Half a century dedicated to the blacksmithing trade.
If you happen to pass by Hoang Sao Street in Cam Duong Ward, many people are easily drawn to the clanging sound of hammers or the wisps of smoke rising from Mr. Nguyen Ba Dong's blacksmith's shed. Without flashy signs or dazzling LED lights, his "asset" is confined to about ten square meters, centered around a constantly glowing charcoal furnace, a few blackened anvils and hammers, and scattered iron and steel bars.
Now 66 years old, Mr. Dong is still very healthy and agile, with strong, muscular arms—the result of more than 50 years of wielding a hammer.
Mr. Dong's eyes, though marked by crow's feet – a testament to time – remain sharp whenever he hammers or checks the sharpness of the tools he has crafted. For Mr. Dong, blacksmithing is not just a job; it's his lifelong destiny.
“I started handling a hammer when I was 15 years old. Back then, the Cam Duong mining area was very difficult. When I was young, I learned by observation, and as I grew older, my father taught me the ropes, passing on the secrets of sharpening steel and forging iron to make it durable. That's how this profession became my calling without me even realizing it,” Mr. Dong confided.
In Mr. Dong's words, blacksmithing is a form of "voluntary hard work." The sweltering summer heat and the blazing charcoal furnace cause anyone entering the workshop to sweat profusely. Yet, Mr. Dong has never considered giving up. For him, each product is a "spiritual child," molded from the strength of his muscles and the finesse of his soul.
Behind Mr. Dong is Mrs. Cao Thi Dinh, his hardworking wife who has been by his side through decades of hardship. In the small, stuffy shack, Mrs. Dinh is likened to a "cool breeze" that gives him extra motivation to work. Mrs. Dinh shared: "When I have free time, I help him light the furnace, sometimes I rearrange the pile of tools, and other times I talk to customers who come to order knives or repair hoes. Seeing him work so hard, I often feel sorry for him. But I understand that this profession is his lifelong passion. If I can't help with the heavy work, I'll help with the lighter tasks, as long as the family remains harmonious and happy, and the forge always burns brightly."
The son inherited the business.
In an era where young people often gravitate towards easy, high-paying jobs, the decision of Nguyen Ba Nen (son of Mr. Dong, born in 1990) to follow in his father's footsteps is unusual, yet inspiring.
Mr. and Mrs. Dong have four sons. The older brothers all chose different paths: one became a factory worker, another a driver, and another pursued modern mechanical engineering. Only Nen, after years of trying various jobs, decided to return to the family's old anvil and charcoal furnace.
Mr. Nên shared: “I’ve worked in many places, but perhaps my connection with the blacksmith’s shop is too strong. Since childhood, the sound of my father’s hammer has been ingrained in my subconscious. Watching my father sweat to raise my siblings and me, I appreciate the value of manual labor. Moreover, working here makes me feel free. I’m in control of my own time, creating practical products for the people around here with my own hands, and that feeling is truly fulfilling.”
It is known that in the early days of returning to blacksmithing, the hands of this young man born in 1990 were blistered and aching. There were times when he was so tired that he wanted to give up, but seeing the sturdy back of his elderly father still diligently working by the furnace, he became even more determined. Today, Nen can perform the most difficult stages himself, from selecting steel and controlling the temperature to the family's secret "tempering" technique.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life and the vibrant advertising technology, Mr. Dong's family blacksmith shop stands out in its own way: no signboard, no social media advertising, yet it's always bustling with customers. Customers come not only from the Cam Duong ward but also from many other localities, bringing knives, hoes, and other tools to have them re-hardened by Mr. Dong. Even small items like fruit peeling knives must be carefully crafted, sturdy, aesthetically pleasing, durable, and sharp.
Mr. Tran Hao, residing in Group 9, Pom Han, Cam Duong Ward – a long-time customer of Mr. Dong – said: “Here, Mr. Dong makes tools not just to sell for money, but to affirm his reputation. The steel he chooses is from car springs, excavator gears, or drill pipes… There are knives I bought from him 10 years ago, and even after sharpening them, they are still as sharp as new. If anything breaks, just bring them here, and he and his son will repair them for free or only charge a small labor fee.”
The work is hard and strenuous, but each day Mr. Dong and his son only earn about 500,000 dong. That amount is insignificant compared to other professions in modern society, but for them, the satisfied smiles of their customers and, above all, keeping the fire of the blacksmith's forge burning brightly are the greatest values.
Cam Duong Ward has undergone a dramatic transformation. High-rise buildings have sprung up, and the pace of urbanization has swept away many old values. Consequently, the traditional blacksmithing craft has gradually declined. Older blacksmiths are laying down their hammers, and forges are extinguishing their fires to make way for convenience stores or industrial workshops. However, Mr. Nguyen Ba Dong's forge remains steadfastly burning, a testament and highlight of this traditional craft in the heart of the modern city. The image of two generations—father and son, one old, one young—harmoniously hammering by the glowing fire is not simply a story of making a living, but also a vivid testament to the commitment to preserving traditional crafts.
Late in the afternoon, Hoang Sao Street was brightly lit, traffic still bustling, and the rhythmic sound of hammers from Mr. Dong and his son's blacksmith workshop still echoed in the distance. The red flames from the charcoal furnace illuminated the determined faces of the two craftsmen. They were not only forging steel, but also honing their own perseverance to keep the flame of their craft alive.
Source: https://baolaocai.vn/giu-lua-nghe-ren-giua-long-pho-thi-post897422.html
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