The business of making corrugated iron boats is in high demand during the rainy and stormy season in Nghe An.
During the rainy season, boat builders in Do Luong commune have to increase production, working day and night to ensure a timely supply of boats for local people to cope with the floods.
These days, walking through Block 1 of the former Do Luong town, now Do Luong commune, it's easy to spot the mechanical and welding workshop of Mr. Thai Dac Dung operating at full capacity. The sounds of hammers and sheet metal cutting machines can be heard everywhere. After the heavy rains that caused flooding at the end of July, people are once again flocking to buy sheet metal boats.
Mr. Thai Dac Dung said: "My workshop makes many products from sheet metal such as rice containers, sausage molds, distillation pots, bee traps, etc., but during the rainy season and floods, sheet metal boats are the main product, because people in low-lying areas need to proactively have a means of transportation in the floodwaters." In reality, sheet metal boats are still sold year-round to serve activities such as fishing on the river; however, demand only really increases sharply during the peak of the rainy season and floods.
According to Mr. Dung, when customers need to buy tall steel boats, he can mobilize an additional 2-3 workers to build them. On average, his workshop can produce 15-20 boats per month, depending on demand. The price of each steel boat ranges from 1-2 million VND, or even higher if customers order custom sizes. During the entire rainy season, his workshop can sell more than 60 boats.
Making sheet metal boats doesn't require modern machinery, but it does demand high skill. The most difficult step is bending the sheet metal, which requires the craftsman to have technical skills, patience, and the ability to withstand noise pressure. Depending on requirements, customers can choose boats made from various thicknesses of sheet metal. Recently, many people have even ordered boats made of stainless steel for increased durability. Manufacturers usually produce boats in lengths of 2.5-3 meters, but larger sizes can be custom-ordered.
Mr. Tran Van Tam, a resident of Do Luong commune, said: "For people in flood-affected areas, using metal boats is suitable. They are lightweight, easy to transport, and suitable for both the elderly and women. In particular, metal boats have a much longer lifespan than traditional wooden boats; there's no worry about rotting or termite damage after a few years of use. The price is also affordable for rural people, not as expensive as motorboats costing tens of millions of dong."
In fact, during the recent heavy rains and floods, many families in communes along the Lam River, such as Do Luong and Thuan Trung, had to use boats for transportation and carrying necessities. Given the difficult economic conditions, owning an affordable metal boat that meets essential needs is an effective solution. This is also why the metal boat-making craft, despite being seasonal, is maintained and develops steadily every year during the rainy season.
