Seafood markets in Vietnam show contrast between organized hubs and unregulated street stalls

Seafood trading in Vietnam presents a stark contrast between organized wholesale hubs and unregulated street markets. In Ha Long, the Cao Xanh Ward wholesale fish market operates during the night, serving as the city's largest seafood hub. Fishing vessels arrive between 1:00 AM and 2:00 AM, with fresh seafood being sorted and transported via specialized oxygenated trucks to provinces like Hai Phong, Hai Duong, and Hanoi by 5:00 AM.

In contrast, spontaneous markets near major wholesale hubs in Ho Chi Minh City, such as Thu Duc and Hoc Mon, face significant hygiene challenges. In Thu Duc, vendors display shrimp, squid, and fish on tarps placed directly on wet roads near wastewater and trash. In the Hoc Mon area, unregulated stalls operate amidst mud, decomposing waste, and heavy pollution. Reports indicate that seafood is often processed directly on the ground or near open sewers, with fish guts and waste being discarded into nearby trash heaps, raising serious food safety concerns.