At the dry-goods stalls in Phan Rang market, bottles of amber-colored fish sauce line up neatly, labeled "Cà Ná" — but on today's administrative map, that place name has long since been folded into Khánh Hòa province, a fair distance from Phan Rang City.
Vietnam's Traditional Fish Sauce Association confirms over a century of production and trade; the "Since 1940" trademark refers to something else
Vietnam's National Office of Intellectual Property issued a certified trademark, "Nước mắm Since 1940 Cà Ná FISH SAUCE" (July 26, 2017). Vietnam's Traditional Fish Sauce Association, on its official site hiephoinuocmamtruyenthong.vn, published "'Nước mắm Cà Ná' Khánh Hoà 100 năm tinh hoa từ biển," recording over a century of production and trade, already known by the late 19th century for its amber color and rich, mellow finish. Ninh Thuận's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's official portal, sonnptnt.ninhthuan.gov.vn, ran a feature on the local brand "Quang Minh" fish sauce.
Honest clarification: Cà Ná administratively falls under Huyện Thuận Nam, not Phan Rang City's territory, about 30 km apart
It has to be said honestly that Cà Ná administratively falls under Huyện Thuận Nam, not within Phan Rang City's territory, with the two places about 30 km apart. After the July 2025 province merger, Ninh Thuận merged into Khánh Hòa province, and Cà Ná now administratively falls under Khánh Hòa (the Traditional Fish Sauce Association's own website has already switched to calling it "Nước mắm Cà Ná Khánh Hòa") — a different administrative unit from Phan Rang City, even though both now fall under the same merged Khánh Hòa province. This entry honestly marks its anchor as the dry-goods retail point inside Phan Rang market selling Cà Ná fish sauce, not the place of production itself. Phrases like "nearly a century" or "over two centuries" are drawn from Vietnam's Traditional Fish Sauce Association and local media, and this entry states plainly that this reflects industry-wide consensus rather than a precisely dated archaeological record. "Since 1940" is the year tied to a specific trademark's use, not the origin era of the Cà Ná fish sauce industry as a whole, and this entry doesn't conflate the two.
How to Buy It Like a Local
- The dry-goods stalls at Phan Rang market are the most convenient place in the city to buy Cà Ná fish sauce.
- To get closer to the source, head to Xã Phước Diêm in Huyện Thuận Nam for on-the-ground shopping.
- When buying, check the trademark and production year on the label, so as not to mistake "Since 1940" for the industry's overall origin era.
An Honest Look at This Bottle's Story
- Cà Ná administratively falls under Huyện Thuận Nam, about 30 km from Phan Rang City, not within its territory — this entry states this plainly.
- After the 2025 province merger, Cà Ná was folded into Khánh Hòa province — a different administrative unit from Phan Rang City despite sharing the same merged province.
- "Nearly a century" reflects industry consensus, while "Since 1940" is a specific trademark's year — this entry doesn't conflate the two.
Uncap the bottle and the amber fish sauce releases a rich, salty aroma — this bottle of seasoning carries a century-old craft from a coastline thirty kilometers away. Phan Rang market is only the starting point of its last leg before reaching a visitor's table.