37 years of wooden clogs and a bustling Tet season

For 37 years, she has been hammering wooden clogs in the middle of a bustling market. The work is demanding, yet she remains devoted to the craft thanks to its steady income, especially when Tet arrives.

A traditional charm

On a late-year morning, Suong, 40, from former District 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, brought her two daughters to Tan Dinh Market in Tan Dinh Ward to buy wooden clogs. Weaving through rows of stalls, she made her way to a corner where the rhythmic sound of hammer striking nails rang out steadily.

That is the wooden clog stall of Hong Ha, 60, and her niece Trang. Sitting modestly in a cramped space, Ha hammered nails into place while chatting with customers.

A lover of traditional beauty, Suong has always been fond of wooden clogs and ao dai. Every year before Tet, she comes to Ha’s stall to have new pairs made.

“I adore the nostalgic charm. To me, wooden clogs never go out of style. During Tet, my daughters and I wear clogs with ao dai to take photos and enjoy spring outings.

Even though our old pairs are still in good condition, we return each year because the children’s feet grow and their sizes change. I also like to look for new designs that match our spring outfits,” she shared.

Crafting wooden clogs is Ha’s family trade. She began learning it in her early twenties. To this day, she has worked in the profession for 37 years, selling exclusively at Tan Dinh Market.

On ordinary days, her stall has a loyal clientele. Beyond customers who cherish traditional aesthetics, many brides come to order high, thick-soled clogs for easier movement on their wedding day.

“Many women love wearing ao dai with wooden clogs to honor tradition. They have become my regular customers.

I also supply ao dai shops and event organizers who need wooden clogs for performances and displays,” Ha said.

At her stall, some patrons have been ordering clogs here for 20 to 30 years, dating back to the time when Ha’s mother was still in the trade.

A lively hammer rhythm

As Tet approaches, Ha’s stall grows even busier, with many customers seeking wooden clogs to pair with ao dai for festive photos.

Ha and Trang work tirelessly. The small stall becomes crowded, filled with the lively rhythm of hammer strikes.

When the reporter was present, besides Suong’s family, two other women brought along their eight-year-old daughters to choose clogs for Tet. After a few minutes of consideration, one girl selected a pair with pine wood soles and teddy bear-shaped straps.

While Ha measured the girl’s feet and secured the straps, Trang busied herself advising two young women and bringing out thick-soled samples.

The cramped stall grew even tighter as three elderly female customers arrived. Everyone patiently made space or waited their turn.

“Compared to regular days, Tet brings far more customers. Not only middle-aged and older women, but young people also come to buy clogs for spring outings.

Some families enjoy bringing their children and grandchildren to shop for Tet clogs together. Thanks to that, our income during Tet is significantly better than on ordinary days,” Ha said.

The stall displays various types of clogs: painted, hand-drawn, engraved with patterns. The straps are the result of other crafts such as lacquerwork, hand embroidery and beadwork.

Depending on size and materials, the clogs are priced from VND80,000 to VND350,000 per pair (approximately US$3 to US$14).

Many customers request customized designs. After selecting their preferred sole size and style, they are advised on matching straps. Once the order is confirmed, Ha measures the customer’s feet and nails the straps securely into the wooden base. With years of experience, her hammer strikes fall in a steady rhythm.

According to Ha, in the past, wooden clog makers had to complete multiple steps: cutting logs into sections, splitting and sawing them into planks, shaping the clogs, sanding them smooth and spraying paint. The final stages involved attaching the soles, crafting the straps and decorating according to customer requests.

Today, pre-shaped soles are available, and artisans like her focus mainly on fitting and finishing the straps. Even so, the work remains physically demanding.

“It may look simple, as if it’s just about hammering nails into wooden soles. But without experience, a poorly placed nail can make the clog unstable or even ruin the sole and straps.

This job also causes a lot of aches in the hands and feet. After sitting and hammering all day, I often return home feeling sore all over.

Sitting for long hours and repeating the same movements puts great strain on the muscles and joints. Limited circulation from prolonged sitting, combined with constant hand activity, easily leads to muscle tension and joint pain.

Still, this is my family’s trade, closely tied to traditional beauty, so I love it and choose to stay with it,” she said.

Ha Nguyen