The atmosphere here is always bustling, with the bustling beats of hammers and the constant echoes of metal, creating a bustling yet artistic working space.
Foreign tourists experience the knife making process at Da Sy blacksmith village under the guidance of artisans.
Simon Vandromme, a French tourist, could not hide his excitement when participating in the knife-making process at Da Sy blacksmith village. Wearing protective gloves, he carefully used tongs to take the knife out of the furnace and put it into the stamping machine. Simon said this was the first time he had participated in an experience in a blacksmith village abroad. “I clearly felt the enthusiasm of the Da Sy blacksmiths, the meticulousness and dexterity in each hammer blow, creating a very special space. This is truly a unique experience,” he shared.
Simon said he is a horseshoe blacksmith in France. Although he has 10 years of experience in the profession, he is still eager to learn and try his hand at Vietnamese iron forging techniques.
Simon is just one of many international tourists who come to experience Da Sy craft village when they set foot in Hanoi. For them, the trip is not only about admiring the sophisticated forged products, but also an opportunity to directly participate in the process of creating traditional products, thereby learning more about the people and unique culture of the locality.
In the forge, the hammers pounded steadily, sparks flew up like fireworks, and the blacksmiths bent red-hot iron pieces into sharp products. Simon not only observed but also directly participated in the steps such as pressing, heating, and bending iron, breathing life into each product. “I experienced a space filled with light, inspiring creativity, giving me an unforgettable memory,” said Simon.
Discover the blacksmithing profession in Da Sy
Da Sy knife and scissors forging village is a famous destination for traditional manual knife and scissors forging, currently located in Kien Hung ward, Ha Dong district. The village of “the number one knife and scissors in Thang Long land” is located more than 10km from the center of the capital, convenient for tourists to travel by car, motorbike or bus.
After more than 500 years of history, Da Sy village still retains the typical beauty of a Vietnamese village. There are still communal houses and pagodas with traditional architecture, which are places to worship the village's ancestors and also where the spring festivals take place at the beginning of the new year. Blacksmith workshops line up on both sides of the road leading to the village, the sound of anvils, hammers, and grinding echoes in the air, arousing the curiosity of every passerby. Just looking inside, we will witness the scene of skilled craftsmen working day and night, creating sharp products from seemingly lifeless iron bars.
Recalling the time about 30 years ago when he was a boy, Mr. Le Ngoc Lam, owner of Le Lam blacksmith workshop, with a family tradition of 5 generations in the profession, said that the Da Sy knife and scissor forging profession has gone through many ups and downs along with the development of the country, many families here have given up the profession because they could not make a living, the few remaining continue to struggle, finding their own way to maintain the profession.
Mr. Lam shared that, after many years working as the director of a construction company, he decided to return to the profession, “Blacksmithing is not just a job to make a living, but an art, a cultural value that we want to preserve and develop. I hope that future generations will understand and be proud of the traditions of their ancestors.”
“With the development of science and technology, we now have machines to replace human labor, changing models with many different types. Good quality is the key to help us, the children of Da Sy village, not only maintain the traditional craft village but also increase income and improve the quality of life,” said Mr. Lam.
Mr. Lam said that combining traditional crafts and tourism is a new direction, not only promoting Vietnamese craft village culture but also giving tourists a complete and different experience.
"We want to not only preserve the traditional blacksmithing craft but also help visitors better understand the process of creating special handicrafts. During the holidays, a large number of international visitors come to experience it. Everyone is very excited to hold a hammer and participate in the knife forging process," said Mr. Lam.
Not only attracting international tourists, Da Sy craft village has also become a favorite destination for those who want to explore traditional Vietnamese handicraft culture. In 2024, Le Lam blacksmith workshop successfully attracted more than 500 domestic and foreign visitors of all ages.
“I am in the early stages of promoting the Da Sy craft village culture as a tourist destination. The number of visitors is still modest, but I believe that with the unique features of the knife-forging craft passed down from father to son, along with interesting experiences for visitors, Da Sy will be an attractive tourist destination in the future,” said Mr. Lam.
In the heart of Hanoi, Da Sy is not only the birthplace of quality forged products but also an ideal destination for tourists to find unique cultural values. With a harmonious combination of tradition and modernity, Da Sy craft village is becoming a model for developing community tourism, where everyone can experience, learn and feel the cultural quintessence of the blacksmithing profession.
Conservation and Development – A Never-ending Journey
Da Sy blacksmithing, with its long history, is not only a traditional craft of the village but also an indispensable part of the cultural identity of the local community. Despite many challenges in the development process, with the efforts and creativity of the blacksmiths, Da Sy blacksmithing still firmly maintains the passion of the profession, while contributing to creating a unique experience destination for domestic and foreign tourists. Traditional tourism craft villages are the key for international friends to learn and connect with the traditional cultural values of Vietnam.
“Exploring craft villages is very important to me,” said Maud, Simon’s younger sister, a student at Hanoi University of Architecture. “They are the profound cultural values of Hanoi that I want to introduce to my family. In particular, Da Sy craft village has helped us better understand the beauty of traditional blacksmithing.”
Mr. Lam hopes that through these practical experiences, tourists will not only love Da Sy blacksmithing but also contribute to preserving and developing the traditional craft, making Da Sy blacksmithing village a bright spot on Hanoi's tourist map.
It is the dedication of blacksmiths like Mr. Lam that brings visitors not only special gifts but also valuable lessons about traditional crafts. Under Mr. Lam's enthusiastic guidance, Simon created a sharp knife by himself, and constantly felt the magic in each step of the craft. His eyes were filled with joy and happiness when admiring the finished product he had worked hard to make after 2 hours of hard work. The "unique" experience in Da Sy village is not only a rare opportunity for Simon to experience Vietnamese blacksmithing techniques himself, but also an opportunity to exchange and learn about local culture.
Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/lang-ren-da-sy-diem-den-hap-dan-du-khach-quoc-te.html
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