Stone carvers in Ninh Van struggle to make a living under the scorching sun.

Despite the scorching heat, hundreds of workers in the Ninh Van stone carving village (Nam Hoa Lu ward, Ninh Binh province) continue to work tirelessly to earn a living. Behind the exquisite and imposing works of art are the sweat, the hard work, and the unwavering love for their craft of the artisans from this ancient capital region.

The people who "breathe life" into mountain rocks.

While visiting Ninh Van stone carving village ( Ninh Binh province) these days, a reporter from Dan Viet Newspaper captured images of the craftsmen "breathing life" into giant blocks of stone under outdoor temperatures of approximately 35 degrees Celsius.

Despite the scorching heat of around 35 degrees Celsius, stonemasons in Ninh Van (Nam Hoa Lu ward, Ninh Binh province) continue to work diligently. Photo: Vu Thuong

From early morning, the atmosphere at the stone quarries in the area was extremely hectic. Hundreds of workers diligently processed, cut, chiseled, shaped, and polished blocks of stone weighing tons.

Under the scorching sun, the roar of cutting machines mingled with the incessant clanging of chisels and hammers. Behind these exquisite products lay the sweat, strength, and hard work of the craftsmen who eke out a living from their trade.

Ms. Diep wore a face mask, and placed a fan beside her to protect against the heat and dust from the rocks. Photo: VT

Ms. Vu Thi Diep (a local craftswoman) shared: “I have been carving and shaping stone products in Ninh Van for many years. Every time the hot season comes, we often have to change our work schedule, leaving early and returning early to avoid peak hours.”

In addition, people should prepare plenty of drinking water to bring along, as well as fans to cool down their bodies."

To enable Ninh Van stone products to reach provinces and cities throughout the country.

With a history spanning over 400 years, creating a unique masterpiece requires highly skilled craftsmen from Ninh Van, along with the ability to adapt well to a harsh working environment. They must constantly work outdoors regardless of the weather, enduring the heat, dust, and noise.

Modern machinery reduces manual labor in the production of ornamental stone. Photo: VT

Nowadays, modern machinery has assisted in some stages of the process, reducing the workload for artisans and diversifying products. However, traditional craftsmanship, generational experience, and the skillful hands of the artisans remain irreplaceable core values.

Mr. Luong Xuan Nghia shared: "The craft of carving fine art stone is very hard work, requiring good health, diligence, and perseverance. With a stable basic income of 8-10 million VND/month, we have to face stone dust and noise every day."

"Working in this hot weather is exhausting; sometimes I drink so much water that I don't even feel like eating dinner when I get home. I know it's hard work, but it provides a stable income to support my family, so many people still stick with this job."

The Ninh Van stone carving craft requires the craftsman to have good health, diligence, and endurance. Photo: VT

Next to the ice maker, there are always water bottles for them to drink to cool down. Photo: VT

To cope with the heat, Mr. Nghia and the stonemasons here usually start work from early morning until noon, and in the afternoon they have to wait until 3 PM before continuing to work in the workshop.

In Ninh Van, many families have been involved in stone carving for 3-4 generations. The craft is passed down from father to son, from one generation to the next. Young people grow up surrounded by the sounds of stone chiseling, familiar with the sight of their fathers and brothers sweating over large blocks of stone, and gradually enter the profession as a matter of course.

Many stone processing facilities in Ninh Van only have temporary corrugated iron roofs to provide shade and shelter from the rain for the workers. Photo: VT

In the past, craftsmen in Ninh Van stone village mainly produced products for daily life such as stone mortars, house pillars, and reliefs. Today, with their skillful hands, they have created aesthetically pleasing products that meet the spiritual and cultural needs of the Vietnamese people.
Despite enduring the ups and downs of history and the harshness of the weather, the stonemasons of Ninh Van still toil day and night amidst the dust and the roar of machinery. The sweat they shed during the scorching summer days is the catalyst that transforms rough blocks of stone into unique works of art, reaching provinces and cities across the country.

Source: https://danviet.vn/tho-da-ninh-van-gong-minh-muu-sinh-duoi-nang-nong-d1431901.html