Top 10 Most Impressive Explanatory Essays About Fish

The carp, a familiar fish, has been closely tied to the lives of Vietnamese people for generations, both economically and symbolically. With its proximity to the sea and numerous rivers and lakes, carp has become a valuable resource for local farmers involved in aquaculture and fishing in Vietnam.

Originating from Europe and Asia, the carp is now found in almost all ponds and lakes worldwide. The maximum length of a carp can reach 1.2 meters, and its weight can go up to 37.3 kg. Saltwater carp tend to be smaller and lighter than freshwater carp. In Japan, there is a special variety called the Koi carp, known for its colorful scales, which is bred as an ornamental fish.

Typically, the carp has a golden or black color, with darker hues near its dorsal fin. Its body is elongated and narrow at both the head and tail. The scales are tightly arranged, providing protection against injuries while swimming. The head of the carp is small, with eyes positioned symmetrically on both sides, accompanied by sensory organs including the nose, mouth, and whiskers. The gills are tightly pressed against the body, allowing the fish to breathe underwater. Apart from its main body fins, the carp has two small fins close to the gills to aid in movement. Its tail fin is fan-shaped, symmetrically split, helping it maintain balance and swim in the right direction. While swimming, the carp flexes its body, with its tail fin forming a figure-eight shape to propel itself forward. The coordination of its tail fin, dorsal fin, and paired pectoral fins allows the carp to move swiftly and effortlessly.

The carp typically feeds on soft plants such as algae, enjoys living in schools, and feeds together. It consumes almost anything that passes by, including aquatic plants, insects, crustaceans, and even dead fish. Carp spawn seasonally, and each batch can produce three to four thousand offspring. The annual harvest of carp is substantial, contributing to a high economic return for fish farmers.

The carp is highly nutritious, and its meat is delicious when raised in clean water environments. Its fins and head are used in traditional Vietnamese medicine as herbal remedies. According to traditional medicine, carp is beneficial for pregnant women and postpartum mothers, as it aids milk production and improves digestion. In Vietnam, carp is commonly raised in rivers and lakes, easy to catch and prepare in nutritious dishes such as sour carp stew, carp porridge, and crispy fried carp.

Spiritually, the carp is associated with health and longevity in Vietnamese folklore. The legend of "the carp turning into a dragon" symbolizes success in exams and achievement in business. During the Lunar New Year, carp is considered a means of transporting the Kitchen Gods to heaven, marking the end of the old year and the beginning of a prosperous new one. The carp is also chosen for release during religious ceremonies as an offering to Buddha.

The carp is a familiar and cherished animal in Vietnamese culture. To ensure sustainable development and high-quality carp, it's essential to implement regulated farming practices, carefully manage resources, and protect the fish's breeding conditions to meet human needs.

Vietnam is home to a wide variety of fish species, such as snakehead fish, tilapia, and carp. Among them, the carp stands out due to its nutritional value and popularity in Vietnamese cuisine. Once you taste it, the unique flavor of carp is unforgettable. But what makes this fish so beloved by the people?

Firstly, let's talk about its habitat and origin. Carp is a freshwater fish, commonly found in rivers, lakes, or cultivated in ponds and swamps. It is present in many parts of the world, but in Eastern cultures, it holds a special place as a symbol of prosperity. The carp's connection to freshwater environments makes it a familiar part of Vietnamese life, and it is highly regarded as a source of food. In rural areas, it is easy to find carp swimming in the depths of ponds or cultivated in small lakes. Carp grown in ponds are generally larger in size.

Secondly, regarding its physical appearance, the carp has a golden-black color that gradually darkens towards its tail. This beautiful color is unmistakable, and today there are even golden-red carp that are just as stunning. The scales of the carp are large, arranged neatly like tiles, and gradually become smaller towards the tail. Its body is long, but not as elongated as the snakehead fish, making it uniquely graceful. Its head features large, bright eyes, a small mouth, and pale pink gills that are visually striking. The carp also has two small whiskers near its mouth. The fins, including the pectoral and pelvic fins, are paired, while the dorsal and anal fins are single. These small fins, encased in thin skin, resemble paddles that help the fish swim, and humans have even replicated these fin shapes to create similar swimming tools. The tail fin curves into a figure-eight shape, propelling the carp forward. All these fins help the carp maintain balance and direction, allowing it to swim with precision, whether moving forward, backward, or turning.

