Keeping the craft of silversmithing alive in the Cham village.

In the heart of Bau Truc Cham village, famous for its traditional pottery, there is a family quietly preserving the craft of silversmithing through three generations. Unlike the bustling pottery kilns that burn day and night, this silversmithing craft here steadfastly contributes to preserving the cultural identity and beliefs of the Cham people and provides a stable income.

Báo Nhân dân•03/06/2026

Artisan Dang Thi My Tram (Bau Truc village, Ninh Phuoc commune, Khanh Hoa province), alongside traditional handcrafted silver products of the Cham people. (Photo: NGUYEN TRUNG)

These products are primarily crafted to serve spiritual rituals, coming-of-age ceremonies, and other distinctive cultural activities of the Cham people.

Nearly half a century of preserving the ancestral craft.

In early June, we visited the home of artisan Dang Thi My Tram (Bau Truc village, Ninh Phuoc commune, Khanh Hoa province), one of the few households still dedicated to the traditional handcrafted silver engraving of the Cham people.

In the small house that serves as both a living space and a workshop, under the skillful hands of the craftsmen, sheets of metal gradually take shape into unique products with intricate patterns bearing the distinctive mark of Cham culture.

According to artisan Dang Thi My Tram, the silver engraving craft has been passed down in her family through a "father-to-daughter" tradition. Her father, artisan Dang Giao Chuc, passed on the crafting techniques to his daughter. She then continued the craft to her husband, two daughters, and several other relatives to preserve the tradition. For nearly half a century, her family has been considered the only family in Bau Truc village maintaining this traditional craft.

According to Ms. Tram, becoming a skilled silversmith requires not only talent but also perseverance and passion for the craft. Each product goes through many elaborate stages, from shaping and molding the metal to carving patterns.

Craftsmen must execute each detail precisely and with dedication to create beautiful, durable products that earn customer trust.

The most difficult part is the carving process. The craftsman must concentrate intensely, meticulously executing each line with dedication to create motifs such as dragons, phoenixes, stylized flowers and leaves, or characteristic cultural symbols of the Cham people, in order to produce beautiful, durable products that earn customer trust.

Ms. Kinh Thi Mong Ngung, one of the two daughters of artisan My Tram, is considered by her family to possess many qualities to continue the traditional craft.

At her time-worn workbench, Ms. Ngung meticulously perfects every small detail on her products. The work may seem simple, but it demands intense concentration and a high degree of precision.

Ms. Kinh Thi Mong Ngung, one of the two daughters of artisan My Tram, is considered by her family to possess many qualities to continue the traditional craft.

Ms. Ngưng recalled the early days of learning the craft, which were fraught with difficulties. Even a small mistake could ruin a product and require starting all over again.

"When I first started learning the craft, I ruined quite a few products and felt discouraged many times. But because I wanted to preserve my family's traditional craft, I persevered. Of all the steps, carving patterns is the most difficult; it takes many years of practice to master," Ms. Ngung shared.

Preserving the memories and cultural values of the community.

According to Mr. Dang Chi Quyet, Secretary of the Bau Truc village Party branch, thanks to the silver engraving craft, artisan Dang Thi My Tram's family has a stable income, raising their children to adulthood and continuing to make positive contributions to the local community. More importantly, they are helping to preserve a traditional craft that is in danger of disappearing.

Over many years of dedication to the craft, Ms. My Tram's family has produced thousands of products serving the Cham people in Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong , and many other localities. Popular products include lime containers, water cups, betel trays, betel boxes, betel holders, spittoons, and many other items used in traditional ceremonies. Depending on the type of product, prices range from 100,000 VND to millions of VND.

Previously, these items were made entirely of pure silver, but due to the rising price of silver, many products have been replaced with aluminum or copper to suit the economic conditions of the people. Although the material has changed, the artisans still preserve the traditional patterns and cultural values of the Cham people that are carved onto the products.

Due to the rising price of pure silver, artisans are now using aluminum or copper to create products that suit the economic conditions of the people. Although the materials have changed, the artisans still preserve the traditional patterns and cultural values of the Cham culture carved on the products.

For the family of artisan Dang Thi My Tram, silver engraving is both a livelihood and a way to preserve the cultural memory of the community, maintaining traditional values passed down through many generations of Cham people.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life and the emergence of many new professions, the rhythmic sound of hammers in the small house in Bau Truc village still resonates every day, a testament to the perseverance of the craftsmen determined to preserve their ancestral craft. They are quietly keeping alive a unique cultural heritage of the Cham people, preventing it from fading away in the face of time.

NGUYEN TRUNG-NGOC THIEN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/giu-lua-nghe-cham-bac-o-lang-cham-post966483.html