The "passion for the craft" of the only female artisan in Da Sy blacksmith village.

In the renowned Da Sy blacksmith village (Kien Hung ward, Hanoi), the task of "swinging the hammer" in the forge is not just for men; there is also a single female artisan, despite her delicate hands and feet, who produces this unique product.

Artisan Do Thi Tuyen. Photo: MH

When the "weaker sex" does the work of the "stronger sex"

For generations, whenever Kiến Hưng ( Hanoi ) is mentioned, it's impossible not to mention the Đa Sỹ blacksmithing village, which has a history of over 500 years, where the calloused hands of the craftsmen tirelessly "forge" each knife and scissor blade.

According to the Da Sy Craft Village Association, the village currently has over 1,000 households engaged in blacksmithing, with women working in all the forges. In 2018, 12 people from the village were awarded the title of artisan by the Vietnam Craft Village Association, including 11 men and 1 woman.

The first and only woman in the village to be awarded the title of artisan is Ms. Do Thi Tuyen. Born and raised in a traditional blacksmithing village, from childhood, artisan Do Thi Tuyen (born in 1966) was familiar with the clanging sounds of anvils and hammers day and night.

At the age of 12, Tuyen began going to the blacksmiths' workshops in the village to help with odd jobs like cutting steel and fetching water, all to learn the trade.

Thanks to her diligence, hard work, and resourcefulness, the once dark-skinned girl Tuyen has become a professional blacksmith with "superb" skills for over 30 years. The knives, cleavers, and slicing knives crafted by the "golden hands" of artisan Do Thi Tuyen are all exquisitely made, sharp, and durable. Not only within the village, but many people from distant provinces have come to her house to buy and order her products, distributing them throughout Vietnam.

"Men who work as blacksmiths are generally stronger than women. Women, in general, are considered weaker and more delicate, so they are only really suited for supporting roles in blacksmithing. In fact, there are many women in Da Sy village who work as blacksmiths, but they only do supporting jobs. As for me, because I love the craft, want to preserve it, and follow the family tradition, I have done the blacksmithing work from the initial stages to the completion of the product," Ms. Tuyen shared.

Blacksmithing is a very hazardous profession. Using a machine can damage the ears, the dust can affect the lungs, and the flying sparks can cause burns and scarring. Despite being a woman, Mrs. Tuyen's arms are covered in scars from her work as a blacksmith; burns are unavoidable. Looking at these burns, Mrs. Tuyen often remembers the times she was burned, some of which were so severe that she had to take weeks off. Even after a few days off, she misses her craft, and before her wounds have healed, she resumes her work.

Every day, she starts working from dawn until late at night, producing about 20 knives – durable, sharp products that are trusted everywhere. “I am proud to still work every day, producing quality products. I hope my children and grandchildren will remember me as a skilled woman who accomplished what many people thought women couldn’t. That is the greatest honor of my life,” Ms. Tuyen said.

Sharing her thoughts on preserving, passing on, and continuing the craft of her ancestors, artisan Do Thi Tuyen said that with urbanization, young people have many job opportunities. However, she still strives to maintain this craft – a profession that has helped many people here find employment, rise from poverty, and achieve a stable life.

Thanks to her tireless contributions to the development of the traditional Da Sy blacksmithing craft, in 2024, artisan Do Thi Tuyen was awarded the title of "Hanoi Artisan" by the Hanoi People's Committee. This is not only an honor for her, but also a motivation for her family in particular and the Da Sy blacksmithing village in general to continue "keeping the flame alive" to preserve the traditional craft.

Following technological trends, over the years, Mrs. Tuyen's family has invested in machinery for production, reducing labor costs and enabling them to produce more products at more competitive prices. As a result, the work of the laborers has improved compared to before. "Fortunately, my children have expressed a desire to continue the blacksmithing trade, so we have proactively trained and passed on the skills to our children and grandchildren," Mrs. Tuyen shared.

Dinh Cong Thanh (center) welcomes foreign tourists to visit and experience the production facility. Photo: MH

Dynamic and creative, stemming from a family tradition of passion for the craft.

The son of artisan Do Thi Tuyen, Dinh Cong Thanh (born in 1992), has decided to follow in his mother's footsteps. Born and raised in a family of traditional blacksmiths, he was familiar with the rhythmic sounds of hammers and anvils every morning from a young age. His love for the craft was nurtured by simple things, from the "smoke" of the charcoal furnace, from accompanying his parents to the workshop, and from sharpening his first knives with his own hands...

But unlike previous generations, Mr. Thanh chose his own path by making handcrafted knives in a modern, sophisticated, and aesthetically pleasing style, while also building a brand story to attract tourists and create a new direction for the craft village.

Today, the products face competition from industrial goods, many young people are abandoning the craft to find more stable jobs, and the craft village is gradually losing young successors. Concerned about this, Thanh is determined to find a new direction for the craft: not just practicing the craft in the old way, but elevating it to a new level, increasing the value of handcrafted products through creativity and innovation.

In the early days of building his business, he faced many difficulties. The market was fiercely competitive, the cost of raw materials was rising, and traditional knives were easily confused with mass-produced industrial goods. However, with the determination to create products with "the heart of a craftsman," Thanh spent many months meticulously researching techniques, learning how to shape, heat-treat, make knife handles, and perfect the products in a refined, handcrafted style. Each knife is not simply a kitchen utensil, but also a work of art reflecting the meticulousness and spirit of traditional blacksmithing.

What makes him a remarkable role model is his bold approach to combining handmade knife production with experiential tourism development. He realized that tourists—especially foreigners—are often curious about Vietnamese craft village culture. If the story is told correctly, craft villages can become attractive destinations.

From that idea, he began building the "A Day as a Blacksmith in Da Sy" experiential model. Tourists can visit the craft village, learn about the 500-year history of traditional blacksmithing; directly observe the knife-making process: heating the steel, tempering the blade, shaping, and sharpening; forge a small souvenir themselves; listen to stories about the craft and the "family secrets" of the people of Da Sy; and purchase high-quality, exquisitely packaged handcrafted knives.

This model quickly attracted groups of visitors, especially schools and foreign tourists. Many videos filmed by tourists have spread on social media, bringing the image of the Da Sy blacksmithing craft to a wider community.

Not stopping there, Mr. Thanh also suggested that the Ward Youth Union and the Handicraft Village Association organize experiential activities for union members and young people, and participate in displaying youth booths at major Youth Union events… in order to create a sustainable tourism and trade ecosystem.

As a member of the Youth Union in Kien Hung ward, Thanh regularly shares his entrepreneurial experiences with other young people in the ward; guides those passionate about learning blacksmithing techniques; and supports them in building brands, selling online, and positioning their products. For him, doing business is not just about generating income, but also about spreading value and contributing to the community. But above all, his greatest reward is seeing the blacksmithing craft of his hometown, which previously lifted many families out of poverty, continue to thrive, and attracting more and more young people who see a promising future in the profession.

Not content with just producing knives and developing tourism, Mr. Dinh Cong Thanh harbors even greater ambitions: to build the Da Sy knife brand into a representative OCOP product of Hanoi; to expand the craft village ecosystem with souvenirs, high-end knife sets, and in-depth experiential workshops; and to connect with international tourism platforms to make Da Sy an attractive destination. He hopes that in the future, when mentioning Vietnamese handicrafts, international friends will remember Da Sy knives – a 500-year symbol of perseverance, skill, and creativity.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/lua-nghe-cua-nu-nghe-nhan-duy-nhat-lang-ren-da-sy-726942.html