BUYING SNAKEHEAD FISH FULL

So I take advantage of this occasion to buy the dish for my family.'Īccording to Vietnamese tradition, the tenth day of the lunar calendar is the day when the God of Wealth returns to heaven. Sometimes if I crave grilled fish, I have to drive really far. Tran Thi Lieu said she bought the dish every year: 'The market near my house normally does not sell this dish. Waiting for her turn to get a grilled fish, Nguyen Thi Cuc said: 'When I went to the market today, I saw many stalls selling grilled snakehead fish so I bought some. They just love the dish,' said Bay, a seller in Thi Nghe market. Some people buy grilled snakehead fish in the early morning for worship, some buy the fish for lunch or dinner. “On the God of Wealth's Day, I sell grilled snakehead fish from early morning to late evening. This year, the price increased slightly over the previous year.īesides its spiritual meaning, many people buy snakehead fish just because they love it. 'Every year, I import about 3,000 snakeheads (five tons) from Binh Dien wholesale market for the God of Wealth Day,' the 68-year-old seller said.ĭepending on size, each grilled snakehead fish costs between VND170,000-200,000 ($7.49-8.81).

BUYING SNAKEHEAD FISH FULL

Nguyen Trung revealed that his stall had been running at full capacity over the past two days. The fish placed on the charcoal stove was continuously fanned by sellers, releasing an attractive scent. This year God of Wealth's Day, grilled snakehead fish was sold at many markets in Ho Chi Minh City. By offering fish, Southerners also pray that they will meet fewer struggles, 'as natural as fish in water.' In Oriental belief, fish symbolizes wealth, luck, and success. Some say it recalls the old days when Southerners lived in poor conditions and struggled to make a living. Some believe that grilled snakehead fish is the God of Wealth's favorite dish. Many people believe snakehead fish is the signature dish of the Southern region and shows gratitude for nature and gods and respect for the ancestors. No one knows exactly why and when the tradition started. Then, the cook sticks a long sugarcane stick through its mouth to the fin to straighten the fish.Ī fish is garnished before being given to buyers. The fish must be kept whole, without cutting off its tail and fins. Southerners add snakehead fish to the tray. Several kinds of meat are added in offering trays for the God of Wealth, including pork, shrimp, and crab. 10 this year in the solar calendar is called God of Wealth's Day when the Vietnamese rush to buy gold and pray to the God of Wealth for financial fortune in the new year.Īs the day comes, hundreds of grilled snakehead fish stalls emerge in Ho Chi Minh City The custom only appears in the south of Vietnam, mostly in Saigon, and is unfamiliar to central and northern people.Ī seller in Ho Chi Minh City grills the fish. We promote catch-and-release Snakehead (Channa striata) which helps sustain our valuable fishing resources and ensures great fishing for future generations.Thousands of fish are sold on the occasion each year (Photo: VNE)įeb. The Snakehead fish has a firm texture, white meat when cooked.Ĭooking Tips for the Snakehead fish: Grilled Snakehead fish, Boiled Snakehead fish, Baked Snakehead fish, Cooked Snakehead fish with sauce, Fried or Fried-pan Snakehead fish, Steamed Snakehead fish with Black Beans & Ginger or with Lime juice, Stir-Fried Snakehead Fish Slices, Vietnamese style clay pot braised Snakehead fish, Rustic Curried Snakehead Fish Grilled, Snakehead Fish Soup with Sweet Corn and Huai Shan, etc. The Snakehead fish has a low to moderate fat content, and is a rich source of high quality protein. IQF skinless, boneless Snakehead fillets are sometimes sold under other names such as “white grouper” in the United States. The EU and Italia are our large export markets. Snakehead became an important Vietnamese export earning “hundreds of millions of dollars”. Snakehead (Channa striata) can be found in most types of slow-moving freshwater habitat, including rivers, lakes, flood rice paddies in Vietnam. The Snakehead (Channa striata) has a wide natural distribution ranging from tropical Southern Asia to most of Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. Yellow stripe Snapper / Yellow-tail Fusilier Spiny Eel / Lesser Spiny Eel / Star Baim / Tara Baim Silver barb / Java barb / Rajiputi / Puti Red Snapper - Tropical Snapper - Yoko-Fuedai Red Pomfret / Red Pacu / Red bellied Pacu

Barramundi, Asian Seabass, Giant Perch, Koralįlathead fish / Bartail Flathead fish / Megochi

Buying snakehead fish