Discarded wooden fishing boats are being transformed into one‑of‑a‑kind furniture in Hoi An, giving weathered timber a second life while creating jobs for local craftsmen. The project shows how material that once seemed useless can become a valuable design resource.

According to Le Huynh Huyen, many of the salvaged boats were originally built from durable hardwoods such as ironwood. After years at sea, the timber displays distinctive colours, textures, nail holes, cracks and salt stains. These marks give the wood a unique, weathered character.

Before any woodworking begins, craftsmen carefully clean each piece, removing nails, metal fittings and old paint, then treat the wood to stabilise it. They shape the timber while preserving its natural curves and aged appearance, deliberately avoiding sanding away the features that tell its story.

Because every reclaimed plank bears its own pattern of grain, colour and damage, each item of furniture is inherently unique. Designers adapt their plans to the existing form of the wood, so no two tables, chairs or cabinets are ever identical.

The workshop now employs about 40 workers, purchases 10‑12 old boats each year and provides free vocational training for apprentices. Prices range from a few million to tens of millions of Vietnamese dong, reflecting the labour‑intensive process and the singular character of each piece.