Molten masterpieces

Located in Thuy Nguyen City of Hai Phong, My Dong village has preserved the traditional craft of metal casting since the early 20th century. Renowned for over 100 years, the village produces a wide variety of items used in households and for agriculture, industry, and transportation.

My Dong is alive with the sounds of production and the bright glow of molten metal from iron and bronze furnaces, where mechanical items are crafted to meet domestic demands and for export. In the past, the village primarily produced plow blades and household items using traditional methods.

The reputation of My Dong’s products has spread far and wide. Skilled craftsmen from the village contributed their expertise to workshops producing weapons for national defense and transportation during wartime. A notable event in the village’s history occurred in 1938, when its artisans successfully cast the “counterweight turtle”—a one-ton balancing component for a French ship that had been damaged upon arriving in Hai Phong Port.

With great expertise and dedication, the village’s skilled artisans worked tirelessly to craft the “counterweight turtle” to exact specifications and install it according to their clients’ strict technical requirements. The finished product greatly impressed their foreign clients. To this day, the entire village of My Dong takes great pride in this remarkable achievement.

Although casting work is demanding due to the high temperatures involved, the workers in My Dong greet visitors with warm smiles and are eager to share details about their work and lives. They take pride in continuing the craft passed down from their ancestors and are content with the income they earn, which supports their livelihoods while contributing to the local economy.

Let’s join Heritage Magazine and photographer Vu Lam in appreciating the beauty of labor among the craftsmen of My Dong village.