Cam Luong Fish Stream
A short stream packed with fish that nobody catches, because the village has always held them sacred.
Updated 30 August 2026
The Cam Luong stream runs a few hundred metres from a cave mouth in the limestone to the Ma river, and it is full of fish - thousands of them, of a barb species that grows to a few kilos, packed densely enough that the water looks solid with them. The Muong village has held them sacred for generations: the story is that the fish are guardians associated with a spirit in the cave, and catching or eating them brings misfortune, so nobody does, which is the actual reason the density exists. Visitors feed them, which the site sells. The stream is short and the visit takes an hour.
What's there
- A stream packed with fish - thousands of barb in a few hundred metres.
- A cave mouth at the head - where the water comes out.
- A sacred prohibition - nobody catches or eats them.
- Feeding sold to visitors - the site's business.
When to go
Year round. Half a day.
Good to know
It is a short stream and an hour covers it. Feeding is commercialised and the fish are fed constantly. Facilities and stalls around the site are basic and pushy. It is a long drive for a small thing.
Nearby
Cam Thuy is south-east; Pu Luong reserve is north-west.
What to pack for Cam Luong Fish Stream
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Broken-in walking shoes or boots - Grip and ankle support matter more than looks; never hike in brand-new boots. Find on Amazon
- Head torch + spare batteries - Hands-free light is essential; caves are truly dark. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- Layers + a waterproof shell - Mountain weather turns fast; a packable rain jacket saves the day. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.