Fish drying in Tam Thanh Commune in Tam Ky, Quang Nam Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Cong Thanh

The central Tam Thanh commune in Quang Nam Province has debuted its first fish sauce co-operative, aiming to make traditional crafts marketable and profitable.

Le Ngoc Ty, Vice chairman of the communal people’s committee, told Viet Nam News that it is the province’s first fish sauce co-operative.

The co-operative aims to boost fish sauce production and seafood processing in a safe and sustainable way and offer eco-tour services.

As planned, the commune will produce 150,000 litres of fish sauce and 100 tonnes of dried and fresh seafood each year with an estimated revenue of VND5 billion (US$221,000).

The commune, 10km east of the provincial capital Tam Ky City, is home to about 6,000 people in seven villages standing along a 6km stretch of unspoilt beach.

It is the first commune in Viet Nam to have colourful murals painted on its moss-covered walls by artists from Korea.

The murals village attracts 500 tourists each day, and 2,000 young off-road travellers and back-packers visit the site each weekend.

Tourism has boosted income for villagers from an average income of VND24 million to VND42 million a year.

Last year, the Da Nang-based Dong A College and the commune inked an agreement on transferring of organic fish sauce and seafood production among community for export and the first food safety brand in central Viet Nam.

Earlier this year, Tam Ky City and Tam Thanh Commune launched a community-based art space as part of a tourism development pilot project. — VNS