As for its diet, the carp is omnivorous and can feed on a variety of foods such as worms, snails, larvae, insects, and aquatic plants. In farm ponds, carp may even consume plant waste, animal feed, or rice husks. Additionally, carp are relatively easy to farm since they are resistant to most diseases.

Carp is not only a delicious food source but also holds great nutritional value. It is especially beneficial for pregnant women. The meat of the carp is tender and flavorful, ideal for frying with garlic and dipping in fish sauce, or for making soups with tomatoes or pickled mustard greens.

Moreover, carp is associated with legends and cultural symbolism. One such legend tells of the carp transforming into a dragon after overcoming a waterfall, symbolizing resilience and the pursuit of success. During the Lunar New Year, carp plays a significant role in the worship of the Kitchen Gods, and people often buy carp for ritual offerings before releasing them back into rivers and lakes.

In conclusion, the carp stands out not only for its distinct appearance and flavor but also for its deep cultural significance and health benefits. It is important for us to protect this fish from harmful chemicals, ensuring a sustainable and healthy food source for generations to come.

In fact, whales are mammals, belonging to the same class as land mammals. They have all the characteristics of land mammals, such as breathing through lungs, giving birth, and nursing their young with milk. Around 65 million years ago, when the dinosaurs went extinct, other life forms on Earth began to evolve rapidly, leading to a scarcity of food. As a result, the ancestors of whales migrated to coastal areas in search of food. Over a long period, these animals adapted to the aquatic environment. As they transitioned from land to water, whales divided into two groups: the toothed whales and the baleen whales. The toothed whales, which feed on fish and mollusks, developed large teeth, while the baleen whales, which feed on plankton, evolved comb-like structures instead of teeth.

Whales have streamlined bodies, smooth skin, and an incredible tolerance for cold. Their swimming abilities are remarkable, with flexible spines that allow them to move gracefully through water. The tail is horizontal, and their muscular structure is powerful enough for efficient swimming. A whale can exhale 90% of its air in just a few seconds when it surfaces. Although their lungs are small, they are highly efficient. One of the most impressive traits of whales is their ability to dive deep for up to two hours. The largest recorded blue whale measured 33.17 meters in length and weighed 190 tons, with just its skeleton weighing 26 tons. Its heart weighed 700 kg, liver 980 kg, and tongue 4.3 tons—heavier than an entire elephant.

In many Asian countries, fishermen refer to the whale as the "Lord Fish" and believe it has helped them in their seafaring journeys, especially by saving them from dangerous storms. When a whale carcass is found, local people gather to carefully bury the whale and even build shrines to honor the spirit of the whale, hoping it will bring them good fortune in the vast ocean.

The carp, a familiar fish, has been deeply embedded in our lives, both economically and spiritually. With a geographical location near the sea and many rivers and lakes, the carp has become a significant resource for farmers involved in aquaculture and fishing in our country.

Originating from Europe and Asia, the carp is now found in nearly every pond or lake around the world. It can grow up to 1.2 meters in length and weigh up to 37.3 kilograms. Saltwater carp tend to be smaller and lighter than their freshwater counterparts. In Japan, a colorful variant known as the Koi carp is raised primarily as an ornamental fish.

