The soul of the countryside, nurtured from the salty soil, gives rise to the fragrant smoke of tobacco.

Returning to Dong Thuy Anh commune in Hung Yen province, people remember not only the pristine white salt fields and the mangrove swamps along the coast, but also a distinctive, pungent, and slightly acrid "tobacco scent".

For generations, tobacco plants have taken root, flourished, and become a vital product and the very breath of the people here. Tobacco in Dong Thuy Anh is not just an agricultural product; it has become a cultural heritage, the culmination of the sweat, sun, wind, and skillful hands of the hardworking farmers.

Legends from the land at the foot of the waves

The former Thuy Truong commune, now Dong Thuy Anh commune, is a coastal commune located in the northeastern part of the former Thai Thuy district. Here, the land has the characteristics of a coastal estuary region: salty and challenging. However, it is precisely this harsh soil, with its heavy clay, moderate acidity, and salinity, that provides the ideal environment for tobacco cultivation and creates its distinctive quality.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ty, now over 70 years old and residing in Thuong Phuc village, said: "Tobacco cultivation in Dong Thuy Anh has a history of over a hundred years. No one remembers exactly who the founder of this profession was, only that when they grew up, they saw their grandparents and parents meticulously tending to the lush green tobacco plants. Through the ups and downs of history, from the arduous years of war to the period of reform, tobacco has remained resilient, becoming a key crop that helps people escape poverty and rise to prosperity."

When the tobacco plants turn yellow and the leaf surface shows burnt-spotted veins, it's time to harvest.

People in Dong Thuy Anh commune are harvesting tobacco.

Tobacco has long been the main crop in Dong Thuy Anh commune, Hung Yen province.

To obtain those golden tobacco leaves, the farmers of Dong Thuy Anh must endure a truly arduous journey, working under the scorching sun and enduring harsh weather. The tobacco plants here are planted around November and December of the lunar calendar and harvested in April and May of the following year.

The process of caring for tobacco plants is an art. Once the plants mature, growers must perform the technique of pinching off the tips and pruning the shoots (breaking off the main branches). This is an extremely important step to ensure the tobacco plant concentrates its sap and nutrients in the main leaves, resulting in thicker, larger leaves that accumulate the highest amount of nicotine. The people of Dong Thuy Anh care for their tobacco plants like caring for newborns, daily checking the leaves for pests and watering them adequately so that the plants are neither too dry nor too waterlogged.

When the summer sun begins to intensify, it's also the harvest season. The mature tobacco leaves turn a deep yellow, with prominent veins, indicating they are at their peak ripeness. After harvesting, the leaves are bundled into bunches, called "tobacco rolls." These long, round rolls, resembling wooden pillows, are tightly sealed. This fermentation process determines the aroma and smoothness of the tobacco. If not fermented sufficiently, the tobacco will have a pungent smell; if fermented excessively, it will turn black and lose its aroma.

The people of Dong Thuy Anh care for their medicinal plants as if they were their own children. Once the plants have matured, growers must perform techniques such as pinching off the tips and pruning the shoots (breaking off the main branches).

When the summer sun begins to shine intensely, it's also the tobacco harvesting season.

This year, the tobacco crop is bountiful, resulting in a higher yield compared to previous years.

The process of slicing tobacco is also a display of skill. In the past, people sliced ​​by hand using long ladders, manual slicing, and sharp knives. The tobacco strands had to be thin, as small as toothpicks, and perfectly uniform. Nowadays, thanks to the application of machine-assisted slicing techniques, the workers still have to carefully monitor the tobacco strands to prevent them from being crushed. After slicing, the tobacco is spread on bamboo frames and dried in the sun. The sun must be strong and intense to dry the tobacco quickly and retain its characteristic straw-yellow color. At night, the tobacco is then exposed to dew to soften the harshness of the sun, creating a pliable and smooth texture when smoked.

Key crops and their distinctive values

Tobacco from Dong Thuy Anh has long established its own brand alongside other famous tobacco-producing regions such as Tien Lang or Vinh Bao ( Hai Phong ). Tobacco connoisseurs often share stories about the "worth every penny" quality of the tobacco from this area.

For the people of Dong Thuy Anh, tobacco is "the green gold plant." Thanks to this plant, multi-story houses have sprung up, and their spiritual lives have improved. Every harvest season, the entire Dong Thuy Anh commune becomes bustling with activity. The strong, pungent smell of tobacco resin is carried far by the sea breeze, permeating every clod of earth and every house.

After harvesting the tobacco from the fields, the villagers strip the leaves (separating the stems from the leaves) and then roll them into bundles for slicing.

The process of stripping the leaves is also time-consuming and very laborious because the steam from the leaves gets into the eyes and stings.

Nowadays, every family in the rural village of Dong Thuy Anh grows tobacco.

Beyond its economic value, Dong Thuy Anh tobacco also holds significant cultural value. The image of farmers gathered around a pot of green tea, sharing techniques for planting, caring for, and harvesting tobacco, has become a symbol of neighborly camaraderie and community bonding. Nowadays, in the rural villages of Dong Thuy Anh commune, every household has a traditional tobacco pipe, a "bamboo pipe" or "wooden pipe," which is indispensable. Whenever guests visit, everyone enjoys tasting the tobacco and commenting on the "quality" of each family's tobacco.

Despite facing health concerns and competition from industrial tobacco products, Dong Thuy Anh tobacco has maintained its position thanks to its "clean" quality and long-standing tradition. Locals are gradually changing their production methods, focusing more on packaging, labeling, and brand promotion to bring their local specialty to all parts of the country, and even export it to neighboring countries.

Nowadays, thanks to the use of machine-assisted slicing techniques, the workers still have to carefully monitor the tobacco strands to prevent them from being crushed.

After the tobacco leaves are shredded, they are spread out on bamboo frames and dried in the sun.

For the people of Dong Thuy Anh, tobacco is a "green gold crop" that brings high economic value to farmers.

In recent years, local authorities have also implemented various policies to support farmers, from improving irrigation systems to establishing geographical indications for Dong Thuy Anh tobacco. These are important steps to preserve and develop a proud traditional craft.

Returning to Dong Thuy Anh today, one will see vast, verdant tobacco fields, hear the rhythmic sound of tobacco-cutting machines, and smell the pungent, spicy aroma. Dong Thuy Anh tobacco has become the very soul of this land and its people. Through centuries, despite the many changes in life, the aroma of Dong Thuy Anh tobacco continues to spread quietly, nurtured by the salty soil and imbued with the warmth of the homeland. This is the enduring vitality of a traditional land, where old values ​​are always cherished and preserved as a treasure of the family and homeland.

Tobacco from Dong Thuy Anh has long established its own brand alongside other famous tobacco-producing regions such as Tien Lang or Vinh Bao (Hai Phong).

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/anh/hon-que-chat-chiu-tu-dat-man-lam-nen-huong-khoi-thuoc-lao-20260426165116036.htm