(Baonghean.vn) - Clam harvesting is a profession that has been associated with the people of Dien Thanh commune (Dien Chau district) for generations. At dawn, while everyone else is sound asleep, they quietly blend into the darkness to search for the bounty of the sea.
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| From early morning, people in Hamlet 10, Dien Thanh Commune, went to the beach to collect clams. Clams are usually found deep in the sand, more than a finger's length from the surface. They catch clams using a rudimentary, homemade tool: a bamboo handle more than 2 meters long.The clam season runs from March to the end of July. |
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| The tools of the clam gatherer are simply an iron blade used to scrape the clams (the blade costs 150,000 VND/piece and needs replacing about every 5 months); a basket to hold the clams attached to a bamboo stick; and a sickle or knife. |
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| The clam scraper blade is used to detect the presence of clams under the sand. |
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| Those who harvest clams underwater don't use sickles or knives; instead, they have to dig their hands deep into the sand. Ms. Ngo Thi Thuy (pictured) said: harvesting clams on land or underwater is hard work, but you usually find larger clams underwater. |
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| When raking for clams, you have to bend over, firmly gripping the rope and bamboo stick with both hands, pressing the rake blade down into the sand about 10 cm deep, and moving backward. |
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| Large clams (pictured) are sold at the beach for 60,000 VND/kg, while smaller clams cost 35,000 VND/kg. According to locals in Dien Thanh, naturally caught clams from the sea are sweeter than farmed clams, hence the higher price, which is 10-20,000 VND/kg more. |
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| Ms. Tran Thi Nga from Hamlet 10, Dien Thanh Commune - a woman with over 20 years of experience in clam harvesting - happily boasted: "Today I was lucky; in one morning I harvested more than 3kg, all large clams." |
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| Owners of kiosks and restaurants in Dien Thanh buy clams from the beach. |
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After a morning shift from 5 am to 10 am, clam gatherers can earn at least over 100,000 VND. Restaurants don't buy the smaller clams, so the gatherers take them home to cook for their families or sell them retail at markets.Ms. Nguyen Thi Doan (pictured) from Hamlet 11, Dien Thanh Commune, said:My sister's family has been in the clam-cleaning business for four generations.This job helped her support her three children through university. |
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Clams are a refreshing and nutritious addition to any meal. They can be prepared in many ways, such as steamed clams with lemongrass, boiled clams with betel leaves or spinach, grilled clams, clam porridge, and more. This rustic dish captivates many diners. |
Thu Huong
