Da Sy-branded products are known nationwide. (Photo: Tran Ngoc)

One day in June, we joined a knife-making and engraving experiential tour of a blacksmith workshop in Da Sy. The sweltering sun combined with the intense heat from a charcoal furnace make the workshop stifling. Yet, for over two hours, the blacksmiths patiently demonstrated and guided each participant through all 12 stages of forging a knife.

Nguyen Mai Anh, a student from Hanoi University who took part in the experience, shared her thoughts of her first time visiting Da Sy blacksmithing village, “The artisans are incredibly patient. Making a knife seems simple, but after going through each step, standing in front of a furnace heated to over 1,000 degrees Celsius in the summer, I realized this work is so tough."

Da Sy visitors are immersed in the smoke, dust, and heat of the steel-forging furnace, and assaulted by the pungent smell of oil and the constant clang of hammers on anvils. Guests participate hands-on in hammering to shape the blade, coarse grinding it to remove filings, and manually sharpening it on a whetstone.

Thomas, a tourist from Ireland, expressed his excitement about the experience, “I had a great experience today at the workshop. It's really interesting and you actually get to make quite a lot of the knife yourself as well. You don't just sit and watch all the time you get involved.”

“Tung (the tour guide) is really helpful and friendly as well as all of his family and they can help you to translate so you can understand English as well. Overall it’s really great experience, really interesting, and I would recommend it to anyone.”

In recent years, the experiential tourism model has flourished at blacksmithing workshops in Da Sy. Local artisans say the village is well-known for its knives and scissors, and for its manufacturing process, which includes forging, shaping, grinding, tempering, sharpening, and handle fitting.

Tourists participate hands-on in forging stage. (Photo: Tran Ngoc)

Da Sy is now a popular destination for domestic and foreign tourists, said Trinh Quoc An, Deputy Chairman of the Kien Hung ward People's Committee in Ha Dong district. "The fusion of traditional blacksmithing and tourism gives Da Sy a valuable opportunity to promote its products. This model attracts visitors eager to try traditional blacksmithing, learn about the village’s cultural heritage, and purchase our products," said An.

This innovative approach is driven by the younger generation of Da Sy villagers. Visitors can explore the village and try their hand at forging and engraving their names onto souvenir products under the guidance of skilled craftsmen.

Hoang Bich Phuong, Director of the Da Sy Knife Company, said that to preserve and develop the craft village, the company has expanded traditional product line and adopted experiential tourism. “We showcase our products and production process on social media platforms like Facebook and our website so that people understand what we do. We’ve partnered with travel companies to bring visitors here to try hands-on production,” said Phuong.

Thanks to the dedication of the village artisans and the adaptability of the younger generation, Da Sy blacksmith village has not only survived but established a brand and become a prominent destination in Hanoi’s craft village network.