VietNamNet Bridge – Ninh Hai District in Ninh Thuan Province has long been known as the cradle of shallot onion but this location only provides seeds of shallot while it is cultivated elsewhere.

Phan Thi Cai bundles up shallots

Every day, tons of shallot is transported here from Long Huong area in Phan Ri and put on an open field. Workers have to keep lighting on throughout the night to work from midnight until sunrise.

Traders hire local people to process shallot before packaging and shipping it to markets and supermarkets across the country. Over the years, local women in My Tuong 2 Village have been responsible for cutting and bundling shallots.

Shallots in good condition will be bundled up and others will be retailed.

Workers will receive VND700 for each kilogram of processed shallots. According to Phan Thi Cai, 66, who has been doing this work for 36 years, she can earn VND70,000-80,000 a day if she stays up all night and works eight hours. Bui Thi Kim, a fourth grader, has followed her mother to do this work for two years.

A view of a shallot yard

When the sun rises, everything is complete. Hundreds of shallot bags are ready for delivery under the brand name Phan Rang shallot onion.

SGT/VNN