At the end of the year, gather "bounties from the sea" to prepare for Tet.

(Baohatinh.vn) - In the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), many people still quietly cling to the mudflats and rocky shores to harvest oysters and clams, carefully collecting every "bounty from the sea" to prepare a more prosperous Tet for their families.

At dawn, as the tide receded, the women of Mai Phụ fishing village quietly gathered on the mudflats and rocky outcrops near Thạch Kim fishing port (Lộc Hà commune). In the biting cold, they diligently worked on each rock, chisel in hand, hammer in the other, patiently prying off oysters clinging to the rocks. The sharp clang of the chisels echoed in the quiet early morning sea, like the diligent breathing of these hardworking people.

While nimbly shelling oysters, Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan (from Mai Phu commune) shared in the cold wind: "My family lives off the sea; we don't have any fields or gardens to cultivate. My husband goes fishing at sea, and besides selling fish at the market, I also try to earn extra income at the rocky shores. Each day I manage to save about 120,000 – 170,000 dong, not a large sum, but it's the result of my sweat and hard work in the freezing weather. That's the money we need to make our family's Tet holiday a little less difficult."

This work typically lasts all four seasons, but it becomes even more hectic as Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches. Everyone wants to earn extra money to buy their children new clothes, extra meat, and a bottle of fish sauce to make the spring festivities more complete.

As Tet approaches, oyster prices are slightly higher than usual, so everyone tries to harvest more. Even though their shirts are soaked with dew and their hands are numb with cold, their eyes still shine with hope.

Their joy was simple: harvesting as many oysters as possible.

On the sandy slopes, women who make their living raking for clams are bent over, slowly backing away. They work quickly before the tide rises. Each rake is a race against time. The tiny clams buried in the sand become their source of livelihood, their hope for a more prosperous Lunar New Year.

For decades, oyster harvesting and clam digging have become a livelihood for many people in the coastal areas of Ha Tinh province.

Mr. and Mrs. Dinh Van Tien (from Loc Ha commune) went out to sea early in the morning to cast their nets, hoping to catch seafood to increase their income during Tet (Lunar New Year).

In the chilly morning air, the couple's work became even more arduous.

At the coastal area, each person has their own circumstances and worries. Every oyster harvest, every clam gathering is not just a means of survival, but also a journey of collecting hope.

Amidst the vast, turbulent waves, they believe that with hard work and perseverance, the bounty of the sea will not disappoint them. And then, as evening falls, their heavily laden carrying poles hold not only the salty taste of the sea but also the sweetness of hope for a spring that is just around the corner.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/cuoi-nam-nhat-loc-bien-sam-tet-post305688.html