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The English content below is automatically generated by Google Translate. Please ignore any wrong wordings or you could change the default language to Vietnamese.
We visited Mr. Thang’s simple shop on an empty morning, when his puppy was still lazing next to the sleeping lathe.
The uncle gave the two of them an extra piece of wood to use as a footrest for the bike. I immediately burst out laughing because of his “carpenter’s” concern. That small action made us immediately feel comfortable, even though this was the first time we set foot on a brick floor full of sawdust and wood dust in the middle of quiet To Tich street.
It seems that the two words “artisan” that people still use are not very suitable for his simple, rustic appearance. “Well, he’s still just as rustic. Still wearing rubber sandals and rudimentary clothes.” Uncle Thang told about himself, pointing to his “Uncle Ho’s soldier” sandals and his clothes covered in wood chips. He also lifted up his sleeve, showing off the date tattoo associated with his old military service memories.
“Inelegance”. For a person like you who spends his whole life working with wood fibers, diligently sticking to the same profession, these two words are most suitable.
This space has not changed much compared to 70 years ago, when Uncle Thang’s father came here to set up shop.
There is still a large wooden table that takes up half of the room along with a set of lathes and grinders; Drumsticks and pulleys from wood still dangle; Even the puppy looks exactly the same.
What made him stay here, persistently continuing his family business while the shops next door had all changed names and owners? We wondered when looking at the souvenir shops serving tourists on the opposite side.
“People like you are now called ‘nostalgic’: I stay because I love my old job, I’m not trying to get rich, I’m not doing it for the economy.” – He answered slowly.
“But the convenient profession is fading away, almost lost. I have no intention of passing the profession on to anyone.” He spoke softly. “Later when he passed away, all the lathes, saws, and grinders were sold for scrap, but no one used them.”
There are articles saying that Mr. Thang is “concerned”, “anxious”, “sad” or “his voice is lost” when talking about the future – but we don’t feel that way.
While we regretfully look at the vestiges of a distant time, you are optimistic and positive when looking to the future.
“I also don’t want my children to follow the profession.” I shared. “It’s dangerous, miserable, and has no future. Young people, just let them develop on their own.” Then the two aunts and uncles proudly bragged to us about their two talented daughters, one is already working, the other is preparing to take the university entrance exam: “She draws very well, the teacher praises her all the time when she goes to school, she’s very talented.” Please!”
If you have the opportunity to pass by To Tich, don’t forget to stop by Uncle Thang’s store. You will feel the rustic lifestyle of ancient Hanoi people in the sound of the last lathe on the rustic street that day.
