Mr. Mua A Trong is one of the blacksmiths who still preserve the craft in Ta So 1 village, Chieng Hac commune, Moc Chau town.

We visited the family of Mr. Hang A Su, the longest-serving blacksmith in Ta So 1, with over 60 years of experience. Despite his advanced age, each hammer blow still resonates with a solid, powerful sound. The knives, hoes, and shovels he forges are not only durable and sharp but also possess a unique, exquisite craftsmanship, making them popular with locals and tourists alike. Mr. Su said: "To create a quality forged product, blacksmiths must go through many meticulous steps, from preparing the raw materials, cutting the iron, heating, forging, tempering the steel, sharpening, to attaching the handle and making the sheath for knives."

The Hmong blacksmith's forge, though simple, is fully functional, constructed from stone and earth, reinforced with wood for stability. A horizontal bellows sits beside the forge, made from a large hollowed-out log, with a piston fitted with a chicken feather inside to create a strong airflow, keeping the fire burning brightly during the forging process. Along with tools such as hammers, pliers, grinding stones, anvils, water basins, fresh banana tree trunks, and charcoal… all are used in the crafting process.

The main material for forging agricultural tools is primarily iron salvaged from waste materials. Depending on the type of tool, the craftsman chooses the appropriate type of steel. For sickles, machetes, or axes, they often use automotive leaf springs, spring steel, or construction steel—types of steel with high ductility and good rust resistance, ensuring the product is sharp and durable over time.

Children observe Mr. Hang A Su, from Ta So 1 village, Chieng Hac commune, Moc Chau town, forging knives.

The blacksmithing profession requires not only physical strength but also dexterity, perseverance, creativity, and most importantly, a love for the craft. Each product is entirely handcrafted, a culmination of the craftsman's hard work and dedication. Therefore, the selling price of hand-forged agricultural tools and knives is usually 2-3 times higher than that of mass-produced knives on the market.

In a conversation with Mr. Su, he shared further: "I started learning blacksmithing at the age of 15, a trade passed down through three generations in my family: my grandfather, my father, and now me. Blacksmithing is hard and strenuous work, and it doesn't bring in a high income, so many young people are no longer interested in the profession. However, I am still dedicated to teaching my children and grandchildren, hoping that the next generation will continue the family tradition and preserve the flame of blacksmithing so that it will never die out."

Mr. Mua A Di, Party Secretary and Head of Ta So 1 village, shared: Currently, the village has 197 households and over 1,000 inhabitants, all of whom are Mong ethnic people. Previously, almost every household had a blacksmith's forge, but now only 3 households still practice the craft. The difficulty is that the younger generation is no longer interested, putting the blacksmithing profession at risk of disappearing. To preserve the traditional blacksmithing craft, the village organizes campaigns to encourage children to learn the trade. Especially during the summer, children are brought to the forges to observe, learn, and gradually absorb the secrets passed down from their ancestors. In addition, Moc Chau town has oriented the development of community tourism associated with blacksmithing, transforming the forges into experiential destinations for tourists.

Since the beginning of the year, Ta So 1 village has welcomed over 3,000 tourists, generating approximately 300 million VND in revenue. This not only helps increase the income of the local people but also contributes to preserving and promoting the Mong ethnic identity, including their traditional blacksmithing craft.

Source: Son La Newspaper