In Dien Bien today, H’mong ethnic blacksmiths craft knives using a simple setup: a furnace made of a few bricks, a fan to stoke the fire, and a grinder to streamline the shaping process.

Artisans in Da Sy, considered the top knife and scissor making village in Thang Long – a former name of Hanoi – always ask their descendants and apprentices to develop a strong work ethic and to produce quality items so as to sustain their craft.