Traditional professions open the way to make a living on the spot
In Son Doc puffer cake village, Hung Nhuong commune, Vinh Long province, the production cycle is always bustling all year round. Red-hot bakery kilns regularly become a livelihood support for many local workers.
Not having to leave their hometowns to work far away, elderly people, middle-aged women and idle workers can all participate in making puffed cakes. The work is divided into stages, suitable for their working capacity, helping people have a stable daily income.
Son Doc puffed rice cake has long been famous for its characteristic flavors from sticky rice, cassava and coconut milk. However, the greater value lies in the ability to create local livelihoods, helping people stick to their homeland, reducing the pressure of making a living in the city.
Attached to the profession for many years, Ms. Le Thi Rai, 67 years old, still regularly removes and dries cakes every day. Gentle work, hourly income helps her cover living expenses and enjoy her old age. Ms. Rai shared: "At this age, having a job near home is a joy, both healthy and having money to take care of life.
At another facility, Ms. Nguyen Thi My Duyen, over 40 years old, is busy with the cake rolling stage. The puff cake making profession helps her to be proactive in time, both working and taking care of her family, without having to leave her hometown to work far away.
Working near home, it's convenient to pick up and drop off children, and the income is also even. Each hour is paid about 20,000 VND, on days when I receive extra labor to press bananas into puffed cakes, I earn an extra 90,000 to 120,000 VND," Ms. Duyen added.
More than 230 workers have income from craft villages
Not only bringing livelihoods to hired workers, Son Doc puffed rice cake is also the enthusiasm of many establishment owners who have been attached to the profession for many years. They both produce and create jobs for people in the hamlet, contributing to preserving the traditional craft.
Mr. Nguyen Van Thiet, owner of Tu Thiet puffer cake facility, said that the facility maintains 5 to 7 regular workers every day. During holidays and Tet, the number of workers increases to keep up with orders. Mr. Thiet shared: "Seeing that people have more jobs, especially during Tet, I am also happy and motivated to continue to maintain the profession.
The regular operation of bakeries has made an important contribution to solving idle labor in the locality. Many households have stable income, limiting the situation where people have to leave their hometowns to work far away.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Bui Van Mot - Vice Chairman of Hung Nhuong Commune People's Committee said that Son Doc puffer cake village has a history of more than 100 years and has been recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
According to Mr. Mot, the entire craft village currently has 25 production facilities operating year-round, creating jobs for more than 230 local workers, with a production of over 30 million cakes per year. He affirmed: "The craft village both preserves tradition and helps people stabilize their lives right in their hometowns.
In the modern rhythm of life, Son Doc puffed cake is not only a rustic dish but also a testament to the effectiveness of preserving the profession associated with social security. The red-hot cake kilns continue to bring sustainable livelihoods to people in the coconut countryside every day," Mr. Mot added.
