According to the village elders, Tat Tac once comprised three hamlets — Ngo, Bui, and Son — in what is now Tien Loc commune. In the 17th century, a man named Le Cao Son migrated from northern Vietnam and settled at the foot of Mount Ban in Tat Tac. He taught the local villagers blacksmithing — a craft that soon took root and flourished. To honor him, residents built a shrine and venerated him as their “Patron Saint of Blacksmithing.” Over the centuries, Tat Tac became one of the most renowned craft villages in Thanh Hoa.

Nguyen Trong Hien, a 70-year-old blacksmith, told VOV, “I was among the first to help establish the craft village. As an elder who has devoted my life to this trade, I’m happy to see the younger generations carrying it forward.”

In the past, Tat Tac was known for forging weapons and farm tools. Today, its products go far beyond traditional tools, offering more designs, better quality, and broader market appeal. Creating a finished item requires a long process — from shaping the billet to tempering it in the furnace — and every step demands skill, experience, and above all, dedication.

Kieu Van Ha, 37, who has spent 20 years in the trade, said, “This craft has been passed down through generations. I grew up hearing the sound of hammers even before I was born. It’s hard work, but passion runs in our blood. The craft also gives us a stable income. I’m always learning new techniques to improve and modernize our products.”

In recent years, Tat Tac’s products have reached international markets. Kieu Van Ha, a villager, said, “Our main products are farm tools and knives. Customers come from all over Vietnam — and, increasingly, from abroad. Many overseas Vietnamese order custom-made knives to take to the US and Europe.”

Ha’s brother named Kieu Van Hoc said, “I mainly forge kitchen knives, often custom-made for professional chefs here or overseas. Our collection ranges from traditional Vietnamese cleavers and utility knives to Japanese-style blades like Nakiri, Santoku, and Gyuto. Most of our clients are domestic, but we also have chefs from the UK, US, France, Germany, and Switzerland.”

To meet growing demand, many households have invested in modern workshops and imported premium Japanese stainless steel to make high-quality knives and tools. Artisans are also embracing e-commerce — selling through Shopee, Lazada, Facebook, and TikTok to reach a larger market.

Nguyen Hung, a customer from Ho Chi Minh City who visited Tat Tac in person to buy knives, said, “I ordered kitchen knives from this village before — the quality is excellent. Their investment in machinery and materials has made the products beautiful and on par with imported ones.”

Today, Trieu Loc commune is home to 20 enterprises, including 5 directly engaged in blacksmithing, and 1,600 households involved in the trade — providing jobs for 6,000 workers. The craft now generates an annual revenue of 16 million USD.