Women in fishing villages sweat with the 'smoke-stained' job on cold and rainy days

TPO - At 4 a.m., the fish arrive at the dock, the women of the fishing village light the stove and grill the fish. Grilling the fish promptly will help keep the fish fresh and retain its delicious flavor.

03/01/2025 | 10:23

TPO - At 4 a.m., the fish arrive at the dock, the women of the fishing village light the stove and grill the fish. Grilling the fish promptly will help keep the fish fresh and retain its delicious flavor.

Women in the fishing village sweat with the 'smoke-stained' job on cold and rainy days photo 1

Located by the sea, Nghi Thuy ward (Vinh city, Nghe An) has dozens of fish grills, grilling tons of fish every day such as mackerel, scad, silver pomfret, etc. Fish grilling brings jobs and stable income to many local workers.

Women in the fishing village sweat with the job of 'smoke-stained coal' on cold and rainy days photo 2

The fish source is selected by the owner at the dock when the ship arrives every morning.

Women in the fishing village sweat with the job of 'smoke-stained coal' on cold and rainy days photo 3

Women in the fishing village sweat with the 'smoke-stained' job on cold and rainy days photo 4

Women in the fishing village sweat with the job of 'smoke-stained coal' on cold and rainy days photo 5

After being brought to the oven, the sea fish will be washed, drained, and then a small bamboo stick will be inserted from the head to the belly of the fish. This method helps to shape the fish during the grilling process so that it does not break and makes grilling easier.

Women in the fishing village sweat with the job of 'smoke-stained coal' on cold and rainy days photo 6

Ms. Nguyen Thi Loan (residing in Nghi Thuy ward, Vinh city) has been grilling fish for more than 30 years. She said that to have delicious and quality grilled fish, she has to wake up at 3-4 am to go to the wharf and wait for the boat to return to buy fish. “These days, the weather is cold and rainy, but next to the red-hot charcoal stove like this, we are sweating. Our hands are constantly stirring the charcoal and turning the fish. Even though we wear two layers of thick gloves, our hands are still hot from the charcoal fire, and our bodies are covered in smoke and dust,” Ms. Loan shared.

Women in the fishing village sweat with the 'smoke-stained' job on cold and rainy days photo 7

During the grilling process, the woman also timed the fish to flip. A good grilled fish piece is one that is golden brown on the outside, has a fragrant aroma, and is soft on the inside, sweet and fatty when eaten.

Women in the fishing village sweat with the job of 'smoke-stained coal' on cold and rainy days photo 8

Women in the fishing village sweat with the job of 'smoke-stained coal' on cold and rainy days photo 9

According to Ms. Loan, the grilling time for each batch of fish is from 10 to 15 minutes depending on the type of fish. “For the fish to be cooked properly, the heat from the stove must be even. If the charcoal is too hot, the fish will burn easily, and if the charcoal is too weak, it will take a long time to cook and the color of the fish will not be beautiful. The fish is grilled entirely with charcoal and is not seasoned with any spices or additives, so it retains its delicious flavor,” Ms. Loan said.

Women in the fishing village sweat with the job of 'smoke-stained coal' on cold and rainy days photo 10

Grilling fish is hard work. Not only on hot summer days but also on cold days, the women grilling fish sweat when they have to sit next to hot coals all day.

Women in the fishing village sweat with the 'smoke-stained' job on cold and rainy days photo 11

Women in the fishing village sweat with the job of 'smoke-stained coal' on cold and rainy days photo 12

“This job is hard, every day is covered in charcoal smoke, working from dawn to dusk, but it brings a stable income for families. The hired workers also have a good income,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly (fish griller), adding that workers at fish grilling establishments are paid from 250,000 to 400,000 VND per day.

Women in the fishing village sweat with the job of 'smoke-stained coal' on cold and rainy days photo 13

Women in the fishing village sweat with the job of 'smoke-stained coal' on cold and rainy days photo 14

Women in the fishing village sweat with the 'smoke-stained' job on cold and rainy days photo 15

Mr. Nguyen Tien Loi - Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Nghi Thuy Ward said: "The locality has 124 boats of all kinds. Promoting the potential advantages of a coastal commune, in recent years, the locality has focused on investing in developing diverse methods of catching and processing seafood, in which grilling sea fish is considered a profession that brings stable income to the people". In the photo, traders collect goods to transport to sell at local markets.