Huổi Só has a total area of more than 700 hectares of ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams. Aquaculture activities mainly take place in the Đà River reservoir area, particularly in the Pa Phông and Huổi Lóng bays, with cages and floating houses located side by side.

Giàng A Sang, Chairman of the Huổi Só Commune People’s Committee, shared: “In 2024, the total area for aquaculture reached 1.45 hectares, with a catch of nearly 20 tons, of which 2.7 tons were farmed fish. In addition to promoting and encouraging people to expand their models and shift agricultural production, aquaculture activities have been increasingly encouraged. In the first five months of 2025, the aquaculture yield reached 3 tons. The main fish species farmed include fish like the lăng and trắm, with prices ranging from VND 80,000 to 140,000 per kilogram, depending on the species and size.”

Since the Sơn La hydropower plant became operational, the people living along the Đà River reservoir in Huổi Só have primarily relied on fishing. The model of fish farming in the reservoir began to develop around a decade ago. Currently, Huổi Só commune has 36 households involved in cage fish farming. To leverage the potential of this livelihood and help people achieve stable income, support for seeds and farming techniques has been emphasized. Over two years (2023 - 2024), 11 households in the commune were provided with 6,600 fish fry, 7,700kg of feed, and veterinary medicines. These households, classified as poor or near-poor or those just above the poverty line, were supported to help lift themselves out of poverty.

Phàn A Hào, a resident of Huổi Só, shared: “Previously, we farmed a small number of fish mainly for family use and occasionally sold some to customers. In 2023, my family received support for fish fry, feed, and guidance on fish care techniques. The fish grew well, and the economic results were high. Now, we have 4 fish cages, and with stable weather and water sources, our annual fish yield generates over VND 100 million.”

In recent years, extreme weather changes have caused fluctuations in water levels at the Sơn La hydropower reservoir, which has slowed the expansion of cage fish farming. Typically, as the water levels gradually decrease, people move their cages to follow the water flow. According to local experience in Huổi Só, this is when the water is at its lowest. This year, fish farmers have not been significantly impacted; the water level is only about 1.5 meters lower compared to the water level in January and February.

Cage fish farming has become a new economic direction in Huổi Só, helping locals to develop economically. Following the cycle of water rising and falling along the Đà River, the water level drops in March and April, gradually rising until August. Therefore, before the low-water season, the busiest time for trading is when households prepare for harvest, selling to traders, and actively cleaning the fish nets to minimize potential damage when the water level drops.