Fishing in Vietnam: sea and rivers in 2026

This guide covers the concrete spots, operators, 2026 prices and a seasonal table by species. The two main hubs for sea fishing are Phu Quoc, for tuna and barracuda, and Nha Trang, for mahi-mahi and snapper. Da Nang and Mui Ne are the cheapest places for night squid fishing.

Prices current as of July 2026, quoted in Vietnamese dong (VND) with an approximate USD figure at ~26,000 VND ≈ $1.

• Nha Trang (Nha Trang): Sea fishing: mahi-mahi, snapper — From ~5,200,000 VND (~$200)/boat
• Phu Quoc (Phú Quốc): Deep-sea fishing: tuna, barracuda — 8-hour trip from ~3,040,000 VND (~$117)
• Da Nang (Đà Nẵng): Night squid from ~300,000 VND (~$12) — One of the cheapest options
• Mui Ne (Mũi Né): Night squid fishing — from ~300,000 VND (~$12)
• Mekong Delta (Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long): Pangasius, rays — Boat from ~500,000 VND (~$20)

Sea fishing

Nha Trang

The waters off Nha Trang are rich in mackerel, snapper and mahi-mahi. The mahi-mahi season runs August to October. Crewed boats leave the harbour for half-day or full-day trips.

A basic crewed boat for a full day starts at roughly 5,200,000 VND (~$200) for the whole boat, up to 6 people. That's the entry price — a fully kitted-out charter with good tackle costs several times more. Across a group of 4–6 friends the basic option works out to roughly 1,000,000–1,300,000 VND (~$40–50) each.

Night squid fishing is the budget option here: from about 500,000 VND (~$19) per person in a group. A private boat for up to 10 people runs somewhere around 2,900,000 VND (~$112), though that varies by boat.

Want more sea trips, or the town itself? See our Nha Trang tours and the full Nha Trang guide for beaches, districts and budgets.

Phu Quoc

Phu Quoc is the best place for deep-sea fishing in Vietnam. This is where you go for tuna (peak April–June), barracuda and dorado. Professional charters such as Rods & Reels run trips with good gear — typically an eight-hour run rather than a half-day.

A shared group trip (8 hours, with seafood on board) is 3,040,000 VND (~$117) per person; a private boat costs more. Some local skippers do half-day runs, but there's no fixed price — ask on the spot.

Night squid fishing on Phu Quoc is its own thing. A two-deck boat, a sunset departure, dinner of prawns and squid soup, drinks included. Cost: about 858,000 VND (~$33) for adults, 572,000 VND (~$22) for children — though prices swing across operators, roughly 650,000–1,400,000 VND (~$25–55).

Going by traveller reviews, night squid fishing on Phu Quoc is more of an experience than serious fishing: the catch is modest, but the sunset and dinner on the water make up for it.

For more to do on the island, see our Phu Quoc tours and the full Phu Quoc guide.

Da Nang

Night squid fishing in Da Nang is one of the cheapest options in Vietnam: 300,000–500,000 VND (~$12–20) per person. Mui Ne (Phan Thiet) charges the same, so if you're down south you don't need to travel for it. Group trips leave in the evening and return late at night.

Coastal boat fishing runs about 520,000–1,040,000 VND (~$20–40) for a few hours, landing mackerel and snapper.

Night squid fishing

This is the most quintessentially Vietnamese kind of fishing. In the evening the coastal waters fill with the lights of fishing boats — the floodlights draw squid to the surface. The technique is simple: you drop a lure-hook into the water, and when a squid grabs it, you set the hook.

No skill required. The crew shows you how. The haul is usually modest — two to five squid — but a night out at sea, the boat lights and the quiet make it more than worth it.

River fishing — Mekong

The Mekong Delta Đồng bằng sông Cửu Long is the richest freshwater zone in Southeast Asia. Fishing villages sit right on the water, and fish are woven into everyday life.

Trophies: pangasius, freshwater ray and carp. You can fish from a traditional Vietnamese junk or hire a motorboat.

A boat with a boatman runs about 500,000–1,000,000 VND (~$20–40) for a few hours. Organised day trips from Ho Chi Minh City start at 1,300,000–2,000,000 VND (~$50–80), including transfer and lunch.

The Mekong is an experience in itself: floating markets, mangrove forests, tropical heat. Come in the dry season (December–April).

Lake and pond fishing

For those who don't need the adrenaline. Paid lakes and ponds sit near every major town. Carp, tilapia, catfish — a catch is nearly guaranteed.

Cost: roughly 390,000–780,000 VND (~$15–30), tackle usually included or available to rent on site. On Phu Quoc there are morning and evening sessions.

It's a relaxed format, well suited to families with kids and anyone who wants to unwind with a rod and none of the ocean swell.

Alternatively, we could have had a grill set up beside us to place each shrimp on immediately after snagging it. One group did this and several others ordered full spreads of food including a hotpot to eat while they continued to catch shrimps.Paul Christiansen, Saigoneer, 2023

What you catch — seasonal table

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Prices and operators

You can book through FishingBooker.com, Klook, GetYourGuide or directly with the operators. Booking a day or two ahead is worth it in high season, and many charters take card or PayPal deposits online.

Practical tips

Tackle. For sea fishing the operator provides the gear — you don't need to bring anything. Lake fishing usually has tackle on site too. Bring your own only if you're a serious angler heading to the Mekong.

Clothing. Sunscreen (SPF 50+), a hat, polarised sunglasses. For night squid fishing, a light jacket (it gets breezy on the water). On the Mekong, closed shoes (the banks are slippery).

Seasickness. If you're prone to it, take tablets in advance. The sea off Nha Trang turns rough once the northeast monsoon sets in (roughly October–December); Phu Quoc is calmest from November to March.

Licences. On a trip with an operator you usually need no separate permit — it comes with the tour. If you fish on your own, check the local rules. Fishing is banned in marine protected areas.

Your catch. On sea trips you can usually keep what you catch, and many operators will cook it on board or at a restaurant onshore. On night squid trips the catch often goes into a shared dinner.

Read also: Mui Ne guide · Vietnam's islands · tours in Vietnam

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