Incense

We found this family making sticks of incense for the têt festival in the area near Sa Dec.

The dexterity of these women going about their work is impressive. They cut the pieces of wood in quarters over and over again to obtain the 13 inch long sticks. Then the sticks are put through a comb to make them round. Each end is painted red, and then the girl coats two thirds of the length of the stick with incense.

The sticks of incense are then placed on the ground to dry for several hours.

They are placed into brightly colored packages and sold in front of temples and burnt as a tribute to ancestors.