According to the Vietnam Record Institute, Dong Nai River is river the longest inland area in our country. So which is the shortest river? The answer is Vam Nao River in Phu Tan district, An Giang province. This river has a length of 6.5km, an average width of 700m, and a depth of over 17m.
Releasing fish on Vam Nao river. Photo: Laodong
Vam Nao River connecting the Tien River and Hau River. It plays an extremely important role in waterway traffic in the Mekong Delta. Despite its modest length, Vam Nao has a strong flow rate; its two estuaries have fierce whirlpools.
According to legend, in the past, because many herds of wild elephants and buffalo passed through here, a small canal was formed. Later, due to the pressure of the fast-flowing Tien and Hau rivers, Vam Nao was formed today.
Vam Nao is a river with a strange flow and swirling water that can easily sink boats. Photo: Nhandan
In Vam Nao River, there are many rare and large freshwater fish species. People call them “fish monsters” or “sea monsters”. In the past, there were dugongs (dolphins), sawfish, and rays living here, but because of overfishing, they are no longer there. Currently, Vam Nao still has rare “monster fish” species: barb fish and “huge” catfish.
The 86 kg catfish was caught by fisherman H.An Phu in 2012. Photo: Truong An
Sea bass is listed in Vietnam’s red book, with the scientific name Catlocarpio siamensis. They possess the largest size in the carp family, the largest can be up to 3 meters long, weighing about 300kg. Sea bass usually live in the Mekong River region and Southeast Asia.
Fishermen caught giant barb fish in Vam Nao in 2020. Photo: Kenh14
Mr. Tran Van Nung (Tu Nung), a long-time fisherman living in Vam Nao River, revealed that every time fishermen here go into the water, they will pray to the water god for blessings to catch big fish. If they catch them, they will offer them in return, sometimes a pig’s head, sometimes a pair of ducks cooked in soup. Someone once caught a catch of seven big barra fish, weighing nearly 150kg, and had to put a rope around the fish’s gills and drag them behind the motorboat home.
Mr. Tran Van Ky, Mr. Tu Nung’s neighbor, once caught a fish weighing 104kg. Because of its large body, this species often lives in the deepest depths, near the whirlpool. To catch them, fishermen sometimes have to bet their lives.
Now the Vam Nao River is still the same, the water is still flowing fast, the vortex is ready to take people’s lives at any time. But giant fish species are increasingly absent because they are overfished.