Vietnamese fish sauce makes debut at US’ Costco supermarket

By Khai Nguyen January 7, 2026 | 07:25 pm PT

For the first time ever a traditional Vietnamese fish sauce, made using a 300-year-old recipe, is being sold by U.S. supermarket chain Costco.

Tin Phan Thiet fish sauce, produced by Seagull in Lam Dong Province and packaged in ceramic jars, are on the shelves of many Costco stores in California State, with plans for expansion to other states in the future, according to Tran Ngoc Dung, CEO of Seagull.

Dung said exports to the U.S. are expected to reach two million liters this year.

Tin Phan Thiet fish sauce produced by Seagull. Photo by VnExpress/Khai Nguyen

Tin Phan Thiet fish sauce is made by fermenting from fresh anchovies with salt. After 12 months, once the sauce achieves the required quality, it is drawn from wooden vats and transferred into ceramic jars for preservation before being distributed.

Dung also hopes to take the product to other global markets.

For the last two years Dung himself has been traveling to the U.S. to learn local preferences with respect to fish sauce and seasonings.

Tran Ngoc Dung speaks at the Fish Sauce Museum in Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Khai Nguyen

The company then created a product suited to them, such as ensuring the aroma is not overpowering, the taste is not too salty the fish sauce meets histamine standards.

Tin fish sauce is pasteurized using a continuous heating system to ensure microbial control while retaining its natural flavors and meeting U.S. Food and Drug Administration standards.