Those who keep the flame of traditional crafts alive.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dao - the man behind the Khuc Phu Ba Hao fish sauce brand.

Hoang Thanh commune still preserves an extremely valuable asset: the traditional fish sauce making craft, bearing the renowned Khuc Phu brand. Here, not only middle-aged and elderly people, but also many young people are striving to practice and preserve the craft. Among them, Nguyen Van Dao, born in 1988, from Bac Son village, deserves special mention.

Leading us on a tour of his family's fish sauce production facility, Mr. Dao said: "My family has been making traditional fish sauce for generations. Moreover, I witnessed the hardships and struggles of my parents in building the Ba Hao fish sauce production facility and gaining consumer trust." Mr. Dao confided: "Back then, we owned a boat, so my father often went out to sea to fish for the raw materials to make fish sauce, while my mother stayed home to make it. After each harvest, my mother would ride her bicycle to sell it in neighboring communes and traditional markets. Even after building consumer trust, the fish sauce production business faced many difficulties and challenges due to the market mechanism and the increasing scarcity of raw materials. Understanding my parents' hardships, and wanting to take the Ba Hao fish sauce brand further, in 2016, after returning from studying abroad in Japan, I took over the family's fish sauce production factory." Initially, I invested in building additional production facilities, including a packaging plant, a fish sauce filtering plant, a salt storage warehouse, and a product storage warehouse. Later, I made changes to each stage of production. From the raw material selection stage, I usually choose fresh anchovies and mackerel that have just been caught from the sea. Then, the fish are mixed thoroughly with salt and fermented using traditional methods, without any additives. Through months of sun drying and meticulous filtering, each drop of rich fish sauce is produced, carrying the salty taste of the sea and the enduring labor of the people.

Not content with just preserving the craft, Mr. Dao actively participates in the OCOP program, standardizing production processes, improving packaging, and investing in machinery to bring his products closer to the wider market. As a result, Ba Hao fish sauce achieved OCOP certification in 2021, gaining recognition among consumers. Currently, the production facility consistently produces around 80 tons of fermented fish sauce, with a sales volume of approximately 2,000 liters per month. During peak periods, such as the Lunar New Year season, sales increase to around 3,000 liters per month, generating substantial revenue for his family. Mr. Dao's efforts in preserving the traditional fish sauce craft not only contribute to economic growth but also create jobs for many workers and safeguard the local culture.

In Pù Luông commune, over the years, thanks to the efforts of women, especially Ms. Hà Thị Dung, the traditional brocade weaving craft of the Thái ethnic people has gradually been revived and is increasingly gaining a firm foothold in the market.

Speaking about preserving the traditional brocade weaving craft, Ms. Dung shared: "For the Thai ethnic people, brocade weaving has always been an indispensable part of their daily lives. Brocade weaving is even considered a standard for judging the skill of Thai women. Since I was little, I've seen my grandmothers and mothers sitting by the loom, meticulously shaping each thread to create dresses and scarves. My love for brocade was nurtured from then on. Later, my mother taught me how to weave brocade and how to create decorative patterns on it... However, under the pressure of modern life, the clicking sound of the loom has gradually faded from our stilt houses, and some people are no longer interested in the traditional brocade weaving craft. Therefore, I've always been concerned about how to preserve the brocade weaving craft of my people. Based on my experience, in 2006 I boldly borrowed capital to buy looms, opened a weaving workshop, and encouraged local women to join in the weaving."

When starting her business, Ms. Dung's brocade weaving workshop faced numerous difficulties and challenges due to the lack of skill among the women, and the difficulty of competing in the modern market for brocade products. However, driven by her passion for the craft and with the support of the local government and friends, Ms. Dung diligently researched and created innovative designs, producing products with unique patterns and colors to sell to tourists . As a result, her brocade products have now established a firm foothold in community tourism destinations and are trusted and chosen by many tourists. Currently, her workshop provides employment for approximately 40 women in the commune, with an income of 5-7 million VND per month.

Besides providing income for the women, Ms. Dung's work also contributes to preserving the traditional culture of the Thai ethnic group. Now, when visiting Pu Luong, tourists can not only admire the beautiful brocade textiles but also have the opportunity to learn about the weaving process through the skillful hands of the local women.

In today's market economy, traditional craft villages in the province are facing numerous difficulties and challenges. Therefore, the role of those who "keep the craft alive" is even more crucial. With their love, dedication, and skillful hands, we believe that artisans like Mr. Dao and Ms. Dung in these villages will fulfill their role as successors, keeping the flame of the craft alive for present and future generations.

Text and photos: Nguyen Dat

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/nhung-nguoi-giu-lua-nghe-truyen-thong-259654.htm