If you love lure fishing, Vietnam is a paradise waiting to be explored. From the tangled mangrove forests to the open salt field lakes and oyster farm rivers, each habitat challenges anglers in different ways — and choosing the right lure can make all the difference.
Here’s a breakdown of what works best on each of our private fishing tours around Ho Chi Minh City, based on real experience in Vietnam’s wild waters.
🌿 Mangrove Forest Fishing
The mangrove forest is a shallow, structure-rich environment, full of roots, fallen branches, and tidal edges.
Depths are rarely over 1.5 meters, and the fish — mainly barramundi, mangrove jack, sea bream, and small barracuda — hide close to cover.
🎣 Best Lures for Mangroves:
- Weedless soft plastics: paddle tails or flukes rigged weedless to glide between roots without snagging.
- Shallow-diving jerkbaits: 3–5 cm lures that work just under the surface; perfect for covering more water.
- Topwater poppers and “walk-the-dog” lures: for aggressive strikes in calm water or early morning sessions.
💡 Pro Tip: Focus on casting tight to the mangrove edges and working the lure slowly — most strikes happen in the first few seconds of the retrieve.
🦪 Oyster Farm Rivers
The Oyster Farm Fishing Tour is a whole different game. The area is filled with oyster structures, ropes, and wooden racks where fish ambush prey — but also where any exposed hook will snag immediately.
The water is deeper and the current stronger, so the key is getting your lure down quickly and keeping it clean.
🎣 Best Lures for Oyster Farms:
- Weedless soft plastic paddle tails
- Add a bullet weight to help them sink fast into the strike zone before the current pulls them away.
❌ Hardbaits, crankbaits, and topwaters will snag almost instantly here. Keep it simple, weedless, and heavy enough to reach the fish.
💡 Target species: Grouper, mangrove jack, and barramundi — strong fighters that hit hard near structure.
🌾 Salt Field Lakes
The Salt Field Lakes are wider, cleaner, and more open — perfect for finesse fishing and fast-moving species.
Here you’ll find barramundi, ladyfish, Pacific tarpon, and threadfin salmon, all chasing baitfish near the surface.
🎣 Best Lures for Salt Field Lakes:
- Finesse soft plastics for subtle presentations
- Topwater lures early or late in the day for explosive strikes
- Minnow-style jerkbaits and twitchbaits to imitate small baitfish in clear water
💡 Pro Tip: Use lighter leaders and faster retrieves — the fish here are quick, and the water is open enough to let them run.
🚤 Lure Fishing Made Simple
Whether you’re fishing in shallow mangroves or deeper oyster channels, lure fishing in Vietnam is about reading the water and adapting your technique.
At Angler’s Vietnam, all tours include professional gear and lures — so you can focus on the fun part: catching wild fish.
👉 Book your private fishing tour today and experience the thrill of wild lure fishing in Vietnam’s most unique waters.
