Although salt farmers in the south-central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa have seen growing salt crystals since the beginning of this year thanks to dry weather periods when evaporation is rapid, they also face the risk of selling them at a loss.

Over ninety percent of people in Khanh Hoa’s Ninh Hoa Commune earn their living by harvesting salt on the Hon Khoi farm because this is one of the biggest salt fields in central Vietnam.

This year, despite a growing salt harvest thanks to dry weather, farmers have still expressed their worry about their livelihoods as prices continue to drop significantly.

Industrial salt has been sold at VND830,000 (US$38) per tonne, down by VND200,000 (roughly $10) to VND300,000 ($14) compared to last year, not to mention weak purchasing power which causes inventory to rise.

These days, workers at Hon Khoi Salt Export Enterprise have to go to the field at 4:00 am to avoid muggy weather.

With each tonne of unsold salt left on the farm, thirty percent of their salary will be kept until the salt is finally sold.

The Cooperative Salt 1-5 in the region faces a worse situation as salt has been purchased at VND380,000 ($17.5) to VND400,000 ($18) per tonne, forcing members to use their own money to hire workers to carry salt, for there are not enough funds to cover the expense.

Tran Quen, the manager of a Korean salt production company, said that salt price drops have affected their business and made workers’ life more difficult, adding that salt was sold at VND900,000 ($41) to VND1 million ($46) last year while this year’s rate is only VND630,000 ($29).

A handmade slipper which salt farmers use while working in the field. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A worker is pictured having breakfast at 7:00 am before harvesting salt in another field. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Thi Quan, 62, has done her job in the salt field for 40 years. She earns VND100,000 ($4.6) per day from carrying salt. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Workers harvest salt and gather it in heaps. Inventory continues to rise due to weak purchasing power. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A team of workers at Hon Khoi Salt Export Enterprise have to go to the field at 4:00 am every day to avoid muggy weather. The team includes 40 members who earn VND150,000 ($7) per tonne of harvested salt each. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Tran Ngoc Hai, 46, is seen carrying salt from the field to a truck. Along with other male workers, Hai has to transport nearly 900 sacks of salt. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Workers at a Korean salt production company pack and transport salt to the warehouse. Each person receives an average of over VND120,000 ($5.5) as a wage. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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