Over the past year, thousands of wild tra fish (pangasius) have flocked to Ong Chuong canal, where they have been fed and protected by local farmer Dinh Vu Tam, 51.

The fish live completely in the wild, in Ong Chuong canal. Whenever his boat hits a tree, the fish swim to Tam’s wharf to be fed like "pets".

Tam said that his family runs seven boats to serve local farms. On the afternoon of the last day of the lunar year 2020, he went down to the wharf behind his house to tie the boats before joining his family to welcome the Lunar New Year. “While I was washing my hands after tying the boats, I saw the fish swirling around on the water. At that time, they were as small as my fingers,” Tam said.

“Watching the fish for a while, I came back to my house. The next morning, I came down to the wharf and I saw the fish still there. I tried to spread some food to them. I did not expect that they would bite continuously," Tam said.

Since then, Tam has bought food to feed the wild fish. More and more fish have come to his wharf, including pangasius and other fish species.

Every day, the fish eat at least three food bags, worth nearly VND800,000 (over $30).

Tam considers the fish as his pets, so he has never harmed or caught them. He lets them swim freely in the river. To make a shelter for the fish and prevent others from catching them, Tam has anchored a boat permanently at the wharf.

It is estimated that all the fish amount to about 15 tons in weight. Each fish weighs from 1kg to 5kg each.

Many locals and tourists come to see the fish and some buy food for them. However, others try to catch the fish, using all types of devices.

Tam hopes the authorities place a fish ban sign in the waters where the fish live.

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