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Aquaculture continues to be a vital economic sector for Tra Vinh, which has made significant investments in infrastructure. The province completed 11 major projects and is set to carry out 14 additional ones between 2026 and 2030, with a total investment of VND 1.9 trillion (€63 million).
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Tra Vinh ranked sixth in the Mekong Delta in both aquaculture area and output in 2024, achieving 99.42 percent of its annual target — a 6.4 percent increase compared to 2023. The province's aquaculture area totalled 62,000 hectares, with over half used for brackish water shrimp farming. This yielded 94,251 tonnes of shrimp, the majority of which was whiteleg shrimp.
Tilapia emerges as a promising alternative
According to VASEP, Tra Vinh is pushing for a modern, sustainable transformation of its agricultural sector through species diversification. Tilapia is increasingly seen as a potential alternative in the province’s aquaculture sector. Since 2023, farmers have actively introduced tilapia into brackish water ponds previously used for shrimp. The model demonstrated strong development, particularly in polyculture systems.
‘’A typical 1-hectare integrated farm can yield 200,000–300,000 shrimp and 600,000–700,000 tilapia, generating an estimated profit of VND 500 million (€16,000) per hectare. Of that, shrimp contributes around VND 150 million (€5,000). Intensive tilapia monoculture can generate even higher profits - up to twice that of the mixed model,’’ wrote the association early June.
Tilapia is said to be easier to manage than shrimp, as they require lower water quality. Additionally, water from tilapia ponds can be reused for shrimp farming after treatment, helping reduce costs and disease risks.
According to the Tra Vinh Sub-Department of Fisheries, 46 households are currently farming tilapia for export, covering a total area of 106 hectares, mainly in Cau Ngang, Tra Cu, and Chau Thanh districts. However, local hatcheries still rely on fingerlings from other provinces. To support sector expansion, VASEP insists there is an urgent need to develop high-quality tilapia broodstock production within Tra Vinh.
Nguyen Tri Thong, deputy director of the Cau Ngang Agricultural Technical Service Center, noted that export demand for tilapia is rising, leading to better market value. Still, farmers must be cautious when selecting fingerling sources and tilapia strains, as a wide variety of imported strains are now available.
To ensure long-term success, a closed value chain from quality fingerlings and feed supply through product marketing, is essential. Farmers are also encouraged to follow strict technical guidelines recommended by buyers and associated enterprises.
