Phu Quoc’s flower crab grabs national trademark
Chefs in the southern province of Kien Giang have jointly made a national record by making 100 dishes from flower crabs in an event co-organised by the Centre for Culture, Sports, and Radio of Phu Quoc island city and its Professional Chefs Association.
Ham Ninh fishing village in the east of Phu Quoc island is home to fresh seafood dishes of all kinds. It is famous for its flower crabs which are always fresh, sweet, and fragrant.
The flower crab of Ham Ninh is used to make numerous delicious dishes as simple as steaming, boiling, or cooking a spicy and sour hot pot with green vegetables.
However, steamed flower crab dipped in salt, pepper, and lime juice may be the premier dish, as the natural taste of the crab is maintained.
On February 8, 2022, the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam under the Ministry of Science and Technology issued Decision No. 8640/QD-SHTT on granting a certificate of collective trademark for Ham Ninh flower crab in Phu Quoc island city. The certificate helps Ham Ninh flower crabs be protected and become a national brand.
Nguyen Kim Toi, Vice Chairman of the Ham Ninh Commune People's Committee, said that building a brand is not easy, but preserving and promoting the value of the brand is even more difficult.
In the coming time, the local authority and people will continue to promote communication on fishing and seafood exploitation, particularly flower crab catching.
Specific areas for flower crab catching must be adjusted season by season and large-capacity fishing vehicles must not enter the protected areas to protect the seagrass bed where the flower crab and a plethora of other aquatic animals live and reproduce.
Phu Quoc – the biggest island of Vietnam is known as the "pearl island" endowed with clear blue water beaches such as Bai Sao and Bai Dai, and plenty of local specialties including seafood, pepper, and pearls, among others.
It also has well-known destinations including the busy Duong Dong town, Ham Ninh and Ganh Dau fishing villages, and other attractive tourist spots.
Last year, it was selected as one of the 25 best islands in the world by readers of US magazine Travel Leisure. The island city in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors in the first quarter of 2023, a rise of 43.4% year on year, fulfilling 25.9% of its yearly target.