Phan Thiet City

Located in Binhthuan province, Phan Thiet is 200 km from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and lies south of Cam Ranh Bay on the southernmost stretch of Central Vietnam.

Phan Thiet is the largest town in Binhthuan province with an estimated population of close to 100,000 people. The town sits on the borders of Ca Ty River, is 20 km from the ocean and swells with boats during the fishing season in the summer months. Fishing is Phan Thiet's largest industry. According to local statistics, some 100 different varieties of fishes are caught here with an annual yield of over 70,000 tons. As a result, Phan Thiet is famous for its Nuoc Mam (fish sauce), a seasoning used in Vietnamese cuisine.

A calm river named Ca Ty is flowing via Phan Thiet. Almost construction projects has been built in two sides of CaTy River.
Phan Thiet people is very gentle and friendly. They make living by deep-sea fishing and process sea food.

Most visitors to Phan Thiet will notice the pungent odor that is associated with fish sauce production. This is a process where anchovy-like fishes are caught, cleaned and place in large vats of brine. 

The whole concoction is cured over a period of eight months to a year before the fish by-products are strained and the liquid is then diluted into less concentrated solutions to be bottled.
Fish sauce from Phan Thiet is available throughout Vietnam. Today, the annual production of nuoc mam in Phan Thiet is 16-17 million liters per annum. The salt used in the production of fish sauce is also a local product of Binhthuan province. 
Although fishing is a big industry in Phan Thiet, it still remains a family business for many people in the region. While the men are out at sea, women and children often stay home to support the business by mending nets and tending to shore related chores.

A few kilometers East of Phan Thiet are some of the most beautiful stretches of beaches in Vietnam. Some are lined with tall coconut trees, others lean against vast red sand dunes. During the period between July and October, the fishing season is at its pinnacle in Phan Thiet as fishermen go out to sea. These boats form a magnificent display of lights at night and can be seen from shore. In fact, the scene is liken to a floating city by the locals