The story of the crab is no longer confined to the small hamlets of Ca Mau. A “revolution” in production thinking is taking place. It is the journey of linking fragmented efforts into a unified force, realising the aspiration of bringing the Ca Mau Crab brand to life around the world.

Bottlenecks behind the spotlight

Dat Mui–Ca Mau, the land “where the earth expands, the forest moves and the sea grows”, has long been blessed with exceptional produce, including the crab living under the mangrove canopy.

In the 1990s, the forests of Ca Mau teemed with crabs. Owners of stake nets and shrimp ponds would simply break off the large claws for eating. Few thought of farming or selling crabs for profit.

Over the time, the crab has undergone a remarkable “transformation”. Thanks to the unique soil conditions of the peninsula — surrounded by sea on three sides, nourished by alluvium, and protected by over 100,000 hectares of mangrove forests — Ca Mau crab carries the finest qualities: firm, sweet, fragrant meat and rich, buttery roe.

Once considered of no economic value, the crab today is a valuable asset. Together with shrimp, crabs have helped tens of thousands of households build spacious houses. As Le Chi Linh from Dat Moi Commune, Ca Mau Province, shared with excitement: “Crab prices are now quite stable, helping local people lead more comfortable lives.”

As of 2025, the province’s crab-farming area had reached more than 360,000ha, producing an average of about 40,000 tonnes per year, the highest quantity in the country. With annual industry value exceeding 10,000 billion VND, Ca Mau’s crab has truly become a key economic sector.

Wearing the "coat" of fame and expensiveness, yet the journey of Ca Mau crab still has persistent concerns.

Speaking at the conference on value-chain linkages in November 2025, Le Van Su, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, candidly acknowledged internal limitations: production remains fragmented, small-scale, and weak in linkages.

In reality, although there are more than 100 processing plants and facilities, most operate on a small scale, mainly selling live crabs or performing basic processing (washing, packing in foam boxes). Deep-processed products with high added value remain limited such as peeled crab meat or canned crab meat.

An even greater concern is market dependence. Around 70–80% of Ca Mau’s crab output is exported to China, mostly via unofficial channels and intermediaries. This leaves crab farmers vulnerable: if that market “coughs or sneezes”, prices become unstable, affecting tens of thousands of crab farming households.

The reputation of “Ca Mau Crab” has also become a “double-edged sword” due to widespread brand counterfeiting. Crabs from elsewhere are sold under the Ca Mau brand, eroding consumer trust and damaging the prestige of genuine farmers.

Strategic partnerships to replace fragmentation

To address these challenges, Ca Mau has recognised that “to go far, we must go together”. Within the framework of the second Ca Mau Crab Festival 2025, a strategic solution emerged: building a value chain linkage.

The highlight was the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between Ca Mau Province’s Department of Industry and Trade, the Viet Nam Fisheries Association and the Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise Association of Fangchenggang City (China). It is not simply an administrative document, but the agreement is regarded as a “passport” helping Ca Mau crab enter the billion-person market via official, stable, and transparent channels.

A breakthrough idea was proposed by international partner. Fu-min, a representative of a business from China, proposed establishing a quality control unit in Ca Mau. This solution is like “an arrow hitting two targets”: addressing brand counterfeiting at its root while shortening customs procedures and improving product value. Ca Mau Province’s leaders quickly seized the opportunity, directing relevant departments to implement it, reflecting their determination to safeguard the brand.

Vice Chairman Le Van Su emphasised: “Without strong value chain linkages, we cannot meet the increasingly stringent market standards.” He also conveying a very clear message from Ca Mau: enterprises and cooperatives must lead, and people are the foundation. It is necessary to shift from the mindset of “selling what we raise” to “raising what the market needs”, through long-term contracts and safe production processes.

Science and technology lead the way

According to Dr. Quach Van An, Deputy Director of Ca Mau Province’s Department of Science and Technology, despite holding the highest crab output nationwide, the province’s crab sector still faces challenges due to small production scale and volatile markets. “Thus, the historic handshake among the “three parties” at the chain linkage conference, and the strategy of quality control at source, opens a “golden opportunity” for Ca Mau crab to enter official markets and reposition its value on the international agricultural product map,” he shared.

To help the “launchpad” be firmer, the role of science and technology is indispensable. At the International Workshop on “Innovation and sustainable development of the sea crab industry”, leading experts from FAO and institutes suggested solutions with long-term potential for Ca Mau.

These include applying closed-loop recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) to better control farming environments; using blockchain and QR codes for traceability, enabling each crab to tell its “story” from farm to table; and researching the production of high-quality, disease-free breeds, ending the situation of risky natural stocking.

The “shrimp–crab–forest” model is also being elevated. Ca Mau is pursuing international certifications such as Naturland, ASC and EU Organic.

The Province already has around 20,000 ha granted these certifications, turning mangrove forests into an economic model that creates green and sustainable growth.

According to Dr. Lovatelli Alessandro from FAO, “Environmentally friendly crab-farming models in Ca Mau are the key for Viet Nam’s crab industry to increase resilience and contribute to global food security.”

The future picture of Ca Mau’s crab sector is being painted with optimistic colours and ambitious goals. By 2030, the province aims to increase total output to 36,500 tonnes, with 30% entering value linkage chains and meeting standards for export to high-end markets.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the second Ca Mau Crab Festival, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam said that, along with the investment in transport infrastructure such as expressways and seaports, the building of a "National Brand for Ca Mau Crab" will be the wings that help this locality fly far. In the future, Ca Mau Crab will not only be a delicacy, but also a cultural and tourism ambassador.

The story of Ca Mau crab today is not merely about breeds or prices but it is a story of transformative thinking.

From the mud-covered farmers under the mangrove canopy to enterprises, scientists and provincial leaders, all are moving in the same direction.

When a “launchpad” is built on trust, responsibility and intellect, Ca Mau Crab will confidently enter into the global stage, bringing sustainable prosperity to the mangrove lands of Dat Mui –Ca Mau.