Experience 1 day at Bach Long salt field, Nam Dinh

If we have the opportunity to visit Bach Long commune (Giao Thuy, Nam Dinh) at this time, we will have a day to experience with salt workers on the salt fields under the blazing sun.

The salt fields of Bach Long commune were originally an area of land that was further enriched by the sea. People from all over the place came here to live, establish villages and communes right from the time of the French colonial invasion. Up to now, Bach Long commune has become a fertile land with the main occupation being salt making. The salt making season of Bach Long salt workers starts in March and ends in August every year when the rainy season appears. To make pure white salt grains, salt workers often start their work early in the morning.

Let's explore with iguide.ai the long-standing traditional salt making profession, and the brilliant, sparkling beauty of Bach Long salt fields, Nam Dinh!

Interesting experience at Bach Long salt field

Making pure white salt is not simple at all, but a laborious process. From early morning, many salt workers have to be present at Bach Long salt fields and often finish their work late at night. The way of making salt here is also very special, instead of making salt by steam method like in the South or Central, salt in the North is made by drying on sand.

In many other salt fields, salt workers only need to scoop seawater and dry it, but for Bach Long salt workers, it will take one more step: drying and filtering sand. The reason is that Giao Thuy sea area is near the river mouth, so the salinity concentration is low, so it is necessary to dry and filter sand to increase the salinity concentration.

First, at 6am, salt workers will start soaking sand with seawater and tilling the soil. On the field, there will be rectangular plots of land to smooth the surface, pour the soaked sand on top and dry it, sometimes adding seawater to increase the salinity. When the sun rises and after many hours, the seawater will evaporate and the salt will crystallize on the sand surface. Next, seawater will be led from the sea to filter with sand through a sieve and then flow into the small tank, through the main tank. At this time, salt workers will use jars to scoop water from the main tank and pour it onto the cement drying yard like a chessboard. Small plots have 2 jars, large plots have 3-4 jars.

At this time, the salt workers will take a break and return to work at 1 pm. This is also the time when the sand has dried, each grain of sand has crystallized into small white salt grains. The salt workers will collect the salt into rows, scoop it onto a wheelbarrow and push it to the warehouse. The salt will be stored and wait for the traders to come and buy it.

It is true that we have to go there to witness it in person to fully appreciate the difficulties and hardships of salt making. If you have the opportunity to travel to Nam Dinh, do not forget to visit Bach Long salt field to experience the salt making process of the people here.

Thank you for choosing iguide.ai to accompany your exciting experience!