Mai Ha commune’s green dam fish: Mountain specialty “swims” to big markets

On an early summer afternoon, with the sun still illuminating the limestone mountains surrounding Mai Ha commune, Mr. Kha Van Nhi in Nghe hamlet proudly stated, "Selling two green dam fish weighing 7 kg, I earned nearly VND 2 million." For him, selling this fish is not just a source of income but the culmination of persistently raising this valuable species deep in the mountains.

Special fish from clean water

Green dam fish, known locally as “gop fish,” is a specialty found only in deep, clear waters with strong currents. Ms. Ha Thi Lan, a fish fry supplier in Long hamlet, recounted, "In the past, people only accidentally caught this fish in rivers and streams. Then they brought them home and released them in ponds. Seeing that the fish thrived, albeit slowly, but yielded excellent quality meat, more people gradually followed suit.“Thanks to underground water flowing from mountain crevices, Mai Ha’s environment has become ideal for this”challenging" fish to grow. Although green dam fish grow slowly, taking two to three years to reach a weight of about 2 kg, they offer high economic value with delicious, fragrant meat, favored by restaurants and discerning consumers. Each kilogram of green dam fish can sell for VND 200,000 to VND 300,000, and even higher during holidays. This price encourages many households to persist in raising them, especially since the fish’s diet consists entirely of natural foods like cassava leaves, grass, and chopped banana stems, making it inexpensive to feed while yielding clean, quality meat.

Staff from the Center for Application and Innovation – Department of Science and Technology guide people to access information on the protective trademark “Mai Chau green dam fish” issued by the Intellectual Property Office – Ministry of Science and Technology.

Mr. Kha Van Quang’s family in Long hamlet is one of Mai Ha’s leading green dam fish farming households. With a pond area of over 1,200 square meters, he sells tons of commercial fish each year, earning hundreds of millions of VND. In addition to Mr. Quang’s family, dozens of other households in Mai Ha also enjoy a stable income, significantly improving their livelihoods.

More notably, after Mai Ha commune was newly established from the merger of Van Mai, Mai Hich, Mai Ha, and Chieng Chau communes, the movement to raise green dam fish has further expanded. In particular, in Son Thuy commune (now Tan Mai commune), which shares similar conditions and underground water sources, raising this specialty fish breed has also brought clear economic efficiency, especially for ethnic minority households and those in difficult circumstances. However, due to the small-scale farming characteristics, output is not large, and sales still depend on tourists or familiar restaurants, posing certain limitations on green dam fish consumption.

Green dam fish food is completely natural, such as cassava leaves, grass, and chopped banana stems, which is not expensive, but the fish gives clean, quality meat. From green dam fish, the life of Ms. Ha Thi Lan’s family in Long hamlet has gradually improved.

Building a brand for green dam fish to "swim" far

Concerned that the local specialty fish had not yet established a strong market presence, the Party Committee and government of Mai Ha commune coordinated with the Center for Application and Innovation (under the provincial Department of Science and Technology) to build a protective brand, "Mai Chau green dam fish." According to Mr. Tran Tien Dat, Vice Chairman of Mai Ha Commune People’s Committee, this is a turning point to affirm the value of local products. “We do not stop at developing products but also name and clearly identify them, helping green dam fish have an identification system and be protected by intellectual property,” he stated. Building a certification label helps green dam fish have a traceability stamp, enabling easier access to modern distribution channels such as supermarkets and high-end restaurants. Furthermore, through trade promotion and communication activities, this product has reached consumers outside the province, expanding its consumption market beyond the locality. Mr. Bui Duc An, Deputy Director of the Center for Application and Innovation, explained, "Previously, fish farmers lacked market orientation; consumption was fragmented, so the product’s value wasn’t high. Now, after brand recognition, with an identification system and established output, the selling price has increased sharply. Green dam fish can now compete and are trusted by customers."

This initiative yielded clear results after the "fish had a name." According to Comrade Vi Van Minh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and Chairman of the Farmers’ Association of Mai Ha commune, after the collective brand certification, the consumption of green dam fish has increased three to four times compared to before. Despite the high price, ranging from VND 200,000 to VND 300,000 per kg, the number of customers, primarily from other provinces, has increased steadily. Beyond boosting output, brand building also promotes more organized production, fostering links along the value chain, from breeding and farming to processing and consumption. Some households have boldly expanded their ponds and invested in clean water systems from mountain streams to ensure environmental quality for the fish. Commercial green dam fish farming models are gradually forming a sustainable scale, creating jobs and stable income for the people.

With fish weighing 3 kg or more, they are being sold for VND 250,000 to VND 300,000 per kg depending on the time.

Green dam fish is not simply an agricultural product but is gradually becoming a representative image of the efforts of the highland people. From a rare species in nature, green dam fish has now become a certified specialty brand with clear origins, present in a larger market. With the current development momentum, if it continues to receive systematic investment - from pond infrastructure and breeding techniques to communication and consumption connections - the “product” green dam fish has the potential to become a typical OCOP (One Commune One Product) offering, contributing to promoting the local economy and preserving the precious products of Mai Ha land. In the cool water flowing from the rock crevices, schools of green dam fish are growing day by day, just like the dreams of the people here for a prosperous life.

Manh Hung