Ly Nhan Blacksmithing Village Preserves the Soul of Craft in Modern Life

Amid the sweltering summer heat, the fire in the forges of Ban Mach village, Vinh Phu commune, still burns brightly.

The blacksmithing tradition of Ly Nhan is said to have begun with a tale rich in compassion. Legend has it that in the days when the land was still impoverished, a district mandarin passed by, saw the hardship of the people, and decided to build a forge, bringing skilled artisans to teach the craft to villagers. Since then, the fire of blacksmithing has taken root and endured through generations, becoming not only a livelihood but also a source of pride for the people here.

The forges of Ban Mach village, Vinh Tuong commune, burn ceaselessly with fiery glow.

In a modest three-room house with a low roof and furnace-like heat, artisan Nguyen Van Trong, now in his seventies, still works tirelessly at his anvil. “On average, I can forge about seven to eight knives a day—mostly kitchen knives, cleavers, and butchering knives,” he shared. “Although the market is full of industrial products sold much cheaper, customers still prefer handmade knives. Forged knives are more durable, sharper, heavy in the hand, and not the soulless mass-produced goods.”

Not only Trong’s workshop, but the entire Ban Mach village has become something of a “giant factory.” Along the village roads, the sounds of stamping and grinding machines blend with the crackling fire as steel meets glowing coal.

The blacksmiths of Ly Nhan work meticulously on every detail to create quality products.

Statistics show that the commune now has more than 670 blacksmithing households with about 1,400 regular workers. On average, the village supplies 20,000–30,000 products daily to the market, ranging from knives and scissors to hoes, shovels, and axe blades. Household income usually ranges from VND 500,000 to 1 million per day—a significant figure in rural areas. Thanks to blacksmithing, many families have become well-off, and young villagers now have stable jobs instead of having to leave home to seek livelihoods elsewhere.

According to villagers, late autumn is the busiest season. The entire village works day and night to fulfill orders in time for Tet—the peak shopping season of the year. During that time, Ban Mach glows red with fire from dawn until nightfall, resounding with the rhythm of hammers, as if the whole village never sleeps.

The products of Ly Nhan blacksmithing have already established a recognized brand in both domestic and foreign markets.

To meet increasing demand, many households have boldly invested in hundreds of machines, from hammers, rollers, and stamping presses to modern furnaces. Mechanization has multiplied productivity compared to traditional methods and eased the hardship of workers. Yet, the essence of the craft still lies in the skilled hands of the blacksmiths, creating a distinct difference between industrial goods and those imbued with the spirit of a craft village.

Despite fierce competition from imported products, the goods of Ly Nhan blacksmithing village continue to hold their ground in the market. The knives, scissors, hoes, sickles, machetes, and other tools of Ban Mach are not only popular across the northern mountainous provinces and the Mekong Delta but have also reached Laos and Cambodia. The local government has also established a Craft Village Association to share experiences, support one another, and enhance knowledge, helping the craft village develop sustainably, expand its reach, and continue to grow in both domestic and international markets.

Le Minh