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Le Van Son, a 35-year-old resident of Cam Tu Commune in Cam Thuy District, said his family has been making charcoal for many years. They can produce about 6-7 tons of charcoal per month.
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After the fruits are harvested, the branches of longan, litchi and others trees are cut into short logs.
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After filling the oven with logs, the oven mouth will be filled with brick and mud, except for a small opening to put firewood in.
The wood will smolder for 12-15 days. Then, charcoal producer will completely seal off the stove and let the wood sit for another week.
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Making charcoal is a tough job that requires a lot of hard labor.
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Even though this job helps many families make a living, it is very harmful for people's health, since they have to work in a dusty environment.
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Like Trinh Thi Phong, 54 years old, people wear gloves and masks to help protect themselves.
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Making charcoal is the main means of livelihood for many families in the area.
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After they are sorted, charcoal sticks are stacked up and ready to be delivered. Restaurants in Hanoi and neighboring areas will buy the charcoal at VND7,000 ($0.30) per kilogram and use it for cooking.