The carp typically has golden, black, or varying shades of these colors, with darker hues near the dorsal fin. Its body is slender, tapering at both the head and tail. The carp’s scales are tightly packed, providing a protective layer to prevent injury as it moves. The head is small with symmetrical eyes, and it has a sensory system including nostrils, mouth, and barbels. Its gills are tightly aligned with its body, enabling it to breathe underwater. In addition to its body scales, the carp has two small pectoral fins near its gills to help with movement. Its tail is fan-shaped and split symmetrically to maintain balance and steer the fish in the right direction. As it swims, the carp undulates its body, using its tail fin in a figure-eight motion to propel itself forward. The harmonious coordination of its tail fin, dorsal fin, and pectoral fins allows the carp to swim with ease and speed.

The carp feeds mainly on soft plants like algae and moss, and it often lives in schools while foraging together. It eats nearly anything that passes by, including aquatic plants, insects, crustaceans, and even dead fish. Carp spawn seasonally, with each egg cluster producing between three and four thousand young fish. Due to their high reproductive rates, carp farming is a lucrative industry.

Carp is highly nutritious, with tender, flavorful meat, especially when raised in clean water. The fins and head of the carp are used in traditional Vietnamese herbal remedies. In medicine, carp is believed to benefit pregnant women and postpartum mothers, aiding in milk production and improving digestion. In Vietnam, carp is commonly farmed in rivers and lakes and is easy to catch and prepare into nourishing dishes such as carp stew with pickled vegetables, carp porridge, or fried carp.

Spiritually, the carp is considered a symbol of good health and longevity in Vietnamese folklore. The legend of the "carp turning into a dragon" is associated with the success of students in exams and prosperity in business. During the Lunar New Year, the carp is seen as a vehicle to transport the Kitchen Gods to heaven, signaling the end of the old year and ushering in the new year with good fortune. The carp is also released into the wild as part of religious rituals in temples and Buddhist festivals.

The carp is an animal closely associated with the Vietnamese people. To ensure the sustainability and quantity of carp, it is essential to adopt conservation strategies, plan aquaculture practices, and manage fishing responsibly to support its breeding and meet human needs.

The great white shark has become a well-known animal to humans through films about sea life and science fiction. In reality, human interaction with these fierce fish is quite rare. Today, due to overfishing, the population of this species has sharply declined, with the risk of extinction looming.

The great white shark is believed to have existed for around 420 million years, even before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Known by other names such as the white nose shark, the death shark, or the great white, this shark species is a massive predator found in coastal waters across the world's oceans.

Over 440 species of sharks have been categorized based on their biological traits, and they are found in nearly every ocean.

The great white shark is the most widely recognized and feared species, known for its enormous size and aggressive nature. A mature great white shark can grow up to 6 meters in length and weigh around 3,000 kg. Its distinct white coloring has earned it the name 'great white shark.'

The body of the great white shark is naturally designed for efficient swimming. With its long, sleek body, sharp snout, and powerful fins, it reigns as the champion swimmer of the ocean. The shark also has an acute sense of hearing, capable of detecting prey from miles away. Unlike other fish, sharks have internal ears, a trait lost in most bony fish and terrestrial animals.

The great white shark’s eyes are small and positioned on either side of its head. Not only do they see well in the water, but the shark’s sense of smell is incredibly sharp. It is highly sensitive to blood, which triggers aggression and excitement, causing the shark to lose control. A great white shark can detect as little as one part per million of blood in the water, from as far as 10 kilometers away, and will swiftly track the source.

There have been reports of great white sharks becoming so aggressive that they have even consumed their own intestines during an attack. The combination of superior olfactory abilities, excellent vision, and the ability to sense electrical fields in animals has earned the great white the title of the ocean's apex predator.

As adults, great white sharks have razor-sharp teeth. Each tooth resembles a tough blade, capable of tearing apart large prey with a single bite. Their jaws are the most powerful in the ocean, and throughout their lifetime, great whites continuously replace lost teeth. Inside their mouths, multiple rows of teeth await to take the place of those that are damaged or lost.

With their enormous size, ferocious nature, and hunting skills, great white sharks are the undisputed rulers of the ocean.

Great white sharks typically inhabit both coastal and offshore areas. They are found in most of the world's oceans, even in cold, polar seas. In Vietnam, a few species of smaller sharks can be found, though they pose little threat to humans.

