Village of corrugated iron boats in flood season

(Baonghean.vn) - The rainy season is also the peak season for nearly a hundred households producing corrugated iron boats in Hung Thinh commune, Hung Nguyen district.

The profession of making corrugated iron boats to serve the people in low-lying areas in Hung Nguyen

Hung Nguyen people have a long tradition of using boats for transportation, fishing and production. In the past, people used boats woven from bamboo, but since the appearance of boats made from corrugated iron, many families have switched to using this type of boat because it has more functions.

To meet the needs of the people, the mechanical craft villages of Xuan Am, Yen Tuy, Yen Phong in Hung Thinh commune, Hung Nguyen district also quickly switched to building corrugated iron boats.

Taking a break to talk to us after finishing a boat, Mr. Truong Cong Thuc, hamlet 4, Hung Thinh commune, said: Welding corrugated iron is a traditional profession passed down from his grandparents to his parents and he has been doing this job since he was 13 years old, and now his son has grown up and is also doing this job. The materials to make boats are only corrugated iron and 1 steel wire 6. A skilled worker can produce 5 corrugated iron boats per day.

The corrugated iron boats produced by Mr. Thuc, Hamlet 4, Hung Thinh are waiting for customers.

The selling price of each boat ranges from 500,000 to 1 million VND, depending on the size of the boat, the quality and the thickness of the corrugated iron. If there is an order, the boat can earn 500,000-600,000 VND per day. “Boats are mainly produced during the rainy season, and in years with heavy rain and floods, many boats are sold. People from all districts in and outside the province come here to order boats for production,” said Mr. Thuc.

Ms. Ngo Thi Hai - a household in hamlet 4 added: Her family has 3 people working in the metal welding profession. Although this job is noisy because of the continuous sound of hammering, it is a hand-held job, and the monthly income is 6-10 million VND.

In Tan Phong hamlet, there are households that invest capital and machinery to do business with many types of products, including the family of Mr. Nguyen Ba Hoat. While welding, Mr. Hoat said, "Welding metal sheets is a traditional profession that has been maintained by my family for 4 generations, and my children are still continuing it. My family has 5 siblings, and all 5 families follow the profession of welding metal sheets."

Previously, he mainly produced household goods for sale at Vinh market. In recent years, the demand for corrugated iron boats has increased, so Mr. Hoat switched to producing boats. He also produces rice containers, ventilation systems, elevator pressurization systems for installation in high-rise apartments, and smoke extraction systems for restaurants. With a variety of products, Mr. Hoat creates jobs for more than 10 workers, with a salary of 5-8 million VND/person/month. "The family's income is also several hundred million VND each year," Mr. Hoat added.

Customers in Ha Tinh come to buy corrugated iron boats

The metal welding profession in Hung Thinh has a long tradition, and at one point it seemed to have disappeared, but now it has been revived. In addition to the traditional production of metal boats to serve the low-lying areas, households have actively sought new sources of goods and diversified their products to maintain and develop the traditional profession left by their ancestors.

Mr. Truong Van Tam - Vice Chairman of Hung Thinh Commune People's Committee said: The welding and welding profession is creating jobs for hundreds of workers, and is the main source of income for many households in the commune. The Commune People's Committee has submitted a proposal to recognize the craft village, but the requirement for recognition is that production facilities must be concentrated in one area, but the households practicing the profession in Hung Thinh are scattered in many hamlets, so it has not been recognized as a craft village.

Thanh Tam