The Craft Village of Thanh Thuy Fermented Soy Sauce

Thach Dong Commune, Thanh Thuy District, Phu Tho Province

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“The best in the region, the second to Bop Bat” is a popular saying about the ancient village of Bop, renowned for its lively trade and bustling activities on the riverbank, under boats, where the craft of making soy sauce thrived. During that era, fish sauce was scarce, making soy sauce the primary seasoning in the Vietnamese people’s meals.

Over the years, the art of making soy sauce gradually declined, with production primarily for personal use. Until now, the traditional craft of making soy sauce has been officially revived. The Bop village soy sauce is undergoing a revival, contributing to the economic development of Thach Dong, Thanh Thuy district.

The Thach Dong soy sauce has long been famous for its delightful aroma. This type of sauce is made from glutinous rice, fermented together with soybeans and salt. To create a flavorful soy sauce, the artisans must be meticulous and attentive in each processing step, from selecting raw materials, fermenting salt, to soaking soybeans in water.

Firstly, glutinous rice is steamed and left to ferment for about a week before being sun-dried to achieve dry mold. Soybeans are sun-dried to enhance their aroma before being mixed with the dry mold. The key to making a delicious batch of soy sauce lies in the selection of the soaking water. The water used to soak the soybeans must come from well water in the forest, not boiled water that is then cooled. This ensures the soy sauce is rich and pure. The dried mold, soybeans, and salt are mixed to form a cake mold, then fermented carefully for 1-2 months in pottery jars. After a period of sun-drying, the mold turns a golden yellow, indicating the completion of a batch of perfectly flavored soy sauce.

The Bop village is located within zones 3 and 4 of Thach Dong commune, Thanh Thuy district, with nearly 400 households. The soy sauce craft has found its place, providing a significant source of income for many families. The handmade soy sauce follows traditional methods passed down from generation to generation, bringing unique and distinctive flavors.

With traditional values and a production process ensuring food safety, the product has been registered for intellectual property protection. Thanks to this, the product has expanded its reach across the country, providing a more stable income for the craft village. Exploring the production activities in the craft village and purchasing as a rustic gift imbued with the heartfelt intentions of the producers is a fascinating experience for any visitor to Thanh Thuy today.