Amid abundant job opportunities in Ho Chi Minh City, Kim Em from Ca Mau and Yen Nhi from Saigon chose an unusual profession: preparing and beautifying the deceased, a job that many even among men shy away from.

At 22, Kim Em has worked nearly a year at a well-known funeral services company in An Khanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. Besides organizing funerals and cleaning and applying makeup to the deceased, she also comforts grieving families and assists in rituals.

“Initially, I just wanted to earn money to send back home. But over time, I realized the deeper meaning of this work, so I want to commit to it long term,” she said.

She learned about the job two years ago after watching videos of young people working in funeral services. Moved by their dedication and also motivated by her family’s needs, she decided to give it a try.

Before being officially assigned, she underwent two months of training, including at least five real funerals. She learned not only technical skills like bathing and preparing the deceased but also rituals, etiquette, and how to console families.

Though she admitted to feeling anxious at first, she coped by whispering to the deceased: “Please let me clean and beautify you so you may depart peacefully.” She saw her role as helping them leave this world intact and dignified.

Challenges include handling contagious cases like hepatitis or tuberculosis, requiring full protective gear and strict disinfection. Emotional strain also weighs heavily. “Relatives often cry bitterly during the process, and I must remain calm and composed,” she said.

After finishing, she usually lights incense and consoles the family. Sometimes, grieving relatives embrace her in gratitude. “Once, after preparing an elderly woman, her daughter hugged me tightly, crying and thanking me for fulfilling her final duty. That moment gave me strength to stay with the profession,” she recalled.

For her colleague Tran Thi Yen Nhi, 25, the choice was also deeply personal. After her grandmother passed away suddenly during the Covid-19 pandemic, her family could only manage a simple, incomplete funeral. Since then, she resolved to become a professional funeral service worker to help others bid farewell more properly.

“At first, it would be a lie to say I wasn’t scared. I even thought of quitting. But having served on the Covid-19 frontline in 2020, I developed courage and resilience to overcome fear,” Nhi said.

She explained that each case takes 2 to 4 hours, starting with prayers for the deceased’s peaceful departure. “The hardest part isn’t facing the body but controlling emotions. Sometimes the body is not intact, and we must hold back tears to stay strong for the family,” she said.

Despite the hardships, both women see their work as profoundly meaningful. “This job teaches me to live more responsibly. I want to stay in it long term,” Nhi affirmed.

Thao Trinh