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Abstract
Aquaculture in Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon has been becoming the main livelihood for local people. However, consumption activity of aquatic products is still controlled and dominated by intermediary actors in the value chain. This study aims to explore the role of collectors and constitutive elements of governance actors in aquaculture value chain. Based on 55 semi-structured interviews and relevant secondary information, the study showed that the controlling of collectors is indicated in aquatic products flow when all products have to cross collectors before distributing to various marketing channels. Each collector establishes a specific boundary and scope of activity, where each collector has one provider group and one buyer group, those are always willing to sell and buy aquatic products respectively. Buying all aquatic products, supporting capital for producers and wholesalers, retailers, making trust and binding-based relationships are the strategies of collectors to become a value chain governance actor.