When fields in Hong Ngu, the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, are flooded, it is field crab catching season.

Locals use lop – a cylindrical bamboo basket to catch such field crabs. They often collect the field crabs at 4:00 am.

From 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, they sell the crabs they have caught. 

Nguyen Van Mong, in Binh Thanh Commune, has earned his living by placing the bamboo baskets to catch field crabs for 20 years, enough for him to raise his three kids.

Bich Thuy field crab wholesaling point, run by Nguyen Van Mong and his wife, is crowded every day.

The peak time of this job falls between the seventh and the tenth lunar month (around August to November), which is the flooding season in the Mekong Delta.

Mong and those like him earn the best income during this time. 

He can collect 50 to 60 kilograms of field crabs by placing 600 bamboo baskets.

For the past two years, Mong and his wife have worked as wholesalers. They are now running a field crab wholesaling point named Bich Thuy. 

They buy 450 to 500 kilograms of field crabs from 100 households each day, which will be sold in Ho Chi Minh City.

A kilogram of field crabs is sold at VND15,000 (US$0.63) and field crabs with big claws are sold at VND35,000 ($1.47) per kilogram. 

Nguyen Van My, 57, also in Binh Thanh Commune, has spent half his life catching field crabs.

During the flooding season, My can collect 25 to 30 kilograms of field crabs every day, earning around VND400,000 ($16.83). 

Nguyen Van Mong is classifying field crabs according to their size.

“In February and March, I can collect only seven to eight kilograms of field crabs, but the price is higher, VND60,000 ($2.52) per kilogram. So, I have stable income all year round,” My shared. 

Le Thanh Tuan, chairman of Binh Thanh Commune People’s Committee, said there are 12 households making the bamboo knitting cylindrical baskets to make ends meet.

“They faced slow consumption years ago as the floodwater was not as high as usual. But this year is much better.”

Vo Be Hien, leader of Dong Thap Fisheries Sub-department, said the flood level this year is higher than last year, but the source of fisheries is not as abundant as usual.

“The widespread flooding happens in Dong Thap Province, especially its Hong Ngu, Tam Nong and Thanh Binh Communes. The flood is forecast to peak in mid-October, bringing a big source of fisheries to locals.”

A fisherman is carrying his 30 kilograms of field crabs to a wholesaler.

Mong is making lop - a cylindrical bamboo basket to catch field crabs.

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