The shark’s primary diet consists of smaller fish and marine animals. They are opportunistic feeders and will eat almost anything they come across. When hungry, they even attack their own kind and will take on larger fish species without hesitation.

Great white sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning their eggs hatch internally before being born as live young. A great white can live up to 30-40 years, but in ideal conditions, they may live even longer.

Sharks have evolved and survived for hundreds of millions of years. Modern sharks are not much different from their ancient ancestors. In nature, they remain one of the ocean's most effective predators.

Sharks are naturally curious creatures. Whenever they encounter something unfamiliar, they tend to swim over and investigate. Research shows that great white sharks often come into contact with humans. Scuba divers have swum alongside them and even touched their noses. This suggests that great whites are more inquisitive and less terrifying than portrayed in movies.

Vietnam is a land blessed with numerous rivers and streams, complemented by a coastline that stretches for 3,260 kilometers, creating favorable conditions for the country's thriving aquaculture industry. Among the various species, fish play a vital economic role. While Vietnam is home to various types of fish such as snakehead, grouper, mackerel, and tilapia, the carp stands out as a particularly nutritious and culturally significant species.

Fish, an aquatic vertebrate, are diverse in species and habitat. Let's begin by looking at the carp's habitat and origin. The carp is a freshwater fish, typically found in rivers, lakes, and ponds. It is widely distributed across the globe. In Eastern cultures, the carp is regarded as a precious fish. Because of its freshwater nature, it is closely connected to human life and is a popular food source, making it an integral part of many cultural traditions worldwide.

Next, let’s explore the characteristics of the carp. The typical color of the carp is a combination of black and gold, gradually becoming darker near its dorsal fin. In recent years, red-colored carp have also appeared in Vietnam, which are very visually appealing. The carp’s scales are round and large, stacked closely together like roof tiles. Its body is elongated, not as long as the snakehead but still considerable in length, with a slim shape. The carp’s head has two large, bright eyes, two pairs of nostrils that give it a quirky appearance, two pairs of whiskers, and a small, charming mouth. Where the head meets the body, there are two gill covers, inside of which are pink gill plates. The tail section starts at the pelvic fins and ends with the tail fin.

The carp has a pair of pectoral fins, a pair of pelvic fins, and an assortment of dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. Each fin consists of several fin rays connected by thin skin, allowing them to open and close smoothly. As the carp moves, its tail fins bend into a figure-eight shape, propelling the fish forward. The tail fin also helps steer the carp’s direction. In addition to maintaining balance while swimming or stationary, the pectoral and pelvic fins help the carp move upwards or downwards, turn, slow down, or even swim backward. When swimming at higher speeds, the paired fins are pressed against the body to reduce water resistance.

The carp is omnivorous, feeding in mid-water and at the bottom. It consumes worms, snails, larvae, and aquatic plants. In farming ponds, carp are also fed with green manure, bran, and rice husks. Carp are easy to farm, are rarely ill, but their growth rate is slower compared to other fish species. After six months, a carp can weigh over half a kilogram.

Carp is a familiar dish in many Vietnamese households. It has a wide range of benefits. The flesh, fins, and head of the carp are considered valuable medicinal ingredients. Carp is known to help strengthen the spleen, aid in urination, reduce swelling, and increase milk production, making it an excellent food for pregnant women. Due to its diuretic and anti-swelling properties, carp is also used in treatments for liver and kidney issues. I personally enjoy eating carp because its meat is firm, sweet, and aromatic, with a thick, rich texture and minimal bones. Carp is used in various delicious dishes such as fish porridge, deep-fried carp with garlic dipping sauce, steamed carp, sour fish soup, braised carp with vegetables, or hot pot. These dishes are both tasty and nutritious, enjoyed by many households.

Today, carp is farmed in many regions, from small-scale to large-scale operations, providing significant income to farmers.

