Salty sweat on the salt fields under a 40-degree Celsius furnace.

Salty sweat on the salt fields under the 40-degree heat - Photo 1.

Salt farmers in Hoa Loc commune, Thanh Hoa province, work in the salt fields under the scorching 40°C sun - Photo: HOANG DONG

According to salt farmers in Tam Hoa salt village, Hoa Loc commune - home to the largest salt production area in Thanh Hoa province - salt making has been a local profession for hundreds of years.

Salt production is closely linked to hot weather; the hotter the sun and the higher the outdoor temperature, the more favorable it is for salt production. Each year, salt farmers only produce salt during the six months with strong sunshine.

To produce the creamy white salt crystals, salt farmers have to go to the fields early in the morning, prepare the soil, shovel soil into the drying area, and irrigate the drying yard with saltwater from the tank.

Next, soak the sand in seawater (salinity level 1), then dry it on a compacted earthen surface. Filter the seawater to obtain a more saline solution, called salinity level 2.

Dry the sand and filter the dried sand with salinity level 2 to obtain salinity level 3.

After several subsequent steps, salt farmers adjust the amount of water introduced into the salt fields based on the amount of sunlight and wind direction to ensure optimal conditions.

Between 3 PM and 5 PM each day, the seawater evaporates after the hot sun, leaving behind creamy white salt crystals on the concrete surface.

Salt - Photo 3.

Salt farmers in Hoa Loc commune, Thanh Hoa province, go to the fields to make salt - Photo: HOANG DONG

Mr. Le Van Kien, Director of Tam Hoa Salt Cooperative in Hoa Loc commune, said that the commune currently has two salt fields with a total area of about 26 hectares. The entire commune currently has 80 salt-producing households.

With salt prices remaining low for many years, at only 2,100 - 2,300 VND/kg, two laborers working diligently under the scorching 40°C heat can produce one hundred kilograms of finished salt, earning just over 200,000 VND.

Salt - Photo 4.

Salt farmers in Hoa Loc commune, Thanh Hoa province, working in the salt fields - Photo: HOANG DONG

Despite the hardships of making a living from salt production, the salt farmers in Hoa Loc commune still cherish the profession passed down from their ancestors and remain committed to the local craft.

Locals hope the government will implement practical support policies such as funding for salt field renovation, attention to the market for salt, and enhancement of the value of salt products so that people can confidently make a living on the salt fields.

Salt - Photo 5.