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| Most of Asian Arowana that you see in Vietnam fish market nowaday are being raise and breed in Vietnam. There are several local backyard breeders live in Long An, Thu Duc, Go Vap, and Nha Be...but the main supply sources are from the MeKong Delta river. Most of the breeder are now successfully breed in Green, Red Tail Golden, and Red Arowana. But there are no fish farm had been approved by CITES yet. The reason for this is, because most of the fish farm are still consider backyard breeder, and it only sale for local market. Asian Arowana can not become a big market in Vietnam because the goverment is not fully opend a trade market to outside world like others countries such as Indonesia, Malaysian, or Thailan...Also the living cost of people in Vietnam is still very low. There are not many people can afford to own this wonderful fish. For examble, one good quality young red arowana can cost $800-$900 USD ($12,000,000-$13,500,000 VND) with this a mount of money you can keep a family of 4 people out of hungger for many months. However, in big city like Saigon (HoChiMinh city). You can still find this fish sold legally everywhere and there are people buy them. As of now, I have not know any laws or regulations of the Vietnamese goverment that protected or limited the sale or trade of the almost extinct fish. Also the fish are legally import or export easily from ThaiLan, Malaysia, or Indonesia. I had been told now the fish can also export direct to US (illegal way of course). Fish can be send to LAX or any where in US from Saigon under different name, with health and custom inspected paper work of Vietnamese officer. the shipment cost is $4.5 USD/ Kg ($67,500 VND/Kg). I also been told that now you can buy "Hormon" to make the fish turn red faster in Cho Lon, it is cost ~ $500 USD ($7,000,000 VND)/ Kg). So becareful when you buy young fish. It may be treat with hormon before it was put for sale. Of course fish is treat with "hormon" will lost their color after a while and shorten their lifespane. |
| In Saigon these fish are sale every where at LFS (local fish store) most of them is in Distric III (Quan 3) and Distric V (Quan 5). You can also buy the fish at local breeder farm, but in doing this you have to have friends, relatives or know people in this fish bussiness. Because many breeders don't want other people know that they have breed or raise this fish. If many people know then they will run in to the security problem. That why I have visited several local breeders around Saigon area, but I can not provide the pictures or name of the farm up here due to the ower request. Like I was mention earlyer even the price of Asian Arowana are too expensive compare to some poor people in Vietnam, but there are many Rich or Powerful people who work for the goverment can own thish fish. Also there are many invesmenters from HongKong or Taiwan who want to keep this fish as good luck for their bussiness in Vietnam. Most of the fish owner in Saigon that I have seen, they are either a sucessfull business who own restauran, night club, hotel or Vietnamese Mafia which now are very pubpular in Vietnam. They have a lot of money, and spend money without consideration just like all Milionares else where around the world. Asian Arowana also was used as a nice gift to bribe someone work for the goverment. From the taxi driver who drove me around, the ex prime minister Vo Van Kiet was given 2 pairs (CB and Red) as a new year gift by some bussiness man in Saigon. Bringing Asian Arowana back to US from Vietnam is possible. I haven't had expericence but I have heard a lot of Vietnamese people doing so. Several of them got lucky with their fish but many got cought by US custom officer. I think it is up to you, if you like aventures, then do it with your own risk. I personally think it is not worthy. You can save couble hundred dollars but have a bad record all your life. |
| Asian Arowana are sale legally everywhere in Saigon |
| A young red is sale for $800 US ($12,000,000 VND) |
| Adult red on displace cost $2000-$3000 USD ($ 30,000,000-$45,000,000 VND) |
| Asian Arowana In Vietnam Today |
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