In Vietnam, the carp is also closely associated with the nation’s traditional culture. A popular saying, 'shrimp, crab, turtle, fish,' refers to the seafood and other creatures featured in the traditional 'bầu cua tôm cá' game. Vietnamese schoolchildren are familiar with the old proverb their parents often remind them of:

'Fish that don’t eat salt will spoil
Children who disobey their parents will go astray.'

In Eastern culture, the carp is seen as an omen of good fortune and longevity. It even appears in folklore, most notably in the legendary story of the 'Carp Turning into a Dragon' or 'Carp Crossing the Vũ Gate.' According to this legend, the carp is said to transform into a dragon—a mythical creature symbolizing the heavens and the earth. Hence, the saying:

'On the seventh, the carp goes to take an oath
On the eighth, the carp crosses the Vũ Falls'

The carp's transformation into a dragon represents perseverance, luck, success, and hope. Furthermore, around the end of the lunar year, especially during the 'Táo Quân' festival, it is a tradition to release carp into rivers and ponds as a way of sending the Kitchen Gods to heaven to report the household’s activities, while also seeking blessings for the coming year. The carp is also released during Buddhist festivals as a symbol of freedom.

Thus, we can clearly see the characteristics and benefits of the carp in human life. It is crucial for people to be more conscious about fish farming, aquatic conservation, and the protection of marine life, particularly in maintaining the habitats of fish species.

The diversity in the ecosystem of Vietnam is reflected in its abundant flora and fauna, with species found both on land and in water. On land, there are animals such as eagles, warblers, and doves, along with large mammals like tigers, leopards, and deer. Underwater, species like shrimp and crab thrive. The fish family, in particular, is incredibly diverse, with various species differing in shape, characteristics, and biological features. Among them, the carp is a prominent and common species that plays a significant role in human life.

The carp is a fish that lives in freshwater environments. It is important to note that Vietnam's rich ecosystem includes three types of aquatic environments: freshwater, brackish water, and saltwater. Freshwater is used for daily human consumption, brackish water is found in mangrove areas in the Southeast and Southern regions of Vietnam, and saltwater is found in the oceans.

Carps thrive in freshwater, and they possess the traits of freshwater fish, including resilience and adaptability to the country's hot, humid climate with abundant rainfall. In the past, carp lived naturally in ponds, lakes, and wetlands. However, with the development of the economy and the growing demand for seafood, farmers began creating ponds to cultivate fish. The carp became one of the primary fish species chosen for farming to meet market demands.

The carp is an egg-laying species, and when it’s time to reproduce, the male carp swims behind the female and releases sperm onto the eggs. The eggs hatch into baby fish. This is the typical reproductive method of carp, as well as other freshwater fish. A fully grown carp can weigh between one and five kilograms, depending on the conditions and care it receives. The carp can be distinguished from other fish by its shape. While fish like the tilapia or black carp have long, slender bodies, the carp has a shorter, rounder body with thick scales.

However, the most distinctive feature of the carp is its whiskers, which are unique among freshwater fish. It is the only freshwater fish that has whiskers on both sides of its mouth, making it easily recognizable among other fish species. This makes the carp a beloved choice for many consumers in Vietnam. With just a little knowledge about the carp, one can easily identify it among various other fish.

The carp’s diet consists mainly of fresh grass and fish feed. In the wild, its food includes small aquatic creatures, fresh duckweed, or grasses along the shore. In modern farming systems, carp are fed a more nutritious diet that helps them grow faster than in the wild. Because carp mostly feed on plants, they are considered clean animals.

In Vietnamese folklore, the carp is tied to the myth of the Kitchen Gods (Táo Quân). According to the legend, the carp serves as the transportation for the three Kitchen Gods as they ascend to heaven to report on the year’s events. During the Lunar New Year, people often buy three golden carp to release into rivers, lakes, or ponds after performing rituals for the Kitchen Gods. This act symbolizes sending the gods back to heaven to ensure a smooth year ahead. One famous painting in Vietnamese art, called 'Carp Swimming Upstream,' depicts the carp’s ability to swim against the current. This painting is symbolic, encouraging people to persevere and overcome difficulties in life, just as the carp defies the stream to reach its destination.

