The meticulous process of "breathing life" into sawdust powder.

The Phong Ấp incense-making village in Tân Định commune, Khánh Hòa province (formerly Ninh Bình commune, Ninh Hòa town, Khánh Hòa province) has existed for over 100 years. Through the ups and downs of history, it has served not only as a spiritual anchor for the people but also as a sustainable source of livelihood for hundreds of households.

Mr. Do Van Thong next to his incense-making machine.

Leading us through the brightly colored incense drying racks, Mrs. Le Thi Lai, an artisan whose family has been involved in the craft for three generations, shared that making incense is truly a meticulous job. It's busy on ordinary days, but even busier during the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), with people having to wake up at 3-4 am to get the powder mixing done on time.

"To make truly fragrant incense sticks, the mixing of the powder is the most important step," Mrs. Lai explained, quickly kneading the powder. The main ingredient of the incense is finely ground sawdust mixed with natural fragrances such as cinnamon and agarwood. Although the ingredients are often imported, it is the unique blending secret of the people of Phong Ap that creates a distinct, pure, and unmistakable scent.

After the incense sticks are rolled, they are placed on drying racks outdoors for 2 to 3 sunny days. Throughout this process, the workers must constantly turn the incense sticks to prevent the red color from fading and the fragrance from being lost.

The vibrant colors of bundles of incense sticks from the countryside.

Mr. Do Van Thong (62 years old), who has 40 years of experience in making incense sticks, said: “Previously, we mainly made incense sticks by hand, only producing about 15 to 20 kg per day. But for the past 10 years, thanks to machinery, productivity has increased many times over.” The combination of modern technology and human skill in the mixing process has helped the craft village both preserve traditional flavors and meet the high demand of the market during peak seasons.

Calloused hands and the fear of decline.

From afar, the craft village looks like a beautiful tapestry with bundles of red incense sticks drying in the sun. However, behind that beauty lies the hardship of the incense makers, a hardship few understand. To achieve that beauty, they must face incense powder dust that permeates their breath, and their hands are stained with chemicals until they become calloused. Many mistakenly believe this is easy work, but in reality, it is a silent sacrifice of health for the love of their craft.

Ms. Le Thi Lai continuously turned the incense sticks drying on the rack.

Currently, Phong Ấp incense village supplies the market with three main types of incense: agarwood incense, Northern incense, and cinnamon incense. During Tet (Lunar New Year), the price of agarwood incense ranges from 300,000 to 400,000 VND/kg, while Northern incense is more affordable, starting from 50,000 VND/kg. Despite a significant increase in sales, a sense of worry still lingers in the eyes of veteran incense makers like Mrs. Lái. In recent years, Phong Ấp's traditional incense has been struggling to compete with cheaper industrial incense.

"As long as my hands and feet can still work, I'll stick with this craft. I only worry about the day when no one in this village will do it anymore..." Mrs. Lai pondered, and this is also the shared concern of many households here as they see the younger generation gradually leaving the bamboo frames and incense sticks to seek more modern jobs.

Facing the risk of traditional craft villages gradually fading into oblivion, local authorities have implemented policies to support loan access for people to develop production. However, the biggest challenge remains marketing and promoting products. Currently, craft villages still mainly focus on raw material production and have not yet prioritized brand building or creating new designs to keep up with modern consumer trends.

In the context of Khanh Hoa's rapid transformation, preserving a traditional craft deeply rooted in spiritual culture is invaluable. The people of Phong Ap not only aspire to secure their livelihoods but, above all, to preserve their community's cultural identity to pass on to future generations.

The finished incense sticks from Phong Ấp incense village are neatly arranged.

As the sun sets, Phong Ấp incense village shines brighter and more radiant than ever. Bundles of incense sticks are neatly arranged, ready to be loaded onto trucks and transported to all corners of the country to be offered to the ancestral altars of families on New Year's Eve.

Leaving the craft village amidst the lingering scent of incense, we understood that each incense stick was not just a product, but a symbol of warmth and the prayers of the craftsmen, offered as a tribute to spring. Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, the people here quietly continue their work, preserving the vibrant spirit of the nation.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/giu-gin-sac-tham-nhang-que-1022800