These summer days, from early morning, dozens of women in Loc Ha commune have gone to soak in the Lach Ken estuary area, the border section between Loc Ha commune and Co Dam commune to catch clams.
From the shore, looking down, the women only reveal their heads, themselves submerged in water, groping to catch clams. Every time they catch a clam, they put it in a net bag they carry with them.
Ms. Quach Thi Ung (74 years old, residing in Yen Diem village, Loc Ha commune) said that every day, she and many women in the village go to Lach Ken estuary to catch clams to sell to earn money for spending.
According to Ms. Ung, diligently catching from early morning to noon, on the most days she can catch about 10 kg, with clam prices of 30,000 VND/kg, she also earns 300,000 VND. On days when she catches a little, she only earns 150,000 VND, or even less.
“Because I am used to the profession, I also find it normal, there is nothing hard about it. I go to work to earn a little extra income to spend freely,” Ms. Ung shared.
According to Ms. Ung, clam catching can be done all year round. However, mainly people gather crowds to catch in the summer, and in the cold winter, people are afraid to immerse themselves in the water.
Also participating in clam catching in a group of women in Yen Diem village, Loc Ha commune, Ms. Le Thi Hue (71 years old) said that when she was still in good health, she and many others carried rakes to pull back to rake clams to get a lot, sometimes getting a quintal of clams every day.
Now that she is old and in poor health, unable to use rakes to catch clams anymore, she has to go groping to catch each individual clam.
Diligently from dawn to noon, she also catches about 10 kg, sells it for about 300,000 VND to earn money to cover expenses. On days when she catches too little, she does not sell it, taking it home to process into food for the family also saves money to buy.
Ms. Le Thi Hue shared that soaking in salt water every day, clothes also quickly spoil because they are soaked in seawater. However, the body seems healthier and more durable because it consumes energy, so it can eat more rice and feel more delicious.
Not only women in Loc Ha commune, but also many women in Co Dam commune go to the Lach Ken estuary area every day to catch clams to earn income.
Right on the shore at Lach Ken estuary, there is a temporary market specializing in buying and selling fresh seafood. After exploiting and catching seafood, people often come here to sell it immediately to small traders.
As much as they catch, someone buys it all. Therefore, leaving home in the morning to catch clams and snails, returning at noon, local people already have pocket money from 100,000 VND - 300,000 VND.
The income brought in is not large but suitable for the health of elderly local women who work hard all year round to earn a living thanks to the sea "fortune" of their homeland.
On July 18, Mr. Le Van Han - Vice Chairman of Loc Ha Commune People's Committee - said that on this occasion, every morning he sees many local people going to the beach and Lach Ken area to catch clams.
According to Mr. Han, this job is suitable for many older women, with a moderate income, while men mainly go to sea to fish or work as hired laborers to have a better income.