The carp has become an inseparable part of life in Vietnam, not only as a nutritious food source but also as a creature steeped in cultural and spiritual significance.

Today, the sight of a pod of dolphins leaping out of the water, playing with boats, and swiftly racing through the ocean has become a familiar image, not just for fishermen along the coast, but for people worldwide.

Dolphins come in various species, differing in shape, color, behavior, and vocalizations. In Vietnam, they are sometimes called "pigfish" or "priest fish." Dolphins are mammals, warm-blooded, and breathe through lungs. Unlike whales, their blowholes are located above the mouth, not on the back of their heads. To adapt to underwater life, dolphins have a streamlined body with a fusiform shape, their hind limbs are vestigial, and their forelimbs have transformed into pectoral fins for swimming. While the tails of most fish are vertical, dolphins have horizontal tails that assist them in steering. Dolphins possess two main mammary glands, with some species having additional pairs. As mammals, they give birth to live young, usually one at a time, though twins or triplets can occur, albeit rarely. The gestation period for dolphins ranges from 10 to 11 months, but it can extend up to 16 months for some species. They nurse their young with milk.

Dolphins primarily feed on small fish such as anchovies, herring, smaller shrimp, and even sea worms. As schools of fish migrate, dolphins follow closely behind to hunt for food. Dolphin mothers stay close to their calves, taking care of them even once they reach independence. Their "extended family" structure is remarkable, with groups, or pods, consisting of hundreds of dolphins. The pod is often led by the mother dolphin, not the father. Dolphins can travel over a thousand kilometers and dive to depths of several hundred meters, holding their breath for up to two hours.

On average, dolphins measure between 2 and 2.5 meters in length, though some can reach up to 3.6 meters, like the white-sided dolphin. They live for around 25 to 30 years. Dolphins swim at speeds of 20 to 30 km/h, but can burst to 70 km/h. This remarkable speed is aided by their ability to shed skin regularly, with new layers forming every two hours, reducing water resistance and friction.

Humans have trained dolphins for entertainment purposes, as they are capable of performing tricks. Dolphins can mimic human speech, and in parks around the world, including in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, dolphins are trained to perform acts such as jumping high, long jumping, playing basketball, jumping through fire rings, and even singing in unison. Dolphins also help guide ships through rough waters. At sea, dolphins are known to be companions to humans, often stepping in to rescue people in distress. In some countries, dolphins are also valued for their high nutritional content, with their fat and liver being used to produce vitamin A and as a treatment for burns.

Dolphins are intelligent, gentle, and compassionate mammals, always forming close bonds with children and fishermen. Therefore, it is crucial that we protect the marine environment to safeguard the life of these beloved animals.

The tilapia is a fast-growing, resilient fish that has long been a major source of protein in many developing countries, and it has recently seen a surge in demand in developed nations. The meat of tilapia is sweet, smooth, and rich in minerals, low in fat, and provides moderate protein. Its flesh is neutral in taste and non-toxic, making it a popular choice for nourishing meals. Tilapia is a rapidly growing fish that is easy to farm, resistant to diseases, and can thrive in a variety of aquatic environments. Traditionally, tilapia was often raised alongside other fish in ponds or rice fields to make use of all available food sources in the water. However, due to increasing market demand, tilapia is now predominantly farmed intensively in ponds or floating cages.

Tilapia has a slightly purple body with shiny scales and typically displays 9-12 dark stripes running from its back to its belly. Its tail fin has dark horizontal stripes, and its dorsal fin features white streaks on a dark gray background, with light pink edges along the fin. The tilapia can grow up to 0.6 meters in length and weigh as much as 4 kilograms. Male tilapia, or monosex tilapia, grow quickly and can reach a weight of 0.4-0.6 kg within 4-5 months of farming.

