Fresh fish from the sea directly to the coal stove
Along the coastal road through Cua Viet, Ben Hai and Cua Tung communes (Quang Tri province), red-hot charcoal stoves placed on the roadside have become stops for many tourists. Fresh fish just brought up from sea trips are pre-processed, placed directly on the charcoal stove and sold while still hot.
Women wearing conical hats, covering themselves, sit by the stove, continuously turning fish on red charcoal. Fish after ripening is golden brown, emitting a characteristic aroma, making many passersby curiously stop their cars.
Mr. Tran Tuan Anh - a tourist from Lang Son, said that during a trip along the Central region with friends, when passing through the coastal road of Ben Hai commune, the group encountered scenes of people grilling fish on the roadside.
The fish here is very fresh, the brothers had the opportunity to eat grilled fish right on the spot, dipped in chili salt water is also very special. Because it's delicious, I bought it as a gift," Mr. Tuan Anh shared.
According to the seller, herring is purchased or caught by net in the littoral area. At about 3-4 am, when the boat docks, the fish is brought up and pre-processed for grilling.
The price of fresh herring is about 30,000 VND/kg. After grilling, customers eat it on the spot and buy it for about 60,000 VND/kg, while customers buy it to take home for about 50,000 VND/kg. The selling price may change depending on the time.
Part-time jobs help fishermen increase income
Mr. Phan Duc Kiem, a charcoal grilled fish seller in Trung Giang village, Ben Hai commune, said that the fish sold here are all fresh fish caught from the coastal area. On weekends or holidays, the number of customers is usually higher, while on weekdays it is mainly casual customers.
On average, the amount of fish sold is about 30-40kg of fresh fish per day. In which, herring alone accounts for the majority, along with other types of fish such as mackerel, tuna, raft fish...", Mr. Kiem said.
According to people, each family can grill several dozen kg of fish per day. If sold out, the income can reach about 1.5-2 million VND.
For tourists, the attraction is not only in the selling price but also in the experience of eating fish that have just left the charcoal stove right by the sea.
Mr. Hoang Dinh Vu, a tourist from Lang Son, said that his group spent millions of VND to buy fish after enjoying it on the spot.
I bought quite a lot, probably about a few dozen kilograms. The fish here is very fresh and the price is cheap, I have tried it, it's very delicious, so I bought it as a gift," Mr. Vu shared.
According to Mr. Vu, not only him but also the people in the group bought fish with an amount of money from several hundred thousand to more than 1 million VND per person. The entire amount of fish put on the car was also several million VND.
For coastal residents, grilling and selling fish right on the roadside helps take advantage of local seafood resources, creating additional income in addition to offshore trips.
