VietNamNet Bridge - In the flood season, special markets appear in the southwestern region, selling animals that are caught thanks to water rising, such as eels, snakes, turtles, rats, snails, and crabs. When the flood recedes, the markets also close.



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Snakes are sold in many places in the southwest, from large to small markets, but the largest markets are those in An Giang province. Snakes are available at Khanh An market in An Phu district and An Giang from July through November, said Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan, a snake trader. 

 

 

 

 

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Mrs. Luong Thi Cua, a snake trader at the market of Vinh Hoi Dong, An Phu district, An Giang province, said this product had sold very well. In the flood season, she sells several hundreds of kilos of snakes a day to traders from HCM City and southwestern provinces. The prices range from VND110,000 to VND550,000 per kilo, depending on species.

 

 

 

 

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This year, besides usual snake species, some Cambodian sell red-tailed vipers for making medicinal alcohol at prices from VND50,000 to VND100,000/snake.

 

 

 

 

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Lizards are sold from VND80,000 to VND90,000/kg. This species is largely imported from Cambodia.

 

 

 

 

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Rare turtles also appear at the market, with prices ranging from VND280,000 to VND350,000/kg. Customers are mainly restaurants.

 

 

 

 

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Mrs. Ngo Phuong Mai, who sells turtles at Khanh An market, said in the flood season she travels to Cambodia to buy turtles for sale. The prices fall by half in the flood season.

 

 

 

 

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Phu Dat market in Binh Long commune, Chau Phu district of An Giang province is the biggest field-mouse market in the south. Each day the market sells tons of field mice to restaurants in the Mekong Delta and HCM City.

 

 

 

 

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Prices are VND45,000 to VND55,000/kg for live mice and VND90,000 to VND120,000/kg for slaughtered mice.

 

 

 

 

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Truong Xuan is the biggest field-crab market in the south. It is located in Thap Muoi District, Dong Thap Province. The market supplies over 100 tons of crabs/day for HCM City and neighboring provinces.

 

 

 

 

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Mr. Nguyen Truong Canh, from Tan Hung District of Long An Province, said that every day he catches 400kg of crabs to sell to traders.

 

 

 

 

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The field-snail market in the town of Long Binh, An Giang province, is the largest of its kind in the south. It sells tens of tons of snails a day.

 

 

 

 

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The largest market of linh fish is in An Phu district. Many Cambodian fishermen bring fish to sell here.

 

 

 

 

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There are also markets selling vegetables and flowers of the flood season along the Vietnam-Cambodia border in An Giang and Dong Thap provinces.

 

 

 

 

 

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Dien dien flowers are the most popular product at these market, priced at about VND40,000/kg. $1 = VND21,000

 

Zing/VNN