Polishing brass incense burners in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year).

QTO - The Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 is fast approaching. Amidst the hustle and bustle of people shopping for Tet, craftsmen polishing brass incense burners are still diligently working to deliver orders to customers preparing ancestral altars for the New Year.

Under the gentle sunshine of the year-end, at a corner of Hai Ba Trung Street (Dong Hoi Ward), Mr. Ho Nhu Tan and Mrs. Ha Thi Hue are busy cleaning and polishing brass incense burners for customers.

While working and chatting with us, Mr. Ho Nhu Tan said: "I am over 60 years old this year, and polishing brass incense burners has been my profession for almost two-thirds of my life. This job is hard and has many harmful effects, but for me, it has become my calling. Taking advantage of the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), my wife and I work to earn a little extra income for our family."

The bronze incense burners are polished to a high shine - Photo: CN

Reportedly, Mr. and Mrs. Tan started their business on the 22nd day of the Lunar New Year and usually finished on the 28th day of the 12th lunar month. On average, the couple makes 20-25 sets of bronze incense burners per day. Prices vary depending on size and the intricate patterns on the burners, ranging from 150,000 to 500,000 VND per set.

Ms. Ha Thi Hue shared: “Because we have been in this profession for many years, most of our customers are regulars. Besides earning extra income by polishing bronze incense burners, my husband and I also do this job with dedication, hoping to contribute to bringing solemnity and warmth to the ancestral altars in every Vietnamese family. Therefore, my husband and I are always meticulous in every step, from disassembling the burners, soaking them in water, grinding, and polishing, so as not to disappoint our customers' trust.”

Life is becoming more developed and modern, but for Vietnamese people, especially the elderly, bronze incense burners play an important role in their spiritual lives. During Tet (Vietnamese New Year), polishing bronze incense burners is a priority for many families to make the ancestral altar more warm and solemn. This is because the ancestral altar is the most sacred and dignified space in the house, where each family member expresses their feelings, respect, and gratitude towards their ancestors.

Therefore, everyone wants to spend time taking care of their altar, cleaning and beautifying their bronze incense burners. That's why, when taking their incense burners for polishing, many people carefully choose skilled and experienced craftsmen to ensure the burners are polished to a high shine, without scratches or damage to their structure.

Mr. Pham Xuan Hoai diligently works at his motor-powered brass polishing machine in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year) - Photo: CN

To meet customer demand and earn extra income, many people have maintained the craft of polishing brass incense burners for many years, despite the hard work. The craftsmen are meticulous in every detail of the process. After disassembling the parts, the incense burners are soaked, washed, and then put into a motor-driven polishing machine to remove dirt, oxidation, and polish the surface to a bright, smooth finish. Throughout the process, the craftsmen must be careful and remember every small detail to avoid damaging or mixing up customers' items.

Amidst the bustling streets, the rhythmic grinding sounds of brass polishing machines still echo, blending into the hurried atmosphere of preparations for the approaching New Year. Walking along streets such as Ton That Thuyet, Hai Ba Trung (Dong Hoi ward) or Dinh Tien Hoang, Le Duan (Dong Ha ward)... it's not difficult to spot brass polishing artisans busily working on the last day of the year.

Mr. Pham Xuan Hoai has been polishing brass incense burners for nearly 8 years at a street corner on Ton That Thuyet Street (Dong Hoi Ward). In a conversation with us, Mr. Hoai said: “Normally, I work as a hired hand, doing whatever jobs I can find. My wife runs a small business at the market, so our family life is still quite difficult. To earn a little extra income, I learned the trade of polishing brass incense burners. Previously, I used a diesel engine, but recently I switched to a motor-driven machine, which is easier and less noisy. Each set of incense burners takes about 2 hours to polish; some sets that have been stored for a long time and have turned black require more time. Although the work is hard, it provides extra income and contributes to beautifying the ancestral altars of many families during Tet (Lunar New Year), so I am very happy.”

Through the skillful hands and perseverance of the craftsmen, these bronze incense burners are polished to a brilliant shine, preserving their spiritual beauty on the altars of every Vietnamese family during the traditional Lunar New Year, carrying with them the belief and hope for a peaceful, prosperous, and happy new year.

Cat Nhien

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202602/danh-lu-dong-nhung-ngay-giap-tet-9085cd7/