many boats have caught fish.”

Fishermen put ice on board to prepare for a new trip.

After the days of rest and celebration, Dak Lak fishermen will continue to go out to sea. And during that voyage, the red flag with yellow star always flies on the roof of each ship's cabin, not only as a source of pride, a support for fishermen to stand firm against the storms, but also as a reminder of their sacred responsibility: going out to sea, sticking to the sea, contributing to protecting the sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/kinh-te/202508/ngu-dan-dak-lak-vui-tet-doc-lap-9c10d4f/