After a lunch break recently, Hung’s watch repair shop on 3/2 Street in Phu Tho ward, HCMC, became busy with both young and old customers lining up, waiting for Hung, 68, to ‘diagnose’ their watch problems.

One customer, Duc, 45, has been taking his watches to Hung for repair and maintenance for over 10 years. He says he highly values Hung’s skill and meticulousness, and always goes to Hung whenever something goes wrong with his watch.

Hung began repairing watches when he was a child, captivated by his father’s work. Hung’s father in his youth had moved from Hai Phong to the South and worked at a rubber plantation. Diligent and hardworking, he earned the plantation owner’s favor, so when the owner’s son suffered from a persistent toothache, Hung’s father offered to help and succeeded.

Grateful for curing his son, the owner brought Hung’s father to his home for errand jobs. There, he had the opportunity to watch the owner repairing watches. He was fascinated every time. 

Noticing this, the Frenchman asked if he was interested in learning the trade. When he nodded, the Frenchman began to teach him with dedication.

After years of learning, in 1954, Hung’s father officially opened his own repair stall on Tran Quoc Toan street (now 3/2 street). His skill drew large crowds, and the trade allowed him to raise 11 children and fund their studies.

Hung recalled: “Back then, watches were expensive, luxury items, and only the wealthy could afford them. Skilled repairmen were also rare, so my father had lots of customers. He worked from morning till night and still couldn't finish.”

“As a kid, I was captivated by the tiny, shiny parts inside those watches. I’d stand there, completely absorbed, every time my father worked on a watch. Seeing my interest and being overwhelmed with work, he gradually let me help with simple tasks. Later, when he saw I was truly passionate, he decided to teach me the craft.”

A livelihood for the family

Being taught by his father filled Hung with both excitement and anxiety. His father was strict and tolerated no mistakes. So every time he practiced or worked with him, Hung had to stay fully focused.

Thanks to that discipline, Hung developed patience, precision, and eventually a high level of skill. After more than 10 years of apprenticeship, he officially took over the family watch repair stall after 1975.

The “shop” is a modest glass cabinet on a sidewalk, filled with worn-out tools polished by time.

In the early days, working outdoors was tough. Hung frequently got heatstroke during hot days and caught colds during storms. On top of that, he faced competition from other repairmen. Still, he never thought of giving up.

Later, when digital watches became common, Hung faced a new challenge. To keep up, he bought old electronic parts and spent over two years studying how they worked before he could fix them.

Returning a beloved watch after 10 years

Hung has repaired many luxury watches but his most memorable experience was holding on to an Omega for over a decade for a Viet kieu (overseas Vietnamese).

Years ago, this customer had brought in his watch for repair. After agreeing to the cost, he left it with Hung and disappeared.

More than 10 years later, the man suddenly returned, hoping to find the timepiece that had held deep sentimental value. When he saw it still in pristine condition and working perfectly, he was deeply moved.

Hung said: “Every job has its ups and downs. Watch repair won’t make you rich, but if you work with heart, you can still live well. Proof is, I’ve sat in the same spot on this sidewalk for over 40 years, fixing watches and supporting my family. 

“This career helped me put three sons through university. Now I have six grandchildren, and my children want me to retire. But I’m not ready, because I still love the job, love working, and want to preserve the trade that has taken care of us all.”

Ha Nguyen