Early Morning at the Hoi An Fish Market

Long before the brake of dawn, fisherman are returning to Hoi An after a night of fishing. As the sun rises, they offload their catch at the Hoi An open air fish market. To arrive now is to see the height of the activity; sorting, rinsing and weighing of fish, bartering and selling between bites of pho, strapping the day's purchases to the back of a motor scooter for private resale or to restaurants. For the photographer, there is so much to take in, it is hard to know where to focus...there is so much color, so many gestures, patterns of round bowls and hats and different varieties of freshly caught seafood. One must be careful not to step in deep puddles  but avoiding the shell or fish parts underfoot is impossible. Being pushed out of the way by someone with their eye on a sale is not a rude action...this is their daily life, we are outsiders.

It is all over in an hour. By this time the heat and humidity of the day have risen and the soft light is now harsh. It is time to wash the fish market off of your shoes, and grab some richly deserved breakfast!