Southern Vietnamese frog delicacy

In recent years, many farmers in the southern province of An Giang have found a new way to make income by catching hylidae, of the frog family, and making dry products for sales.

 

Dry hylidae

The products have recently become popular in the Mekong Delta region and have more and more customers. Several visitors now consider this among regional typical dishes. Many local households have escaped from poverty by catching the animals.

Vo Van Lien, 40, from Vinh Trung Commune in Tinh Bien District, is something of a pioneer frog catcher in the locality. His family has been making dried frog products for four years.

“I was earning a living by working as hired hand. One day I saw a Vietnamese from abroad in Cambodia buying fresh frogs to make dry products. I decided to return home and catch such animals for sales,” Lien said.

After learning the craft of making dried frog products, of the scientific name hylidae, and finding that the products tasted good, he decided to start making and selling it himself. At first their customers were neighbourers, but now that the products have become more popular and they received several big orders from traders and owners of restaurants from the surroundings like Can Tho, Long Xuyen and Dong Thap.

He said that after skinning the frogs, they add other ingredients, including pepper, sugar, chili and fish sauce before drying it under the sun or drying ovens.

His family buys between 30 to 40 kilos of fresh frog per day at a price of VND4,000 (USD0.19) per kilo from around 30 local sellers for later processing. Final products are sold at from VND300,000-VND350,000 (USD14.2-USD16.57) per kilo, bringing about considerable profits.

New income helps the poor escape from poverty

With simple tools local farmers can catch between four and ten kilos of fresh frogs each night depending on season, earning around VND200,000 (USD9.47) per day. Many local families have significantly improved their standards of living in this way.

More locals have been attracted to this activity by easy profits, resulting in a diminishing return. Some have started to travel to more distant locations, such as Tri Ton and Chau Phu Districts in An Giang Province or Hon Dat and Kien Luong Districts in Kien Giang Province.

Products made from this type of frog have been nicknamed “Vu Nu Chan Dai” or Long-legged Dancing Girl. Locals hope to receive support from authorities to build a brand for the products as well as ensure food safety and hygiene.

Southern Vietnamese frog delicacy