Tilapia can consume a wide variety of natural food sources, including organic waste in the ponds where they are raised. In addition to helping eliminate small disease-carrying organisms, tilapia also help improve the environment and produce valuable products. As juveniles, tilapia feed primarily on plankton (algae and small organisms), and at around 20 days old, they measure approximately 18 mm. This species is known for being easy to farm and is able to tolerate less-than-ideal conditions. It can survive in freshwater, brackish water (with salinity up to 32‰), and even in slightly acidic water. While most fish are sensitive to dirty water, tilapia can tolerate ammonia concentrations of up to 2.4 mg/liter and low oxygen levels of just 1 mg/liter. It is also capable of withstanding temperatures as high as 42°C and as low as 5°C, with a pH range from 5 to 10.

As they mature, tilapia consume organic debris, algae that settles at the bottom of ponds, larvae, insects, and aquatic plants. In commercial farming, their diet also includes processed feeds made from fish meal, crab, shellfish, snails, dry fish powder, cornmeal, cassava powder, sweet potato, wheat, fine bran, soybean meal, and peanut meal. In their natural habitat, tilapia typically forage from the bottom layers of water at depths between 1 and 2 meters.

The carp is a freshwater fish commonly found in rivers, lakes, and ponds, and it is also cultivated in various fish farms. This species is widespread across the globe and is considered a valuable fish in Eastern cultures.

Carp are typically recognized by their golden to blackish coloration, becoming darker near their dorsal fins. In recent years, a variety of red-colored carp has also become popular. The carp's scales are large, round, and overlap like roof tiles.

The body of the carp is elongated and torpedo-shaped. Its head consists of two eyes, two pairs of nostrils, and two pairs of barbels, with a small mouth. Close to the body, there are two gill covers, each containing several pinkish gill filaments. The tail section begins from the pelvic fins and ends with the tail fin.

Carp have one pair of pectoral fins, one pair of pelvic fins (even fins), and three single fins: dorsal, anal, and caudal. Each fin consists of multiple fin rays connected by thin skin that opens and closes easily. When swimming, the two lobes of the tail fin move in an eight-shaped motion, propelling the carp forward. The tail fin also helps to steer the fish while swimming.

In addition to maintaining balance when swimming in a stationary position, the pectoral and pelvic fins assist the carp in swimming upward or downward, turning left or right, slowing down, stopping, or even swimming backward. When the fish swims fast, the paired fins are pressed against the body to reduce water resistance.

Carp are usually found in streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, and rice fields. They prefer feeding in mid-water or at the bottom. As omnivores, carp eat a variety of food, including worms, snails, larvae, insects, and aquatic plants. In farm ponds, they may also consume vegetable scraps, fish feed, soybean meal, and even leftover rice. While they are easy to farm and generally disease-resistant, carp grow slower compared to other fish species. After six months, a carp can weigh over half a kilogram.

The meat of carp is firm, sweet, and flavorful, making it a popular choice for many people. Carp is often used to make delicious dishes such as fish porridge, fried carp, steamed carp, sour soup, and carp cooked with tomatoes, mushrooms, or served in a hot pot. Carp porridge is especially recommended for those recovering from illness or postnatal women to help them regain strength and health.

Today, carp are farmed in both small and large-scale operations, providing significant economic benefits for farmers. In Vietnamese culture, the carp is a symbol of good luck and perseverance. The story of the 'Carp Overcoming the Gate of the Dragon' is an emotional tale that inspires many. In Vietnam, people often buy carp paintings, especially those by Đông Hồ artists, to display during the Lunar New Year (Tết).

In Vietnam, the carp holds a deep cultural significance. Every year on the 23rd of the last lunar month, during the Tết Ông Công, Ông Táo (the Kitchen Gods) Festival, people release carp into rivers and lakes as part of a ritual to carry the Kitchen Gods to Heaven, where they report on the family’s activities over the past year and pray for blessings and prosperity in the upcoming year.