In the hot summer of May, Mr. Kai's blacksmith shop in An Hiep commune (Chau Thanh district, Soc Trang province) was much hotter. Inside the furnace, the steel was burned red hot and flexibly, the sound of a hammer and crab resounded as if holding the fire of a miserable job.
According to Mr. Kai, each complete knife must go through many stages from rough grinding, grinding, grinding, greasing to hanging. It sounds simple but extremely meticulous, requiring smooth coordination between stages. "People who work every day can only get about 100 knives, if they divide each step evenly, they can be caught up," he shared.
Kai added that blacksmiths still have to work in hot, dusty environments, constantly exposed to the heat from the furnace and sharp metal tools.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Huong, a long-time blacksmith in Chau Thanh town (Chau Thanh district, Soc Trang province) said: "When I first started my job, my hand was grinding and my tendons were broken. Sometimes careless sawing can also cause a broken hand. But after a long time, they get used to it, and if they have good skills, they will be less injured," said Mr. Huong.
According to Mr. Huong, despite being very hard-working and dangerous, blacksmithing still brings a stable source of income. Each month, a skilled worker can earn about 9-10 million VND, an income enough to support a family in rural conditions.
Similarly, in Hong Dan district (Bac Lieu province), dozens of households have maintained the blacksmithing profession day and night for many generations.
Mr. Tran Van Tan, a long-time blacksmith in Ngan Dua town, shared: "Currently, I make about 15-20 knives a day, selling them for tens to hundreds of thousands of VND depending on the material and thickness. Although I am rich, with income and trust from customers, I still stick with the job".
Not only staying at the workshop, many blacksmiths in the West are also creative by bringing the blacksmithing furnaces down to the boats to serve people in remote areas.
Mr. Nguyen Van Chien (Hong Dan district, Bac Lieu province) said: "For the past 10 years, I have traveled across the rivers and canals of Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Kien Giang and Hau Giang to blacksmith and grade scissors right on the boat. Daily income ranges from a few hundred to a million VND. Although I am far from home, my job helps support my family."
