On winter days in December, many women in the Nam O Village in Hoa Hiep Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District, Da Nang, have been earning a great income from collecting seaweed.

Female Nam O villagers in Hoa Hiep Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District, Da Nang, have long been accustomed to collecting seaweed in the rainy season.

The seaweed harvest lasts from October to December, so many female Nam O villagers have been very busy collecting these plant-like organisms in recent days.

Mrs. Bui Thi Sau, 59, residing in Hoa Hiep Minh Ward, Lien Chieu District, said, since she was a 12-year-old girl, she has followed her parents to pick up seaweed.

“Sometimes, I have to get up so early to start collecting seaweed at around 2:00am or 3:00am until 10:00am" said Mrs. Sau.

Each harvester carries a set of equipment to collect the seaweed, consisting of a plastic rackets, gloves, carrying bags, a flashlight, and tin scrapers.

Seaweed often grows in winter and only on craggy cliffs at the foot of the Hai Van Mountain. Rain, big waves crashing into sea cliffs along with cold weather are favourable conditions for seaweed to grow. In order to harvest seaweed, the women have to face dangers when climbing over wet, slippery and angular rock cliffs or soaking in cold water for hours.

51-year-old Le Thi Thanh Thien from Lien Chieu District’s Hoa Minh Ward said that in previous years, she harvested a total of about between 10 and 20 kg of seaweed, but this year’s yield is less than 10 kg.

After being gathered, the seaweed is washed once in sea water, and twice carefully by fresh water and then dried. One kilogram of fresh seaweed is being sold at about VND100,000.

Seaweed in the Nam O Bay is more fragrant and delicious than those in other regions. Both fresh and dried seaweed are used to cook soup and make delicious salad.

Despite unfavourable weather conditions, women in the Nam O Village have been keeping the job in order to bring tourists and locals the typical products from the seaside city, thereby contributing to create the unique features of this place.

To pick up seaweed, women have to climb up rock cliffs quite far from the shore.

Hardworking women meticulously collecting seaweed

A tin scraper – a quite simple but effective tool - is used to pick up seaweed.

Happy smile of a seaweed harvester

In spite of not earning much money, women in the Nam O Village are still happy and attached to their job.

Reporting by LE TRA, KIM LIEN - Translating by M.D