Perseverance in 'breathing life' into shellfish

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, while traditional crafts are gradually fading away, in the heart of the coastal city of Vung Tau, there are still people quietly and persistently dedicated to the craft of making decorative seashells.

Visitors and shoppers at Thanh Thêm seashell handicraft shop, Phan Chu Trinh Street, Vung Tau Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

Shells and snails, seemingly lifeless, lie deep beneath the sea, but through the skillful hands of artisans, they are transformed into something entirely new – shimmering, vibrant, and full of artistic flair. Each product not only embodies the exquisite craftsmanship of the artisan but also tells a story, reflecting the diligent work of the people in the coastal region.

The craft of making seashell handicrafts is fading away.

The craft of making decorative shellfish in Vung Tau has existed for nearly four decades. During its peak, this craft formed a community of several dozen households specializing in collecting raw materials – shellfish – for production, crafting, and wholesaling to ocean-going vessels for export. However, changes in the tourism market, along with rapid urbanization, have caused the Vung Tau shellfish craft industry to gradually decline.

In 2006, when the former Ba Ria - Vung Tau province decided to clear the Bai Truoc area for urban renovation, many businesses had to relocate, disrupting production. Many artisans abandoned their craft or switched to other fields. Currently, only one business operates regularly, along with about 10 households that do piecework at home in Vung Tau ward.

Artisans at the Thanh Thêm shell and conch handicraft workshop on Phan Chu Trinh Street, Vung Tau Ward (Ho Chi Minh City) are polishing and shaping the products.

One of the oldest and most dedicated establishments in the craft is Thanh Them Shell and Seashell Handicraft Workshop (51 Biz Phan Chu Trinh, Vung Tau Ward), owned by Mr. Nguyen Quang Hai. His son, Nguyen Thanh Vu, has taken over. After graduating from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Mr. Vu worked in various jobs, but his love for his parents' traditional shell and seashell handicraft craft drew him back. In 2006, he decided to return to Vung Tau, continuing the family business that had been built over more than 40 years.

Anh Vu shared that the shellfish processing profession not only provides a stable income but also helps them utilize readily available raw materials from the sea, transforming seemingly discarded items into valuable products. "We are very happy to have created a unique tourism product for the place where I and the workers were born and raised," he said.

To create a finished artwork from shells, the craftsman must perform a series of meticulous steps such as selecting materials with suitable shapes and colors, cleaning, polishing, hand-processing, and then carving or painting patterns. This work requires not only the patience, meticulousness, and skill of each artisan but also an artistic eye and a rich imagination.

Artisans shape products made from shells and conch at the Thanh Thêm workshop on Phan Chu Trinh Street, Vung Tau Ward (Ho Chi Minh City).

According to artisan Diep Thi Thuy Phuong, one of the craftsmen who has been working at Thanh Them for nearly 20 years, the most important thing to "make a living" from this craft is passion. She learned the craft of crafting decorative shells and conch shells from experienced artisans when she was only 15 years old, and each finished product that customers love is always a motivation for her to continue creating.

Traditional products such as model sailboats, lighthouses, dolphin statues, or mosaics made from shimmering mother-of-pearl pieces are still popular with tourists visiting Vung Tau. However, the market has changed. Tourists now prefer small, convenient souvenirs that are sophisticated yet still reflect the seaside. Therefore, Thanh Them's establishment has flexibly shifted its focus, developing many small accessories or mini-sized products to suit modern trends.

Not only attracting locals, products made from seashells and conch shells also make a strong impression on tourists from near and far. Mr. Nguyen Phan Dinh Khoi, a tourist from Ca Mau, shared: “Every time I travel to Vung Tau, I always look for handcrafted products made from seashells and conch shells to bring back as gifts for my relatives. I never thought that from these seemingly insignificant and unwanted seashells and conch shells, such lovely and whimsical boats, animals, and decorations could be created. Each small gift seems to preserve the essence of the sea.”

Preserving traditional crafts means preserving the cultural identity of the sea.

Artisans shape products made from shells and conch at the Thanh Thêm workshop on Phan Chu Trinh Street, Vung Tau Ward (Ho Chi Minh City).

Each year, Thanh Them's workshop produces thousands of products with prices ranging from tens of thousands to millions of dong, depending on the intricacy and size. The workshop's products have transcended local boundaries; many large souvenir shops in provinces and cities such as Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Phu Quoc, and Hanoi now import goods from Thanh Them's workshop for resale. Many Vietnamese expatriates also purchase them as gifts for relatives living abroad.

The craft of processing shellfish not only provides a stable income for the artisans here, but also symbolizes the skill and creativity of the people of the coastal region. Each shell, each piece of clam, transformed by the hands of the artisans, becomes a work of art, telling stories of waves, wind, and the love of labor of the people of the coastal area.

To acknowledge this traditional value, on September 7, 2018, the People's Committee of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province issued Decision No. 2503/QD-UBND, recognizing the craft of shellfish and conch shell carving as a "Traditional Craft" of the locality. This affirms the cultural and economic significance of the craft, while also opening up opportunities for production households to access policies supporting the development of rural industries according to Government Decree No. 52/2018/ND-CP. As a result, shellfish and conch shell carving production facilities have received support in terms of machinery for product manufacturing, access to preferential loans, and artisans have received support in skills training, product promotion, and participation in craft village fairs.

Visitors and shoppers at Thanh Thêm seashell handicraft shop, Phan Chu Trinh Street, Vung Tau Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

However, the profession also faces many difficulties such as: a scarcity of young, passionate workers willing to pursue the craft, a highly competitive market with many cheap industrial products, and the gradual decline of traditional crafts.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Vu, each handicraft product made from seashells and snail shells is a work of art, requiring continuous ideas and creativity. For this type of handicraft, choosing the right materials in terms of color, size, and shape is crucial to the success of each piece.

"Before being polished, the shells must be soaked to remove any unpleasant odor. Then, the craftsman saws, carves, and shapes them into products. The shaped products are then polished and painted for four days before being repainted again. After three coats of paint, the shells are smoothed, cut, carved, and adjusted to match the design. Creating a single piece is very elaborate. For this craft to continue, shell and snail handicraft workshops like ours need support from the local government in terms of capital and machinery; support for tourism promotion programs; and the attention of tourists," Mr. Vu said.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/ben-bi-thoi-hon-vao-so-oc-20251207101051933.htm