The more blazing the sunshine is, the purer the salt is and… the saltier the sweat dropping on the makers’ bony shoulders is.

Phu Yen has three craft villages that have made salt for more than 300 years: Trung Trinh, Le Uyen, Tuyet Diem (Song Cau district).

Previously, Tuyet Diem salt was called Cu Mong salt by the salt sellers. They called it this name because formerly, all boats and ships from different places in the country came there to buy salt following the direction of Cu Mong Pass’s foot, although Tuyet Diem is the only salt field of Phu Yen province. The white drops of salt have made up the beautiful name for the village.

Has been established since 1870, Tuyet Diem salt field, Xuan Binh commune, Song Cau, Phu Yen is 138 years old now.

Salt making career is much harder than farming. Every year, craftsmen work depending on only some sunny months of summer. The more blazing the sunshine is, the purer the salt is and… the saltier the sweat dropping on the makers’ bony shoulders is.    

Song Cau salt has appeared in the poem of Che Lan Vien “Thousands of field squares of white salt”. For centuries, three salt making villages of Phu Yen has been famous all over Dang Trong region (the South). From small groups of salt makers (nau nai) that appeared since Phu Yen’s reclamation, Phu Yen salt has been well-known in the history and created a never-lasting destination: Nai Pass (the pass where salt is transferred). Nai Pass and Van Luong Pass (Xuan Thinh – Song Cau) are two famous destinations where there happened the dead battle of  two army forces Tay Son and Nguyen Anh in the end of XVIII century .

Phu Yen salt making career has encountered many ups and downs. Despites of extremely hard working, the face toward the salty water, the back toward the sky, craftsmen still have tough life generation by generation.

Translated by V.T.D