The ups and downs of traditional craft villages after Tet

After the Lunar New Year, when the peak shipping season has ended, many craft villages in Thanh Hoa return to their normal production rhythm. But behind this tranquility lies a reality: while many remain to preserve their crafts, a significant number of young workers leave their hometowns to seek new jobs.

Mr. Le Manh Hung, Vice President of the Truong Giang conical hat manufacturers' association, discussed hat designs and product quality with the production facility.

Keep the old profession, choose a new path.

Mornings in the coastal villages of Van Loc commune begin when the boats return after a night at sea. The villages awaken to the rhythm of the boats docking. The charcoal stoves are already burning brightly, and the women arrange fish on the grills, turning them constantly to ensure even cooking. On bamboo racks, dried fish are stacked, waiting to be sun-dried.

In coastal communes like Van Loc, a clear division of labor has long been established: men and young people venture out to sea for offshore fishing, while women handle logistical tasks such as purchasing, drying, grilling, and processing seafood. Van Loc commune currently has 440 fishing vessels, including 160 offshore fishing boats, with an annual catch of 26,000-27,000 tons of seafood. Alongside fishing activities, more than 200 households provide logistical support services for the fishing industry, such as purchasing and processing seafood and supplying necessities to fishing boats. This integrated system creates livelihoods for thousands of local workers.

But behind that bustling fishing activity lies another worry. According to Mr. Le Van Dua, Head of the Economic Department of the People's Committee of Van Loc commune, many boat owners are facing difficulties in finding crew members. Young people are no longer interested in the fishing profession because the work is arduous, involves long periods at sea, and income depends heavily on fishing grounds. Some fishing trips have to be postponed due to a shortage of crew, and even boats that have received billions of dong in investment are forced to remain docked.

The story of people leaving the craft isn't just happening in coastal villages like Van Loc. In many craft villages throughout the province, jobs that were once deeply rooted in each family's traditions are gradually dwindling. In Truong Giang conical hat village, Truong Van commune, the rhythm of the craft unfolds in a different setting. Under low eaves, a few women sit weaving conical hats. Among them, Mrs. Le Thi Ly (68 years old) diligently works at a job she's been involved in for almost her entire life. She recounts learning the craft from her grandmother and then her mother when she was only 10 years old. "Before, farming was the main occupation. But during the lean season, the conical hat making business was the main source of income for the whole family," Mrs. Ly said. A conical hat goes through several stages: selecting leaves, ironing them, arranging them, attaching the brim, and then sewing each layer. She's so skilled that while chatting, her needle still glides smoothly across the brim of the hat. But Mrs. Ly also acknowledges that the number of people still practicing the craft is decreasing. In the village, many families who used to make conical hats have now abandoned the profession. The younger generations in her family have chosen to work in factories, with few remaining in the craft like the previous generation. Le Thi Thu Trang (23 years old) is one of them. Born into a family that makes hats, Trang was used to helping her mother arrange leaves and assemble hat brims every afternoon. But after finishing high school, she applied to a garment factory in the Hoang Long Industrial Park. "Making hats at home doesn't provide a stable income. Working in a factory is harder, but the salary is consistent every month," Trang said.

Keeping the passion for the profession alive amidst the new pace of life.

After the Lunar New Year holiday, the pace of life in many craft villages in Thanh Hoa province slows down. However, behind this tranquility lies a reality: in coastal villages, many boat owners are struggling to find crew members; and in traditional craft villages, the number of young workers committed to the trade is dwindling. Faced with this situation, many localities are seeking ways to preserve livelihoods for their residents while creating opportunities for young people to continue engaging in traditional crafts.

People in Van Loc commune are drying seafood.

According to Mr. Le Van Dua, Head of the Economic Department of the People's Committee of Van Loc commune, the locality encourages seafood processing facilities to invest in drying and preservation equipment, gradually standardizing production processes to improve product quality and expand the market. When processing and consumption activities become more stable, the fishing industry will have more opportunities to create sustainable jobs, helping workers feel secure and committed to long-term employment. At the same time, fishing cooperatives at sea will continue to be maintained to support fishermen in the fishing process, exchange information on fishing grounds, and market their products.

Based on these guidelines, many establishments in Van Loc commune have proactively expanded production. At Phuong Oanh Company in Thanh Lap village, approximately 100 tons of seafood are purchased directly from fishing boats that have just docked each year for processing. The seafood is grilled, sun-dried, or dried on the same day before being transported for consumption in many provinces and cities. The facility's operations not only create a stable market for fishermen but also provide regular employment for many local workers.

From small-scale fish grilling stalls along the coast, many households in the commune have gradually expanded their purchasing and processing operations. The chain of industries linked to the sea is thus maintained, providing livelihoods for hundreds of local workers. For many families, this is also a way for their children and grandchildren to stay in their hometown and continue the long-standing profession associated with this coastal region.

In Truong Giang conical hat village, Truong Van commune, the local government and the conical hat producers' association are also looking for ways to preserve the craft in a different direction. According to Mr. Le Manh Hung, Vice Chairman of the Truong Giang conical hat producers' association, nearly 2,000 households in the commune are currently involved in hat making, employing over 5,000 workers, mainly women. Besides maintaining traditional production, many establishments are gradually expanding their markets.

Some artisans have proactively adapted to market changes. At Hung Toan conical hat workshop, Le Van Chung (27 years old) created a Facebook page to introduce his products, posting images of new hat designs to connect with customers in many localities. As a result, Truong Giang conical hats are not only sold locally but are also ordered as souvenirs and tourist gifts.

The conical hats are still sewn stitch by stitch, and the fish are still sun-dried after each fishing trip. In this rhythm of life, the story of the craft village is not just about business, but also about preserving the craft. When traditional values ​​are passed down through generations, the craft villages of Thanh Hoa can still find a way to continue amidst the new pace of life in the modern era.

Text and photos: Tang Thuy

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/buon-vui-lang-nghe-sau-tet-280571.htm