Raising the level of hometown salt

“Salt profession” - two simple words that are close and dear. Close because they are childhood memories of many generations. Dear because the salt profession not only creates essential products but also reflects the culture, customs, beliefs and natural conditions typical of the homeland. That is what has urged the children of all the salt fields of Ca Mau to nurture the aspiration to elevate the quality of salt grains.

• The Department of Economic Cooperation and Rural Development works with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on preparations for the 2025 Salt Festival.
• Meeting of the Logistics, Reception, Security and Order Subcommittee serving the Vietnam Salt Festival - Bac Lieu in 2025
• Food safety inspection for Vietnam Salt Festival - Bac Lieu 2025
• Summary of the project to preserve traditional salt making associated with coastal tourism development

Heavy love for hometown salt

Born and raised in the sunny and windy coastal land of Tan Thuan, from his childhood following his parents to the fields to rake salt, more than anyone else, Mr. Tien Y Nguyen (Dam Doi commune) understands the hardships of the salt villagers in his hometown. Years have passed, far from home, entering the university lecture hall, but the love for the salt profession has not faded in Mr. Nguyen's mind.

" I can never forget the bustling atmosphere of the salt seasons in my hometown. Salt workers have to endure the stuffiness and heat of hot days to earn a living. The sunnier the weather, the happier the salt workers are, even though the sun burns my father's back, sweat soaks my mother's shoulders, and darkens the girls' skin... Those are the things that urge me to return to Tan Thuan to "change the clothes" of my hometown's salt grains," Nguyen shared.

In 2020, Mr. Nguyen started his salt business. The first thing he did was to purchase salt grains from salt farmers in his hometown. Initially, he only produced refined salt, but then he realized that the product was monotonous and the consumption market was small, so he mobilized a number of like-minded brothers and sisters to establish the Ca Mau Salt Cooperative. When the cooperative was formed, the ideas gradually became reality. From refined salt, Mr. Nguyen combined shrimp and spices to create 5 product lines including: sweet shrimp salt, sweet chili salt, green chili salt, red chili salt and popped salt.

Salt harvesting in Vinh Hau commune. (Photo: HUU THO)

Mr. Nguyen's wish is becoming more and more real when at the end of 2024, all 5 salt products of the Cooperative are recognized as meeting 3-star OCOP standards. Mr. Nguyen shared: "Tan Thuan salt fields are assessed by experts to have moderate salinity and are rich in nutrients because they are located at the eastern estuary - where there is abundant alluvial residue. Along with the available advantages, we have now invested in modern equipment, ready to produce in large quantities. During the production process, we "say no" to additives. The main ingredients are salt and shrimp, combined with garlic, chili, sugar and roasted and dried according to the formula, creating a product with a unique flavor."

Bringing salt grains further and further

Currently, each month, Ca Mau Salt Cooperative sells hundreds of different types of salt products to the market. The success of the Cooperative not only helps salt farmers stabilize the output of raw salt, but also creates jobs for local workers. These positive signals are the motivation for Mr. Nguyen to continue to realize his aspiration to improve the quality of his hometown salt in the future.

The salt products of Ca Mau Salt Cooperative are recognized as meeting 3-star OCOP standards, helping Mr. Nguyen realize his aspiration to elevate his hometown salt.

"The goal of the Cooperative is to upgrade salt products to 4-star and 5-star OCOP, develop the Tan Thuan salt brand across the country and target foreign markets. So that the salt seasons will no longer be bitter, but become sweet and rich like the love and affection of Ca Mau people, which is always warm and profound," Mr. Nguyen hopes.

“Speaking about the salt making profession in Tan Thuan, Mr. Tran Hoan Bach, Vice Chairman of Tan Thuan Commune People's Committee, proudly said : "In the past 5 years, the salt making profession in the commune has developed strongly, with more than 135 hectares of salt production, productivity reaching 75-80 tons/ha/crop/year, creating a stable source of income for salt farmers. In the new term, the commune is determined to continue to preserve and develop the traditional salt making profession, call for investment in developing local specialties, and encourage the establishment of new cooperatives to join hands in processing and connecting the consumption of local agricultural products."

After the merger, Ca Mau province is not only the capital of shrimp, or owns one of the largest and most beautiful wind power fields in Vietnam, but is also known as the largest salt granary in the country, with a production area of ​​over 3,000 hectares. Now, on the "map" of Ca Mau salt fields, it is increasingly prosperous with places such as Tan Thuan salt, Long Dien salt, Vinh Thinh salt...

Last July, in the first round of national OCOP product evaluation and classification in 2025, the Central OCOP Council announced 47 new products that met the 5-star OCOP standard. Of which, Ca Mau province had the first 2 products to be ranked: Bac Lieu refined salt and Bac Lieu grain salt of Bac Lieu Salt Joint Stock Company. For salt farmers in Ca Mau salt fields, this event is an important milestone in the journey of preserving and developing the salt industry, affirming the reach of the taste of hometown salt.

Hong Nghi - Tien Luan

Source: https://baocamau.vn/nang-tam-hat-muoi-que-huong-a123229.html