A life carved in metal

On a rainy July afternoon, a customer arrived at the intersection of Le Loi and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Streets in Ho Chi Minh City to have his name engraved on a pen. He was searching for Le Tien Dung (born 1959), a well-known local craftsman celebrated for his manual lettering work. But Dung had already “retired,” having passed his craft on to his son.

Born in Hai Duong (now Hai Phong), Dung developed a passion for calligraphy at an early age. As a student at the Hanoi University of Architecture, he was fascinated by artisans engraving souvenirs on Hang Gai Street. One day, he mustered the courage to ask one of them for guidance. The craftsman didn’t hesitate. Using a wax crayon and a sharpened metal tip, he showed Dung the basics in just a few minutes.

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Though he didn’t intend to pursue the craft professionally, Dung’s artistic talent and natural interest helped him learn quickly. In 1977, he joined the army. During that time, repurposing aluminum from aircraft wreckage into combs and spoons became a trend. Dung honed his engraving skills by decorating such items.

After leaving the military in 1980, Dung moved to Ho Chi Minh City. One day, he stumbled upon a street engraver working on Le Loi Street. Despite the poor quality of the lettering, the engraver had plenty of customers. Realizing his own potential, Dung took his friends’ advice and began engraving at a sidewalk corner of Le Loi and Nam Ky Khoi Nghia.

“I couldn’t find a spot at first because the area was so crowded. I had to wait for people to buy fountain pens, then ask if they wanted them engraved,” he recalled. Eventually, he found a shaded sidewalk where he set up two small chairs and a board announcing his service.

Since then, more than 40 years have passed.

A touching retirement wish

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Mr. Dung has been hand-carving letters since the 1980s. Photo: Ha Nguyen
After engraving, wax is used to make the letters stand out. Photo: Ha Nguyen

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Mr. Dung's carvings are praised for their softness and fluidity. Photo: Ha Nguyen
After training his son Duong (in blue), Dung retired from engraving. Photo: Ha Nguyen

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With his son now continuing the craft, Dung is free to fulfill his lifelong dream. Photo: Ha Nguyen

At the beginning, Dung used sharpened drill bits as engraving tools, pressing them hard into surfaces. The process caused intense hand pain and was slow. Over time, he developed a motorized engraving pen that made the work more efficient and less strenuous.

With natural artistic ability and refined technique, Dung’s lettering and ornamental designs became known for their graceful, fluid strokes. His sidewalk setup attracted a large clientele, including those seeking to engrave pens, rulers, and other personalized gifts. His work even earned invitations to special city events to engrave commemorative items.

“One of my most memorable clients was a man from Switzerland,” he recalled. “He brought a valuable pen mounted on a handcrafted base and asked me to engrave his name on it. He said no one back home could do hand-engraving anymore. When I finished, he was thrilled.”

Although the popularity of hand-engraved items has declined, Dung believes the craft won’t disappear completely. “This is a traditional art form,” he said. “Each engraved item is unique - you won’t find another exactly like it in the world.”

That belief led him to encourage his son, Le Hai Duong, a graphic designer, to learn the craft. After two to three years of practice, Duong now carries on his father’s legacy.

Now “retired,” Dung has finally found time to pursue his long-held dream: to travel across the country, engraving names and messages free of charge for children.

“I want to give back to the profession and to the customers who supported me for more than 40 years,” he said. “I also want to experience the joy of traveling from province to province, engraving and creating memories as I go.”

Ha Nguyen