Keep the soul of the sea village

Women in a fishing village in Lam Dong province diligently mend torn nets.

In the golden afternoons falling on the sand, along the fishing villages and fishing ports in Lam Dong province, one of the three key fishing grounds of the country, we can easily see the image of women sitting around a large pile of nets, sewing machines, their hands deftly connecting each torn mesh, tying each knot as if weaving into it the feelings and memories of the sea. The job of weaving and mending nets for hire seems to be a quiet job, but it contains the patience, perseverance and deep love for the sea of women living along the waves. “Those who mend nets for hire like us consider it a career that is deeply ingrained in our subconscious. In addition to serving the ships that go out to sea, the job of mending nets for hire also contributes to creating jobs for many workers, especially female workers,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Luu, a woman over 50 years old, living in Mui Ne ward (Lam Dong province) who was busy mending nets while sharing.

The work of weaving and mending nets is usually not noisy. Women only need a small yard, a few wooden needles, a roll of parachute thread and patience. More modernly, some women use a sewing machine to firmly mend the edges of the net. Their hands are nimble, their eyes follow each mesh, patching frayed areas and patching torn areas. Sometimes, they can only mend or repair a few meters of net all morning. This work requires meticulousness, perseverance and a lot of sacrifice, because if the net is not strong, fish can easily escape, and the crew will have a hard time the whole trip. Therefore, this job requires patience, sitting for hours, back aches, eyes blurred, but rarely anyone hears them complain.

Net weaving and mending not only brings in extra income but also becomes a cultural memory. In many coastal villages such as Mui Ne, La Gi, Phan Thiet, etc., women often gather together to mend nets while chatting and exchanging experiences. The patched nets not only keep fish and shrimp but also preserve the village spirit. Ms. Tran Thi Thu, a long-time net mender in Phan Thiet ward, confided: “In the past, my mother taught me to mend nets when I was 12 years old. Now it is my turn to pass it on to my daughter. It is not only a profession to earn a living, but also to help children understand that behind every successful fishing trip, there is the contribution of the diligent hands of women.”

Indeed, in the modern life, when many traditional occupations are gradually disappearing, the craft of weaving and mending nets still quietly exists as a “living memory”. The people of the fishing village see it as a connecting thread between the past and the present, between the generations of fathers and sons.

In the afternoon, the nets have been stretched out and neatly arranged, waiting to be loaded onto the ship tomorrow. The silhouettes of the fishing village women are still faintly visible on the wharf, their small figures but their work is closely linked to the prosperity of many families, the peace of the sea trips.

NGUYEN TIEN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/giu-hon-lang-bien-post812518.html