The story
Nam O is a fishing village near the Hai Van Pass. For over 400 years it has made fish sauce from black anchovies and salt, fermented in jars for 12–18 months and filtered naturally. Nam O sauce was once a tribute to the Nguyen court, and the craft became National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2019. About 100 households still make it, so a visit means jars, salt and small family producers.
Nam O offers a look at fish sauce fermentation and life in a seaside fishing village.
Fish sauce craft dates to the 17th century per Visit Da Nang; Nam O sauce was a Nguyen-dynasty tribute; National Intangible Cultural Heritage 2019; Geographical Indication 2024.
Don’t miss
Fish sauce
Local tips
When buying, look for OCOP certification and QR-code traceability on bottles, and buy from certified producers.
Some producers run 2–3 hour hands-on production tours with tasting.
Combine with Xuan Thieu beach and a drive up the Hai Van Pass.
Respect the production spaces; mornings are best for watching the work.
Say it in Vietnamese
“Em chụp ảnh được không ạ?”
May I take a photo?Plan your visit
Opening hours
Daytime
When to go
Production follows the anchovy seasons, around the 3rd and 8th lunar months; the city tourism portal suggests February–August. Visit 07:00–10:00 or 15:00–17:30 to avoid midday heat.
Anchovies are caught around the 3rd–4th and 8th–9th lunar months; spring-caught fish give better flavor.
Getting there
About 15 km northwest of the center, roughly 25 minutes by car or motorbike along the Nguyen Tat Thanh coastal road. Easy to combine with the Hai Van Pass and Xuan Thieu beach.
Open in Google Maps →Good to know
Not suitable for vegetarians
Fish, Fish sauce
Where this comes from
Listed from local research and not yet checked in person. Share what you find in the VietnamGo app so we can confirm it.
- VOV5 – Black anchovies: secret behind Nam O's fish sauce · Press · 2026 · vovworld.vn
- Visit Da Nang – Nam O fish sauce village · Official · visitdanang.travel
- Danang Fantasticity – Lang nghe nuoc mam Nam O · Official · danangfantasticity.com
- Danang Fantasticity – Nam O Traditional Fish Sauce Making Village · Official · danangfantasticity.com
- Local travel guide (research report) · Research
